Marriage is the heart of the home. A good marriage precedes good parenting, and no amount of good parenting compensates for a poor marriage. And one of the best ways to have a good, strong marriage is by spending quality time together.

I get that life is busy and money can be tight. But make it a priority to date your spouse. Put it in your schedule and your budget!

Even when our girls were small, Nanci and I would have a date night and go out together. The two of us would sometimes go on vacations alone. We called on a lot of babysitters who were people from the church, or our kids would stay at our friends’ homes, or with grandparents. We really believed that the best thing we could do for our children was to have a strong marriage and to enjoy our time together.

A couple of years ago Nanci and I did a question and answer time with the young mom’s group at our church. In this video, she and I answer the questions “What are some fun things you do as a couple, on a budget?” and “What advice do you have for keeping marriage fun after the 10-year mark?”

Photo via Unsplash