Ask the Readers – How Much to Spend on a Milestone?
My finance and I will be marking a milestone soon - the five-year anniversary of our first date (and the one-year anniversary of our engagement) is approaching - and I’m conflicted about what is the “appropriate” and “allowable” amount to spend celebrating such a personal landmark (especially since I just recieved my tax return and my annual bonus arrives early next month!).
I am in charge of this year’s festivities (for our engagement last year, he coordinated a romantic weekend get-away that included a road trip and stay at a bed & breakfast). I’m not sure if I should meet (or exceed) the bar set by last year’s festivities, or if I should go with a simple, romantic home-cooked meal. In the past I would have engineered a spare-no-expense weekend in Chicago or Minneapolis, complete with swanky dinner and pricey entertainment, but that clearly doesn’t suit my new, money-conscious mindset. I am finding it difficult to negotiate the middle ground between untra-frugal and blowing my budget.
What have the frugal-minded folks out there done to mark a significant anniversary or milestone?
Leave your ideas in the comments section and I’ll let you know what I decide to do (and the budget) once the date is upon us.
Stumble it!
February 24th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I think that a great gift would be a “certificate” for an activity for your honeymoon or something of the like. That’s frugal (for now) but could make some aspect of your honeymoon more memorable. A swim with dolphins, a massage, a romantic dinner…
February 24th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
There are a lot of ways to be romantic without worrying too much about money (as in being frugal but not thinking cheap). Since you’re in debt and such it’s sort of an investment in your future to be romantic and yet not overspend.
If you can cook well, I’d save up for some top-notch ingredients.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:27 am
I think that our society wants you to think you have to spend a lot of money to celebrate special occasions, when it’s just not true!
My husband and I celebrated our 6-month wedding anniversary with a nice dinner at home and a romantic evening spent in front of the fireplace. It was much better than spending hundreds of dollars on a weekend get-away! Just as romantic, no stress of driving, spending tons of money, etc.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I’ve never been engaged, so I’m not talking from experience, however I’ll add my two cents.
I wouldn’t exceed your engagement weekend, if you exceed your engagement event this year, what about next year and the following year. You’ll have to keep topping the previous year, which not only financially but mentally can become a big strain.
I’d plan to do something very nice and romantic, such as cooking at home, but make it special and memorable, by going out of your way with time or activity etc. I think far too often we think grand jesters have to cost significant money, personally its the less expensive jesters that really touch the heart the most.
February 25th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I always think that having a meal delivered (and yes, I do like pizza) is terribly romantic. It can be like breakfast in bed!
Do you have any place nearby with a beautiful trail you can walk on or a historic part of town you can walk around in or something like that. Walk around holding hands and then come home to hot chocolate or a hot shower or whatever.
Or you can get things ready like meals in the fridge, DVDs to pop in, books to read aloud to each other, and just sleep in late and do whatever you want for a whole weekend.
Another idea is to re-do something from your first date. Go to the same restaurant or movie theater or hang with the same friends. Or eat the same kind of food or see the same kind of movie if you were far away from where you are now. Or if that date wasn’t actually good, do something that’s the opposite of it.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I think Debbie nailed it with “re-do something from your first date”
As long as that wasn’t shooping with your Credit Cards that would be great. Soon you will have your wedding then your anniversary to remember…and guys suck at anything more then thay. Especially when kids come into it and you have to remember an every widening pool of dates!
By all means mark the date, but don’t set a precedent for the poor lad
Enjoy!
February 26th, 2008 at 11:19 am
nothing says “I love you Honey” like an UNO’s frozen pizza they fly them in fed-ex (I’m not sure how close you are to chicago) and a nice movie at home(something he would like maybe and action adventure). You can make a nice salad while the pizza is cooking. Most guys like simple, with a little fancy on top… i.e. Uno’s and nice bottle of wine… yummy!!!!