Wedding Anniversary with No Money?

[jwthornhill]

April 30th will be our wedding anniversary. In the last four years I am very ashamed to say that I've neglected my wife on this day, with the thought that I couldn't do anything for her because we didn't have the money.

Our marriage has suffered tremendous due to this. I confessed to my wife and apologized to her for what I'd been doing for over the last four years, she understandably didn't want to have anything to do with me let alone any budget/debt reduction plans, theories or otherwise. But, being the loving, compassionate and understanding woman that she has always been it was she who was thoughtful enough to mention that, "..we shouldn't neglect our financial plans just for our anniversary." But, I feel more obligated than ever to do something nice for her.

I would like to do something special and intimate with her but, I have NO IDEA what to do.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

NTBDF

[Ima saver]

One year, my husband had to work real late and kinda missed my birthday. He made me a home made card to tell me how much he loved me. That meant more to me than anything he could have bought me.
Make a home made card and pick some wild flowers or buy her a single rose.

[Ima saver]

P.S., I still have the card and that was over 25 years ago.

[tinapbeana]

happy anniversary!

try giving your wife next weekend 'off'. design a card, or even a little brochure, on your computer letting her know that she has the weekend for complete leisure. you do the cooking, cleanup, normal weekend chores. maybe make a few of her favorite meals, tackle the annoying things around the house she hates to do, that sort of thing.

do a web search on creating a spa at home (i.e. recipes for bath salts, facial masks, etc.). put together a home-made spa kit, include some candles and her favorite candy (and maybe flowers if she likes 'em), and get everyone else out of the house for 2-3 hours so she can have some complete peace and quiet.

[disneysteve]

Celebrating doesn't need to be expensive. What's wrong with cooking a nice dinner and watching a movie together? Walk on the beach. Go to a free concert. See an amateur show, like a high school or college production where tickets are probably pretty cheap. There are lots of things you can do together for free or very little money.

[lgslgs]

Spend the day going over you finances together as a couple and planning the next year. And make a tasty, low cost home-cooked meal to enjoy after you've got all of your financial homework done.

We often use anniversaries as a time to reflect on the highs and lows of the past year and make sure we are both in agreement in our views about how the next year should go. It's a joyous day for us and we also enjoy cooking dinner together as we wind down the day. Nothing's more romantic to us than to know that we both are united in our approach to the future.

Lynda

[scfr]

Cook dinner and pop the wedding video or DVD in the player and tell her the you'd like nothing more than to spend the evening with her watching your very FAVORITE DVD EVER!!! Say it like you mean it (because of course you do, right?)!

My husband & I don't buy anything for each other for our anniversary, but we do acknowledge the day.

[Fern]

I don't think your relationship should suffer soley becus you can't buy an anniversary gift. After all, the 2 of you are in this together, so she should understand.

Everyone else here had good ideas about doing something that shows you put some thought into it. A picnic is always nice.