Random Musings: date night

Sometimes, when two people have been in a relationship together for a lot of years you can start taking each other for granted, and once that happens, I think that's when the spark dies. In the beginning, I think people generally make more of an effort to spend time doing things as a couple, but down the line, routine often takes over.
I think to keep the relationship strong, it is important to spend time together doing something fun, rather than just the day to day things. A lot of couples struggle with date nights, the most common reasons being time and money.
I think everyone wishes they had more time! But I also think if someone is important enough, you make time for them. Even if you only do a date night once a month, it's something to look forward to.
The money one can be a bit more difficult. Often, the spare cash you do have left after the bills is ear marked for things other than fancy dinners, trips to the cinema and drinks out. With that in mind, I have come up with a few ideas to keep the relationship fresh on a budget.

Have a dinner date - at home

If you both enjoy going for meals, but find the budget doesn't enjoy it much, recreate a dinner date at home. Presumably you were going to eat dinner anyway, so there is no extra cost.

Dress up nice as though you were going to a restaurant, set the table, light a few candles, play some soft background music and open a bottle (or two!) of wine.

Have a DIY spa day

The real beauty of this one is it doesn't actually have to be a day. If one, or both, of you work daytimes, have a spa evening. Get the fluffy robes out and give each other facials, body scrubs and massages. Take it in turns to be the one getting the treatment, or dedicate two separate days to it, so each partner gets fully pampered one time.

Theme night/day

I use the term theme night, but that may be the wrong word. Do you have any shared hobbies? If, for example, you both enjoy painting, why not paint together. Or do some gardening together. Literally any hobby you both share. Even reading - rather than sitting in silence, choose some of your favourite books and read them aloud to each other. Depending on where you want the night to go, you could make up silly voices for the characters and just have fun with it, or you could choose a Fifty Shades type scene.

Games night

This one can definitely be a lot of fun. You could choose board games, card games or video games. Whichever you are both most into. A bit of friendly rivalry never hurt anyone. If one of you is a particularly bad loser, you might be best off going for the video game option and playing a game where you team up!

In between date nights, especially if you don't have them very often, there are other ways to keep the romance alive.

Guys, buy her flowers or chocolates just because. Girls, do the same (you wanted equality right!). It never fails to amaze me how many of my female friends moan that their partners no longer buy them little things, yet when I ask if they buy things for their partners, they look at me like I'm crazy!