Romance during recession

I recently read an interesting MSNBC article about the effects of economic recession on relationships. Not surprisingly, divorce rates go up during recessions. Considering that finance holds a firm place as one of the top things couples fight about, this is even less surprising.

However, I happen to know 2 couples personally whose struggles with their layoff, jobs, and finances have made them stronger as a couple. So how did they do it?

The key is to focus on what is important. Yes, it is important to have a roof over your head. Yes, it's important to have food on the table. But a person has to pick and choose their battles. Is it really worth yelling at your wife for buying an $8 sweater (assuming it's not the last $8 to your name)? Is it really worth berating your husband in public for wishing for a television for his birthday? (Yes, I have seen the latter and I wanted to yell at the woman for being such a mean-spirited harpy.)

Sometimes a little consideration goes a long way- this is especially true in relationships.

So maybe the wife in the above scenario couldn't afford to buy him a television. What could she do instead? Maybe arrange so he could go to a bar to watch his favorite game on the big screen with his buddies. So many times, we focus on the things we can get for someone rather than the actions we can do to give back to them.

Can't afford to go on vacation? Make a vacation at home. Set up beach chairs in the livingroom, make pina coladas, and take a romantic bath together (hey, it's almost like a hot tub or hot spring!) Can't afford to go out for a date? Make a date night. Cook something the other person likes and watch a movie or play a board game.

There are some things money can't buy and one of those is your time. It is that time, and a little consideration, that can make romance flourish when it seems everything else is scaling backwards. :)