Love cheap thrills? 5 low-cost anniversary ideas your partner would love

A cosy dinner at home, watching a play or comedy performance — we tell you ways to celebrate that special day in your life.

It doesn’t matter if you have been married for five or fifty years, everyone likes to make their better half feel special on their anniversary.

After a few years pass by, spending some quality time together becomes more important than giving gifts to each other. At the same time, many like to keep their finances in mind, so that they don’t end up going overboard.

So, here are a few thoughtful and cost-effective things you can do for your partner to make them feel special:

1. Dinner

Skip the expensive fine dining restaurants that end up leaving a hole in your pocket and dissatisfied with what you got. Instead, cook a scrumptious meal at home and spruce it up with tastefully done dim lighting, some candles and other accompaniments. Stock up the fridge with the poison of your choice and enjoy an intimate meal.

A study by the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships published in 2016 says that holding on to romantic beliefs is linked with higher levels of satisfaction in relationships.

So go ahead and get ready for that candlelight dinner.

2. Fitness fun

Then again, instead of stuffing yourselves silly, how about getting fit? Even if it is just for a day or two.

Plan a weekend where both of you go hiking, or a trek, a long walk or maybe all of these and more. A mini-backpack with water bottles and some snacks is all that you might need to take along.

A 2015 study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that couples who workout help their partners keep their fitness goals and also the satisfaction level on an even keel.

3. Movie night

Popcorn for Rs 200? A hot dog for Rs 150? And movie tickets for 400 bucks? Save yourself all that unnecessary spending and download some movies and watch them with your partner at home.

Switch off the lights, order some Chinese (or tandoori or Italian, whatever you feel like) and snuggle up to watch a rom-com or that classic horror movie.

Netflix and chill isn’t a bad idea for your anniversary, if you know what we mean! (Shutterstock)

4. Dinner deals

You don’t have to completely junk eating out. Search for special dinner deals and discounts at some good restaurants and then zero in on the ones that you would like to visit together. You get to have good food and do all of it at a reasonable price.

5. Catch a free show

There are lots of options to choose from — slam poetry, stand-up comedy, music. And most of these open mikes, movie screenings and other performances are free. You don’t need to dish out the money, you get to go out and enjoy a few hours of performance.

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