Sep 27, Todays Coupon $2.00 Off Hidden Valley Farmhouse originas

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Sep 21, 3 Ways to Economize Food Habits

by Liz
(SimpleItalianCooking.com)

Whether the economy is bad or good, it can never hurt to learn new ways to live a more frugal lifestyle. This does not mean you have to sell your house and move in with family, or sell a car and start eating peanut butter and jelly for dinner each night. Living frugally simply means you are in essence economizing. In other words, spending money responsibly, and cutting back in other places to help balance your household budget.

Here are three simple ways you can begin to slowly - or not so slowly - economize your life.

1. Grow your own herbs.

Growing herbs sounds like a wonderful idea for many enthusiastic and eager young gardeners. However, growing an herb garden with herbs you may never use is certainly not economical. Therefore make sure the herbs you choose are ones used in the type of meals you generally cook. For example, if you eat a lot of Thai food or Asian dishes, you can grow Thai basil which has a distinctive flavor - very different than the Italian sweet basil. Thai basil goes great with rice such as basmati or jasmine.

Also consider buying rosemary bushes to grow outdoors. For a small rosemary seeding, you will pay anywhere from $1.99 up to $9.99 or more depending on size. When you purchase fresh rosemary from the produce department as it can cost nearly $5.00 just for a handful of fresh sprigs.

Rosemary is commonly used as a seasoning for roasting chicken as well as other meats - especially lamb. Rosemary is also very fragrant, and can be grown indoors. It is also a natural bug repellent.

Learning to economize in a depressed economy isn't too hard when we see the need for it immediately in front of us. However, it is important to learn to always be economical even when times are going well. This allows us to save our money for emergencies, or important purchases such as a down payment on a house, purchasing a new car, or when planning on growing your family. Proper planning also enables us to weather the storm when the economy around us heads south.

Take this opportunity to teach your children the value of saving and investing in proper resources. Teaching them that frugal living does not have to mean living a deprived life - but rather avoiding one. These lessons learned by observation and experience will help prepare them as they venture out on their own in future years.

2. Your grocery receipt is your friend.

When you are beginning to think about where to cut expenses, try taking a look at your grocery bill when you get home from shopping. Were all the items on your receipt really needed, or were they impulse buys? Think of your grocery receipt as a way to keep yourself in check. It is easy to walk into a grocery store with a simple list in your hand, only to find yourself filling up your shopping cart with items that do not appear on that list. This can occur for two reasons. One is that you sincerely forgot to put items on your list that you needed, or secondly you do not use your list as a comprehensive list.
Try to practice taking the time to create a full comprehensive list of all the items that you know you need to get each week. If you do not like being that restrictive, then make sure that any new items or other items which are placed in your cart are only items which are on sale. Other than that, put the item back on the shelf unless you know you must absolutely need.

3. The value of buying meat at good prices.

Only buy meat which is on sale, and consider buying in bulk when prices are less on a pound to pound basis in comparison to the non-bulk price. Of course, bulk prices are not always cheaper, and you should make sure the bulk price is indeed a good deal. If money is tight and you are only saving a few pennies, it may not be worth the purchase. Not everyone enjoys or understands the value of buying in bulk. True, it is more money up front, which is why this option may not be feasible for everyone. But for those who can, they should look into this option.

Tips for bulk meat purchases:

When buying in bulk, do not for freeze the larger cuts of meat without cutting them down in size suitable for use in future meals - such as 1/4 pound or 1/2 pound pieces. This way when you need some meat you can pull out just what you need.

You can also buy in bulk from local farms at cheaper prices than at some retail locations. Build a relationship with the farmer and they may give you better prices. If you are looking for ground meat to use for meatloaf, meatballs, or hamburgers, you can use a Waring Pro meat grinder to grind your own meat right at home. You can also ask the butcher to grind it right there on the farm for you. For example, if you bought 10 pounds of sirloin, you could grind half of it for a meatloaf, while using the other half for steak. To make steak you do not have to ask a butcher to slice the meat for you, instead you can use a food slicer to cut slices - usually up to 1/2 inch thick - whenever it is convenient for you.

This article was written by SimpleItalianCooking a resource for Italian easy recipes and kitchenware products.

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Sep 13, Save $2.00 Hidden Valley Farmhouse Originals

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The Bridesmaid Dress That Would Make You a Bride Fast Enough

Are you always the bridesmaid but never the bride? There might be a lot of reasons but if you have been waiting for your man to pop the question you might as well go the nine yards to impress him with your bridesmaid dress on your best friend's wedding.

Doll up Honey

Don't be coy. Doll up honey on your best friend's wedding. It's about time you snare your man because being a bridesmaid twenty times over is no longer a laughing matter if your boyfriend has been reluctant to pop the question. Dazzle him this time with a preview of the bride you can become in your sumptuous bridesmaid dress.

If you have been spending for your bridesmaid getup, don't hesitate to splurge. Don't think cheap but yet stay frugal if you know what it means. You can get great looking bridesmaid dresses at discount prices, have your hair and makeup done by a great stylist and bam! You're the best-looking bridesmaid in the bridal lineup.

Certainly you have to follow the rules. If the bride wants a color theme but agrees to have her bridesmaid choose their styles, work it. Choose that bridesmaid dress that adores your coloring and a style that shows off your curves and hides your imperfections. Nobody is physically perfect in that department so don't be shy to ask the bridal specialist for something that would hide that behind or camouflage those breasts - full or lean.

If you have been watching scores of celebrities during their red carpet exhibitions you get more fantastic ideas for your bridesmaid dress and accessories. Copy their hairstyles and check if your face shape goes well with that hairdo. For your makeup, go as natural as you can for that refreshing look your man can't resist. He better start thinking before somebody else beats him to the finish line.

Of course, you shouldn't steal the show from the bride. Don't go for revealing dresses, it makes you look cheap. Go for regal lines instead; aren't royals wearing understated but fantastic dresses to weddings? If you opt for deep cleavage or thigh high slits, you might end up losing your man if he is conservative as your gramps. So walk down the aisle with understated elegance and confidence. This time, make a go for it. He will take the drift fast enough.

Shopping for Your Killer Dress

When your best friend announces she's getting married and you are one of her bridesmaids, start looking for a dress. Ask the brides about her wedding theme and if she wants a beach wedding, don't opt for frills and ribbons. Choose a bridesmaid dress that gives that sexy Caribbean feel - a sexy midriff top and loose gauzy skirt easily transform you into a sea nymph.

If the bride wants a garden wedding don't strut in tight fitting skirts, but opt for a flowing skirt of luxurious sheer fabric. You can bet your life that your man will love the vision of you floating in the garden like a woodland fairy.

Whatever the theme of your best friend's wedding; make it a point to choose a dress that stands out from other bridesmaid dresses. Ask your buddies about their ideas for a bridesmaid dress and sort them out. Or coyly ask your man what makes a bridesmaid stand out and go from there.

Is your wedding coming up? Shop for wedding dresses in Toronto and get the best bridesmaid dress for your best friend. For evening dresses Toronto bridal shops have the latest styles too to melt a man's heart. Visit TorontoDresses.com today.

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Dress For Excess - Wedding Dresses That Make Yours Look Frugal

Enough with the depressing articles on the economy, already. They either make you feel bummed out about what you can't spend, or guilty about what you shouldn't. But everyone wants to splurge on something once or twice in a lifetime, and your wedding dress just might be your pick.

Yes, you are a responsible, good-head-on-her-shoulders woman who is giving serious thought to her retirement savings. But you also may be thinking about splurging on your wedding dress.

If you are, you are well within your rights to clam up about the price. But if you're feeling the need to spin that splurge to your loved ones, there are a few women who have blazed a trail that will make your wedding day indulgence look like a positive bargain.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, European noblewomen were expected to show off the family might at their weddings with a display of the family wealth. Their wedding gowns were made of layers and layers of rich, heavy fabric, and were sometimes so covered in jewels that the fabric couldn't be seen. The first wedding dance was probably a slow one; sometimes the gowns were so heavy that they needed help walking down the aisle.

Melania Knauss gave them a nod when she married Donald Trump in 2005. She wore a Galliano number that weighed nearly 50 pounds, complete with a 13-foot train that cost a reported $100,000. The gown was made from 300 feet of satin (visible) set off with 1,500 crystal rhinestones.

Only $100,000? She may have been going with a simple look because it was The Donald's third marriage.

Catherine Zeta-Jones raised the ante to a $250,000 dress when she married Michael Douglas in November of 2000. Her gown was an ivory sheath Christian Lacroix in beaded duchess satin with a train of antique Chantilly lace, topped off with the ultimate accessory for the shy bride, a diamond tiara. The two made up for some of their wedding excess by asking that guests donate to a charitable foundation in the name of their son rather than giving gifts. And Zeta-Jones, while ready to shell out for a wedding dress, certainly knew a few clever cost-cutting tips. Her tiara was a loan from Fred Leighton Diamonds. So when you're planning, don't forget to check in with your celebrity jewelry designer friends.

If you're convinced that blended fabrics are inherently tacky, you may change your mind when you see the dress designed by Mauro Adami (the lead designer for Milan's ultrachic Domo Adami) for London's Hatton Garden Jewelry Week. The dress, valued at £240,000, is made of 120 feet of fabric spun from silk and platinum. Yes, platinum. To say that the dress has a nice shine is kind of like saying the Eiffel Tower has a pretty good view. And then there is the 2004 wedding of Vanisha Mittal and Amit Bhatia. Bhatia is a successful investment banker and Vanisha works in the family business... Which happens to be an international steel empire. The total tab for the wedding was about 90 million U.S. dollars. The bride's trousseau cost a reported 30 million British pounds... But that included 15 different outfits, jewelry, and the services of three of India's best-known designers. So once you break it down, it's really quite reasonable.

If you really want the absolute top you-just-might-be-dropping-a-little-too-much-coin-on-this wedding gown, you'll have to go to bridal designer Renee Strauss and Martin Katz Jewelers, who teamed up in 2006 to create a dress so expensive it has a title. The Diamond Wedding Gown was bedecked with 150 carats worth of - you guessed it -diamonds, and was priced at a tidy 12 million dollars.

Doesn't your wedding dress look like a sensible purchase now?

Unia Griffin is a contributing writer at OnedWed, a Wedding Planning Website. She writes about classy wedding dresses, traditional wedding shoes, wedding planning, and basically everything wedding.

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Are You Getting What You Want For Your Wedding?

When you first announce your engagement everyone is sooo excited for you and they can't wait to help you with your wedding. Everyone immediately starts weighing in on what they think your colors should be, what your bridesmaids should wear, how you should style your hair and what flowers you should have in your centerpieces. But what do you want?

Fear of Bridezilla Creates A Shy Bride - I've noticed that a lot of brides are really worried about being labeled the dreaded "bridezilla" so they are extra careful with what they say, ask and comment on when it comes to their weddings. But that means your voice isn't getting heard amongst the crowd and are you really getting what you want at YOUR wedding?

The Groom Weighs In.. and So Does Everyone Else!

For years the groom was the quiet guy in the corner showing up at the obligatory meetings but now he's front and center. He's letting everyone know the kind of wedding he'd like to have and sometimes he's talking louder than the bride. The men are really stepping up to the plate when it comes to weddings so where does that leave you, the bride?

And it's not just your groom weighing in I'm sure- it's your mother, your mother in law, your bridesmaids, your co-workers, even some of your wedding vendors. It probably seems like everyone has an opinion on your wedding. So how do you cope with all this "help?"

Don't Get Too Zen When It Comes To Wedding Planning

When it comes down to it, it's YOUR day... and by "your" I mean both you and your groom. So that means that you're going to have to get dirty and get into the wedding planning together.

Here are some tips for weighing in on what you want when common wedding "situations" occur:

1. They're Paying So I Can't Say- What?!- So there's the age old dilemma of the parents paying for a certain portion of the wedding (or all of it) and the bride being nervous to go against her parents' or her future in-laws' wishes. Well, your parents want you to be happy and have your dream day so I suggest that you sit down together and talk (calmly) about some of the things on your wish list. Ask them what's on their wish list too. Then see what compromises can be made.

2. They Have To Wear It So Should They Choose It?- Oh bridesmaid dresses! I think we've all worn our share of fugly ensembles and smiled through it. But now brides are letting their bridesmaids weigh in on the style, color and design and it's leading to great chaos. You need to be happy with what your bridesmaids are wearing. Their outfit is a big part of the overall "décor" plus they're in all the pictures with you.

I'm all for letting them wear something that's comfortable but I'd suggest having 3 choices for them to pick from. 3 choices that you've already made. And remember, you can't please everyone. I've seen the maid of honor pick the dress and the others in the party be wild with her choice. No one is ever going to wear it again so just pick a dress that best suits YOUR wedding.

3. 3. Yeah!... He's Involved... Oh no... He's Involved- So we all wished that the man we'd marry would love to help us pick out cake flavors and come on a tour of the wedding venue with us but we had no idea we were getting Groomzilla.

Guys are mega involved in weddings these days as I think they should be. But their love of facts means that they are making decisions based on tons of research and not on emotion (think of how they buy a car). So as the bride you might see a cake in the magazine and say, yes, this is it, I love this cake it will make such a statement. He's going to argue with you that it's "just cake" and why can't you go with the bake shop he's researched that has the best price (but maybe not the best cake)?

While he should be applauded for being a frugal and excited groom the two of you need to get on the same page. The best way to handle this situation is to have wedding meetings together (just the 2 of you) so that you can both discuss your wish lists and come to a consensus BEFORE you start shopping around together.

Also talk with him about quality. Just as there is a big difference between a suit from Walmart versus a suit from Ralph Lauren there is a big difference when it comes to the quality of wedding vendors. Educate your groom on this vast world of weddings. After all, he hasn't been secretly reading wedding magazines since he was 16 right?

4. Thanks For Your Opinion But No Thanks- I don't like pushy wedding vendors. I can't stand when a bride calls me and says, "I hired the wrong wedding planner, she's doing everything her way and tells me that my ideas are ugly." It honestly makes me so sad. And again, it comes down to quality and professionalism.

There are a lot of fantastic people in the industry that you hear about all the time because they've worked for years at their craft and at building their reputation. Others are just flying by the seat of their pants, high on power. Before you book any vendors make sure you get a good feel for their attitude. Are they willing to work with you and your ideas? This is a huge factor when it comes to your wedding day.

No one should be shoving ideas down your throat, instead they should be masterminding with you about your vision, fine tuning it for amazing results. Be up front and honest if a vendor is trying to make you do it their way (and there doesn't seem to be a reason). There is a difference between giving professional advice based on experiences in the past and insisting that it be done their way because that's what they'd prefer. It is your wedding day and it's okay to walk away from a vendor that is working against you not with you (you don't need the extra drama-rama)

It's fantastic that so many people want to share in your wedding experience. It's not so fantastic when it means that you're not being heard. Just take everything in stride and explain to all involved what your vision for your wedding day is. There is nothing wrong with saying, "I want..." Just say it like the cute, fun bride that you are and not like bridezilla would scream it from the top of her lungs.

Ciara Daykin is Calgary's premiere Wedding Choreographer. Brides wanting a dazzling, dashing, dream-filled wedding turn to Ciara for all their wedding planning needs.

Ciara is a proud member of the Association of Bridal Consultants.

Sign up for Tips & Tricks for the Vibrant & Stylish Bride and Party Host at: http://www.fireflyoccasions.com

Email: info@fireflyoccasions.com

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The Seven Deadly Sins of Brides to Be

Lust

You may be in love with the idea of being married, getting married, planning your wedding and being in love. You can't get enough of bridal magazines, wedding planning websites, cake tastings and wedding dress shopping. But remember that it's one day; your marriage is for a lifetime. Don't be so lustful for the limelight that you lose sight of the fact that your marriage is for a lifetime. Take time to focus on each other and your marriage.

 

Gluttony

Don't bite off more than you can chew. Ask for help. If you can't afford a wedding planner, then ask your mother, future mother-in-law, your bridesmaids and your girlfriends to help. They may not do everything exactly the way you would have, but you can lighten up and enjoy the end result with appreciation and gratitude.

 

Greed

Having to have it all is impractical, impossible and will turn you into a Bridezilla. Forcing your bridesmaids to buy expensive dresses, picking out the highest-end tux you can find and insisting upon the biggest rock that your fiancé can finance with his credit card will not win you accolades. Pick the top two or three things on which you want to splurge and be more frugal with the others. Also, in regards to greed, be understanding of how much your parents are willing or able to kick in for the wedding. Accept what they give you with grace and gratitude. 

 

Sloth

Don't let everything go until the last minute, and then blame your vendors that they can't accommodate you. The best weddings and the most un-stressed brides come from careful planning. Try to get as much done as early in the wedding-planning process as you can.

 

Wrath

If things don't go as you want them, lighten up. Losing your cool will only reflect poorly on you. Do you want to look back on your wedding day as the joyful remembrance of the day you began your married life or with embarrassment over the hissy fit you threw because the cake was the wrong flavor or the flowers in your bouquet wilted?

 

Envy

Looking through bridal publications is fine, but remember that their job is to sell magazines and make money for their advertisers, so they are going to pull out all the stops. If you start envying every tiara, $10,000 wedding dress and floral centerpiece that you see, you're going to end up in excessive debt. The desiderata states, "if you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter." These are wise words to live by when planning your big day.

 

Pride

Pride goeth before the fall, so don't allow for any arrogance to creep in. Yes, this is your special day and you can even expect to be treated like a princess...to a point. Taking the royal act too far will label you a difficult bride and that's no fun for anyone. Be kind.

Maureen Thomson is a wedding officiant and owner of Lyssabeth's Wedding Officiants. Visit her websites at http://www.MemorableCeremonies.com
http://www.FortCollinsWeddingOfficiants.com

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Make Your Own Wedding Invitations - The Fun, Frugal Way to Make a Personal Statement

No matter the budget, most brides are looking for easy, yet painless ways to cut wedding costs. By making your own wedding invitations, you can do just that and at the same time add the important personal touches that cannot be done at a commercial printing shop. Here are some tips for making your own wedding invitations:

Spend Some Time Working on the Layout.

You do not need fancy design software to make beautiful wedding invitations. A basic word processing program has the capability of creating a simple text layout that can meet your needs and be quite lovely. More advanced publishing software will allow you some additional design elements. An easy way to get creative with the layout and design is to use an invitation template. Templates are available inexpensively online and can be customized exclusively for you. There are several websites offering printable templates. Some are even available as kits and can include templates for RSVP cards, thank-you cards, save-the-date cards, bottle labels, and more.

Seek Out the Perfect Paper.

With the recent rise in popularity of paper crafting, brides can easily find a myriad of papers that reflect their personal style, interests, or even their wedding theme. Papers can range from simple blank card stock to handmade recycled paper or embossed floral paper to printed pattern paper. Check out your local scrapbook or craft supply store. In person you can feel the weight and texture of the papers, which can be hard to guess if you exclusively shop online. Most stores are happy to order you as much paper as you need and some will even offer a discount for bulk orders.

Add a Personal Touch with Embellishments.

While you are at the local scrapbook or craft store looking at paper, don't forget to check out the nearly infinite selection of embellishments. Ribbons, buttons, bows, stickers, stamps, gems, rhinestones, charms, the list goes on and on. Accent a basic invitation with stamps and jewels, or add elegance to a printable template with a single rhinestone. This is where you want to let your personality and style shine through. Again, most stores will happily order you additional supplies.

Whether you choose to make a basic layout on simple card stock or come up with a creative combination of a printable template on embossed paper accented with charms and ribbon, when you make your own wedding invitations, you save money and you truly give your guests a piece of yourself.

Delilah Hatch is a WAHM, and avid arts and crafts enthusiast. For more helpful tips, ideas, and step by step tutorials to make your own wedding invitations be sure to check out her website www.Do-it-yourself-invitations.com.

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A Wedding Shopping Guide For the Frugal Bride

Tough times call for practicality. While many brides aspire to have an extravagant wedding that would be the talk of the whole town, many also know that the economic difficulties of today require people to be a little tightfisted when it comes to expenses like weddings. After all, no bride in her right mind would wish to spend her life savings on this one big event and then have nothing left to start her new life together with her husband.

Since shopping is one of the things that eat up most of the wedding budget, it pays to have smart and cost-effective shopping tactics that will not leave your pocket empty. Here are some excellent shopping techniques for the frugal bride.

Have a Positive Mindset

Before you go out shopping, have a positive mindset about saving money. Remember that you are doing this because you are being smart and practical. Never think that wearing an inexpensive dress or jewelry would mean that you are less valuable. As additional motivation, think about things that are more important that you can buy with the money that you save-down payment for a house, installment payment for a car, honeymoon, or a new dining set.

Commit to your Budget

With the right perspective on shopping for your wedding, the next step would be to make a list of all the things that you need to buy and then make a budget for each of these expenses. This way, you will have a clear overview of how much you are allowed to spend on each item. When you go shopping, take this list with you including the budget allocation, and always resist the temptation to overspend.

Keep your Eyes Peeled

Look for cost-saver venues for shopping for your wedding dress and other wedding items. You can find less expensive dresses in department stores, second hand shops, vintage stores, factory outlets, and thrift stores. You can also check out the bridesmaids section and you will be surprised at how lovely the dresses in this area can be. If you see something that you like, order it in white or ecru. Bridesmaids gown carry a much smaller price tag than a regular bridal gown.

Be on Guard around Salespeople

When you go shopping, you do not have to believe everything that the salesperson is telling you. Listen to your gut feel or better yet, bring a shopping buddy whose opinions you can absolutely trust like your mom or best friend. A salesperson would tell you everything you want to hear just to make you spend more than you should. (You may hear, "You look so fabulous in that dress!" even if you see your stomach bulging in front.)

Go Cyber-Shopping

Online, you will find many great deals on wedding dresses and accessories. For one, you can check out eBay or Craigslist. You can also browse through the hundreds of online stores that sell different kinds of wedding items and dresses.

These brilliant shopping tips will help you find the things that you need without having to stress your wallet too much.

Wendy L. Bishop is a contributor to MyDreamWedding.ca and has a strong passion to help brides with their wedding planning needs and above all, keeping them up-to-date with trends and news in the wedding industry. Wendy blogs about interesting topics such as wedding ceremony and wedding favors.

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Weddings: When Eloping is Not a Dirty Word

You've had it with wedding plans! Whether it's the top ten ways to decorate your reception or the top five wedding designers of the season - if you see another copy of Brides magazine you are going to scream! The most important day of your life is turning into the day you just wish would "be over and done with." So what's a girl to do when she can't take it anymore yet still wants to marry the man of her dreams? Try eloping!

Eloping used to mean sneaking off to wed in private. Today, eloping has a whole new meaning. Many couples actively chose to "elope" in Las Vegas, the Caribbean, Hawaii, or aboard a cruise ship. In fact, destination weddings can prove cost effective when money is an issue. Numerous hotels or resorts in your favorite vacation locales offer pre-packaged weddings and often will coordinate the entire event for you, from bridal flowers to wedding ministers, saving you time, headaches, and agony. Hardly sneaking away, many eloping couples opt to invite a small list of friends and family to share in the special event. The same hotels and resorts that offer wedding packages also provide reduced accommodation rates for family and friends.

Eloping offers the opportunity to be creative with your wedding plans. If the thought of putting on a poufy tulle dress disturbs you - take heart. Small weddings can be arranged while scuba diving, sky diving, hot air balloon riding, on horse back, in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, or even on a Rocky Mountain peak (provided that the minister is an experienced climber.) The amount of your options for wedding locales is limited only by your sense of creativity.

Before deciding to elope, you should ask yourself the following questions: Will I be happier with a simpler wedding? Will I feel more relaxed with eloping? Will I be comfortable with the fact that some friends and family may be offended at my wedding option? And if money is important, am I saving money by eloping?

If you feel that eloping is right for you, start by finding out the marriage licensing laws in the state (or country) where you want to be married. Las Vegas, for example, has no waiting period. Often marriage license information can be found on the state's official travel web site. Some states require a waiting period while others will expedite a marriage license for those coming from out of state. Hotel or resort wedding coordinators can also assist you with any legal paperwork that may be required. Travel agents may also be an excellent source to start with when planning your elopement. They can provide you with discounts, information on wedding packages, and even hotel upgrades.

Brenda Frezell is a former frugal bride and travel buff. She can be found online at [http://www.shoestringbrides.com] or at [http://www.RailTripper.com]

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8 Fabulous Fall Wedding Ideas for the Frugal Bride

Fall is a perfect time to plan your wedding and here are some fabulous fall wedding ideas that can help you achieve a low-cost wedding that is really lovely.

The fall colors lend themselves to a rich vibrant choice for your wedding color scheme. Subdued jewel shades of red, orange, hunter green, rich yellow, and burgundy are examples.

Weather permitting in your area, plan an outdoor wedding and reception using the natural backdrop of fall flowers, foliage, and trees in a garden, meadow or park. Bring the fall foliage indoors with branches spray painted your wedding theme colors, fall leaves, gourds, and other decorative ideas you might have.

Take advantage of less expensive fall flowers such as mums, daisies, sun flowers and lilies in the place of expensive roses and the like. These flowers may be used in bridal and attendant bouquets, pew aisle flowers, and reception centerpieces. Gourds, small pumpkins, candles, small tree branches and colorful fall leaves may also be used in the centerpieces.

Fall wedding attire might be the time to conserve cost by renting the bridal dress and veil. With cooler weather this time of the year, the dress might be long-sleeved, or a sleeveless dress with a cape or jacket. Remember if you buy the dress and veil you only wear it once and then store it away.

The attendants dresses can also be rented, and their dresses should take into consideration the fall weather, too. The attendant dresses can match the wedding theme colors and be in lovely jewel tones.

Wedding favors may be made with small votive candles in your fall theme colors with a place mark holder and the name of the guest placed in the candle.

Perhaps small picture frames can be used as place marks, and under the guest's name card, a card with the name, address and phone number of the bride and groom's new home can be placed.

A nice idea and to save money on an expensive photographer costs would be to provide a disposable camera or two at each table at the reception. Ask the guests to snap pictures throughout the reception of persons, and things they find interesting. It then gives the guests a lasting remembrance of the wedding and they can send copies of the pictures they took to the couple for their album.

There are available wedding planning books that guide you through the steps you need to take to plan an elegant but inexpensive wedding. Help with your budget, and other all important facets of the very special day in your life. It might be a good idea to look into one of these available books before starting anything.

Great fall wedding ideas are possible if you only take the time, use your imagination, and let you, your family, and friends talent's bloom.

For more about weddings and fall wedding ideas check out Tiffany's blog.

Tiffany Cole has a huge passion for weddings and particular like to come up with creative ideas to create dream weddings without breaking the bank. If you'd like to see more of Tiffany's ideas, tips and tricks then you can go to her blog at http://InexpensiveWeddingIdeasGuide.com.

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Do It Yourself Wedding Invitations - Be Frugal and Fabulous at the Same Time!

If you're planning a wedding, you probably figured one thing out very quickly; weddings are expensive. It seems retailers know brides want their day to be perfect and so they charge double for anything that is wedding-related. The dress is expensive, the flowers are expensive, the food is expensive, and the cake is ridiculously expensive. One item that doesn't have to break the bank is wedding invitations. You can easily make do it yourself wedding invitations for a fraction of the cost of commercially printed invitations.

When most people think of do it yourself wedding invitations, they think of cheap looking invitations that are shoddily made and not sophisticated at all. Maybe that's how they used to be, but do it yourself invitations these days are gorgeous and elegant, and are perfect for showcasing the style and personality of the bride and groom. High quality paper and cardstock are available at scrapbook and craft stores and several online outlets. Paper is available in a wide variety of colors, styles, textures and prints. You can easily match paper or cardstock with your wedding colors or wedding theme.

Once you've found the perfect paper, you need to think about the layout and design of your wedding invitation. Contrary to what you might think, you don't need professional grade or expensive design software to make beautiful wedding invitations. With a basic word processing program you can create a simple text layout that easily meets your needs. Another way to get creative with the layout and design is to use an invitation template. Templates are available inexpensively online and can be customized exclusively for you. Some kits even include templates for RSVP cards, thank-you cards, save-the-date cards and bottle labels. These can all be printed with your home printer and produce high quality results. Use plain cardstock or printed or embossed papers with the template to create a one-of-a-kind look.

Add the finishing touch to your do it yourself wedding invitations with a charm, stamp or other embellishment. Choose embellishments that compliment your wedding invitation, wedding theme, or personal style. Just like there are virtually thousands of paper options available, there are many embellishment options. You are sure to find the perfect accent for your invitations. With all the expenses you are sure to incur while planning your wedding, trimming the wedding invitation budget is one of the easiest things you can do to save money. By making your own invitations at home, using inexpensive supplies and your own creativity, you can produce something very special and save your money for the

wedding cake.

Delilah Hatch has an extensive background in the graphic arts and printing industries, as well as a long time love affair with anything related to arts and crafts. She is a stay at home mom and creator and editor to an arts and crafts/ party invitations website www.do-it-yourself-invitations.com

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Frugal Gifts for Frugal Gals

A frugal gift is measured first by it's usefulness. Speaking from my own experience, I would say that my most appreciated gifts are those that I not only find useful, but that I would have had to purchase myself at some point. With that in mind, the frugal mind that is, the gift actually serves two practical purposes; It is useful and saves me money.

If you are a frugal gal, this task will be much easier for you. If great minds think alike, the same is true of frugal minds. Simply look within yourself. The frugal gal can get excited about the most ordinary of items. For the rest of you, here's a little help.

Although you may question some items on the list, remember, the frugal gal enjoys frugal things! She looks to get the best value for her money and this IS what makes her happy! It just makes sense that providing a practical frugal gift that may also save money, will make her happy. Isn't that what great gifts should do? So here's to happiness and the pursuit of the frugal lifestyle! Happy holidays, happy birthdays, happy Mother's day, etc. etc. etc....

FRUGAL GIFT BASKET IDEAS

Some of these unique gift baskets might seem odd or unusual to the average person. If you're a frugal gal, you'll completely understand. The rest of you will just have to trust me.

THE LAUNDRY GIFT BASKET

For the frugal gal who holds onto things until they fall apart (or even after they fall apart).

This is the gal who has a laundry basket held together with duct tape, tied together with string or rope, or repaired several times with other various ingenious methods.

Probability is, she may not even have a laundry basket. I have several produce boxes (they are extremely strong, especially banana boxes) that make wonderful laundry carriers! And, they are free.

Fill a sturdy laundry basket with one or two boxes each:

Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
20 Mule Team Borax
A few bars of Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap

I say "sturdy" basket because it will inevitably be put to the test by a frugal gal! If your frugal gal doesn't need a new laundry basket, you can give these gifts in an appropriate size traditional gift basket or just gift bag 'em.

This is a great gift for anyone who doesn't mind saving money. And, I don't know anyone who minds! I would mix up one batch and put in a tightly sealed container. (You can make a decorative container yourself i.e. - a quart mason jar and some decorative fabric banded over the top. Tie with pretty ribbon.) Place with the laundry detergent ingredients to get them to try it and started down the right path. Include the following Laundry Detergent Recipe with the Laundry Basket Gift.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap

1/2 Cup Washing Soda

1/2 Cup Borax

For light load, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.

Options:

1. If budget allows, throw in some cloth napkins, utility towels, bath towels, hand towels, or washcloths.

2. Make a little book with a variety of laundry tips, tricks, and homemade recipes. This is great for a new bride.

THE CLEANING GIFT BASKET

The frugal gal makes her own cleaning solutions and is always looking for cleaning and organizing tips. The cleaning basket might include such items as, a couple of spray bottles, steel wool, a pumice stone, cream of tartar, vinegar, baking soda, gloves, scrub brushes, utility towels or cleaning rags, dusters, cloth diapers (make great cleaning rags), household cleaning and organizing tips book or recycling tips.

Top with a personalized cleaning shirt or apron or any other little cleaning gadgets you think your frugal gal might find handy. Throw in a coupon for a coffee break date, with you, at your home, her home, or a local coffee shop! Your treat of course.

THE KITCHEN GIFT BASKET

The kitchen basket contents is limited only to your imagination! This is a great gift for anyone who loves to cook. Frugal gals know the importance of saving through cooking. If you're a frugal gal you can reflect on your own needs and frequent uses to spark some ideas. By the way, the "basket" doesn't have to be a basket. Did that make sense? You'll see what I mean. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Baker's Basket: Fill a large mixing bowl or basket [she'll probably get more use out of the bowl ;-)] with baking tools and/or supplies as much as will suit your budget. i.e. - Wire whisks of various sizes, wooden spoons, measuring spoons and cups, a sifter, cookie cutters, rubber spatulas (you know, those things you use to scrape every last bit of batter out of the bowl. My husband and I still argue about what these are called), a bag of bulk yeast, can of baking powder, various spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, etc.), vanilla extract, or anything else you know your frugal gal or cook will use or needs.

Top it all off with a personalized apron. Make or buy an apron and write the person's name or a personal message, poem, or saying on it, using a fabric paint pen or paints. Other contents might include a cookbook, some of your own favorite recipes printed neatly on a recipe card or made into a mini cookbook, a recipe file, cookbook stand, well I could go on and on.

2. Cook's Basket: Fill a large stock pot or basket with a variety of cooking utensils or supplies. i.e. - Most of the above items could be considered as well as, ladles, cutlery, small strainer/s, tongs, special seasonings, cooking spices (Italian seasoning, cumin, onion powder, garlic, oregano, thyme, etc) and again, top it off with a pretty apron! Throw in a cookbook if your budget allows and/or toss in some homemade recipes for taco seasoning, chicken bake coating, stuffing, whatever you can find to replace higher priced store bought mixes.

A good idea might be to actually make the mixes and give them already mixed in a tightly sealed container or jar along with the recipe. How to save money on groceries tips or book.

THE FOOD GIFT BASKET

1. Frugal Food Basket: Mix up some master baking mix, pancake mix, cookie mix, or muffin mix. Pick and choose or give them all in tightly sealed containers or jars and attach recipes for using and the mix recipe. Decorate accordingly of course. Specialty rice and rice mixes, bean mixes, bean and rice mixes, oatmeal, and couscous. A pack of herb seeds or starter plants for indoor herb gardening. Top it off with an apron, or a gift card from your local grocery store.

2. Treat Gift Basket: Now this one is great to give the frugal gal food items that her budget, or frugal mind, just won't allow. Even frugal gals have favorite gourmet items that they love but rarely treat themselves to. For instance, I love Macadamia nuts. But they are very expensive, making them cost prohibitive for my financial goals right now.

If you don't already know, ask a spouse or close relative what items the recipient enjoys. Fill a basket or other creative container with those foods and other various specialty foods, snacks, nuts, and/or cheeses. Remember to take into consideration any diet restrictions and select your contents accordingly.

3. Coffee or Tea Gift Basket: I'm a true coffee lover. But, as a frugal gal, I know that a common brand will get me through the day just as well as a gourmet brand. That doesn't change the fact that I enjoy a good cup of gourmet or specialty coffee once in a while. But, with my current financial goals, the treat comes few and far between.

The coffee basket will definitely be appreciated by the frugal gal who loves a good cup of joe! Pack that basket with several different brands of gourmet or specialty coffee or a lot of the one brand you know she loves. Include a permanent coffee filter to fit the brand of coffeemaker she uses to show you haven't forgotten her practical side! You can easily adapt the contents to fit the tea lover instead. Top it off with a nice coffee cup.

THE GARDENER'S GIFT BASKET

The gardener's basket is simply a collection of any supplies a home gardener might need; A garden knee pad, gardening tools, seeds, (starter plants if it's the right time of year) Gardening books and tips. Starter pots. Containers for the container gardener. Gloves and a hat.

SEWING GIFT BASKET

Fill a basket or sewing box with a variety of sewing notions. Include some decorative fabric or a collection of scrap fabrics; Sewing patterns or instructions for home decorating sewing tasks or sewing level appropriate apparel patterns. In other words, keep it real. Not everyone is a seamstress but, most frugal gals can make a curtain or pillow cover given simple instructions. Your frugal gal might be a mender or a seamstress. Choose your gift basket contents accordingly. Include such novelties as velcro, snaps, hemming tape (or fusion tape), iron on patches, as these will be handy for most frugal gals.

Now don't worry frugal gals, I've got your back! ;-) I wouldn't want your friends and family to think you will be offended if they give you a non-frugal gift. So here's my last thought......

Although the frugal gal will love and appreciate the practical, useful, gift like no one else can, she is indeed a woman. So, if the notion strikes, you may certainly reward her with a luxury gift. The frugal gal will enjoy a luxurious treat that she would not normally consider for herself. For example, a trip to the salon for a professional manicure, pedicure, or hair style.

If you know your frugal gal has had her eye on an outfit, or other item, that she's convinced she doesn't need but secretly admires and wants, of course (if your budget allows) Get It For Her! Odds are she won't buy it for herself and she will surely be happy to receive it as a gift. She'll get to have something she wants but doesn't actually need, and still remain faithful to her lifestyle or financial commitments.

I hope these ideas help you create beautiful gifts for anyone in your life. Choosing a basket theme to suit the recipients interests or needs is always a winning gift. Personalized gifts are more appreciated and keep on giving. Each time the recipient uses the item/s they are reminded of the thoughtfulness of the giver.

Cheryl Johnson is a mother of four helping herself and others become and remain debt free. Publisher of Simple Debt Free Living at http://www.simpledebtfreeliving.com - a self-help plan, ideas, and resources for a simple proven debt elimination strategy, household budget planning, frugal living, and practical home business ideas . Money saving tips for monthly bills, home decorating, gifts, weddings, groceries, clothing and much more save money every day.

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Cheap Wedding Accessories Can Be an Asset to Any Bride

Congratulations! Best wishes are definitely in order if you're planning that most cherished of commitments - and that is to walk down the aisle and pledge the rest of your life to that special someone. Marriage can be a roller coaster ride - but so can the wedding itself! With so many things to consider - the dress, the guest list, food and refreshments, even music - you tend to wonder if you can handle it all. When planning a wedding, not only are many women concerned about style - they're worried about the ever-increasing price tags on many wedding supplies. No need to fear, however - UK brides can take comfort in the fact that there are plenty of cheap wedding accessories available that can ease the burdens you don't need on your wedding day.

Taking Centre Stage in Costume Jewelery

So many times, you may see a blushing bride wearing lavish - and often expensive - jewelery. While these jewels certainly get the bride noticed (as if that will be a problem, at any rate), the cost of displaying these wares will most definitely get the bride's attention. Now, more than ever, brides seeking inexpensive wedding accessories turn to costume jewelery as an attractive (yet frugal) option. Taking this step can actually have a few benefits. For instance, costume jewels can very closely resemble their lavish counterparts - without the massive dent in your finances. For another, there's always some form of costume jewelery that matches whatever the current trends are in the fashion world. Not only that - but the right costume jewelery can actually transcend the ceremony and continue to be worn once the nuptials have wrapped.

Throwing the Bride a Lifeline

It's happened to many a bride: Everything seems to be going perfect - right up until a run develops in her stocking. Or maybe there'll be a run of mascara (crying does happen on occasion, after all...). So whether there's a run in the dress, or perhaps nervous butterflies prior to taking this huge step, every bride needs a set of items at the ready that can really come in handy. These will likely include sewing equipment, makeup, and even some medicine for the queasiness.

These are only a few of the various ideas to consider with discount wedding accessories. All brides in the UK should simply relax, pick up some good cheap wedding supplies - and prepare for the best day of your life.

Simon Phoenix is one of the honoured Yarwood-White Employee and also a skilled Businessmen. He is specialized in Jewelery Marketing. Yarwood-White mainly deals with Bridal Jewelery and Wedding Accessories.

Specialized in:- cheap wedding accessories

For further details, visit http://www.yarwood-white.com

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Inexpensive Wedding Favors For Frugal Brides And Grooms

Smart couple that you are, you're holding to a budget for your wedding. Starting off in your married life with debt from the wedding hanging over your heads isn't a picnic. As you know, everything is pretty expensive these days. Just take a look at the price of a gallon of gas, a loaf of bread, or gallon of milk. We all need to be frugal in our day to day lives and planning a wedding is no exception.

If you and your fiancé are paying for your wedding yourself, you really know how expensive things can get. It seems everyone from the reception hall, the caterer, florist, and music providers are telling you they need money. Watching pennies when planning the wedding will really pay off in the future.

Even if you are receiving help from family to pay for the wedding, chances are that you will still be paying a portion yourselves. Cutting back expenses in certain areas while wedding planning is actually easier than you may have thought. Start with wedding decorations and favors. If you've rented a hall for your reception, you really don't have to decorate much past the gift table and the cake table. Place a tablecloth over a table by the front door that matches your wedding color. In the center of the table, place an inexpensive wedding card holder and your wedding guest book and pen set. Do the same with a matching table cloth for your wedding cake and you're done as far as decorating and it really didn't cost you more than $75.

Next, select inexpensive wedding favors. There are many fantastic, yet inexpensive options for favors available to match every personality, color, and theme. Also, keep in mind, just because something is inexpensive doesn't mean it is cheap. If you're careful when selecting favors for your wedding guests, only you will know how much that you paid to thank your guests.

Believe it or not, buying your wedding favors is actually more economical than making the wedding favors yourself. The reason why? By the time you purchase the favor box or bag, decide what you're going to put into the bag such as candy, nuts, or something that matches the wedding theme like seashells, you're already over $1 and many cases over $2 per favor.

If you are able to spend about $2 per favor, there are many great favors to choose from. Wedding favors under $2 each are coaster sets to match every wedding color and season, cookie cutter favors wrapped in organza that matches your wedding color and an array of candle wedding favors.

Quite a few candle wedding favors are less than $2 each and are available for every wedding scheme. Do your friends consider you the perfect couple? Choose the "perfect pair" pear candle set. This favor is less than $2 each. Cinderella themed wedding? Choose a carriage candle favor. Beach theme wedding? Then you should take a look at the flip flop candles.

Are you looking to keep your wedding favor budget under $1 each? Don't stress because you have just as many choices for favors under $1 as under $2. A great inexpensive wedding favor is first a place card holder at the reception then a great take home gift for your guests to use as a photo frame. Another favor under $1 that is also very "green" are Wildflower seed packets. These seed packets look fantastic sitting in a basket by the exit door for your guests to scoop up on the way out. Not only is this favor less than $1 each, but if continues to give back to your guests as a wildflower garden.

By choosing your wedding party favors wisely allows you to provide a nice thank you to your guests while staying within your budget.

Denise Sanger is the owner of http://BuyWeddingFavorsOnline.com which has a diverse catalog of Wedding Party Favors including Inexpensive Wedding Favors along with a library of party planning resources. We are located in Sunny North Florida.

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Wedding Music - The Frugal Bride's Guide to Wedding Entertainment

When all is said and done - your guests may not quite recall the centerpieces, but all will remember whether (or not) they had a good time. That elusive "fun factor" rides undeniably on the quality of your wedding entertainment. Of course, like everything having to do with weddings, the high price tag of wedding entertainment can intimidate the budget conscious bride. I don't recommend sacrificing the vibe in the name of savings, so I've uncovered some creative budget saving tips that will ensure your guests dance the night away:

DJ Vs. Band -

It's the age-old argument, but when it comes to your entertainment budget - the DJ usually wins the price war (unless of course DJ AM is on your vendor list). That said, if your ideal wedding reception includes drums and a wedding singer, you can still fit live music into your budget. Limit the number of pieces in your band, and save about $150 per musician. Or hire a band for cocktail hour and the first dances, then switch to a DJ for the final foot stomping moments of your reception - a budget-friendly best of both worlds!

Be an Off-Peak Bride -

A wedding does not necessarily have to take place on a Saturday night in the spring or summer, and if you're willing to be flexible with your date and time, you can drastically cut the costs of almost all wedding services - including wedding music. Most bands and DJs offer discounts for off-peak times.

Beware the Overtime -

Most entertainment books for a four hour time block. Think your reception might run longer? Book 'em for five, and be on the safe side. An extra hour of wedding music in advance is usually cheaper than a steep overtime fee

Ceremony Savings -

Ceremony musicians can tack on an extra $500-$1000 to your entertainment costs. Consider some musical alternatives, and pocket the extra cash. If your ceremony site boasts a respectable sound system, round up some classical CDs and someone reliable to cue the music - and voila - instant background music. Or better yet, ask a talented friend or family member to perform during the ceremony (a perfect job for that cousin you couldn't quite squeeze into your wedding party). You'll cut costs and give a special person a significant role on your special day.

Go Amateur -

Check out local universities for qualified and inexpensive musicians. Music professors and department heads can recommend the best students in the program. We do say this with caution - because a bad band can kill the party. Talented amateur musicians do exist, but be sure to hear them in person before making the hire.

For more entertainment advice, visit the complete wedding music planning guide at Elegala.com - Elegant Galas Made Simple.

Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a comprehensive wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to lead brides through every step of the planning process.

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The Economy of Mail Order Brides - Is Now the Time to Consider Foreign Brides?

The economy is awful. Unless you live under a rock or happen to be a Repo man things are pretty gloomy. However, it might be the perfect time to consider looking for love overseas.  First, the price of traveling over there to meet the girl of your dreams is falling fast. Airlines, hotels, and even travel agents are all slashing their rates. In April both Expedia and Oribtiz cut their fee. All of the airlines are offering deals and hotels around the world are desperate to fill their rooms. So, check around and look for deals, and don't be worried about asking about even better discounts than advertised. 

This is a buyer's market for all travel related goods and services. Even if you decide to go on a romance tour that many of the larger mail order bride agencies offer try to negotiate a better rate. Usually, the tours from most popular mail order bride agencies, like A Foreign Affair or Elena's Models, are fully booked and there is not much chance to negotiate, but in this economy it is worth a shot. You've got a pretty good chance of getting a better deal or least getting them to throw in some extras or an upgrade. 

This is especially true on tours to the Ukraine or the other international dating hot spots in Eastern Europe, because there is a lot of competition for romance tours in those markets. So, you might take a look at some of the good small agencies like Be Happy Today or Appolinaria, because they are probably really hungry.  You also benefit from the down economy once you reach your destination, because in this economy every good business is desperate to keep the customer happy. You shouldn't have any problem booking great restaurants, getting good guides, or renting a car almost anywhere.   

Also, the current recession has hit the home countries of many mail order brides even harder than it has hit the United States or Europe, particularly Russia and Ukraine. So, more women have been signing up and perhaps they are more serious about finding a husband from overseas than they would be in a good economy.  Finally, if you do end up going actually marrying a young woman from overseas and bringing her back to the US, the EU, or another Western country you will have a new wife who probably understands the importance of frugality. 

There are numerous studies suggest that marriage is a very positive step for men in both in terms of overall wealth and life expectancy, and this might all be doubly true in this economy. After all, if you are willing to take the risk to find a foreign bride in this economy it shows that you are willing to take control of you life and try to improve your lot. That takes a lot of optimism and the optimism and energy that a beautiful young bride could inject into your life is perhaps even more important. 

Ed Orton has taught college, worked as a professional writer, and studied many cultures from around the world. He has experience as a crisis counselor and wants to help you find the happiness you deserve.

INTERNATIONAL LOVE SCOUT features profiles of the most beautiful, intelligent, amazing women from the best international dating sites on the Web. Check out these beautiful Ukrainian brides

ILS also offers reviews of the best international dating agencies on the web.

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The Living Frugal Lifestyle - Don't Forget to Cover the Basics

Living frugal is a necessity for some...if this is you, don't forget to cover the basics.

You will sometimes overlook an area of basic need when you are living frugally.

The basics are:

· Health

· Food

· Health Insurance

· Shelter

· Clothing

Fortunately there are ways to cover these and still be living frugal.

Health

Without good health, retirement will not be as good as it could be. You must exercise and watch what you eat. You don't need to go to the gym...we all should be able to take a brisk daily walk. Make it a habit right now. Retirement does not mean the couch, living frugal means staying healthy.

Take control of certain medical expenses. For instance if the Dr wants to take some blood, do it yourself. The lab he or she probably uses will do the test cheaper for you directly. Go to the lab office or wait for the mobile lab to come to your grocery store. You also get the results sent to you so you have a record and do not have to rely on the doctor and another office visit. A full blood analysis costs $35.

Food

Common sense here, no fast food and stay on the perimeter of the grocery store. Avoid fast food by cooking the vast majority of your meals at home. To be living frugal use coupons, frequent shopper cards, and shop on one day only. Plan your food shopping and watch your costs go down and eat healthier.

Health Insurance

A necessary evil, but a basic none the less. Get a high deductible policy that will keep you from getting wiped out by a illness or operation. You could move to Mexico where $300 a year covers most of your health care costs. If you stay here just make sure you don't waste money getting a policy...do your homework.

Shelter

There are alternatives to a house. Look at living in an RV, Living on a sailboat, park model mobile homes or Mexico to drastically cut this basic expense.

Clothing

If the word goodwill only means a word in a popular Christmas Carol... get with the program and shop at your nearest Goodwill or thrift shop. Make it a routine and you will come across some great bargains. My bride regularly shows off her new, I said new, purchases she gets for a dollar. Garage sales are also good for bargains...check them out.

To be living frugal does not mean ignoring the basics of health, food, clothing and shelter. Just make sure that you don't waste a penny when you buy these basics. Enjoy.

Gary Pierce is the webmaster of http://www.frugal-retirement-living.com he retired early at 49, still retired at 63. He has experience in lifestyles that are both fulfilling and frugal. Here is how to make sure you are not wasting money on health insurance. It is 2009 and many are wondering if they can ever retire. Don't give up until you check out this website. Enjoy.

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Bride on a Budget - 7 Tips For Planning a Wallet-Friendly Wedding

When I got married in 2004, I had just graduated from college and had no job, my parents were in the middle of a divorce, and my then-fiance and I had no savings to speak of. But by planning smart, we still managed to have the wedding of our dreams. Here are some tips to help you do the same.

Ditch the DJ. Instead of hiring someone to spin for us all night, we created a playlist on our iPod and hooked it up to the reception hall's speaker system. Cost to us? Nada. And the added bonus is that we didn't have to suffer through the Macarena, the Electric Slide, or the Chicken Dance.

Quash the string quartet. I walked down the aisle to a beautiful arrangement of Pachbel's Canon in D Minor on a free CD I got with a purchase of $10 or more at some boutique in town. I labeled the disk with track number and passed it off to the sound guy at the inn where we held the ceremony (which, I might add, cost less than $500), and it was just right.

Downsize the dress. You're going to be wearing it for, what, 6 hours max? Don't spend thousands of dollars on a dress you're only going to wear once. David's Bridal has $99 wedding gown sales constantly, and you can find awesome bargains at regular dress shops, too. My dress was a prom-season find that cost me $130 and was miles better than any "real wedding gown" I tried on - and I tried on a lot of dresses.

Minimize the menu. Do you really need crab balls and lobster bisque and filet mignon to be able to enjoy your wedding dinner? We negotiated a five-course plated dinner (including filet mignon, some fancy fish I'd never heard of but loved, rabbit, and a cheese course) with open wine and beer all night and an hour of passed hors d'oeuvres for less than $50 per person at the very nicest restaurant in town, and it was amazing.

Get frugal with your flowers. My bouquet had more than three dozen roses in it, we passed out long-stemmed roses to all of the moms and grandmas (of which there were many - our extended family gets remarried a lot), and packed the rehearsal dinner and reception hall with blooms - and it cost less than $75. The secret? My best friend and I hit up BJs and Costco, two local discount wholesale stores, and cleaned them out, and then put everything together ourselves in about two wine-saturated hours using a few straight pins, a couple of spools of ribbon, and a picture torn out of Martha Stewart Living. The petals that fell off went in a ribbon-festooned basket for my flower girl, who wore a borrowed dress and her new school shoes for the ceremony.

Guard the guest list. Do you seriously need to invite your entire family? If you wouldn't recognize them on the street, they shouldn't be at your wedding. It's your day, and you should be surrounded by the people closest to you in the world - and that doesn't always mean blood relatives. You may need to make some compromises here and there, but don't sacrifice the presence of someone you truly want there because your mom doesn't want to offend Uncle Bob. That's her problem, not yours.

Be prudent about pictures. Rather than spend thousands of dollars on a so-called professional photographer, we hired an art student from the local college and got literally the best wedding photos I have ever seen for $350 and the cost of one dinner, film, and developing. Ask to see a portfolio and make sure the personalities are right, but don't assume that you have to shell out the big bucks for pride-worthy pictures.

There are dozens if not hundreds of creative ways to save money on your wedding ceremony, and these ideas will get you started on the road to planning a wedding that's both beautiful and affordable.

Kristen King is a Virginia copywriter and consultant, and the editor/publisher of Richmond on the Cheap For more ways to be cheap without giving up the good stuff, visit Kristen at Richmond OTC.

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Frugal Yet Expensive Looking Wedding Gifts

With the economy still down in the dumps, many people are finding it hard to find room in their budgets for "extra" items like wedding gifts. If that describes you than you're in luck! Here are some cheap gifts that look expensive and are very useful for newly married couples.

A large part of a wedding budget is the photographer and for good reason. Every couple wants to have tangible memories of their special day. This is why frames make a perfect gift for new couples. I know what you're thinking, "Frames? But they are expensive!" It all depends on where you get them. Oftentimes department stores such as Kohls, Sears, or JC Penny will put their frames on sale or even clearance. If you combine a sale with a store coupon, such as a ten dollars off fifty dollar purchase or similar, frames can be very inexpensive. Another avenue to look for frames is garage and yard sales. Of course, if you go this route you need to closely inspect the frames to make sure they are nice enough to give as a gift, but you can often find unused or new frames very cheaply. Craigslist.com is another excellent resource for finding inexpensive frames.

My mom's favorite gift for weddings is a holiday decoration basket. Now this gift requires a bit of forethought, but it is a meaningful and wonderful gift for a new couple. After each major holiday during the year, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Valentine's Day, etc. check out the clearance and sale holiday decoration items. Oftentimes you can find beautiful dishes, tablecloths, wall hangings, pillows, and centerpieces for seventy-five percent off or more. My mother fills a large basket or plastic storage container with some kind of decoration for each holiday and usually spends, maybe $20-25 on a gift that is easily worth over $100. Part of the appeal is that this gift can easily be personalized depending on the couple. For example, if you know they are Irish, perhaps you could simply focus on St. Patrick's Day and get them a whole basket of decorations and dishes for that holiday. Or if they are getting married around Christmas, plan ahead and put together a basket of Christmas decorations. Last year, Oriental Trading Company offered all of their personalized ornaments for around two dollars each. Since they weren't dated, I purchased some and personalized them for a few couples that I know are getting married this year. This idea doesn't just apply to holidays either, if you know of a hobby or sport the couple likes you can search thrift shops, Craigslist, and clearance sections for items that would fit into practically any category. With a little foresight, wedding gifts don't have to be a huge item in your budget and can be wonderful expressions of celebration for the bride and groom.

For more information on wedding gifts and wedding planning please visit http://www.jointhewedding.com

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The Wedding Guest's Guide to Surviving the Season

Ah, wedding season... happy couples pledging their love, handwritten invitations, chocolate fountains, the chicken dance... and your wallet, wasting away! It seems like all weddings happen at the same time, and as fun and exciting as they are, each summer you can end up paying the equivalent of a couple of mortgage payments on clothes, travel and gifts. You don't have to break the bank this wedding season! The following tips will help you save a lot of money, while still showing your soon-to-be-married friends and family a lot of love.

Save on Gifts

1. You know that everyone registers for gifts at Bed, Bath & Beyond, but you may not be aware that this store has a lot of opportunities for saving money. If you sign up for their mailing list you will receive coupons for 20% and $5 off your purchases, and these are no ordinary coupons. Even though they have expiration dates listed on them, the store will accept them indefinitely. Keep an envelope and hang on to them all year for big savings during the summer. Other small print you can ignore is the "one coupon per purchase" line. Normally they will accept one coupon per item. They will also accept competitor's coupons.

2. The wedding registry is not just a shopping list, it is an insight into the couple's styles and desires. It is meant to be a guide for you, not the law. Once you have looked over the registry and gotten an idea of what the bride and groom are looking for, go elsewhere for good deals! Stores like Marshalls and A.J. Wright have great things for newlyweds like picture frames, crystal vases and linens at much lower prices than brand name department stores. Using the registry you can find something you know the couple will love, at a much better value.

If you find something just perfect on the registry, try searching for the same exact item elsewhere. If you find a better price for it at a different store or online, buy it at the better price. As a help to the bride and groom, call the store they are registered. Tell the store that you bought it but the registry is still showing that it has not been purchased, and they will most likely take it down. It requires a little fibbing but the bride and groom will avoid having to deal with returning duplicates after the wedding. (Just make sure it is exactly the same item!)

3. You are only one person, but you are not alone in the financial struggle to survive wedding season. Certainly other friends and family are trying to save money and give the bride and groom something wonderful as they enter into their life together. One way to afford a great gift is to go in as a group. With strength in numbers, you and friends or family can afford something bigger and more expensive, even something that may not be on their gift registry.

4. The best gifts are from the heart... and hands. If you have a special talent or hobby, you may want to consider making a wedding present instead of buying one. A crocheted blanket or a hand made photo album are gifts that mean more to newlyweds than china, and will save you a lot of money.

The gift of your time and skills is invaluable. Another option may be giving the couple a service that you specialize in. If you are a gardener, help them plan a garden at their new home together. If you like to cook, prepare the couple's first meal together. Whatever you do will show them you care, without breaking the bank.

5. If you follow all of these tips, you will certainly save some money for your self, but what about giving the gift of savings to the bride and groom? A great gift to give is a new skill that you learn to help prepare for the wedding. Your new skill and the savings you create can be the gift. Take a calligraphy class and help address the invitations. Take a class on flower arranging. Learn how to do the wedding day makeup. You could even have a makeup party with the bride and bridesmaids to learn which blush compliments your skin tone. You will all gain a new skill, spend time together, and save money!

If you're the best man and not interested in the difference between Metallic Mauve and Windsor Rose lip color, there are many other skills you could pick up to help out with the wedding. Take a class on mixing music and offer to DJ the reception. Or become ordained for free online and perform the ceremony! (The Universal Life Church has an ordination application at their website at http://www.themonastery.org/?destination=ordination .) You could also offer to photograph or videotape the wedding if you have those skills. Whatever you do it will be especially valued because of your gift of time and effort. (Just make sure to give your gift to the bride and groom early in the process or they may already have chosen and booked a vendor.)

6. Something old and something new... We tend to focus on the second part of that adage. The newlyweds are moving into a new home and we buy them new gifts for their new life. But weddings are a perfect time to reflect on the past. If you are family of the soon-to-be newlyweds, a family heirloom can be a very meaningful gift, and costs you nothing.

Another possibility could be the presentation of something old as something new. If you find a shoebox full of the groom's childhood baseball cards, you could put them together as an album. A slideshow of pictures from the couple's youth is also a free and meaningful gift.

Save on Travel and Planning

7. The bride and groom will often reserve a block of rooms in a hotel for their guests at a discount. This can be a great opportunity for savings, but don't assume it is the least expensive option. Before booking your room, check online for hotels in the area, or even the same hotel. You may be able to find a cheaper room.

You also may want to wait to reserve your room: the best deals may be available closer to the wedding date. This is a riskier option, but if rooms haven't filled up the hotel may run a sale to entice travelers to stay with them. Be careful with this tip! If you wait too long you may have a hard time finding a room to stay in at all, or you may even find that room prices have gone up. This summer may be a good time to try this though, because fewer people will be traveling due to the soft economy and rising gas prices.

8. Weddings are always expensive for guests, but sometimes they are simply too expensive. Even if you are frugal with gift giving and party planning, it still costs a lot, especially if you are traveling. If you've already bought two blenders and four dresses this summer, and your freshman year roommate invites you to her wedding on the other side of the country, it may be time to say, "I love you... but no thanks". This may be hard to consider: you want to spare no expense on your friends' and families' special days. But if it is simply out of your price range, they will understand. Be sure to send them a heartfelt note conveying your well wishes and the fact that you will be with them in spirit.

Another time you may have to say "no thanks" is if you are invited to be part of the wedding party. This level of involvement requires so many more expenses: the dress, the shoes, the jewelry, the hair, the shower and bachelorette party (or the suit, the cufflinks and a bachelor party and four rounds of drinks). If you can make it to the wedding, but can't afford to be in the wedding party, you can be involved in other ways. Be honest with the bride and groom. Tell them you would love to celebrate with them, but you don't want your own tight finances to hold back the rest of the bridal party. When you say "Thanks, but no thanks," ask the couple how else you can help them on their special day. Maybe you won't be one of six ladies in pink this time, but you can still help out with the guest book, or setting up for the reception. There are so many things going on to plan a wedding. If you chose to take a smaller, less expensive, role, you will still be a huge help to the bride and groom and show them you care.

9. Sometimes, you cannot say no (and you don't want to!). There are still plenty of ways to plan great bridal party activities at a fraction of the cost of traditional plans. Goodbye Vegas, hello good old fashioned girl's nights in. Plan a slumber party with a Sex and the City marathon and homemade cosmos. Men can go camping or just find less expensive bars. Spending time with friends is what it's all about, not spending money with friends. Personalizing the event and focusing on what's important, friendship, will make a more memorable (and economical) party.

10. One area where you can save a lot of money is clothing. If you are not the one in white (and even if you are), you do not need to be spending an arm and a leg to look good. For ladies, a simple, inexpensive black dress can go a long way. If you are worried about wearing the same dress multiple times, make it new by dressing it up. Different jewelry, shoes, wraps and accessories can make your little black dress into as many different little black dresses as you need. Another option that is good advice for any time of the year is shopping in your friend's closets. If you all have a few weddings to go to this summer, and everyone owns one great dress, take turns!

If you are a man looking for a good suit that will last you at least one year, check out local department stores. You don't need to get into a Hugo Boss to look like a sharp wedding guest. For example, Target has very nice black suits for under $100. No one will be able to tell that it's from Target and you will have done your wallet a favor.

One of the reasons why weddings are so expensive is because of the "spare no expense" mentality that surrounds them. We let our emotions drive our wallets and we end up broke by the end of the season. These tips are intended to provide some creative alternatives that will allow you, as a guest, to make the wedding day special and valuable, without depleting your savings. We recognize that some of these tips may seem controversial because they are a violation of modern wedding etiquette. But remember that etiquette is always about giving the best of yourself and having grace, it's not about how much you spend. These tips will allow you to save money and show the happy couple you care.

Please respond and let us know your own tips for surviving the wedding season. We would love to hear them!

Lisa J.B. Peterson
President
Lantern Financial, LLC
50 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
P: 617-482-2700
F: 617-482-2710
http://www.lantern-financial.com
http://www.lantern-financial.blogspot.com

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Bride, Groom - You Can't Afford to be Average!

More than 1/3 of couples getting married in the United States pay for their own weddings. Even more couples in the U.S. pay for at least a portion of their wedding expenses.

If you are a bride or groom reading this article, then you are probably one of the couples who are paying for or at least helping to pay for their own wedding.

Even as more couples get involved in planning for and paying for their dream weddings, the wedding price tag continues to grow more forboding. In the year 2007, according to CostOfWedding.com, the average U.S. wedding cost was $28,800. This figure is expected to steadily rise in years to come.

Today's bride and groom have become so desensitized to the incredible expense of planning a wedding that they hardly stop to think about how much money that really is. Let's take a moment to put that $28,800 price tag in perspective and look at a couple ways to make your wedding more affordable.

First, let's consider that $28,800 is more than most brides or grooms bring home from work in a year.

Now, suppose a couple wants to save up for their wedding so they don't go into debt. If they are saving for a $28,800 wedding, they should consider how much they should feed their wedding savings piggy bank each month. If they can only afford to save, say, $300 per month, they should plan on saving for a full 8 years ($300 x 96 months [that's 8 years]=$28,800). What engaged couple is willing to wait 8 years to get married?

We haven't even considered that it takes considerable discipline to save $300 each month. Some might need to wait longer as they can only save $150 a month or even less.

Most couples choose to get married within a year or two of their engagement. If they are paying for their own wedding as more than 1/3 of couples do, they often plan their expensive wedding courtesy Visa or Mastercard. That saves them the trouble of budgeting and saving for all those years before marriage. Instead of saving before marriage for their wedding day, they spend those delicate first years of marriage after the wedding day struggling with debt and living uncomfortably frugal lives together. Their credit card company keeps them under its thumb for years as interest piles up on interest and the poor couple barely scrapes by.

We wish that we were exaggerating here but all too often this is the scenario in which young couples find themselves. All so they could glory in one splendid day marking the beginning of their marriage. Hoping that somehow the perfection of the wedding day would somehow rub off on each succeeding day of marriage, the couple had poured a year's salary into that big day. The reality is that the expense of that wedding day is paid for day after day of their married lives and they realize all too late that financial stress is the number one killer of marriages.

Americans with their individualistic attitudes tend to believe that they are special and that the rules do not apply to them. Likewise, couples planning their weddings tend to think that they will be the exception. That they will somehow spend less than most spend or that they will somehow be able to pay their credit cards off later without much problem.

Well, if you are not careful, you will soon discover that you are not exempt from the norms and that you are all too average. You will discover yourself in a quagmire of financial stress and marital disharmony day after day for years all for the sake of a wedding that was bought at a much too high of a price - we regret to say that it could even cost you your marriage.

What should you do? Stop being average. Stop planning your wedding the way most young brides and grooms plan their weddings.

Set a realistic spending allowance for your wedding - a spending allowance that you and your lover can live with. Go into your wedding planning with your eyes wide open.

You really can have a wonderful wedding day on whatever price you are able to pay - whether that be $5,000 or just $500. You would be amazed at how far that money can go when you are committed to planning your dream wedding on your chosen budget.

We were personally willing to spend no more than $2,000 for our wedding. We worked out a strategy that allowed us to stay under budget while planning a very memorable and special wedding day that is on par with any other wedding we have attended.

We have written a wedding planner to guide you in your wedding planning. In the wedding planner, we guide you in creating a reasonable wedding budget and show you step by step just what you need to do to see your dream wedding come true while staying under budget.

You can't afford to be average. Instead, be amazing!

Wedding Planning on a Budget is available as an instant download which can be read on your computer or printed at your convenience. To get your copy of this powerful wedding planning guide visit the Wedding Planner Download Page (see resource box).

We wish you the best and hope that you have an amazing wedding and a wonderful marriage together for the rest of your lives.

Show Your Budget Who Is In Charge!

Download Tim and Lisa's wedding planner, subscribe to their blog for daily advice, and see how they planned the wedding of their dreams for just $2,000! Visit Today... http://www.weddingplanningonabudget.com

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