What about your Friends?

"If every player in your clique is rich your clique is rugged
Nobody will fall cause everyone would be each others crutches" -Jay-Z

Like the old saying “birds of a feather flock together,” you can tell a lot about a person by looking at who they spend the most time with.  Think about your core group of friends…you shop together, eat together, and share common interests.  However, some of your bonding activities might be hurting your wallet, and steering you away from your financial goals.  The regular girls' night out at the hot downtown restaurant or the weekly shopping excursions may be fun, but once you start monitoring your spending, you may find that A) you can’t afford it! or B) it’s hard to say no to these indulgences when everyone else is doing it...after all, it's what you guys normally do! 

So what do you do now?  Decline all invites from your crew? Replace your old friends with new frugal ones? No!

September Dine In Challenge

This month, I'm challenging myself to eat more meals at home.   I originally just wanted to curb my fast food habit, but figured why not see if I could avoid all restaurants! For the month of September, I'm giving myself only 2 free passes to eat a meal that is not prepared at home (mine or someone else's lol).  And when I say free pass, I also mean that I'm only going to eat at a restaurant if I can eat for free.  September is my birthday month, so I've racked up more than a few birthday coupons giving me free items.  Now free items are good, but a free meal is even better! With that being said, I'm planning to use a birthday certificate for Steak 'n Shake that gives me a free double steak burger with fries. Also, during the week of September 6th through 10th, Chick-Fil-A is offering a free breakfast entree, so I will probably use that as my other free pass.

Hopefully by the end of the month I'll save both money and calories, and maybe even become a better cook!

Feel free to join me! It's never too late!

Benefit$ of a Long Engagement

For as long as I've thought about getting married, I've always imagined having a long engagement.   For years I dreamed of a 5 year relationship plan-3 years dating, 2 years engaged, then happily married forever :)  I've relaxed the plan a little bit, but my fiancé and I have both agreed that a 12+ month (probably more like 18 month) engagement is right for us given the time of year we want to get married and our budget.  Now every couple is different, but I do think there are some major benefits of having a long (I define long as 9+ months) that are worth considering. 

More time to save $$$!  
Having a long engagement gives you more time to save up money for the wedding, instead of choosing to "swipe now, pay later."  There is no reason to go into debt for this one day, and by planning a wedding for 9 months or more you have enough time to set aside a reasonable amount of money each month without having to live on a Ramen and water diet, and can enjoy your wedding/honeymoon without worrying about the bills waiting for you when you get home :) For me, I know that paying for a wedding right now would completely wipe out my emergency fund (a financial no-no!), but with a tentative wedding date of spring or summer 2013, I'll have more than enough time to raise money for the wedding, maintain my emergency fund, and have room in my budget for a little bit of fun here and there ;)


More time to plan!
A long engagement period can also reduce the stress-and cost-of wedding planning. Give yourself time to picture your dream wedding, and research different venues and vendors that can make it happen. Popular ceremony sites may begin booking dates a year in advance, so the earlier you can make that decision, the better! Compare prices for caterers or photographers, and follow them on social media sites to see when they have specials and discount prices.   If you choose to save money by going the D.I.Y route for items such as invitations or wedding favors, you will have plenty of time to make them perfect!  

Engaged!

August 6, 2011

He took me here:

...and gave me this:

Now the work begins!  Expect upcoming posts about wedding budgeting, savings tips, and an update in my goals. 

Loaning Money Without Ruining a Relationship

In every relationship, there is a pivotal event that forever changes the course of that relationship.  One such event is "The First Request for a Loan".  Many friendships have ended, and families have torn apart over money, so it is no surprise that introducing the topic of money into any relationship can be a serious and stressful occasion.  But loaning money to a friend or family member doesn't have to result in a ruined relationship.  Follow these tips when considering giving a loan to a loved one, and you will be able to get through this process without hurting the relationship: