Weddings are expensive. They come with all kinds of little details that cost a sizable chunk of your hard earned money. One of the best ways to avoid over spending is to create a plan. Part of planning means saving money. This is way easier for some of us than others. But if you find little ways to make cut back on your spending, you’ll find yourself with an extra hundred dollars or so at the the end of each month which can add up fast. Here are some ways to save money for your wedding.
1. Limit trips to Starbucks. Set a realistic goal for yourself like once a week or once every other week. You likely spend anywhere from 1.60 to 5.00 a pop depending on your drink of choice. That adds up very quickly when you go multiple times per week. Therefore, invest in a travel mug and get reacquainted with your coffee maker.
2. Reduce your cable package. I know you love all 840 channels but you could live without them for a year. Besides, you have a wedding to plan and saving 20.00 some dollars a month will help you get those designer shoes you want.
3. Limit eating out. No time like the present to sharpen you culinary skills.
4. Get rid of extraneous bills you don’t really need. The membership to the nail salon you never use, the jelly of the month club, Netflix (because when you fail to return the movie in a timely manner, you are paying $12 a month for one movie), terminate anything you are not regularly using.
5. Pay for things in cash when you can and write down what you spend. By tracking your daily spending, you’ll be more accountable for what you are spending.
5. Use your piggy bank. Since you’ll be using cash, deposit all your loose change into a jar and put it in the bank monthly. You’d be surprised how much you might end up with.
6. Ask for donations. If people want to buy you gifts for birthdays or other special occasions, ask for gift cards to retailers you’ll be shopping at for the wedding.
7. Shop for gently used items on Craiglist, ebay, and wedding consignment shops. You can find great deals on things that are like new.
8. Make a budget and keep track of it. There is no way to know how much you are spending and saving unless you know what you are spending and saving.
Even if you can only incorporate a few of these into your routine, you will find yourself saving money and that, as Martha would say, is a good thing.
