Works for Me- Being Cheap AND In Love!

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine's Day, etc. ... So many chances for my hubby and me to show our adoration for each other by giving the perfect gifts. It seems, however, that there is never much money left over to spend on each other!

Over the years, we've come up with some inexpensive yet wonderful gifts. I have been on the receiving end of some gifts that I wouldn't trade for ginormous diamonds!

One year for my birthday when it seemed I had a zillion little children and was overwhelmed and exhausted, Scott committed to doing all the laundry for a year. (I took the job back after a month or so of shrunken clothes, but it meant the world that he was willing!)

For our tenth anniversary, I started scouting ebay for vintage postcards of places we've lived or vacationed. I framed them inexpensively and wrote out memories of our times at those locations. We've decorated our half-bath with the framed postcards and prints and they look great! I now add to the collection each Christmas.

The gift he gave me that same anniversary is one of my favorite possessions on earth. He wrote out memories from each year that we'd been married, compiled them, and had a title page which read, "1994-2004...The Best Years Of My Life". I can still cry reading it. He included details of our first house that I'd completely forgotten and his feelings about the birth of our children. (I know you want an excerpt, don't you?? "She was a miracle to behold, and I am so proud of you for being brave and strong and bearing her for me." Another line, "We share these memories, and no one can ever fully understand how big these little things are to us.")

One year when we were completely broke, his gift to me was the promise to bring a glass of water to me in bed every night for the rest of my life. It is now several years later, and he does it every night! It is daily reminder of his servant's heart and his love for me. And when he is out of town, getting myself that little glass of water reminds me of the incredible guy I'm missing.

A certain creative "gift" I gave earned me points for ages, but I won't go into details here! ;)

My favorite and most frequent (although currently long overdue) gift from Scott is a simple love letter. You wouldn't know it by reading his blog (Honey, I Fed The Kids), but he really can be amazingly romantic and knows just the right words my weary heart might need.

I'd love to hear if you have any cheap-o gift ideas I can steal from you!

For lots more Works-For-Me-Wednesday ideas, visit Rocks in my Dryer.