My wedding anniversary is 8/16! Why does that matter? Well, every woman feels loved once her man remembers their anniversary. Whether it’s their wedding or the day they became official, it is memorable for a woman. If you are about to celebrate your anniversary with your loved one, it is only natural that you will be wondering what you should buy as a present. But if you’re pressed for money and you can’t really afford to buy her a new set of pearls, what else should you give her? How will you make her feel that you value your special day without spending a lot of money?
While there are still some people who stick to the norm of giving flowers, chocolates and a card, it is not as important as it once was. Many women actually find this concept old fashioned. At the same time, spending money on a dozen roses seems crazy—especially since they die out eventually. So it’s really best that you avoid giving these gifts to your loved one.
The best type of gift to give her is something new and creative. Even though some of these gifts do not cost a lot of money, you can see her beam at the effort you put into it. Often, women find these types of gifts better than receiving flowers, chocolates or candies. They would much rather receive a handwritten card from their man than a bunch of flowers. So if you’re looking for great gifts you can give the lucky woman, here are some options you should consider:
Material Presents
Massage – You can invite your loved one to get a massage with you. Since there are already a number of spas that offer discounts, you can easily find one without spending too much money on the service.
A Single Stemmed Rose – If you must give her a flower, opt for a single stemmed rose. This says a lot already. A bouquet is too expensive and traditional. Instead, you can give her a single long stemmed rose with a note attached to it.
Date Ideas
Home Cooked Dinner – Especially if you don’t know how to cook, this is a great gift you can give to your wife! You can ask a close friend to teach you some good recipes that you can use. Add some candles and wine and you’ll be all set for the night! The effort of learning to cook is a huge turn on for women, mind you.
Glow in the Dark Message – Invest in some glow in the dark candles and pretend you completely forgot this special date. Make sure that you act like you really don’t know what the occasion is. The trick here, though, is to ensure that she does not see you writing the message. When she’s at work, you can write down a sweet and touching message on your ceiling just above your bed. After a long day at work, she’ll be happy to read the message you wrote for her—once the lights are out.
A Sweet Bath – If you have a bathtub at home, you can prepare the area by setting some candles to light the mood. Invite her to the tub and give her a massage. This will surely make her happy that you’re with her.
So you see, you don’t need to spend a lot of money for your anniversary. It’s really the thought that counts. Remembering this special day may be enough for your loving wife, girlfriend or partner. Just in case remembering is not enough though, these creative ideas should do the trick.
So, what kinds of things have you given to your partner on your anniversary? I would like to know.
This post was written by YFS.
YFS has written 18 articles on this blog. YFS from yourfinancessimplified.com is a an under 30, married guy who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If you want relevant, witty and easy to follow financial guidance and learn how to make sense of your dollars, subscribe to his newsletter by clicking here!
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My favorite anniversary presents (or, any present, really) are weekend getaways! They might not be the “most” frugal thing to do, but with sites such as LivingSocial Escapes, Travelzoo, etc., you can find really good deals at hotels & bed and breakfasts. Or, get a hotel co-branded credit card and use the points to splurge on a couple nights in a nice hotel. THEN present her a nice card with a thoughtful note inside.
Of, if you are into the outdoors, go camping at a nice national park. That’d cost even less than a night at the hotel, plus you get the romance of the starry nights above.
Great suggestion on the camping. Unfortunately, I nor my wife are into camping lol
This is so timely for me; my anniversary is in a couple weeks! My husband already got me my present. There’s a special drink syrup that a restaurant I like makes custom for their bar. He knew it’s something I liked, that I always wished I had at home, so he went and bought a batch for me and packaged it with my favorite liquor. I really appreciated it mostly because it meant that he listened to the small things. He was worried that it didn’t cost that much, but seriously, a husband who listens and takes things to heart is priceless!
I agree with you. The best gifts are the ones that come from listening and figuring out what your partner really wants.
The glow in the dark message is a cute idea! I might have to try that one!
Don’t forget to take lots of pictures and share it on your blog lol
I’m pretty traditional, so like to stick with the old school themes for each anniversary. I’m also rather practical, so for our first anniversary of paper, I bought my wife a subscription to her favourite magazine. From there I have continued to theme my gifts and my wife has joined in. sometimes we buy something for each other, other times we buy something jointly for the home. It’s a fun little tradition for us now and we both enjoy it.
The key word is “both enjoy it”. Sounds like you guys founds what works best.
I might try the single stem rose this year, dozen rose is so expensive
You can go to the local supermarket and get a dozen of roses for significantly cheaper than going to a florist.
I don’t know if it’s been for our anniversary, but the best gifts I’ve ever given my husband are 1)Time in a recording studio and b)Personalized guitar picks. I definitely agree with the roses – they’re lovely, but way too overpriced, particularly at Valentine’s Day!
Personalized gifts are the best! I bet he still uses the guitar picks to this day.
I love that these ideas are not only frugal, but thoughtful! It’s so true that a little bit goes a loooong way
It’s often the thought that counts. I know my wife surely is surprised and love the thoughtful gifts
My favorite anniversary was when my husband cooked me steak and shrimp on the grill right after a freak March snow storm. It was so sweet that he went to all the effort when it was so cold outside, and the meal was delicious!
Now i’m in the mood for a steak! That sounds great
[...] anniversary is just around the corner, so this post really hit home for me: “Frugal Anniversary Gift Ideas” at Prairie EcoThrifter. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or an anniversary for you, there are [...]
Lately, I have enjoyed cooking, so I probably would not be considered romantic for that. However, some of these other ideas definitely have potential.
You could always spice it up a bit by adding a few candles, some music and champagne or wine. Throw in some rose petals you got yourself a plan.
I like the glow and the dark candle idea! Very timely as I’m stumped for valentine’s day gifts and my clock is ticking!!! Now my second question….do I bother getting a gift for my 2 year daughter too?
-Geoff (aka Car Negotiation Coach)
No gift required for your 2 year old daughter. This day is about you and your significant other only
[...] [...]
Great article! I agree that the best gift you can give is the gift of time. Try to find something you can do together on your anniversary. What you do can vary depending on your budget, ranging from a long walk on a favourite trail or beach, to a night at the theatre or a weekend getaway.
Geoff