by Sally Matheny
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Planning a Beautiful Wedding Reception on a Budget
(Pixabay Photo) |
Are you planning a wedding reception?
The average cost for an American wedding reception is around $15,000—just for the reception. For many couples, that amount can start their marriage off with huge debts. Or it will deplete the savings accounts of numerous parents. I’ve heard of parents maxing out credit cards and running their retirement accounts dry. It’s not necessary to do this. Nor is it wise.
I’m here to tell you it is possible to plan a beautiful wedding reception, even if you’re working within, what many consider, a frugal budget. Granted, it takes a bit more work, but sometimes that extra effort brings an even sweeter satisfaction. Expect a few challenges, but the overall experience can definitely be enjoyable—if everything is approached with the right attitude.
One thing my daughters and I know for certain is a beautiful wedding reception begins and ends with family and friends.
Are you planning a reception? Perhaps you’ll have a relative or friend offering financial assistance. That would be awesome, wouldn’t it? But if not, fear not. If you have a loving family or a handful of caring friends, you’re well on your way to creating a lovely wedding reception. In this post, I’ll share just a few of the ways we saved money. The.re are too many to write about in one post so if you’d like the entire list, say so in the comments and I’ll email it to you
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By Andrea Woroch
Spending money to save money doesn't seem like a logical concept, but if you know what you're doing then it can be a smart way to stretch your budget. The trick to this strategy is to only buy what you need and what you planned on purchasing anyway. Take toilet paper for example. Toilet paper doesn't spoil and often costs less when bought in bulk, so it's worth stocking up on to reap the savings overtime, as long as you have the storage space.
Read on for more ways you can spend money and save at the same time.
1. Purchase a Club Membership
While you have to pay for a membership fee to join clubs like Costco and Sam's Club, they do offer excellent prices on many items sold in bulk. Try not to buy on impulse, however, as you could find your pantry stocked with 20 years worth of canned beans.
2. Buy Gift Cards
Buying gift cards from discount sites like Gift Card Granny is a great way to save on everything from groceries to electronics, particularly since you can buy gift cards at these sites for up to half their face value.
3. Dive into Deal-of-the-Day Sites
I recently received an offer from Groupon to buy $40 worth of bedding plants for just $17. Since I planned on spending at least $50 on garden starts this year, that's a real deal. Make sure the group-buying deal is truly something you'll use. While a sky diving adventure may sound like a real kick, it's not worth the price if you're afraid of heights.
4. Stock Up to Increase Online Savings
Purchasing more may qualify your online order for a better value coupon or free shipping. For example, Amazon.com has free shipping on most orders over $25. If your cart reaches $22, throw in an extra item to reach that threshold and benefit from the delivery discount.
5. Stockpile with Multiple Coupons Keep an eye out for coupons on non-perishable items you'll actually use and collect extra coupons for your next shopping trip by dumpster diving in recycling bins or ask neighbors for their newspaper circulars. Use all the coupons you've collected to bulk up on the offer and stockpile products for later while enjoying the immediate money-saving offer. Make sure you read the fine print, however, as some coupons can only be used for a maximum amount, say two or four packages of baby diapers.
6. Throw In a Little Lagniappe Lagniappe is a term used in New Orleans referring to something extra you get for free, like a baker's dozen of donuts. Sometimes it pays to buy a little something extra you don't really need to make use of a coupon. For example, I had a $10 off grocery coupon that kicked in if I spent $50. My bill came to $49, so I tossed in a few gum packets to reach the $50 mark. Basically, the gum was free Lagniappe.
About Andrea Woroch As a media expert source, Andrea has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or get more information, visit
http://andreaworoch.com/ or you can also follow @AndreaWoroch on Twitter to receive daily savings tips.
Stopping by from the hop, hope you'll come visit, too! http://hisperfectpromises.blogspot.com/