As the global recession sinks its teeth into Jamaican pockets, couples are thinking twice about spontaneous trips to the movies or late-night concerts.
But as things get chilly on external entertainment scene, things are getting steamy on the home front.
"(Outdoor) entertainment is a no-no for me, so my boyfriend and I just stay in the house and have more fun with each other," said Stacey-Ann Shaw.
"I mean, it (sex) is the cheapest form of entertainment, so we just work with that. And besides, it makes us closer," she told Saturday Life.
She also revealed that nowadays they entertain themselves by borrowing DVDs from friends, cooking at home and listening to more recorded music instead of attending live concerts.
Neisha Lindsay and her partner have worked out a strategy to keep their love life active.
"Every Friday evening, we made it our point of duty to go to the movie or do something as a couple but since it is no longer affordable, we stay home and enjoy each other's company," said Lindsay.
"We play games, we make sandwiches instead of buying pizza and have lots of sex," she told Saturday Life.
bedroom fire not burning
But while some partners' sex life may be booming during this recession, others are severely affected.
"My boyfriend has lost his job and he worries a lot because he has a child out there that he has to take care of," Karen Williamssaid.
She noted that although he spends more hours at home, bedroom pleasure has also been hit by the recession.
"This bothers me but I really don't want to be pressuring him now because I understand what he is going through," said Williams.
Senecha Reid, 32, has significantly trimmed her entertainment spending. Prime Minister Bruce Golding's announcement on Thursday that Jamaicans should brace for a "bitter" national Budget will make her tighten her purse strings even more.
According to Reid, she and her lover stay at home when they are off work and do activities around the house. She said that though their freedom is somewhat restricted, home time has improved romance and their general closeness.
"I guess it's because we are trying to preserve on gas and money so we just don't jump in the car and drive up and down as we did in the past," she told Saturday Life.
Real names withheld
petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com