These days, couples are having a hard time keeping food on the table and taking care of the monthly bills to make sure that the kids are well looked after. When you get bogged down by the daily worries that plague us all, your relationship can suffer. If you don't have the money to pay for a sitter or get out of the house, try having an at home date to keep things alive.

Everyone seems to be cutting back these days, often times letting go of expenses on entertainment and those special date nights. When you can't afford to go out on the town, there are several things that you can do to keep the home fires burning.

Don't worry about things falling apart, you can always get some alone time in with your special someone, and it won't matter if you're sitting in the basement or not. First things first, when you've got young children, it can be hard to get a moment to think for yourself, let alone have tender, romantic moments with your spouse or significant other. If your kids are of the age that they require constant supervision, try to find a friend or relative to watch them, just for a few hours.

Many of your friends may be in the exact same boat, right now. Don't be embarrassed to talk about it. If you organize with several other couples that are also parents, you can get a really great system down, taking turns watching each others kids so that the grown ups can have a little time on their own. Make sure everyone gets plenty of opportunity to spend time with their loved ones.

Once you've dropped the kids off with friends or family, go home and dim the lights. It might sound like the beginning of a cheesy movie, but realistically, if you're stuck staring at the messy house littered with toys, you may not feel too much in the mood. If you can't afford to get carry out from your favorite restaurant delivered, improvise.

Get the ingredients for your favorite meal and cook together. There's a high level of intimacy that can be achieved by heating things up in the kitchen. Have a nice meal over candle light and relax and unwind, watching your favorite movie or television show. You can get some good snuggle time in when you're not busy jumping up to take care of the kids needs.

Take part in whatever activities the two of you enjoy together. When money is tight, emotions can run high. Give each other the time that you need for your relationship to continue flourishing, even through the tough times.