Here's the situation: My spouse is a CPA currently working 65-ish hours each week (busy season through April).
In the month of February, she spent 3 weeks out of town for work. I am hurting for more face-to-face time with my wife. Our relationship is fine, but her busy season work schedule is definitely a strain.
Normally, we spend $50/month on restaurants, which allows us to go out together on a date once, and sometimes one of us will pick up a lunch or something too. Would it be permissible for one month, to up our eating out budget to $200 so that we could technically go out 4 times? This would mean an intentional dinner date 1x/week.
Going out to dinner was something that we used to do frequently, but since moving toward a MMM lifestyle in the past year we have cut back. It's a time, for us, that is very intentional with good conversation and no phone distractions.
This would be a way to spend time together in a month where she doesn't normally get home from work until 8-9 when I am getting ready for bed. She works about 20-25 minutes from home and takes the bus, so it's not as feasible for her to come home for a dinner and then head back to the office. I am inclined to do this one month increase, as I am confident that it would be a one-time measure and not the beginning of lifestyle inflation. In my head, it's a one-time relationship expense rather than becoming a consumer spendy-pants. Am I wrong?
What do the Mustachians think? Any ideas you have or advice from folks who are in similar situations is appreciated.