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Original poster

How can I bring the magic - without spending too much

38 replies

Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 08:57

Hello

looking for some ideas. It’s my husbands birthday in September. He’s had a rough year and I want his day to feel special.
however really tight september budget …. Does anyone have any ideas on how we can make the day special on a tight budget?

OP posts:
TenOhSeven · 27/08/2023 08:59

Does a grown man really need a magical birthday? Bottle of wine/beer, takeaway and a supermarket cake. Job done.

Sssudio · 27/08/2023 09:01

Can you take a day off so it's just the two of you? Do you drive?

We live in London and our go to fort cheap birthdays is to drive to the coast, swim, nice walk and potter and then chips on the beach. Little presents to open throughout the day and then birthday person's choice of tea.

If you're that way inclined lots of nice gyms have free day passes if you fancy a sauna/jacuzzi/swim

Defaultsettings · 27/08/2023 09:02

TenOhSeven · 27/08/2023 08:59

Does a grown man really need a magical birthday? Bottle of wine/beer, takeaway and a supermarket cake. Job done.

No he doesn’t NEED but it’s nice. Did you really NEED to contribute?

@Delilah2019 do you have any budget? Is it just two of you or do you have to factor in children?

Highlyflavouredgravy · 27/08/2023 09:02

Is his birthday on a weekend or a week day? Will have to work on the day?

Original poster
Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 09:02

maybe It’s a family thing but always have tried to make birthdays special.
what I’m asking for is ideas on how to do this without spending - not judgement on how we do things within our family

OP posts:
Original poster
Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 09:03

Sunday
and we have one child - a 5 year old

OP posts:
PurBal · 27/08/2023 09:03

I can’t work out if you have a small budget or no budget?

Bluetoesnewtoes · 27/08/2023 09:05

My favourite birthday was when DH organised a family vist to Neolithic site and we had. Six mile walk with no moaning from the DC because it was my birthday treat.

teenysaladandsniffofarose · 27/08/2023 09:05

If the weathers nice in the day go for a picnic somewhere with a nice view

Local museum if free?

Cook his favourite meal for dinner with candles and a bottle of wine

Sux2buthen · 27/08/2023 09:05

TenOhSeven · 27/08/2023 08:59

Does a grown man really need a magical birthday? Bottle of wine/beer, takeaway and a supermarket cake. Job done.

This might not be the thread for you 🙄

Bluetoesnewtoes · 27/08/2023 09:05

What does he like? Football? Art? History? Walking?

43ontherocksporfavor · 27/08/2023 09:06

Make a cake, cook his favourite food, play a game he likes or watch his favourite film? If you have kids can they make some decorations?

Original poster
Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 09:06

probably about £30 budget - but I have time on my hands to spend on it.
he isn’t materialistic so presents dont have to be a factor

OP posts:
Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 27/08/2023 09:06

Birthday cake for breakfast, take the day off, nice walk together in your favourite place, bring a picnic, maybe a bottle of cheap fizz too. My DH and I for special birthdays have made each other photo books with messages in (you can often get discounts). On my 40th he and my DD wrote 40 messages of why they love me for me to read when I came down in the morning.

Sleepepeeepe · 27/08/2023 09:06

Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 09:02

maybe It’s a family thing but always have tried to make birthdays special.
what I’m asking for is ideas on how to do this without spending - not judgement on how we do things within our family

What sort of things does he like? Places / hobbies? Does he like camping, for example? You could set up a camping night in the garden if it’s sunny and that’s his thing? Bunting, picnic, fairy lights, borrow a tent.

I know this is probably a given, but also a homemade favourite birthday cake is always a nice effort!

43ontherocksporfavor · 27/08/2023 09:07

Picnic is a nice idea.

Sssudio · 27/08/2023 09:07

Roughly where in the country are you?

Taxiii · 27/08/2023 09:09

Yes, we need to know what he's into - sport, trains, planes, motorbikes, walking, climbing, biking, gaming?

flapjackfairy · 27/08/2023 09:09

Top of my husbands list for a great birthday would be a good romp !
He is easily pleased !

Original poster
Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 09:10

Likes been outside
football

and we are in Lancashire

OP posts:
Doingmybest12 · 27/08/2023 09:11

It would help to know what usually makes it a special day ,

Aug12 · 27/08/2023 09:35

One of my favourite nights was taking our kiddos and dog down the beach after work, we ate takeaway pizza and let everybody play and run off their wiggles. Then we lit a Swedish candle and toasted marshmallows, made s’mores and had a flask of hot chocolate. It was the perfect, relaxed night. You could do a home baked cake and take it with you to have on the beach also?

Original poster
Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 09:45

Perfect!! This sounds brilliant.

thanks for all the suggestions so far. Trying to get out of the habit of just throwing money at a situation seems to have put a total block on me thinking of anything so the suggestions really help.

OP posts:
Yey · 27/08/2023 09:58

In lockdown it was DS GF birthday, It was at the time people were allowed in gardens only. He cooked her a lovely dinner and strung the Christmas lights all over the tree in the garden and put the table outside underneath the tree. She loved it.

My best birthday recently was walking in the Peak District and when we got to the top of the place we hiked up to DH produced a mini bottle of champagne and a cake.

For fun when DS was little we made his Dad a three course dinner and DS dressed up as a waiter, we drew a fake moustache on him and he wore a bow tie. We made a menu and DS with some help from me was a waiter at the table, he was 6.

We also did quite a few competitions so make assault courses in the garden, have football dribbling competitions, throw balls at stacked up cans. Stuff like that.

You could cover a box in paper and make a lucky dip with little gifts in like a bar of chocolate, make some home made gifts to put in.

One thing we liked doing was having pudding competitions. So ice cream, sprinkles, wafers, fruit, biscuits were put in the middle of the table and people created their own dessert. A certificate of best pudding was given to the best pudding in the eyes of the youngest child at the table.

I had an absolutely joyless awful childhood so in doing small things with my DS and DH I gave DS the childhood I would have liked. Doing little things together is lovely and I hope you have a great birthday with him.

Original poster
Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 10:00

Yey · 27/08/2023 09:58

In lockdown it was DS GF birthday, It was at the time people were allowed in gardens only. He cooked her a lovely dinner and strung the Christmas lights all over the tree in the garden and put the table outside underneath the tree. She loved it.

My best birthday recently was walking in the Peak District and when we got to the top of the place we hiked up to DH produced a mini bottle of champagne and a cake.

For fun when DS was little we made his Dad a three course dinner and DS dressed up as a waiter, we drew a fake moustache on him and he wore a bow tie. We made a menu and DS with some help from me was a waiter at the table, he was 6.

We also did quite a few competitions so make assault courses in the garden, have football dribbling competitions, throw balls at stacked up cans. Stuff like that.

You could cover a box in paper and make a lucky dip with little gifts in like a bar of chocolate, make some home made gifts to put in.

One thing we liked doing was having pudding competitions. So ice cream, sprinkles, wafers, fruit, biscuits were put in the middle of the table and people created their own dessert. A certificate of best pudding was given to the best pudding in the eyes of the youngest child at the table.

I had an absolutely joyless awful childhood so in doing small things with my DS and DH I gave DS the childhood I would have liked. Doing little things together is lovely and I hope you have a great birthday with him.

Gorgeous! This is exactly the sort of magic I was looking for.

OP posts: