Anniversary on a Budget

Updated on October 12, 2012
E.S. asks from Hackettstown, NJ
11 answers

Hi everyone. Sunday is my sixth anniversary and I am at a loss for a gift because I am currently unemployed. My husband usually outdoes himself for me, and I feel pressured to do the same.

He reallly loves Omaha steaks so I was thinking of a small assortment of them, except they won't get here in time. Though I can pick up a nice piece of steak and say it's a "place holder."

The other option is a couple's massage which would be well over $100.

He teases me about being thrifty but I always say that I'm this way because I'm unemployed and responsible.

So steaks or massage?

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So What Happened?

@lily: I want to keep it under $100, definitely!
@Lucy: I am not the cook in the family, which is why I would order the steaks, which I don't eat because I'm a vegetarian :-)

Featured Answers

T.N.

answers from Albany on

Geez, for a hundred bucks get a sitter and go out together for a medium priced dinner. Enjoy each other's company, that's the best gift of all, right?

:)

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L.M.

answers from New York on

Neither. I don't understand why couples think they need to get each other gifts for their anniversery, especially if they're on a strict budget.

Hubby and I just celebrated our 20th anniversery. We went away for a long weekend with our girls, we also went to our favorite restaurant which is quite pricey. To us it's about spending time togehter and celebrating our union, not about some gift.

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L.M.

answers from Cleveland on

we tried a couples massage this summer, have to say it creeped me out. DH had an old wrinklly lady massaging him and i had a young male punk with multiple peircings giving me a rub down. It was just hard to relax because i was aware of DH the whole time. He actually started snoring super loud at one point, and I did something like rolling to the right when punky dude whispered in my ear to roll left. and so he had to correct me and Im sure Dh was thinking she never does listen and always gets her left and right mixed up, lol.

maybe it was just that we weren't in the best facility and didn't have the most professional massuses.

I'd be all about the steak.

and I think $100 is plenty for an anniversery gift. Is that considered cheap???

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R.M.

answers from Cumberland on

6th Wedding Anniversary
Traditional Gifts: Candy or Iron
Modern Gifts: Wood

Use your imagination-hand him some M&M's, "iron" his shirts and tell him you "wood" like to go out for an expensive dinner!

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

We don't buy each other gifts for our anniversary. I'm his gift, and he is mine:)

Personally I love Theresa's idea about getting a sitter and going out to a nice dinner. Maybe throw in a nice piece of lingerie for when you get home.

Happy Anniversary

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I highly doubt, being you are unemployed, that your Husband will expect a gift from you, much less anything expensive.
If he does, then that is selfish and self-centered of him.
He knows you are unemployed.
I would not run yourself broke, over it.

I am a SAHM, I work part-time, I ain't rich, and my Husband does not expect me to buy him expensive gifts, much less a gift period.
If he ever teased me about being thrifty, about anything, He KNOWS I would tell him off. Because, that is callous. And at least my Husband has the common sense to know why, I am thrifty. And geez, we have 2 kids.

Make your Husband a handmade card.
If he teases you about it, let him read my response here.

The monetary amount of a gift... has NO bearing in the value of it.

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L.F.

answers from Chicago on

Why don't you just pick up some nice steaks from Costco (if you don't have a membership, ask one of your friends who does to go with you), cook your husband a wonderful dinner and his favorite dessert, and give him a massage after dinner? It will cost you $50 :-)

If your husband is outdoing himself with your gifts while you are unemployed, I would say that's probably not the best thing for the family budget. Maybe you should tell him that you don't want expensive anniversary gifts, but you want the peace of mind knowing that your finances are okay. Good luck, and happy anniversary!

ETA: LOL! I can see why you wouldn't want to cook the steaks! Okay, then how about forwarding him the confirmation e-mail for the pending Omaha Steaks delivery and then giving him the massage :-)

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S.N.

answers from Chicago on

One year I made a funny coupon book for my husband for our anniversary. You can put anything in it--" I'll pick up your socks for a week", sexual favors, cooking favors, Saturday morning sleep in coupon. I did mine with funny pictures from magazines or the Internet. I had about 20 coupons in it. He showed it to all our friends and loved it!

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T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

Have you ever tried to cook him a steak? That is if you are ok with it. He would love it. You can get a sitter and make him a steak dinner. Also, have some wine and fun games ;) You may need to plan this for next weekend so it is not a work night. Do you have a firepit? You can sit together outside by the fire, it is so relaxing :) Or take a bubble bath together, but set up snacks and wine, candles etc.

Happy Anniversary!!

ps. sometimes a basket of his favorites reminds him that you still know what he likes ;) even if it is just his favorite soda/beer, snacks, candy ....

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

You could pick up a less expensive piece of steak (less than Omaha)
from the grocery store & grill it like you would a Portabelo Mushroom.
(just trying to find a veggie-comparison).

The couple's massage would probably be pricey.

What if you do a bunch of his favorite things? Go to the driving range
w/him or buy him a some new golf balls if he golfs. (buy the brand he
has in his golf bag.).

I think being thrifty is great! How about buying him his favorite drink (wine
or 6-pack of beer etc).

Give him a back massage yourself.

Write him a list of 10 reasons why you love him.

S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I took my husband for a couples massage this past summer. We went to a nice hotel with a spa, and spent most of the day hanging out eating spa snacks and reading in the mineral pool. It was about $160, but we are covered for $500 in massages a year per person on our health plan. We both enjoyed it a great deal. Check out your medical benefits, maybe you're covered for some massage.

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