Normally my parents take our boys overnight, every Sun and Wed. They take them to school the next day and pack them lunches, so this means my hubby and I are free both nights with no kids. This has been going on for ages, since they were born, and sometimes they even stay over there on Saturdays! Thank goodness for my parents, we have had it pretty nice all these years. But the downside to this is what my DH and I usually do for our "date nights". This is the full disclosure part-gets interesting now.. Well we live in Colorado and anyone who lives here or has been to visit has probably heard of our gambling casinos. It's in a town called Blackhawk and these casinos have been a constant downfall of ours. In the past we have gone up there sometimes two times a week! They have poker which is fun and sometimes we can play for hours and leave with our money plus some. But that is not always the case. So our plan together is to stop going up there. This is harder than you think because on average our life's are centered around this house. We work from home, all day, don't eat out much, don't go to the movies much, etc. We are ALWAYS at home! In the past this has been our night out. Well this has to stop so we have implemented a NO BLACKHAWK plan. But we still struggle with it because we get bored. So tonight was our date night and around 6:30 DH was bored and wanted to get out the house, so we went to McDonalds and got an ice cream cone, then went to Borders book store and browsed around, we bought one board game for our boys, it was 50% off so it was $16.29 or so, total for our date night $19.29. So far so good. We at least got out of the house and didn't go gambling. Now to make up for some of those "urges" we did setup a sort of budget for online poker, and that's our entertainment now. But we really need to find another hobby. Something where we get out and move and get out of this house. We're still looking so we will take any suggestions you have. I know our money is better spent getting out of debt and putting it in savings, so thats why I need full disclosure, list every penny I spend here so everyone can see our progress or lack of it and help keep me accountable. I have to remember how good it will feel each month to have no debt.
A toast to:
No more gambling date nights! And to finding something more constructive to do with our time.
Full disclosure
February 11th, 2008 at 03:47 am
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Some suggestions:
- Go grocery shopping (easier w/out the kids along, right?)
- Take walks or hikes
- Go for bike rides
- Go out to eat, inexpensively (look for coupons to restaurants, or pack a picnic)
- Work in the yard
And if you don't mind staying in one night, since you like poker and the kids are away, dare I suggest strip poker w/ the hubby?
February 11th, 2008 at 04:33 pm 1202747635
Also - I'm sure my hubby would love strip poker! lol
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Pub quiz/trivia night at a bar
Play pool
Go bowling
Get massages
Video arcade/Gameworks
Greenhouse/indoor gardens? There are a few here in Minneapolis, so you can get some nature even when it's cold.
IMAX theaters/science, history or art museums
Cooking class
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do you have any spas around where you are? they are relaxing, and the ones here are open til 7pm, which means you could get there at 5pm, leave at 7 and then have a nice relaxed dinner afterwards. it will get you out of the house for a few hours.
have you thought about buying some board games for yourselves?
there are always movies, shows, and live bands, if they play near you. maybe you could go camping overnight and really get away from everything.