Totorus

Photo credit by mrhayata

There is an old saying that variety is the spice of life. This applies to life after marriage as well as to life before it. Just because you're married doesn't mean that your wife won't enjoy the occasional surprise thrown her way. Even for those times that are tough when money is tight, there are still a number of inexpensive ways that you can throw a little variety into your life.

One idea is to take your wife somewhere that's either free to get into, or which has a fairly cheap admission cost. Second run movie theaters are one idea. The two of you can have the experience of going out to the movies, getting some popcorn, and being together... and it shouldn't cost you more than $10. This same advice applies to public showings of films, which are often put on by local government organizations. Also check the prices for plays in your area, since many of the performances are either cheap or free. The point is to have a night out doing something that you haven't done before for a price that you can afford no matter how tight your budget may be.

Another type of surprise that you can give your wife is to take some time off of work. Not all of us can afford it, but those who can either persuade someone to switch days with you or who have days of paid vacation saved up might want to see what reaction your wife will have to getting some unexpected free time with you. It's a good idea to talk a little bit and to ask what she's doing that day in an oblique fashion. It would sort of ruin the surprise if your wife had appointments she couldn't cancel and you'd just taken the day off to be with her.

A third way that you can surprise your wife without paying a lot for it is to participate in an activity that you know she wants to do together that you've been dragging your feet on. For instance let's say there's a chick flick out that she'd been trying to get you to go see with her, or there's a band that plays down at the beach that you've never really been keen to listen to. Suck it up, bite the bullet, and surprise her by doing something that she won't expect you to do by giving her what she asked for. Who knows, you might surprise yourself by actually enjoying the activity in addition to the free time you spent with your wife.

Of course these are just some starting points. What type of surprise your wife will enjoy most is something that you should know better than anyone else. One last note that should be included; if you know want to set the scene for a romantic surprise, the stage dressing for the event is not very costly. Some rose petals, a few candles, and some incense may go a lot further than the $15 you'll spend might lead you to think at the checkout line.