We’ve come to a time where it seems that dating is almost difficult. Although a relationship is work, it shouldn’t be hard. It should come natural. We’ve come to the assumption that all girls want in a relationship is for the man to buy them things, spoil them, or use them just to have sex.

Yes, sex is great, but a relationship that fulfills all her needs is better. Here at 10 simple (and cheap) things you can do for a girl that will make her day more than a little bit of action could.

1. Tell her you're proud of her

Out of all the things you can tell a girl, telling her you’re proud of her is probably the most satisfying for her to hear. We try so hard at everything we do, and often feel as if it goes unnoticed. So a simple, “I’m proud of you for doing that,” goes a long way. Maybe she aced a test, or maybe she handled an argument with a friend in a mature manner. Whatever it is, just letting her know that you’re proud of her will fill her heart, boost her self-confidence, and make her feel supported.

2. Surprise her with a date

It doesn’t have to be anything big. If a fancy restaurant is your style, then tell her to dress up and you’ll pick her up at 7. If a picnic is more your style, pack a picnic basket and find a pretty place to sit. Big or small, it’s the thought that counts. A little one-on-one time just for each other is always good; plus, a surprise is always a day maker.

3. Let her pick the movie

Or let her pick the pizza that’s ordered. Letting her have a say without her asking to, is sometimes all she needs. Some days she’d rather just make the decision than bicker about what you two want for 20 minutes. Throw in the towel sometimes.

4. Put your phone away

Often times, we don’t even realize how much we are on our phones. Just checking a text easily turns into a five minute Facebook scroll. It’s sometimes hard for us to tell you that we’d like you to put your phone down and pay attention to us; we don’t want to come off rude. Save the phone for when you’re not around her. When you’re with her, let your focus be on her – she’ll notice.

5. Remind her she's beautiful

Remind her every day. Remind her when she’s in sweats, and remind her when she’s wearing a pretty black dress. She might not believe it, or she might shrug it off with a, “no, I’m not,” but I promise, it’ll put a smile to her face.

6. Surprise her with her favorite things

It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant; it’s the smallest things that count the most. Bring her favorite candy the next time you see her. Or if you see something in the store that you just know she’d love, give it to her as a “just because” present. If her favorite things are back massages and foot rubs, offer to do it for her. She’ll love to know you’re thinking about her and that you remember all the small things she tells you.

7. Reassure her (before she starts asking for reassurance)

Remind her that you love her and remind her that she’s beautiful. Tell her why you love her, and tell her that you’re the luckiest man in the world. As a woman, it becomes easy to doubt a man’s intentions, or sometimes we just don’t feel the love. Reassure her of your love for her, or before you know it, you’ll be in an argument that’s all based upon failure to reassure. So, this will actually make both of you happy in the long run.

8. Do something she wants to do (without complaining)

Maybe she wants to go to the park, or maybe she’d like to go on a fancy date. If she asks you to do something while having the biggest smile on her face, chances are you should do it – the thought of it already makes her happy, so imagine how happy she’d be actually doing it. Another option is to join her while she’s working on her favorite hobby. But the trick is: don’t complain. Smile and let her know how much you’re loving it.

9. Send her cute texts

Maybe you ran into a cute video that makes you happy, maybe you found a picture that reminded you of her, or maybe it’s just the thought of her that pops into your head. Send it to her. It’ll make her day. It lets her know that you’re thinking of her and is another form of reassurance.

10. Breakfast in bed

There’s not much to say about this one. It’s something we all could use every once in a while (especially if she’s the one to always cook). Anniversary, birthday, or just because, this is guaranteed to make her day.

Fulfilling a girl is truly not that hard, and there are more ways you can do it than just in bed. We love to know you’re thinking about us, or that you care enough to remember our favorite candy, or just that you love us more than you ever thought was possible. It doesn’t have to be hard or expensive to show your love for your girl, but it does take some effort.