8 Romantic Ideas for the Broke and Lovesick

Romance on a Budget

Many couples dream of romantic get-aways, but just can't afford them. Don't despair! Here are some great romantic ideas you can pull off for a small investment. Some don't cost much at all. Of course, you have to eat, but other than that, the investment is minimal. Here are 8 romantic ideas for the broke and lovesick.

1. A stay-at-home weekend. Plan a quiet weekend together with the phone, TV, computer, and other disturbing devices unplugged. Have food delivered or already cooked, and plan things to satisfy your partner. You can split the weekend so you spend Saturday pampering your partner, and they spend Sunday pampering you, or split morning and afternoon. Whatever you prefer! Be sure to have candles, wine, massage oil, and other romantic tools on hand, and luxuriate in each other's company. Music is allowed, but no TV, computers, or cell phones! Don't even answer the door!

2. Pretend you're strangers, meeting for the first time in a restaurant, bookstore, or on the street. Have an impromptu cup of coffee or glass of wine at a bistro, and ask each other questions about your favorite things. You can either be truthful or make up outrageous stories about your life and background. Now go out for the evening, or go home, and continue the charade. It may be hard to get started, but you'll love it once you get used to the role-playing. If you're both truthful with your "getting to know you" date, you might even learn some new things about each other!

3. A camp out in your back yard or on the roof of your apartment building. Just make sure you check before doing this. Get a two-man tent, or if the weather's warm, snuggle under a blanket on an air mattress. Bring some wine, cheese, bread, and whatever else you'd like to top off the evening. Light a lantern or candles, depending on where you are and what's legal.

4. A camp-out on the beach, with a picnic basket, a blanket under the stars, and a great bonfire.

5. A camping trip to the woods, with the tall pines watching over your campfire at night. Don't forget plenty of good camp fire food like steaks or marinated fish, marshmallows, mountain pies, wine, bread, etc.