[Anonymous]

I want to do something special for my very supportive wife. She kept encouraging me to finish the CPA exams even though we have three kids under age five at home. The problem is I have NO MONEY and a night job. Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

This isn't super romantic, but I love it when my husband does chores. Sometimes he will surprise me and white glove our entire place, or do a load of my laundry. It's the little things lol.

Here's something my husband did for me on my birthday a few years ago when we were broke: He cooked me dinner (since you work nights, it can be any meal). Then he had me go in another room for 15 minutes or so. He surprised me by setting up a massage station in front of the fire place. He lit a fire and had a ton of candles. He had music playing in the background. He gave me a massage, baby oil and all. It was pretty fabulous. Then he popped open a bottle of wine and made some popcorn and watched some chick flick with me. Get someone to watch your kids while this is going on.

[Anonymous]

Cook for her.

[tomq04]

Also currently broke,

I've done the massage, but not that decked out…that's a winner!

Dinner is always a great celebration, and trying to find someone to watch the kids for a night/evening is a great win too!

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[san4596]

What I would do on your first night off:

1) Give her a Thank You card with a special note from you. Tell her how much you appreciate everything she has done, and you would not have accomplished this goal without her help.

2) Have someone watch the kids and cook her something special. Make sure to pair a good wine with the meal.

3) After supper, give her a great massage oil and all.

4) Run her a nice bubble bath with candles and soft music.

5) Most of all, do not expect anything from this. Your focus should only be to thank her for everything that she has done, and you should not expect doing the nasty afterwards. This is her time.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[StephAV]

Wow, I love the ideas shared! Cooking a nice meal or cleaning is always appreciated. If she has a honey do list possibly tackle something from there… My hubby has done house painting a few times for me and I'm always so happy when I return to see something I've been wanting done.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[Anonymous]

Why not tell her that you want to do something special for her but you don't know what she wants? If she says “I don't want anything.” Then take that as a “You better do something romantic and spontaneous or you will be sleeping on the couch until you are 70.” If she say's something like “I'd love a trip to Hawaii, but I know we can't afford it.” Then you can plan a special night around that, even if you can't actually give her the real deal right now.

[Dantrick]

It really is the thought that counts. I like it when my husband has the kids do an art project for me. Because I know he has spent some quality time with the kids and I love things made from my kids. DIY clay vases and have each one of your kids make a vase, paint it and buy some daisies. We have like six colleges in our town so I am always looking for services you can get at the colleges, cheap or free. One of the colleges does free massages and another does cheap pedicures. The key is plan it for her, massages/pedicures then when she is gone do the art project with the kids.

[zieba]

san456 is a little more involved in the prep that I would prefer internet strangers to be, but hey, it's a step by step just make sure to bring a pencil to check off each point.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[Anonymous]

Hands down:

Send her away for the day to do whatever the heck it is she wants. Maybe get one of her girlfriends involved.

Then, send the kids away. Get someone to watch them for a good part of the day. Maybe family so it will be free?

Then, clean the house. The WHOLE house. Do the laundry, clean the kitchen, vacuum the carpet, clean the sheets. Maybe call in some of your friends to help.

She has probably been doing this the whole time you were studying (like my husband has been doing for me). Pay it forward. Give her a few weeks where she doesn't have to worry about the house…and a day she doesn't have to worry about the kids.

[Anonymous]

**High Five**

**Do a little jig**

Honestly, I've got a similar situation. When I started the exam three years ago, we had 2 kids. Now we have 4 that are ages 6 and under. I've gone through 5 different employers since that time due to various reasons. The past few years have been an insanely steep uphill battle to climb for us not only due to this, but other life problems intermingling as well. It's all just life experience though.

A relaxing night out to dinner to a nice place without kids would be more than worth its weight in gold. I would also use the dinner time to verbally express your appreciation to your wife in regards to her support through the trying times. At least that's my plan. Pick a night you have off and see if you can get a sitter for a few hours. I understand how multiple kids makes for a tight budget.

[Skynet]

Reenact “50 Shades of Grey” scenes with her.

[san4596]

You could always go all Lady's Man:

1) Get a bottle of Couvasier

2) Do it in the butt

LOL!!!

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Mamabear]

Skynet–I've heard the expense of those “toys” can really add up. Haha

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Skynet]

Who needs toys Mamabear. Just play this video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xdImDqbgc2g

[Mamabear]

I dare not click on that link at work. 🙂

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Author]

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