Congrats on the small wedding! My husband had a small wedding - just 17 people including the minister - and it was wonderful!
Here are a few ways we saved:
We made our own invitations using the computer. Since some of our guests were couples, I only had to make about 10 invitations.
You don't need the fancy dress and tux... I did buy a nice, elegant cream dress and veil (on clearance at a bridal shop), but my husband wore a suit he still wears today.
We got married on a Friday afternoon and saved money. Many services - like photographers or caterers aren't as busy on Fridays and will cut you a deal.
My husband and I have been married 10+ years and everyone who was there still talks about what a beautiful wedding we had.
It doesn't matter whether you spend $1,000 or $100,000 on a wedding. Everyone leaves with the same piece of paper saying their married. :-)
Now I may be in the minority, but I have a feeling I'm not.
Who has fresh arugula in the middle of a snow storm? Fresh rotisserie chicken from the store when you don't have four-wheel drive? Perishable can biscuits?
I think a few recipes using commonly held pantry staples would be better. For instance, dried biscuit mix, leftover chili, or BET (Bacon egg and tomato) in case there's no London broil in the fridge.
Bingo, and sometimes ANIME (Manga) and stuff from graphic designers such as notebooks, etc. I like them, and I like a guy who works in the casino, so, I enjoy it, and sometimes I get the money back and even more...
I have two things: a local restaurant I eat at once a week. I love going there, but it definitely adds up. I try to keep the cost of my meal down though, and make room for it in my budget. They also have me work for them every once in a while, and instead of a check they give me store credit, which works great for both of us. My other big budget buster is cable TV. I have digital cable with a Tivo, and often have to fight back the urge to add more premium channels. I do spend a lot of time half watching the TV (I'm usually do something else while it's on), and I would have a seriously hard time giving it up.
It's good to remember, particularly for first-time parents or those who are in uncertain job situations that FSA's, while they can be tax-savers, are usually "use it or lose it." So, if you are just returning to work after a new baby and uncertain whether you will stick with daycare full-time for five months (about the time amount of time it would take to rack up a $5,000 bill, depending on where you live), you may stand to lose $5,000.
Recently I've concluded that I'm guilty of splurging on travel, as I was going through old photographs from my travels within the past 6 years. My savings are probably dried up and malnourished because whenever I set aside a good solid emergency fund, going someplace suddenly becomes of utmost urgency. No suggested remedy for this problem is acceptable to me :)
I typically don't splurge, but I do sometimes wait several months between clothes shopping and then spend a good amount. I'd say my true, consistent "splurge" is my tanning salon membership. I joined a couple years ago when they were offering a special, and I've been paying about $20/month membership ever since.
Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. Perhaps most high school grads just need growing up time. I worked and saved two years before starting college. It enabled me to zero in on what I wanted (and didn't want) in an education. The second career students in my major felt the same way, sucking the marrow out of their experiences.
A younger sister got help from home and started out fresh from high school, switching majors three times before graduating with an english degree. It took her five years. She became a social worker.
I splurge on Coach purses and wallets. There is just something about them that I cannot resist. I do purchase them from the factory outlet so I save some money that way. I will not purchase them for full price. I have even scored several really nice new to me ones off of craigslist for 90% off retail prices. I also splurge on the cat food I buy - Weruva in the can. The best place to purchase this is on Amazon and it ships to my house for free. I love my furballs and want them around as long as possible.
Chocolate, specifically Green and Black Almond Toffee chocolate. Then I put it into the fridge and eat it a dozen times, in my head, before a beautiful day or crises or sharing time bids me pull it out and unwrap the prize. Delayed gratification is way better than instant gratification!
When it's not chocolate, it's books and/or magazines.
For best results, you should drink 1 liter of ice cold water between meals, taking no more than 30 minutes from start to finish (check with your doctor first if you have a heart condition).
Great write-up, the importance of water in our soda based and artificial drink society is more pertinent than ever. I even did a post on this as well called "Water, the elixir of life" at http://financiallyeliteblog.com/630/water-the-elixir-of-life/
Surely you jest. Most of us have a hard enough time paying for one college degree per kid (or for ourselves).
I agree with Andrea. A year or two doing an apprenticeship or some volunteer work while exploring career options would make the college years much more productive. Especially now that the new health care law makes keeping an adult child on health insurance easier, there's no reason for most kids not to take a (productive) gap year and do some soul searching *before* shelling out the big tuition dollars.
Months of discipline followed by a budget buster like new laptop, 3 day vacation (last minute), or a trip to home depot. We combat these budget busters by saving more each month so when we do "accidentally" go over we have the cash to stay in the green.
Quality food. Our food bill is astronomical as we make almost everything from scratch. Sometimes we go a little crazy and out of the way just to secure quality food. Unfortunately these days the better quality, the higher the price. Looking at it from another perspective I think we could spend less on our food if we made some compromises in areas we could live with like bread.
Congrats on the small wedding! My husband had a small wedding - just 17 people including the minister - and it was wonderful!
Here are a few ways we saved:
We made our own invitations using the computer. Since some of our guests were couples, I only had to make about 10 invitations.
You don't need the fancy dress and tux... I did buy a nice, elegant cream dress and veil (on clearance at a bridal shop), but my husband wore a suit he still wears today.
We got married on a Friday afternoon and saved money. Many services - like photographers or caterers aren't as busy on Fridays and will cut you a deal.
My husband and I have been married 10+ years and everyone who was there still talks about what a beautiful wedding we had.
It doesn't matter whether you spend $1,000 or $100,000 on a wedding. Everyone leaves with the same piece of paper saying their married. :-)
The marriage is far more important than the day!
Best wishes for a happy marriage!
Now I may be in the minority, but I have a feeling I'm not.
Who has fresh arugula in the middle of a snow storm? Fresh rotisserie chicken from the store when you don't have four-wheel drive? Perishable can biscuits?
I think a few recipes using commonly held pantry staples would be better. For instance, dried biscuit mix, leftover chili, or BET (Bacon egg and tomato) in case there's no London broil in the fridge.
Bingo, and sometimes ANIME (Manga) and stuff from graphic designers such as notebooks, etc. I like them, and I like a guy who works in the casino, so, I enjoy it, and sometimes I get the money back and even more...
I have two things: a local restaurant I eat at once a week. I love going there, but it definitely adds up. I try to keep the cost of my meal down though, and make room for it in my budget. They also have me work for them every once in a while, and instead of a check they give me store credit, which works great for both of us. My other big budget buster is cable TV. I have digital cable with a Tivo, and often have to fight back the urge to add more premium channels. I do spend a lot of time half watching the TV (I'm usually do something else while it's on), and I would have a seriously hard time giving it up.
It's good to remember, particularly for first-time parents or those who are in uncertain job situations that FSA's, while they can be tax-savers, are usually "use it or lose it." So, if you are just returning to work after a new baby and uncertain whether you will stick with daycare full-time for five months (about the time amount of time it would take to rack up a $5,000 bill, depending on where you live), you may stand to lose $5,000.
Recently I've concluded that I'm guilty of splurging on travel, as I was going through old photographs from my travels within the past 6 years. My savings are probably dried up and malnourished because whenever I set aside a good solid emergency fund, going someplace suddenly becomes of utmost urgency. No suggested remedy for this problem is acceptable to me :)
Vacation. I am the type who takes one vacation every 2-3 years so I try to make them worthwhile/memorable.
Shoes - ones that are easy on my feet. I have some serious foot issues and comfort is priority.
I typically don't splurge, but I do sometimes wait several months between clothes shopping and then spend a good amount. I'd say my true, consistent "splurge" is my tanning salon membership. I joined a couple years ago when they were offering a special, and I've been paying about $20/month membership ever since.
Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. Perhaps most high school grads just need growing up time. I worked and saved two years before starting college. It enabled me to zero in on what I wanted (and didn't want) in an education. The second career students in my major felt the same way, sucking the marrow out of their experiences.
A younger sister got help from home and started out fresh from high school, switching majors three times before graduating with an english degree. It took her five years. She became a social worker.
Books--but they're an investment, y'see! :-)
I splurge on Coach purses and wallets. There is just something about them that I cannot resist. I do purchase them from the factory outlet so I save some money that way. I will not purchase them for full price. I have even scored several really nice new to me ones off of craigslist for 90% off retail prices. I also splurge on the cat food I buy - Weruva in the can. The best place to purchase this is on Amazon and it ships to my house for free. I love my furballs and want them around as long as possible.
Chocolate, specifically Green and Black Almond Toffee chocolate. Then I put it into the fridge and eat it a dozen times, in my head, before a beautiful day or crises or sharing time bids me pull it out and unwrap the prize. Delayed gratification is way better than instant gratification!
When it's not chocolate, it's books and/or magazines.
Food & travel, but mostly food, especially stuff that's supposed to be more exotic.
I splurge on tea!! I love the buying new and exotic teas, and I try to offset this by buying in bulk or during specials.
i splurge on eating out and anything snowboard-related...
Thanks, Vince. I'm drooling my way through the recipes on your site!
For best results, you should drink 1 liter of ice cold water between meals, taking no more than 30 minutes from start to finish (check with your doctor first if you have a heart condition).
Great write-up, the importance of water in our soda based and artificial drink society is more pertinent than ever. I even did a post on this as well called "Water, the elixir of life" at http://financiallyeliteblog.com/630/water-the-elixir-of-life/
Dwight Anthony
Financially Elite Blog dot Com
I love my morning coffee, so I occasionally splurge on a gourmet brand.
Most of the time it's when the store has a sale but it still is a treat to me.
I have to get good shoes, because cheap ones invariably hurt my feet!
Nice clothes.
"that's what second bachelors are for" ???
Surely you jest. Most of us have a hard enough time paying for one college degree per kid (or for ourselves).
I agree with Andrea. A year or two doing an apprenticeship or some volunteer work while exploring career options would make the college years much more productive. Especially now that the new health care law makes keeping an adult child on health insurance easier, there's no reason for most kids not to take a (productive) gap year and do some soul searching *before* shelling out the big tuition dollars.
Months of discipline followed by a budget buster like new laptop, 3 day vacation (last minute), or a trip to home depot. We combat these budget busters by saving more each month so when we do "accidentally" go over we have the cash to stay in the green.
Quality food. Our food bill is astronomical as we make almost everything from scratch. Sometimes we go a little crazy and out of the way just to secure quality food. Unfortunately these days the better quality, the higher the price. Looking at it from another perspective I think we could spend less on our food if we made some compromises in areas we could live with like bread.