Make a savings goal.

As a couple one of the most important things you can do is make a savings goal. Maybe you want to take an awesome vacation, or purchase new patio furniture. Anything that is not a normal purchase would be a great thing to save for. You can put money in a jug or dedicate so much from each pay check to reach the goal. Keep a tote board up in your house to show how close you are to reaching your goal. Make sure to keep the money safe and in a hard to get place so that you don't just get into it anytime you desire something. Once you finally reach your goal then you can celebrate by purchasing the thing that both of your desire. When picking your treasure make sure to pick something the both of you can use. Don't pick a big screen tv for him to watch the games on and don't pick a new vanity table for her to get ready in the morning. Sharing is one of the secrets to staying healthy as a couple. Not to mention the rewards are so much sweeter when you have someone to enjoy them with. Start stocking back the change now I think I hear Hawaii calling the two of you.

Gifts?

I had a reader respond that they were a little miffed with their husband and the gifts they he purchases for her for their anniversary, birthday, and Christmas. Her concern was that she got things that were useful instead of things that were sentimental. I hate to generalize because everyone is different but most men like getting things that they will use such as sports equipment, tools, or electronic devices. This flows over into their own gift giving ideas, while you think a sweeper would be a horrible gift, in the typical man's mind a new sweeper would be great as it would help get things done better and faster. Men don't on the surface think about how sentimental gifts can be. Plus they don't listen very well when you are dropping hints. If you say "Oh I like that" as you pass something in the mall, he thinks you just kinda like the item and doesn't store it into his memory bank. Women if you want your man to really know what you like you need to be very straight forward. Lead them over to the item and make them look at it with you for a while, then say "That would make a lovely gift, I would love to have it someday" Now you man will store that as a direct gift to give you. Ladies watch how your man looks at things he wants to have, it is very clear when he wants something, you have to be that straight forward with him. Once you get him thinking about getting you presents that don't have a purpose then you might begin to see him branch out and start doing a better job of pick out presents on his own. One last note, when you do get something that you truly want, make a big deal about it, cry, jump up and down, hug and kiss him with passion because those are images he wants you to do when he gives you a gift. This will make sure the next time he goes out to get you a present, he will be looking for one that gets the same reaction. If a vacuum is what you really want however try to contain yourself when you open it because if you go crazy, you might just get a new model of vacuum every year.

How much effort are you putting into your relationship?

Have you ever stooped to wonder how much effort you are putting into your relationship. Shouldn't it be one of the top things on your list as far as time and effort? Think about it for a minute and calculate how much time you spend preparing or working on your relationship. I bet your start to see that you are spending more time working out or surfing the Internet then you are at thinking of ways to better your relationship. Kids with standing, your partner should be the most important person in your life. Friends and Family can be a close second but your partner should be the be all end all. Think about it this way, who are you going to be with when the kids grow up and you retire to that special destination? Show where should you be putting your time to get the most for your return? Chew on that the next time you don't think you have time to pick up something special, or do something nice for your lover.

Bank Notes

Here is a cute little way to tell you partner you care about them. Simply write it somewhere they will not expect it. Like in their check register or on a sticky note put on their credit card. You need to find something that they use quite often, yet most likely won't use with you around. On their car dashboard, send it to their work email (If that won't get them in trouble), write it on their water bottle, or slip a note in their workout shoes. By doing this they get the message you really care about them even when they are not around. Just make sure someone else can't find the message. Your partner might be pretty embarrassed if they hand something to the bank teller that says "I Love You" on it.