I like living on a cash-only budget because it forces me to be creative. When it comes to Valentine’s Day and Anniversary gifts, this push for more creativity really pays off. Christi really likes it when I use my creativity to make gifts that have real meaning and somehow represent the life we share.
On our 11th Anniversary, I hit a home run.
I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a medium sized treasure box. Normally these are pretty expensive, but I happened to get mine when they were on sale – 50% 0ff!
When I got home, I rummaged through the house for pictures, newspaper clippings, and other mementos of our life together. I used a hot glue gun to secure pictures, hospital bracelets from the birth of our children, tickets,and the key to our first house to the lid, sides, and bottom of the box.
After that I filled the box with mementos. A stuffed animal we bought at Planet Hollywood on our anniversary. A clown nose from the circus. A glass I made out of a 7-up bottle for a “fancy” date of cheese, crackers, and ginger ale when we were in college. The garter Christi wore on our wedding day. Coins from Malaysia and Sweden – trips we took before we had kids. You get the idea.
When it was all done, I closed it up and gave it to Christi. She loves it. Now it sits on the hearth of our fireplace.
What I didn’t expect was my daughter’s response. She regularly opens the box looks at the pictures and touches the mementos. Every once in a while, she’ll bring one over to ask for it’s story. She love the history behind Mommy and Daddy’s relationship. She likes being a part of that history.
I left enough room for Christi to add pictures and mementos as life goes on. I’m excited to see what she thinks is significant enough to make it into our treasure chest.
