Love, Family

3 Romantic But Inexpensive Holiday Gift Ideas

3 Romantic But Inexpensive Holiday Gift Ideas [EXPERT]

Holiday gift giving doesn't have to be fancy or expensive to be romantic. Go that extra mile this season to give gifts that nourish romance and create greater connection as a couple.

1. Gifts with fuzzy textures encourage you to snuggle. It is amazing how people naturally are drawn to soft textures. Give your sweetie a fuzzy throw and a basket with some favorite DVDs and popcorn. Include a card that says, "Gift certificate for an evening of movies and snuggle time."

The cool thing about this kind of gift is that when your sweetheart uses the throw to stay warm when you're not around, he or she will immediately be reminded of snuggling with you on movie night, such that the energy of that memory will wrap around your beloved just as tangibly as that fuzzy wrap. It's a wonderful way to stay connected and top of mind.

Cashmere sweaters and other fuzzy clothing items are also great gifts to keep your sweetheart warm and feeling sexy. One of my female clients commented, "I wear a black cashmere sweater on blind dates and am always amazed at how my dates linger in the initial hug when I greet them. I don't know if it is because I feel so deliciously sexy in cashmere and they sense that and are drawn to me, or if it is that they just love the sensation of being hugged by a woman in cashmere, all warm, sexy and cuddly. I don't quite get the same response when I'm not wearing soft and fuzzy clothing."

2. Scentual gifts awaken romance. Forget all the expensive and synthetic fragrances that are not only often expensive but are also toxic. Instead, opt for organic scents in the form of essential oils added to bath salts or lotions. Most health food stores have a wide variety of naturally scented products. Include a hand made card "gift certificate for romantic bath for two," or "gift certificate for a massage by me with this lotion."  

Also, natural soy candles with essential oil scents are wonderfully romantic gift for both men and women. Men tend to prefer the more woodsy scents like sandleweood, pine or cinnamon, while women tend to prefer more floral and citrus scents such as lavendar, orange, geranium or jasmine. The scents of soy candles tend to be more subtle so that they are not so overwhelming to those who are sensitive to scents.

3. Experiential gifts can enhance romance. Shared experiences that are fun and challenge both of you to step out of comfort zones can draw you closer to create greater romance and excitement in the relationship. Salsa dance lessons can challenge the two of you to connect with the sexiness of sensual dance and music. Check out local dance schools and also a lot of local coffee shops and restaurants give free salsa lessons with purchase of coffee or a meal. It's a fun way to learn something new together.

A gift of a weekend getaway to a bed and breakfast can be really fun during the holidays. Although most lodging is more expensive during the holiday season, services like Home Away and Airbnb.com have a bounty of inexpensive yet beautiful spaces for holiday getaway trips. The key is to tune out the world. Turn off the cell phone and connection to family, work and other things while you are on your get away.

Be a kid again and try something fun that you haven't done for ages, like ice skating, rollerblading together, or visiting a carnival. The wonderful part about experiential gifts is that they create the opportunities to discover new facets of each other to keep interest high and romance well nourished.

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