It can be easy for a relationship or a marriage to slip into a comfortable rut. Long gone are the days where you used to go out for dinner or to the cinema.
Indeed, the closest activity you both have to a date these days is the weekly shop at the local grocery store. Yet it’s vitally important for every couple to try and maintain the romance in their relationship.
After-all, this is your best friend and you want to spend as much time with them as possible away from the stresses of daily life. Dates aren’t just for newly dating couples; you can still enjoy dates decades into your marriage.
In fact, with these fun and affordable date ideas, you’ll soon be sweeping your partner off her feet once again:
Have a Movie Night
When you first started dating you both probably adored going to the cinema. As we get older and have kids, though, it gets harder and harder to find the time – and the babysitter – to get out to see a movie.
Yet that doesn’t mean you can’t recreate that cinema experience at home! Either rent a movie or use Netflix to stream a movie you both want to see – it doesn’t need to be a romantic film either, why not pick a scary movie that you can both cuddle up to?
Then just get the children off to bed, make some buttery popcorn and switch off the lights to create that wonderful cinema experience.
Order Takeout
There’s no denying that when it comes to cooking, it’s usually the lady of the house who tackles most of it. But one easy way to show your partner how much you love them, is to take over the cooking once a week to give her the night off.
Of course, we men usually stay out of the kitchen for a reason, so instead of cooking, order in a delicious takeout. You can even make it more romantic by setting the table with candles, adding some flowers and spend the night talking away and enjoying your food.
Have a Romantic Picnic
On a sunny day, there is nothing quite like packing up a picnic and spending the day lazing in a park or on the beach. Put all your favorite foods and drinks into a basket, bring a blanket and pick a location you may have visited years before on one of your first dates.
You can both bring books and spend your afternoon simply enjoying each other’s company and feeling totally relaxed.
A Day Out Exploring
We can live in a town or city for years without fully exploring the area, which makes for a perfect excuse for a date! Research what’s going on in your local area, perhaps there are some good hiking spots, a great place for lunch or even some shops or museums to browse.
Whatever you plan, it will be a new and exciting way for you both to spend time together.
Visit a Theme Park or Carnival
Find your inner child once more and enjoy a day filled with thrills and excitement. If you’re not really an adrenaline junkie then stick to the playful arcades and to the slower rides like the carousel and Ferris Wheel.
Don’t forget to have your photo taken at your favorite spot and also to taste as many of the carnival park as possible. It’s a day guaranteed to have you both laughing and will create wonderful memories that will last for years.
Life – jobs, in-laws, personal activities, activities with the kids, fights and misunderstandings all have a way of chipping away at our marriages. One day we wake up and realize, “I don’t feel very close to my spouse anymore.” It happens to the best of us.
Commit to making your spouse your best friend and the most important person in the world to you. Work to make her happy rather than better. Nurture that friendship by doing some of the things suggested above.
You know yourself and your spouse best, so think of other ways you can strengthen your friendship and your marriage. With some effort and creativity, you can keep your spouse as your best friend for life!
