Marriage can be tough enough, but the recession is making it even more difficult for working professionals to stay together.
As more workers focus on out-of-state jobs, more couples are being forced to live separate lives. Are you and your better half apart more often now? Don’t resign yourself to a life of loneliness. Here are a few frugal tips for strengthening your marriage, even when you’re miles apart.
1. Think of the little things. Invent a holiday all your own commemorating the day you met, your first kiss or even the first time that you said “I love you,” and send your sweetheart a Hallmark card (Stock Quote: CRWN) for $3.45, plus 45 cents for the stamp. Too pricey? Wal-Mart (Stock Quote: WMT) carries Hallmark Value Cards that cost as little as 48 cents. Remember, it’s the thought that counts.
2. Be dramatic. People say you can’t put a price tag on love but, chances are, if you moved somewhere else to find work, spending $79.99 for a bouquet of roses is not going to work. Impress your partner with a Lovopoly Gamesheet. Though it is patterned after the world famous Monopoly game, you can customize it with photos, love notes and reminiscences of your time together for as little as $19.95.
3. Take advantage of technology. Cell phones help lovers keep in touch, but those sweet nothings can cost you. You can get a 450 minute plan for as little as $40 a month. However, if you go over your minutes (as lovers often do), you could end up paying 35 to 40 cents per minute for each additional minute of sweet talking.
Then again, sweet nothings can be whispered for almost no cost online. Internet communications systems such as Skype and Yahoo! VoIP (Stock Quote: YHOO) enable users to dial landlines and mobile phones through their computer for as little as 1 cent per minute. Moreover, Skype has a video chat function, allowing users to see each other as they talk. And if you both have Skype, video chatting is free.
