Romance ideas for when gas hits $5 a gallon!

A lot of people say that the romance has faded in the relationship. Others say they aren't sure how to be romantic. Still others say they don't have the funds available for romantic gestures. Truth is, though, being romantic can come in so many shapes, sizes, and dollar amounts.

It's all about showing your partner you care.

So, here are some completely free (yes, free!) ideas for couples who are on a fixed budget:

1) Write a short but sweet email in the middle of the day. Say what is on your mind: that you were thinking of your partner and wanted to let them know.

2) If you get home before your partner, pour them a glass of ice water, soda, juice, etc and have it ready for them when they walk in the door. If they ask why, simply explain you wanted to do something nice for them.

3) Do something around the house that your partner usually does. If/when they notice you have done it, explain you thought they deserved a break from that chore today. If they don't notice, you should probably take note yourself that maybe your partner is overworked or busy. Don't get upset they didn't notice; just tell yourself you did something kind and feel good about yourself.

4) Leave a post-it note on the bathroom mirror. Any cute phrase will do. ("Thinking of you," "Love you," etc.) If you have a good sense of humor, write it as though you are the mirror ("Looking good, hot stuff," "Here's looking at you, kid," etc.) There's nothing like a good smile or laugh first thing in the morning!

5) It may sound crazy, but you can try telling your partner you want to do something nice for them and asking them, "What can I do right now to show you how much I love you?" At this point, you may want to expect your partner to either faint or look at you in a suspicious manner, wondering what kind of trick this is. Just stay with it. You'd be surprised how romantic this can be...and you never know what they will pick! (Just make sure you are willing to do what they ask. It's not cool to put this out there and then say, "No, I don't really want to do that right now...")

Try 'em out and let me know what works!