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Great Money Saving Tips for Your Wedding

When it comes to planning your wedding, there are countless expenses to consider.  Here you will find several tips that will help you save money while still planning a wonderful wedding.

Formulate a Budget

Many people get into trouble if they do not create a budget before beginning their wedding planning.  Doing so will keep you focused and ensure that you do not overspend.  Decide on a number and stick to it.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

Make sure that you have given yourself ample time to plan your wedding.  You don’t want to be rushed, as this could force you to make decisions based on timing.  This usually gets people into trouble, especially after a budget has been decided upon.  You want your wedding planning to be smooth and as stress free as possible.  The more time you give yourself, the smoother the process.

Don’t Be Afraid to Simplify

Consider yourself and your spouse first when planning your wedding.  Decide on things that are important to the two of you, and only include these things.  For example, if you want to get married and have the reception at the same venue, do it.  Don’t feel like there are guidelines to follow, because everyone’s wedding is different.  Make decisions based on what you want and can afford.  If this means simplifying, go for it.

Be Creative With Decorations

Everyone wants to have some type of theme or decoration at their wedding, but this does not have to break the budget.  Think of ways to cut your costs by choosing a venue that already has a charm and certain look to it.  You could marry in a beautiful garden, and save money on flowers.  There are many ways to decorate, the key is to think creatively while keeping your theme in mind.

Save Money on Printed Invitations

One element of wedding planning that people usually end up spending lots of money on is printed materials.  Thankfully, this is an area that you can really save if you plan accordingly.  Instead of sending out save the date cards, you can use an online resource to let people know when your wedding will be.  This way, you have more money to spend on the invitations themselves.  A simple greeting card works perfectly as a wedding invitation.  You can also request that your guests RSVP with a phone call or by email, to save money on postage and printed RSVPs.

Use Your Friends and Family

Think of people you know that have talents or skills to offer their services for your wedding.  Most people would gladly help you out for your big day and be happy to do so.  This can save you oodles of money!  Think of singers, cake makers, decorators, DJs, florists, hair and makeup artists, dress makers, and the list goes on and on.  Chances are, there are people in your life that possess skills that would be helpful for your wedding and hopefully they would be willing to help for little or no cost to you.  All you have to do is ask.

All of these tips are great ways to save money on your wedding.  Just remember to stick to the budget and don’t be afraid to get creative!  There are no rules or etiquette for your big day, so make it your own!

Money Saving Tips for the Coming Recession

Have you read the gloomy news lately? We are on our way to a serious recession. Recession is defined by most economists as an economy that shrinks for 2 consecutive quarters. I expect that to happen in this quarter and the next. So how do you cope with rising prices and less cash in your bank account?Here are some money saving tips on how to stop those currency notes leaving your wallet unnecessarily:

Credit Card Money Saving Tips

You have probably heard it before but here it is again – pay off your credit card debts every month. You can’t afford the 18 to 24 percent interest per year on the balance you keep on it. Also pay off the entire amount of the last month on the due date because even if you pay one dollar less, you will still be charged interest on the whole amount.

Home Money Saving Tips

Adjust your heating so that it turns on at 6 in the morning and 7 in the evening for a period of 3 hours at both times. You don’t need the heating when you are in bed and at your job.

Get energy efficient bulbs – they give you more light for the electricity consumed and last for thousands of hours. The prices of these bulbs have also gone down considerably since they were first introduced. So what if they are ugly? The cash saved can buy you new lamp shades, to conceal them, in due course.

How about cutting down on your weekly groceries? Plan your shopping for the food that you need for the next week. Most families throw away tons of date expired food because they overbuy at the supermarket. Visit the web sites of all the super markets in your area and favour one with your custom after comparing prices of products on your list and the estimated total bill. It will be an hour well spent. Stock up on any long dated products on special deals, which you consume quite regularly. Buy only what you have on your list. Supermarkets spend huge amounts on research on how to make people like us buy more than what we need.

Forget designer clothes, fragrances and other stuff with brand names. Brand names just add cost to what can be purchased for far less with a store’s own brand.

Other Money Saving Tips

Do you really need a monthly pay plan cell phone? Why not get a pay as you go phone? With a pay as you go, you would think twice before you call for every little thing that comes up.

Stop thinking of your car as an extended part of your body. You don’t have to jump in to it for going to a place 2 blocks away. Walk, its good for you and saves you gas. Use a bike for places further away.

Forget your weekly eating out. Get food from your favourite take away and a bottle of wine and celebrate at home.

Don’t buy anything because of an irrepressible urge. Wait for a day or two and you will find that you don’t need it at all. Especially that new car.

Never buy a brand new car. Most cars lose 50% of their value in the first 3 years. Some lose 70%. So why would you want to pay for a new car when you can get a good quality one for half the price? Besides, you don’t have to worry about some one scratching it or vandalising it when you have parked it on a lonely street. It isn’t new, remember?

Shop on the internet for all your insurances and other services. It is a known fact that most businesses spend more on getting new customers than keeping their existing ones. Loyalty to any company is not viable if it is going to cost you more.

If you are a smoker, quit right now. Smoking is a pay now, pay later plan. You pay now for your cigarettes and pay later when you are hospitalised. You would probably save hundreds, if not thousands, every year if you kicked the habit. You also pay more for your life and health insurance if you are a smoker. So do the right thing and quit.

Keep a diary of your daily expenses – you will be surprised at how much unnecessary expense you incur in your daily life.

Finally, there are hundreds of ways you are leaking money. You would probably have to take a magnifying glass to your expenses to really cut them with out sacrificing your quality of life. You could spend a couple of hours every week end with a detailed break down of your previous week’s expenses and try to figure out where all your cash went and why. And then perhaps, you might get the beast under control.

Useful Money Saving Tips For Businesses

Today, there are many ways that you can start earning good income by starting an own business. However, when you are making your way to the top, you should learn how to manage your business, because that is of vital importance for your overall success. Therefore, here are some of the best money saving tips for businesses, which will allow you to easily get the best from your business:

* First among all the money saving tips for businesses is to make sure that you will negotiate better terms for your credit. Although this tip may seem really obvious, you will be amazed at how many people are not taking advantage of it. However it is good to remember that to negotiate on the terms of your credit, you must have excellent credit score, because otherwise you will not be approved for better terms.

* Another one of the money saving tips for businesses is to see what you can live without. There are many things that we buy, but in fact we do not need any of them at all. So it is a good idea to make a list of all your expenses, because that is the easiest way to find those that are not necessary and cut them off.

* Very useful among the money saving tips for businesses is to avoid the overtime. Most of the employers are trying to get all the work done for very short amount of time, so they are paying a lot of extra money to their employers for working overtime. The solution to that problem is really simple – prioritize all your projects. That is the best way to save the money that you will pay to your employees for working overtime. You will also be able to wait until your business is financially stable.

* The competition between all the service providers today is fierce, so this is one of the most important money saving tips for businesses. Here is how you can take advantage of the fierce competition. Although you must have heard it many times before, to take advantage of the best offer you should learn what are the other options available on the market. Most of the service providers are giving a lot of discounts to the customers, who in turn are using more of their services. Therefore, choose one of the service providers and get as much discount on services as you can.

* Although there are many people, who are familiar with this money saving tips for businesses, I will still like to mention it here again – compare the prices and the products you will buy, before you actually buy them.

* Finally, the most useful among all money saving tips for businesses is to keep those tools that you actually need for your business, like for example your marketing tools. There are many employers, who start saving money on practically anything and in the end, they end up destroying their business.

Follow these money saving tips for businesses and see your business change for good.

Top 10 Wedding – Money Saving Tips

Money Saving Tip 1: BARGAIN – Make sure you always ask for the ‘best price’ or ‘a discount’. Don’t be embarrassed. The truth is most vendors expect you to ask for a discount. You may not always get a better price but; nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Money Saving Tip 2: OVERTIME RATES – When you agree a price with a vendor, make sure you raise the matter of overtime rates. This is valid for wedding venue, caterer, photographer, videographer, music(band/DJ), security, car hire, professional services (wedding planner, professional best man). While you may have every intention of sticking to a time schedule, this often changes on the night generally at the last minute. One hour overtime could cost you hundreds. Some vendors will even agree no overtime rates which is what you should always request.

Money Saving Tip 3: RETURNS POLICY – Ask vendors if they have a returns policy. This can once again save you hundreds and quite often more. When organising their wedding, couples generally over supply many items as they can not stand the thought of everything not running smoothly. Just imagine running out of alcohol or food? Alcohol companies set the benchmark when it comes to returns. Yesterday, we mentioned how 60% of couples order too few souvenirs, well the other 40% generally purchase too many. It is almost impossible to get exactly right. If you are one of the 40% ordering too many, souvenir companies should also provide this returns service so make sure to ask the vendor.

Money Saving Tip 4: FLEXIBILITY – Another way to save is to be flexible with the timing of your big day. For example, you could pay about 20% less if you have your reception on a Sunday or Friday. Many vendors, even those who do not advertise cheaper rates for these days will be more open to negotiating a better deal as it is harder to fill these dates with other events.

Money Saving Tip 5: PRIORITY – The venue? The food? The music? The photos? The guest list? Choose what matters most to you, and look for ways to trim other expenses. If you always wanted the perfect venue, book it! It is important to ensure your limited funds are directed to what you want most. It’s just as important though to look at other areas that are not as important and compromise slightly on amount or quality.

Money Saving Tip 6: GUEST LIST – Don’t feel pressured to add names. Politely explain that you’re on a strict budget. Some people may be upset but this is inevitable. You have to draw the line in the sand at some stage. Don’t forget this is your day and ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with your guest list in terms of names and cost.

Money Saving Tip 7: TIMING – For those considering a religious wedding, consider having your event around a major religious holiday or feast. The church will already be decorated saving you money on items like flowers and red carpet. Also, Sunday weddings in peak season often follow a Saturday wedding so once again the church will be decorated. Always keep in mind that the decoration may not be totally to your taste so you do need to be flexible. We understand this option is not for everyone but if you are on a strict budget, you will not need to go without.

Money Saving Tip 8: ASK – There are so many profesionals at weddings like singers and photographers and they also charge ‘professional’ rates. Think long and hard about those you know. Do you have a cousin or aunt who is a great singer? They would be great for a wedding ceremony and it will help to add a personal touch. How about a friend who completed a professional photography course? If the pennies matter, a lot can be saved by using those you know, as long as they agree off course

Money Saving Tip 9: DUTY FREE – Taxes on items like alcohol are extremely high. How about a way to pay no tax on alcohol? Most weddings are planned well in advance. Why not ask those you know (and feel comfortable in asking) to bring you back a couple of bottles of alcohol every time they go overseas? Around 30% can be saved on every bottle purchased so well worth some serious thought. Best to buy alcohol that will definitely be consumed like whiskey as your alcohol vendor may offer returns for other items.

Money Saving Tip 10: THE BRIDAL GOWN – Most bridal stores have yearly sales to clear some stock to make way for the new seasons range. Discounts of up to 90% are not uncommon. The new season of wedding gowns are generally introduced to stores in Spring, between April and May. Therefore, ‘the real’ annual sale is usually anywhere from March through to May. This is the BEST time to purchase your dress should you wish to look priceless, for a fraction of the cost.

Money Saving Tips For Weddings

Every woman dreams of having a wedding which is beautiful and memorable, but not all are willing or able to spend as much as a car on one single day. Planning a wedding on a budget is not always easy, but it is certainly possible. Here are some great money saving tips for which will help you plan a fantastic wedding without breaking the bank.

Keep it Small. This is the absolute best way to keep wedding costs to a minimum. Fewer guests mean less of everything. That includes invitations and postage, food, drinks, favors, centerpieces, and even fewer musicians needed in the band. A small guest list will also enable you to choose a less pricey reception venue such as a private dining room in a restaurant, which generally means no rental fees. A smaller wedding party will also help you keep additional expenses like bridesmaid gifts and ladies’ luncheon costs under control.

Shop Online. The chances are that you will be able to find the best deals on many of your wedding elements online. Things like bridal shoes, bridesmaid gifts, wedding favors, and even invitations can all be had at lower prices from Internet retailers than traditional bridal shops. If you are up for creating your own bouquets and centerpieces, you can even order your wedding flowers online. The one thing to avoid ordering online is a designer bridal gown, because no approved vendors will sell a fine bridal gown over the Internet. You can, however, find great wedding gowns online through more general retailers like J Crew.

Timing is Everything. One of the simplest ways to trim your wedding budget is to have a morning ceremony. A brunch reception will cost infinitely less than a reception which features a full cocktail hour followed by a seated dinner. If even brunch is a stretch on your budget, hold your ceremony in the early afternoon followed by a cake, champagne, and punch reception. In parts of the country where it is traditional to invite the entire congregation of the bride’s church to the wedding, a brief cake and punch reception in the church’s fellowship hall is the traditional post-ceremony gathering, and it can be quite lovely.

Plan a Wedding That is Out of Season (but use seasonal elements). You can dramatically lower your reception costs if you opt to have your wedding during the off-season where you live (normally the winter, excluding peak days like New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day). If you want a summer wedding, see if the venues you like offer discounts for Thursday evening weddings. And remember that by choosing flowers, food, and decorations which are in season, you will both save a considerable sum and have an event which celebrates the season.

Skip the Extras. When trying to keep your wedding under budget, it is important to differentiate between the basic necessities and the extras. A bouquet for the bride is a necessity; floral garlands on the church pews are an extra. Many things which are common at weddings are by no means necessary, nor will omitting them detract from the specialness of your day. It is fine to skip the limo, an aisle runner, wedding programs and menus, and a second dress for the reception. The one thing that a couple should never skimp on is hospitality. Specifically, a cash bar is not an acceptable way to cut your budget. Serve what you can afford with grace and you can be sure that everyone will remember your wedding as special and beautiful.

Practical and All-Around Money Saving Tips

We’re living in frugal times and it’s the best way to learn and re-learn money saving tips that will help us in our quest to lessen our expenses and put your money where it belongs!

Say no to department store shopping. When you need clothing, shoes, appliances and furniture, start shopping at thrift stores, garage sales and consignment shops. You can help reuse the items you’re buying and you’re getting it at a price you can afford.

Anytime you go shopping for either groceries or apparel, you have to write down what exactly you’re going to buy. Make a plan, and a careful one at that. Having a list will make you stop buying an item that’s not included in your list.

Be an expert Do-It-Yourself-er! Lessen your dependence on commercial detergent soaps. Why not make your own? The ingredients of your homemade detergent can easily be found in supermarkets. Did you know that you can also make your own body wax? Now you don’t have to spend all that money just to get waxed at a beauty salon because you can do it by yourself. Learn how make your own baby food, mixed drinks and more!

Public transportation puts your money where it should be: in your pockets and not in the cash register of gas stations. If you live in the city, make use of the public transit system. Take the bus or subway instead of your car. Stop worrying about parking space and shell out less money this way. Compared to using a car, a transit pass card for a year will pay for itself after two months. So for ten months it’s like getting a free ride.

If you like the convenience of having a car too much to give it up, a practical solution would be carpool. If your office mate lives near by, ride together. You can also alternate cars that you use every other day so you can lessen the car costs for you and your companion.

When birthdays and special occasions come, don’t buy your gifts at the mall. You can make your own gifts yourself so try to learn how to make handmade items you can give away as gifts.

Instead of going out with your colleagues or your friends, hold a potluck dinner at home. It’s less expensive and it always is fun.

Vices like smoking, drinking and drugs not only take a toll off our health but waste away a huge chunk of our money too. You gain nothing from chain smoking, doing drugs or being an alcoholic, so why not take steps to end the addiction now?

Look around your closet for anything you haven’t worn or used in a year. The longer a piece of clothing sits at the bottom of the closet, the higher the likelihood that you will never use it. Solution to unused and old items: yard or garage sales, or take it into consignment shops. Get money for the things you’re never going to miss anyway. Or you could also donate it so you can have a tax deduction in return. Another way to put money in your pocket!

The internet is a huge resource of information on how to get things for free. Well, some are almost free. You can search the internet for websites to swap items like music CDs, DVD movies, text books and novels, and all other items. You get to trade in your old items for something (almost) new.

Bath room decorating ideas and money saving tips

Your bathroom decorating ideas should follow the same design style that you have selected for the rest of your home to ensure consistency. There are a number of bathroom decorating ideas that you can use to make sure that your style is fixed through your home.

If your budget allows, consider replacing your bathroom suite with a new toilet and sink if the current ones don’t match your taste – especially if you inherited a previous owner’s olive green design style. You bathroom decorating ideas could also extend to a new bathtub surround, perhaps one created from tile.

Other bathroom decorating ideas include paint and wallpaper. Either are relatively inexpensive looks for transforming the look of a bathroom. Wallpaper is an especially great bathroom decorating idea if your walls are uneven and damaged, since these flaws would still be visible if you repainted the space. And, wallpaper today comes in very simple styles that are designed to mimic the look of a cleanly painted wall.

Changing the flooring is also an option when evaluating potential bathroom decorating ideas. Usually changing flooring can be expensive, but since bathrooms tend to have very little floor space and square footage, it generally isn’t a budget buster. Consider retiling the floor, laying wood or even simply staining the concrete under floor with a dye purchased from your local home improvement store.

Once you have completed the major bathroom updates, don’t forget about the accents. Towels, artwork, shower curtains and more are all important bathroom decorating ideas that pull a look together. Coupons4discount.comis one stop shop for these pieces where you can find all major retailers  that sell everything from towels to framed art to soap dispensers. Target also has introduced a number of new designer looks in their home décor section that are still priced moderately.

Once your entire bathroom decorating ideas has been selected, start shopping online at coupons4discount.comwhich provides coupons and coupon codes for all your bathroom items to save money.

Money Saving Tips

THE art of shopping has never been more important than in these days of high prices and inflation. In country after country, prices have hit alarming highs, with little hope of a downward trend in the foreseeable future. In many families both parents have to work just to make ends meet. How important it is, then, for you to know how, where, and when to shop and how to spend your money in the most prudent way!

One of the most important elements in being a good shopper is knowing the value of things. A sale item—be it clothing, an appliance, or food—will not represent a savings if it is of poor quality, needs drastic alterations or repairs, or is ultimately not used.

For instance, when buying clothing, ask yourself: Is the material of good quality? Is it well made? Does it have to be altered? How often will I wear it? Is it a style that will last? Is it easy to keep clean? An item that needs to be dry-cleaned can be more expensive in the long run than a washable item that is higher priced initially. So maintenance is a factor. Real bargains are those clothes that fit well, flatter your face and figure, and can be worn and enjoyed for years.

The same principles apply to purchasing furniture and appliances, whether new or used. Is the item of good quality? Does it work? If repairs are needed, can you make them yourself? What will the final cost be? Asking yourself these questions, especially when shopping at garage and yard sales or flea markets, can inhibit impulse buying and save many a penny.

To get the best value in appliances, you should know what they cost to operate. Big maintenance and utility bills can add greatly to the cost of an item. Think too of where the item will be used. For example, an air conditioner placed in a sunny window will take much more electricity to cool the room than one placed in a window away from the sun. The length of time the appliance is on as well as its size, age, and efficiency will determine how much energy it draws and, therefore, the overall cost.

Knowing when to buy can at times be more important than where. Usually, the best bargains in summer clothes can be obtained toward the end of the summer season. Most clothing stores have clearance sales then to make room for their fall outfits. The same is true at the end of the winter season. The greatest savings will be realized by purchasing them toward the end of winter and just before the spring merchandise comes in. True, selections may not be as broad, but they are usually adequate.

Since most car models do not change much from year to year, you can save by buying a new car toward the end of the year when dealers clear their lots for the next year’s models. Do not be afraid to ask questions as to what warranties and service go with your purchase. In time these may prove more valuable than some features of the car itself.

New Way to Find Money Saving Tips and Get Better Value When Shopping Online; ‘Shopping 101′ is Here

Financial Secrets 101 launched their new “Shopping 101” section on May 12th, 2010! 5G members now have access to a whole library of money saving tips when it comes to shopping online. Everyone loves getting the best value when they shop, and FinancialSecrets101.com has proactively made it easier to find that value and maximize every dollar a shopper has.

The Shopping 101 section contains links, ratings, and descriptions of different websites where online shoppers can find better deals on things like travel, books, computers, clothing, movies, and other entertainment purchases. There is even a page with a whole list of promo codes and coupons, and some of the links show members where to get certain things for free!

It’s easy to navigate through the various categories and money saving tips. Each tip is rated between 1 and 5 stars. The rating is determined by the 5G Team who researches every website before it is published. If the 5G Team does not rate the link above 3 stars, it is not published in the Shopping 101 section.

Shopping 101 is located within a member’s 5G Account. Therefore, in order to view it, a user must first become a member and then login to their account. Griff Hanning, the owner and founder of FinancialSecrets101.com designed it this way so that only people who are serious about saving money and getting more value out of their purchases will use it. “If it were open to the public, we would get a lot of spammers in the “comments” section and it would lessen the value of the service we provide along with the 5G Plan,” says Griff.

Members are allowed to post comments to each category in order to share websites and other money saving tips with the rest of the 5G community. Griff’s team scans each comment posted and determines if it’s worth publishing. “If a member shares a particularly useful website, it might be added to one of the shopping categories,” says Griff, “…that’s the power of having a community of money saving enthusiasts come together to help each other find better value.”

The 5G Plan is a customized online savings plan, which is the meat and bones of FinancialSecrets101.com, and Shopping 101 is simply an added bonus to the already information-rich application. The best part about the whole package is that it’s free to join. Griff hopes that every member will find at least one bit of advice to help them on their journey towards financial freedom.

For all of the online shoppers looking for value-adding money saving tips, Shopping 101 may be a great place to start.

Whether you own a huge corporate office or a small firm, the total expenditure of running the office can prove to be huge. So, it is wise to know and use some money saving tips for the office and slash off expenses wherever possible.

What would be the optimal starting point?

Indeed, a considerable amount of money is spent for purchasing office supplies. One can effectively save funds by following money savings ideas such as eradicating unnecessary purchase of office equipments. It is wise to use reusable office equipments rather than buying fresh supply especially when it is highly expensive.

What is the killer mistake that almost everybody does?

Do not buy any beautiful collections that are found in office shops. First, check what you have, and then, buy the equipments and furniture from used or second hand shops.

The best tip for you!

Even using all-in-one equipment machines can be a great budgeting tip for smaller offices. A machine combining a copier, printer, and scanner is great both for saving the space as well as the cost.

What is the most recent trend in arranging your office the cheapest way?

Creating a homely atmosphere at the office is the new trend among office folks. A large number of big offices employ the service of stocking coffee items on weekly or daily bases. In this manner, I have a budgeting help idea for you. Indeed, you should buy the office supplies and make coffee to save significantly.

In this manner, specialized stores usually offer products at high values. Hence, to save a considerable amount of money, you should tend to buy products from normal stores. These stores may not offer you a great variety of office supplies, but the products offered there are less expensive. One more advice is to try using less paper by reading your documents online instead of printing out each and every email.

Have you considered saving money on utilities?

Auditing will also help you in determining your budget. In addition, it enables you to save money. You can either put on water saving units, window tinting, hand dryers instead of paper towels.

What would be the other hidden tips to save money at office?

Other budgeting tips include, but are not limited to trying online mailing facility. Indeed, they permit to print the postage as well as envelops for the same price of postage and a little service fee.

One of the important saving money tips is to evaluate and compare the deals that you got from different vendors. The World Wide Web can be the best source to research as well as compare prices easily.

Using money saving tips for the office, one can run the office within a set budget limit. Some simple, yet effective changes can have a great significance on your bottom line. Doing this, you will have more money available for other necessary expenses.

Money Saving Tips from ‘The Frugal Girl’ – CBN.com

Kristen Cross says she’s been frugal all her life and through her blog, “The Frugal Girl,” she teaches others how to live on less… The Christian Broadcasting Network CBN www.cbn.com