The holidays can be a stressful time when trying to balance out shopping for gifts, attending parties, baking, cooking, decorating, and trying to spend time with your sweetheart. Here are a few tips to get that quality time together and make a romantic date out of it while saving money.

1) Go shopping together
Save money on gas by doing your holiday shopping for friends and relatives together. Have an early dinner. Lunch menus are typically much less expensive than dinner at restaurants. There are always numerous places to eat near shopping centers. Try to get as much shopping done in the one day. This will free up more time later. Note: DO NOT buy your sweetheart’s gift! Instead, use this time to see what they may be wanting.

2) Do your holiday baking together.
A good way to see how compatible you are with someone is by working together. Cookies are a good way to go because they are simple to make and you can talk while decorating them.

3) Decorate and wrap gifts together
Make a nice home cooked meal. Remember you already spent money on gifts, so save money by eating in. Try your hand at a new ethnic recipe. Put a movie on or your favorite holiday music. If you have a fireplace, light some logs. Wrap the presents you bought together. Make decorations together. Make a bowl of popcorn but instead of eating it make a garland for the tree. Help each other with all of those holiday cards.

There are numerous ways to enjoy the holidays together while being frugal. Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you have to over spend. Be creative. The best and most romantic memories are the ones you create yourself. Happy Holidays!

-Written by Therese Binder