Frugal Anniversary Ideas

[Hopefulmama]

We are really trying to get out of debt, so we've decided no gifts and no going out to eat. Our anniversary is the only thing DH and I celebrate, so I would like to make it special. Each year the kids and I have a tradition of making a special cake. Other than that, I'm stumped. I can make a fabulous dinner but it will be expensive. What are your favorite special occasion frugal tips?

Thanks!

[floss&ferd]

Do you celebrate with your kids?  Can you just make a dinner that looks fancy but really isn't that expensive, like kabobs or fondue?  Or heart shaped pizza.  Make his favorite dinner? Or have a picnic?  Or clean the house and decorate?  

[lilyka]

I say send the kids somewhere overnight and celebrate in the bed room. ;-)

[heatherdeg]

This wouldn't work with my own kids, but a friend does this all the time to give her and her hubby a "date":  They put the kids in front of a movie with popcorn and then go into a separate room and either have a private dinner or play a board game or chat by candlelight, etc.

I say either put the kids to bed or put them in front of a movie (we watch close to none, so this would probably work for my 7yo but my 2yo loses interest) and then pack yourself a really cheap picnic and go into the back yard and have a private picnic dinner.

[AAK]

Originally Posted by lilyka 

I say send the kids somewhere overnight and celebrate in the bed room. ;-)

My sil will transform their bedroom into a theme using stuff around the house.  She sticks the kids at grandmas for the night, and then dresses up to go with the theme (princess, cowgirl, belly dancer, ???).  As for dinner, you could tie it in with the theme OR have a normal dinner with the whole family before dropping them at grandmas.  Then, you and hubby can have strawberries with chocolate (or whatever) for dessert.

We actually never buy presents for our anniversary, but we do usually go out to dinner.  Presents add an element of stress for us.  This year, we have a gift card for a restaurant that we will be using.  

Good luck and have fun!

Amy

[crunchy_mommy]

For our anniversary, we put on the CD of our wedding music & tried to dance -- which was interrupted by our 2yo breaking his "wine" glass lol... and then screaming that he didn't like the music (sensory issues)... still special though, for the 2mins the dancing lasted! Then we put on our wedding video and ate cake that my DH had made. It was simple but sentimental. We also looked through our time capsule (which had some pics and messages from friends and letters to each other). It brought us right back to the beginning of our marriage and the joy & love of that day... So it didn't matter what we were eating (a cheap meal I'd prepared in my 5mins of spare time & GF cake) and it was cool for DS to see our wedding video, after which he asked to wear our rings & proclaimed he was married to one of his friends.