Express Your Love Without Your Credit Card

Finances tight right now? Thinking of sentimental ways to say "I love you" rather than spending money on things that will be in your next yard sale? Well, here are a few homemade ideas to get you in the mood for love.

Sensual Chocolate Body Paint

You will need: Heavy cream, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, raspberry, orange and coffee liquors, a few small bowls and soft paint brushes.

Melt the chips, separately, in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. Stir into a glossy sheen, add 2 tbsp. of cream and 1-2 tbsp. of the liquor flavor of your choice. Light a few candles, turn on some soft music, dip a brush into one of the chocolate paint bowls and slowly paint your lovers lips, then see if you can guess the flavor....take turns painting and tasting.

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Make a collage full of special moments from your relationship together. You can include menus of places you have eaten, maps of places you have been, ticket stubs from events attended, photographs, etc.

Buy a nice frame with matting inside, arrange your special items into the shape of a heart. Cut and paste the items onto the cardboard backing included in the frame, present your sweetie with a heart full of love!

Less is More

Give yourself a close shave in the intimate areas, wrap yourself in a big red bow, add a rose held by your mouth or a teddy bear snuggled close to your body as your lover comes home.

A Full Night of Don Juan Style Romance

So you want the whole shebang of the night without the heart breaking cost?

For starters order some nice take-out food, throw a blanket on the living room floor, light some candles, turn on your ipod, if you can afford a few extra bucks buy some rose petals from the local florist (usually $5 bucks) and scatter them across the floor, pick up an inexpensive but tasty wine ($6-7 for a bottle of Barefoot wine), for a sweet treat serve chocolate sauce with strawberries, marshmallows or whatever you like. Have a bottle of body oil or lotion handy for a nice relaxing massage. Add extra seduction, free of cost, talk softly and slowly all night, let your lover catch you starring at them, place your hand on their face during a kiss, hold hands, play footsies, keep eye contact when you take a bite of food up to your mouth and slowly wrap your mouth it or lick the food for extra heat in the moment! This night will be a night to remember because of the love not because of the heart breaking credit card bill.