Cheap or Free Anniversary Gift Ideas

Getting your wife or girlfriend the perfect gift for your Anniversary doesn't have to cost a fortune. As a woman, I can tell you I treasure the cheap gifts my husband gives me more than the expensive gifts because the inexpensive gifts always require more effort and thought.

Here are 7 ideas for cheap or free Anniversary presents. Each of them requires a little effort on your part, but I think you'll agree your sweetie is worth it. I've also included some great love quotes and love poems.

Some of these will even work for a last minute Anniversary gift!

total cost: free

I know you're probably thinking this is a cheesy idea, but I can tell you from experience it's not. It will make her feel so special and so loved. A couple years ago on our anniversary, my husband woke me up by singing "Good Morning Beautiful". He was completely off key and he even forgot half the words. But to me, it was the sweetest thing he could have done. To this day, it's my most treasured Anniversary memory.

The special thing about this present is that you can either do the whole thing yourself and present her with the finished product, or you can just gather all the needed materials and present it in a decorative box with the explanation that it would mean more if you two did it together. Here's the materials you'll need:

• 2 or 3 pictures of the both of you together
• scrapbook paper (at least 2-3 different colors)
• scissors
• glue
• a fine tipped marker
• a largish picture frame (big enough to hold all the pictures)

If you decide to do it yourself, here are the easy directions.

First, cut one piece of scrapbook paper to fit the large picture frame. Then cut a "frame" for each picture using the leftover scrapbook paper. Frame the pictures and glue them to the larger paper. Make sure to stagger the pictures, leaving a little room to one side of each. In the empty spaces, write little love phrases. If you can't think of any, check the bottom of this page for a list of great love quotes. After you write in your love phrases, all you have to do is frame it and wrap it.

Whether you do it by yourself or together, she'll be amazed by your thoughtfulness.

You can buy both the frame and the paper at the dollar store.

This is something you need to plan ahead of time. About 3-4 weeks before your Valentine's Day, you'll need to find and press a couple flowers. (preferably her favorite). Smaller flowers work best since you'll be framing them. If you don't know how to press a flower, this video will show you how to easily do it using a couple phone books.

Now that your flowers are pressed and dried, you can move on to step 2: the poem. If you are crafty with words, go ahead and write her a poem. If you just don't think you'd be very good at writing poetry, don't sweat it. You'll find a bunch of love poems and love quotes at the bottom of this page. Just pick the one you like the best and print it out on your computer. Before printing your poem, think about what kind of paper and what kind of font would look best. Personally, I think a cream colored paper brings out the color in pressed flowers. As for the font, I guess it depends on what your computer has. Just try not to pick anything too blocky or too hard to read. One of these fonts would look good for just about any poem:

• Segoe Script
• Papyrus
• Lucinda Sans
• Bradley Hand ITC

You may need to adjust the font size. You'll want to leave enough room on the paper to attach the flower without covering up the poem. You'll also need a picture frame the same size as your paper. It doesn't need to be fancy. Heck, my husband used a $3 frame he bought from Walmart. Now, very carefully glue the dried flower to the paper and then set it aside until the glue is dry. Once it's dry, all you have to do is put it in the frame.

total cost: up to $10

If you're lucky enough to live near the beach, this will be very easy for you. Just go to the beach and write a message in the sand. Make it something like

'I LOVE YOU' or both your names inside of a heart . Sweep away any footprints and take a picture of it. Fold a heavy piece of scrapbook paper in half and glue the picture to the inside. On the outside glue a pressed flower and write something sweet like

'For my lovely Wife' or use one of the love quotes at the bottom of this page.

If you don't live near a beach, you can buy a personalized picture of both your names written in sand for $10 at Memories in the Sand.

total cost: free

There's nothing better than an actual love letter written from the heart. Just so you know, an actual love letter should be at least one page long (the longer the better) and it should take longer than 10 minutes to write. If you're stumped, here's a couple of things to write about

• the first time you saw her or the day you met
• the first time you realized you were in love with her
• the one thing that sets her apart from any other woman
• what you love most about your life together
• your future together

Another way to tell her how you feel is to write a list of all the things you love about her. Include absolutely everything you can think of, from the way she smiles to the fact that she doesn't yell at you for leaving your towels on the bathroom floor. For this list, nothing is too big or too small.

My husband made me a love list a few years ago. It was nothing fancy. He wrote down little things like "I love you because you don't take no crap from anyone" and he wrote down romantic things like "I love you because of the way you smile and blush every time I call you baby". That love list means the world to me.

total cost: around $10

These books are all about you, her and the relationship you have.

total cost: free

Is there something your wife loves you to do, but for some reason, you don't do it very often? So give it to her as a gift.

I love it when my husband shaves. He's just so handsome and it's nice to feel smooth skin when we cuddle. Unfortunately, my husband doesn't like to shave. In fact, he only shaves once a week (I love Fridays!). But every year there are two weeks when he shaves every single day; The week of Valentines Day and the week of our Anniversary. It's a simple gift that I look forward to every year.

Your eyes are what made me fall.

I gave you my number and you really did call.

We've been together almost 3 years.

We actually made it through the hard times and tears.

I count the seconds that we are apart.

The day seems so long but you're in my heart.

I really do hope that you feel the same way

because I want to be with you forever and a day.

Written by Ashley

Lives are for living

I live for you

Dreams are for dreaming

I dream for you

Hearts are for beating

Mine beats for you

Angels are for keeping.

Can I keep you?

Written by Mele Luhama Piutau

When I first saw your face

I knew you were mine

We have both grown to love each other

in such a short time

you know I've been looking

for you all my life

for the day when you

would become my wife

you have given me

security and love

which I've only

ever dreamed of

I know there is a heaven

and dreams do come true

someone up there loves me

because they sent me

YOU

written by amanda perkins

I sit here and realize how strong I've become,

with such confidence I feel that I finally found that one.

This feeling is so strong I'm powerful when she's present.

It feels like a day of Christmas after opening my first present,

The joy that she brings is the most wonderful thing,

It's like December and April or Christmas in Spring,

I Love my royal Queen, my soul she uplifts,

and she LOVES me back, for me that's the greatest gift.

Written by marcus cofield

My love for you grows everyday in each and every way.

It grows when you look at me, when you say my name.

It grows when I hold you close at night

and can feel your heart beating against mine.

It grows when our hands meet and each of our fingers

lace together perfectly.

It grows when I tickle you and you can help, but laugh.

It grows when you talk about us in the future,

because I couldn't imagine it

with anyone else but you.

And most of all it grows when you say I Love You.

Written by James Garrett

never too old

forever to hold,

even when gray and old.

for you are mine

forever to hold

with these few words

let joy fill your heart

with these kisses

let love fill your heart

with these hugs

let warmth fill your heart

for you are mine

forever to hold.

Written by john kaingu Jr

Through all the things we've been through,

Through everything we've done.

I will always be there for you,

I will always be the one.

I'll never leave your side,

You're forever in my heart.

I'll never make you cry,

I know we'll never part.

I look at you baby,

I still can't believe you're mine.

I think about you endlessly,

I think about you all the time.

I trust you completely,

And I want you to remember,

I love you so sweetly,

Now...and forever.

Written by Mike

There's nothing I would rather do,

than to grow old in love with you,

the fun that being with you brings,

our memories made of little things,

the talks we have, the jokes we share,

the hugs, the kisses here and there...

what better reason could there be,

to ask you to grow old in love with me.

Written by Angelina

I love you in the morning,

I love you at night

I love you when you're wrong

as much as when you're right.

I love you when you're up,

I love you when you're down.

I love you when you smile

and I feel bad when you frown.

I love all the ways

you show me that you care.

I love the safe warm feeling,

knowing that you're there.

I love you no matter

what you say or do.

And that's why

all you ever hear out of me,

is that I love you!

Written by Dee

You can find all these poems and thousands more just like it at Short Love Poems .

• When I followed my heart, it led me straight to you
• Love is the greatest gift we can give each other
• As we grow older together, As we continue to change with age, There is one thing that will never change. . . I will always keep falling in love with you.
• I love you, not for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
• The best thing about me is you.
• Let's commit the perfect crime, I'll steal your heart and you'll steal mine.
• Two souls and one thought, two hearts and one pulse.
• Sometimes your nearness takes my breath away; and all the things I want to say can find no voice. Then, in silence, I can only hope my eyes will speak my heart
• Within you I lose myself. Without you I find myself wanting to become lost again
• If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever
• If I know what love is, it is because of you

Photos and text; © 2011-2013 Catherine Taylor. All Rights Reserved

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