Ponds, Lakes, Bayous, and other Bodies of Water

Find a nice quiet waterside spot and take your significant other. Watch the wildlife in the area of grab some stones and skip them across the surface. I find places like ponds and lakes especially romantic and so does the wife. They are great places to go if you have one nearby.

Lay in the Park

Pack a picnic basket, grab a blanket, and hit the park on a partly cloudy day. Have your picnic together then spend the rest of the time laying side to side watching the clouds go by. It is not only very relaxing but incredibly romantic too.

Spending time Away

Drop your kids with a relative to babysit and grab your tent. A romantic, and inexpensive way to spend alone time together is to simply go out camping. Pitch the tent together, gather some firewood, and prepare for a romantic evening in each others company. Of course, don't forget to bring the bug spray if you live in a place like Louisiana or it won't be very romantic at all! :)

Go for a Stroll

You don't have to take a stroll on a beach together for it to be romantic (although that *IS* nice). Grab your partners hand and go for a walk together down your street or through your neighborhood. Stroll to a park and just enjoy each others conversation and alone time together.

Read Together

The wife and I are avid readers (I more than she, admittedly). A good way to spend some romantic time is to just each grab a book and plop down on the couch together and spend some time reading together.

Candles

Nothing sets an atmosphere for romance like candles! They're pretty much a one time expense as they last for quite a bit if you remember to put them out afterward. My advice is to get a few scented candles to mix in along with the regular candles. Don't overdo it on the scented candles, however, as they can make some pretty nauseous smells if you mix the wrong kinds together.

Feed the Animals... together.

The very fist date I ever took my wife on we decided to go to a park. The park was next to a bayou in Louisiana. We took the time to feed the ducks in the area together. It was a great time to discuss our view of animals, wildlife, etc... as well as share some quality time together next to nature.

Pampering for Zero Dollars

Give your significant other something that just can't be topped, a good massage. If you know he/she has been on her feet all day give them a good foot massage at the end of the day. Also, a good romantic gesture is a nice back massage.

Single Long Stem Red Rose

Giving your wife or girlfriend roses does not require breaking the bank! Sure, having a dozen long stem red roses delivered might put a sparkle in her eye, but try sneaking in a single long stem red rose, and place it on her pillow, with a simple note that says "Thank you for being YOU, thank you for all that you are to me, I love you". I can almost guarantee that sparkle in her eye, will turn to passionate fire! ;)

A dozen red roses are 'nice', but a single red rose, with the perfect note, in the perfect spot is pure romance!

Ah, it is ze love!

Romance. The diamond industry will try to convince you that a chip of carbon is the only thing that will show a woman you love her. I call bs on that one. The diamond industry is well-marketed and has done it's job to make a pretty worthless product valuable. Oh, the ladies out there are probably hating me now (well done, diamond industry!).

How about writing your wife or husband a little note to tell them how much they mean to you? Price: Zero (well, if you don't count the pencil and paper). How about telling your wife you love her? Write her a poem (the cornier the better)? You get the idea! Some other great romantic writing ideas can be found in 101 Romantic Love Letters.