When was the last time you really splurged on your spouse? We don’t seem to have a problem splurging on our children when they do something fantastic, or on a best friend or someone who has helped us out a great deal. But how often do we take the time or money or effort to pour it on the one we are married to OR someone we are engaged to?
Some couples are able to splurge on each other all the time. But having always lived on a pastor’s salary, we’ve never been able to splurge regularly on each other, especially when it comes to spending money. Thankfully, splurging on each other doesn’t have to take a lot of money. You can splurge by being creative and working with what you have. That’s why we want to teach you how to get her high on a cheap splurge during “tight budget” weeks.
BE CREATIVE: Spend more time instead of money. Splurging on the one you love implies going the extra mile, whether it is effort-wise, financially, sacrificially or better still your time. You are giving beyond what you normally would because the one you love is priceless. To splurge on each other does not mean heaping material blessings on your spouse, although you might take that approach once in a great while. Here are ways you can splurge on each other when money is tight:
- Save it Up – You can both have a ‘’kolo’’ (piggy bank) together and targeting a day that will be less stressful for both of you e.g. Valentine’s day, weekends etc. Then every Valentine’s Day you break and take the entire contents of the ‘’kolo’’ and spend it on a special date for the two of you. It will be worth it at the end.
- Whip it Up – It’s been said that the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. But cooking for your wife might melt her heart as well. Plan an evening to whip up your spouse’s favorite dish or dessert. No matter how funny the looks or how awful the taste. It’s a wonderful way to say: “You were worth the time this took to prepare.”
- Give it Up – How long has it been since your husband or wife had a day off to themselves? Try giving up something you need to do to offer your spouse some much needed time to relax or work on a project they’ve really wanted to complete. Take the kids for an evening or take back the “to do” list on a Saturday and say “this one’s yours…do whatever you want to do and enjoy it as a gift from me.” Drop your garment of pride and be used for a day. It won’t kill you.
- Write it Out – ‘’Wao, a LETTER???!!!!’’Asking if we are kidding? No!! We are not. Remember what it was like to receive a love letter? There’s nothing quite like it. Yes, firing off a text from your phone is easier, but a hand-written letter is DEEP, much more personal. There’s something about seeing your spouse’s own handwriting, laugh over it and being able to keep that slip of paper. Write out what is on your heart. If you haven’t said it in awhile, it should be said about now, don’t you think?
- Dole it Out – I am a husband who loves to splurge on his wife. I don’t have a lot of money to spend as we are trying to raise three children in a small, rural town. But I knew how to spoil my wife with love, attention and praise. Today, my children will tell you “Dad spoiled Mom. I’d do anything and everything for her.” That is the legacy I want to leave behind as I have spent 49 years of marriage not having the privilege to spoil her to an expensive dinner. Are you leaving a legacy of being one who splurged on your spouse with love, attention and praise?
- Plan it Out – Sometimes the best gift we can give our spouse is our time. Are you a couple that are often over-scheduled? Take some intentional time off just to be with each other. Or better yet, plan a date and take your spouse as a surprise. It could be as simple as lunch out and a walk in the park to reconnect. If you’re the busy type, taking time for the one you love is a splurge that may be much appreciated.
- Pour it On – There’s nothing like extending grace when your spouse deserved a lecture instead. I’ll never forget the day I opened up another notice by mail of a red-light traffic violation. The others had just been cleared from my record. My face went white and my husband, upon realizing what it was, shook his head in resignation and handed over a rebate check he had just endorsed which would now be applied to my latest ticket! I stood there stunned at his composure, and humbled. I knew that my reaction toward him (if he had been the one receiving the fine) wouldn’t have been nearly as gracious as his toward me. I learned that day what it really means to receive undeserved kindness. Take him by surprise too.
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