Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Cost of living

Stretching your budget? Share tips and advice to discuss budgeting and energy saving here. For the latest deals and discounts, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

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:
ssd · 27/08/2023 10:08

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.

I've noticed a trend on mn that the first reply to an opening question is more often than not an arsey uptight one. I don't know how it works, its like the angry and po-faced types get an alert that someone has posted a perfectly reasonable question and they can't wait to shit all over it.

I dont know, its a talent really.

Anyway op, I'd say have a day together going a good walk in the countryside if you can or a nice park and make a picnic out of whats going in the cupboard. If you can stretch to a coffee and cake in a cafe that would be lovely. Thats my sort of birthday i enjoy.

Pinkdelight3 · 27/08/2023 10:17

Blow jobs, surely?

Original poster
Delilah2019 · 27/08/2023 10:47

Pinkdelight3 · 27/08/2023 10:17

Blow jobs, surely?

😂😂😂😂😂😂 the ultimate birthday blowie

OP posts:
Highlyflavouredgravy · 27/08/2023 11:23

Breakfast in bed on a nice tray. Cards from relatives etc with breakfast.

Then a treasure hunt around the house and garden if you have one. The treasure can be a small gift- maybe something related to his favourite football team.

Then if the weather is nice, a trip out for a walk with a picnic.

Do his parents live nearby? Could you go to them for birthday tea and cake with candles?

Get your child busy making a card/ a birthday banner.

Cismyfatarse · 27/08/2023 11:50

A list of promises / gifts each in an envelope that he can "cash in". Cup of tea in bed. Foot rub etc.

OneFrenchEgg · 27/08/2023 11:56

Hi - my dh has a fond memory of a cake enthusiastically decorated by our then toddler with gel icing pens, which was proudly carried into him (with help!) at about 6am as they couldn't wait any longer Grin maybe borrow the icing idea (I bought a plain iced cake) but not the delivery? Could you go to the cinema together and then come home to something fun to eat ? I've joined the cinema society and get cheap tickets through that.

headcheffer · 27/08/2023 12:02

For my DHs birthday when money was tight I did the following:

  • pancakes streaky bacon and syrup for breakfast (so cheap to make) with the table laid nicely while he was still asleep so it was nice for him to come down to
  • blew up balloons (99p per pack type ones and had them all over the kitchen floor for breakfast time
  • laid his cards etc out on the table including ones from DC and I (we agreed no gifts as money was tight, and the DC got him little stuff they picked with their pocket money like socks, a big bag of his favourite crisps, a big chocolate bar etc from Home Bargains or similar)
  • went for a nice walk down the seafront with a flask of coffee and some homemade flapjack (again so cheap to make) sandwiches and crisps
  • stopped at the pub for a quick one! (£10)
  • Had a party when the DC got home from school, with party plates/cups etc but just a normal dinner served on them (baked potatoes I think it was!!) and a homemade cake, music on and the kids dancing about!
  • Film when the kids went to bed with a bottle of wine between us

Honestly it was such a nice day, and it felt special with little effort. Im sure you're DH will appreciate whatever you do for him OP.

indecisivewoman81 · 27/08/2023 12:10

In lockdown in was my DH birthday and he is a big wrestling fan (I know!).

So the kids and I all spent the days before hand making handmade costumes of wrestlers.

On his birthday we set up the living room as a wrestling ring (sofa cushions on the floor, strong string around the room as rope) played music and had pretend wrestling matches til everyone was rolling on the floor laughing.

We had a home made cake, his favourite Mexican dinner (Fajitas and churros for pudding) and a few little gifts the kids have picked out.

On other birthdays we have driven to the coast, eaten chips on the beach (in winter), played in the arcades then come home for hot chocolate

FusionChefGeoff · 27/08/2023 18:28

Can you recreate a memorable (cheap!) day from when you first met???

WheresTheRemoteControl · 27/08/2023 22:31

Bake a cake. Let dc decorate it
Dc make some banners or bunting.

Maybe a trip out for a walk, ice cream.

Take away in evening

Iwantmybed · 27/08/2023 22:38

We don't really do birthdays here in a big way. But if I wanted to make it special for DH at very little cost, I'd make his favourite meal with his favourite drink and give him the sexiest night of his life 🙃.

Franticbutterfly · 28/08/2023 00:36

In the week leading to my DH's birthday I cooked and baked all his favourite things (cinnamon rolls, brownies, chocolate muffins, pasty etc) he loved it.

sleepismyhobby · 29/08/2023 14:27

How about a nice picnic obviously you need the weather to be decent . Does he have a favourite meal? I made my husband his favourite meal for his birthday followed by his choice of film on Netflix

New posts on this thread. Refresh page