Recession-proof your relationship
For many, the phrase ‘Go big or go home’ is a guiding principle when it comes to romance. For years, we’ve been brainwashed with the idea that romance is meant to be big: big bouquets, big expensive dinners, big honkin’ diamonds on special occasions.
But with headlines screaming about the bleak economic future and worries about retirement and financial stability foremost in the minds of millions, ‘big’ has become bad. With companies laying off employees and the job market shrinking, how do you rekindle the romance without running through your savings?
It’s a question Nancy Jarecki, owner and founder of Betty Beauty Inc., is unexpectedly in the position to answer. As the creator of Betty, hair dye for the ‘hair down there,’ she found herself inundated with emails from couples, especially men, thanking her for her cute little product. It wasn’t big, it wasn’t expensive, but it certainly brought fun back into the bedroom. (What do guys find romantic?)
So she started asking her clients what they were doing to rekindle the romance, and found the startling answer: Everything was cheap, easy and most of all, effective. Here are her suggestions.
Game time
Whether you want to make this a family event or something for just the two of you, playing a game is a great way to unwind and bond by having fun. Whether it’s a board game, puzzle or card game, played with your kids or after they go to bed (a naughty game of strip hangman, anyone?), the important thing is to play a physical game. “Computer games are forbidden,” Jarecki says. “It has to be an old-fashioned game. A computer is like another person; it’s a distraction. The two of you are not looking at each other or interacting, you’re looking at a third thing.”
Turn off the electronics
CrackBerry addicts, this means you, too. (Break the hold!) “This one was really responded to,” Jarecki says. “We really don’t realise how often we’re distracted by BlackBerrys and computers.” And how sexy is it to constantly be checking a little box that just reminds you of how stressful things are at work? Exactly. That email can wait; you’ve got some romance to rekindle!
Keep it sweet
A little sweet note can go a long way. For best results, hide the note somewhere where your partner won’t find it until later (pockets and wallets are good locations). After all, there’s nothing more powerful than reminding your partner “I love you” when times are tough. “A lot of people, they don’t know if today is going to be the day they hear that they’re going to get laid off,” Jarecki says. “If you write these little notes that say, ’I’m here for you,’ it’s amazing the response you’ll get.”
Rent some romance
Whether you choose to rent from Netflix or a rental store, you can get a new release for less than half the price of one adult movie ticket. “Write out a list of 10 movies each that you guys want to see, and then you create one night, after the kids have gone to bed, and get to pick one movie, off his list or her list, and watch it, rate it and review it,” Jarecki says. Making a standing movie night is something that you both can look forward to, not only to see all those movies you’ve always wanted to see, but to spend a romantic night cuddling on the couch.
