It’s an easy thing to tell someone you love them, but a truly romantic person knows that showing your love is more important to a relationship or marriage than simply stating your love. “I love you” may be a phrase of only three words, but there are millions of different romantic ideas and ways to say it to your boyfriend, girlfriend, wife or husband. Never limit yourself to spoken words when expressing your romantic feelings!

Showing your lover how much they mean to you every day will help you build a better, more romantic relationship, but it’s also addicting. Even people who have never tried to be romantic before will be amazed at how much more exciting and fun a relationship can be when just a little bit of romance is added to the mix. And being romantic doesn’t mean spending big bucks; in fact, the less expensive and more original a romantic gesture is, the better it shows how much you love someone.

Following are 101 inexpensive ways to say “I love you,” but they’re only the tip of a giant, romantic iceberg with limitless possibilities for you and your lover. Are they simple, common sense ideas? Well, sure they are. There’s no secret to being romantic, and the best ways of showing your feelings to someone are always the simplest ways. Promise yourself to try one of the ideas on this list every day, or use it to develop your own ways to show your love.

Saying “I love you” for the first time may be nervewracking, but dozens of opportunities for being romantic present themselves every day. Teach yourself to identify and grab those opportunities for romance and you’ll be amazed at how romantic and fulfilling your relationship will become!

101 Inexpensive Ways to Say “I Love You”

1. Write your lover an original, romantic poem (no matter how bad or sappy it is!)
2. Give your lover a romantic massage
3. Take an evening to learn all about your lover’s hobby or unique interest
4. Prepare a romantic meal for your lover (even if you’re a lousy cook)
5. Rent a romantic movie to watch with your lover (An Affair to Remember and Casablanca are great!)
6. Make a list for your lover of your ten favorite romantic memories of the time you’ve spent together
7. Tell your lover how much you enjoy waking up to them in the morning as soon as you wake up
8. Buy flowers for your lover’s mother to thank her for bringing such a special person into the world
9. Wash the dishes by hand with your lover, even if you have a dishwasher
10. Bring your lover romantic flowers at least once a week
11. Take your lover to a free museum or art exhibit
12. Make a romantic picture frame for your lover with your favorite photo of you together
13. Brag to your friends or family about how much you adore your lover
14. Make dinner for your lover’s family to get to know them better
15. Offer to give your lover a haircut (but only if you know what you’re doing!)
16. Buy the sappiest, cheapest greeting card you can find and add your own special romantic message
17. Make giving your lover a hug your first priority when you get home from work
18. Tell your lover that your relationship is your number one priority
19. Ask your lover to teach you how to make their favorite meal
20. Take your lover to a romantic park to push them on a swing
21. Save romantic souveniers from every date you go on with your lover
22. Take your lover on a romantic ferris wheel ride
23. Clean your lover’s car for them
24. Write your lover a “101 reasons why I love you” list
25. Kiss your lover on the cheek every day
26. Make a romantic scrapbook full of pictures showing your lover as a kid growing up and give it to them as a present
27. Buy your lover an inexpensive box of candy to share together (not just for Valentine’s Day!)
28. Build a romantic sandcastle together with your lover at the beach
29. Take your lover back to the place where you went on your first date together
30. Give your lover a romantic thank-you note for all of the happiness they bring you
31. Learn how to sew and surprise your lover by fixing a ripped article of clothing for them
32. Email or scribble down a snippet from a romantic poem for your lover
33. Whisper secret romantic words in your lover’s ear, even when you are alone together
34. Put together a romantic photo album of pictures of you and your lover
35. Put a smiling picture of your lover on your car’s dashboard
36. Take your lover on a romantic afternoon hike or walk
37. Have flowers delivered to your lover at home or work
38. Read romantic love poems to your lover and laugh together at how sappy it is
39. Try to knit your lover a horrible, romantic winter hat, sweater or gloves
40. Mail your lover a card or letter expressing your love, even if you live together
41. Put a gentle arm around your lover’s shoulders when walking together
42. Make your lover a romantic calendar with a different picture of you together for each month
43. Watch a romantic movie together and make a bowl of popcorn for you to share
44. Take your lover on a romantic drive in a rich part of town to look at houses together
45. Buy an inexpensive bottle of wine for you and your lover to share
46. Say “I’m proud of you” to your lover
47. Paint a picture for your lover, no matter how awful your painting skills
48. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper thanking your lover for everything they do for you
49. Breath on your lover’s hands to warm them when it’s cold outside
50. Make your lover a romantic CD of songs that are special to you
51. Pack a special, romantic picnic for your lover
52. Take your lover out to try one of your favorite hobbies or sports–or try theirs!
53. Tell your lover how much your first kiss or date meant to you
54. Use romantic text messages to send your lover love letters on their cell phone
55. Start a romantic blog for your lover with pictures and posts about your relationship
56. Express your love on a mirror or window by writing with a bar of soap (don’t worry, it washes off!)
57. Romantically kiss each of your lover’s fingertips, one after another
58. Learn how to play a song for your lover on a musical instrument, then surprise them with a romantic impromptu performance
59. Surprise your lover with lunch at work
60. Surprise your lover with romantic rose petals on the pillows at bedtime
61. Cut out small hearts from construction paper and leave them in places where your lover will find them
62. Email your lover to let them know you are thinking of them during the day
63. Plant flowers in your lover’s yard or in a windowsill planter
64. Draw a romantic, funny cartoon for your lover expressing your love (the worse the drawing the better!)
65. Learn how to give your lover an amateur manicure
66. Sing a romantic karaoke song for your lover the next time you go to a bar together
67. Have a romantic dinner waiting for your lover after work
68. Light romantic candles for your lover at dinner, bedtime or when sitting around
69. Learn how say “I love you” in a different language to surprise your lover
70. Send a romantic e-card to your lover’s email inbox
71. Shovel the driveway for your lover after a snowstorm
72. Surprise your lover by changing the oil in their car or rotating their tires
73. Ask your lover’s family about any special ideas for making them happier
74. Offer to paint your lover’s nails (if a woman) or to help him shave (if a man)
75. Bake your lover a cake and write a special romantic message in frosting
76. Play romantic music while eating together or spending time together
77. Cook for your lover in a way you’ve never tried before, like grilling outside
78. Ask your lover to dance with you to a romantic song while your are alone together
79. Take your lover for a romantic bike ride
80. Use creative romantic words other than “I love you” to tell your lover how you feel
81. Rake the yard or mow the lawn for your lover
82. Instead of store-bought flowers, make a romantic bouquet of wildflowers for your lover
83. Make your lover homemade candy instead of buying
84. Take turns reading to each other from a favorite novel or book
85. Buy a book of romantic art and ask your lover to look at it with you
86. Make a scrapbook of all the romantic notes and cards you’ve received from your lover
87. Take your lover sledding on a snow day (it’s not just for kids!)
88. Make plans with your lover for exciting and fun weekend dates for the rest of the month
89. Try an exciting new recreational activity with your lover that neither of you have done before
90. Call in sick to work on your anniversary every year just to spend romantic time with your lover
91. Find out your lover’s favorite drink and become a master at making it
92. Make a list with your lover of all the wonderful things you have in common
93. Go to the fair with your lover and win them a stuffed animal (whether you’re a man or a woman!)
94. Call your lover during the work day to tell them you were thinking of them
95. Put time and thought into making homemade jewelry for your lover (but don’t forget to buy the real stuff occasionally!)
96. Ask your lover for a picture of them to carry in your wallet or purse
97. Try baking a romantic batch of cookies or cupcakes for you lover
98. Sneak out to get ice cream to share with your lover
99. Take your lover to garage sales or flea markets to shop together for things you both enjoy
100. Play a competitive game with your lover, whether physical or non-physical, and don’t be afraid to lose