Anniversary gift ideas

[merilenda]

Hi, ladies! So I know I'm not technically a LIW anymore, but this is about a dating anniversary, so I thought posting here would be okay. Since FI and I are not married yet (obviously) we are still celebrating our 3 year dating anniversary, which is one week from today. I could use some major LIW inspiration on gift ideas. He says I'm going to "really like" my present, so I'm feeling a little guilty that I haven't thought of anything to give him yet.

Basically, we both graduated from grad school in May, and we're still in the transitional period looking for jobs. This equates to us being really tight on money right now. We're also moving at the end of the month (not sure where yet). So I'm wondering if you have some gift ideas that are very budget-friendly. Since we're moving in a couple of weeks, I don't want to add any bulky items either. Ideally, maybe an activity (versus a physical item) might work well, but I'm having trouble coming up with ideas.

I don't mind making something for the sentimental value, but since we're both home all the time, I won't be able to hide a major project from him.

Thanks in advance for the help! I definitely still hang around LIW a lot. Since we're waiting for our living/financial situation to stabilize before we do major wedding planning (or set a date), I still don't really feel like a bride. So I definitely still identify a lot with you ladies over here.

 

[beezygal]

how 'bout make him a very good dinner? handmade some heart-shaped chocolate/cookies. My bf always say "why is everything you make always in heart-shape...." Anyways, it's cheap, meaningful and yummy.

 

[PavePrincess]

I made my fiance (still sounds weird) a scrapbook for Christmas and he loves it! But since you live together, what about a photobook on Shutterfly? Those come out great and it's something you can both enjoy in the years to come.

I still hang out in the LIW forum as well. Since, I'm not getting married for 2+ years I really don't feel like a bride yet. Plus, I want updates on everyone's progress! I'm sure you'll figure out something great! Good luck!

 

[beezygal]

good to see you paveprincess. How's your lovely bling bling doing?

 

[PavePrincess]

It's doing great! The only thing that kind of bothers me is that it gets caught on a lot of stuff.. but I think I may just be clumsy?! I've been lurking here.. waiting for your ring updates! I can't wait to see it!

So, before I got engaged I used to get a little "sunken" feeling whenever I heard of yet another friend getting engaged.. Now, I get that same feeling whenever I see that someone has either gotten married or has booked a venue. I mean I'm REALLY happy for them, I just wish it was me.. you know??

Sorry Merilenda for thread jacking! Keep us updated on your present choice!

 

[Luckyeshe]

I think that the home cooked meal or the scrapbook would be great ideas. Have you thought about doing a day out? Some local things might not be that expensive like doing a picnic at a local park or visiting some local museums, if he's into stuff like that.

 

[princesss]

I can't suggest what we do highly enough: take a staycation/minibreak/day together. Go hiking, take cheesy tours of your town, but take time off and do something fun together. Get away from the phone, the computer, everything and just focus on being together. It's the single best gift we've given ourselves, so we give it often - Christmas, anniversaries, and birthdays are reasons to give us time with each other. Neither of us likes to buy stuff just to get stuff, and this frees us up to do gifts when we find something perfect for each other instead of just getting something because an important date is coming up.

 

[merilenda]

Beezy - I thought about cooking a dinner, although he cooked this super fancy dinner for me for Valentine's Day this year. So I didn't want to do the exact same thing. It definitely is a great idea, because I loved it when he did it. I like the heart-shaped cookie idea. I love everything heart-shaped, too! Any updates on your coming engagement?

PP - A photobook would be very cool! I'm actually do some of my own photography. I've been realizing lately that I have so few pictures of us together. We definitely need to take more pictures of ourselves. Don't even worry about threadjacking, I'm happy to hear an update from you! Where are you in the planning process?

Luckyeshe - I totally love the picnic idea! It's like the homecooked meal with a twist. That's giving me some ideas, definitely.

Princesss - I totally agree on buying stuff just to get stuff! I'm very sentimental with gift-giving. I think my ideal gift would be a surprise trip/vacation.

Thanks for getting me started with some ideas!

 

[beezygal]

I dunno when it will be. Maybe when my mom's back from her vacation.

 

[monarch64]

Something to do with the number 3 comes to mind...maybe 3 courses of a meal he really likes, or 3 movies (rented or PPV) he likes, or 3 fun t-shirts from your favorite funny t-shirt store? I'd incorporate the number 3 somehow, I think. I love princesss's idea of taking a staycation as well! Good luck, and happy anniversary!

 

[getting excited]

Are there any outdoor concert venues where you are? What about outdoor movies? It would be fun to surprise with a little night time picnic! Pack some wine, cheese, ans a blanket and you are good to go!

 

[4ever]

I have been a student the the majority of BF and my relationship which means having little to no money for birthdays, christamas etc.

I have printed out photos we have taken on holiday together and put them together in a big frame (I've done one for our Paris trip and one for our time in London and a mini one for our mini trip around Northland New Zealand), I have made him massive elaborate cakes, handmade choclate truffles, all his favourate baked goods and roast dinners, I have hunted down a book he wanted in good shape at a 2nd hand book store and written a very loving message in the frount of it for him, I have made him a Christmas stocking from scratch and fulled it with treats for under $20, I'm sure I have painted him somthing at one time or another, I have taken him on little trips out to spend time together and packed a picnic lunch and probably a lot more I can't currently think of.

I think doing somthing meaningful for a gift on the cheap is just about using whatever skills you have and probably putting more time into somthing then money.

 

[merilenda]

Monarch - I like your 3 idea, I never even thought of something like that. I might plan 3 little surprises. A picnic lunch and two other things (if I can get it worked out!)

GE - It's funny you mention that, because I was looking into outdoor movies. We live about 30 minutes from a large-ish city, and on the city's website, I found a list of free events. I actually found free outdoor movie showings, but they only do them on Friday nights. The anniversary is Wednesday, so I'd either have to do it early or late. But you can bring food/alcohol, as long as there's no glass. So that'd be fun!

4ever - FI has been a student the whole time we've been together, and I have the last two years. I'm a meaningful gift-type person, I just feel like I'm running out of ideas!

I think I'm going to definitely go with the picnic idea. We haven't done that before - I just need to figure out where would be a good place to go. I'll look for a cheapie basket, get a bottle of wine, cheese, sausage, grapes. I think I can do that for pretty low-cost, especially since my local grocery store always has blocks of fancy cheese on clearance. And I'm sure I can get an okay bottle of Riesling or something for ~$10. It will definitely involve putting our diet on hold for the day.

I would like to make a homemade dessert to go with it, but I don't think I can get him out of the house to do it without him knowing. Oh well, maybe I'll just tell him I'm making a dessert for our anniversary. At least that alone won't spoil the picnic idea.

I was going to merge some of your different ideas, ladies, and do a three-event type deal. The picnic being one, the free outdoor movie being the second thing, and a tour of a brewery being the third. We really like this local brewery (about 30 minutes from here) and they offer free tours, but you have to make reservations. And they are totally booked. So I might just go with the picnic thing, but we'll see. LIW have such good ideas!

 

[merilenda]

Oh my gosh, even my picnic lunch isn't working out! But for a good reason. I ended up getting a job interview FOR THAT DAY at the place where I did an internship last year, and one of us really really really needs a job. I ran it by him before I called my old supervisor back, and he was like "are you kidding? Do the interview that day!" Not like it will take all day, but from where we live right now, it's going to involve some driving. Plus I don't exactly want to go to my interview intoxicated after drinking wine at our picnic lunch. So I told him that we might be doing my gift the day before.

I'm admittedly kind of a perfectionist, so it bothers me to not do it on the right day, but I think it will work out fine!

Oh and any job dust you can offer, would be fantastic. FI and I are having a heck of a time finding post-grad school jobs in this market. Thanks ladies!