Like I’ve said before, weddings can be very expensive, from the wedding decor to the honeymoon. Not only will you incur unexpected expenses that you didn’t plan for, but you can also easily go over budget without intending to.
Yes, we all get excited and overspend at times but we must also be prepared for inevitable mishaps!
One way to do this is to free up money by cutting some of your daily, monthly, and weekly expenses. This allows you to have money in reserves just in case you need it. Similar to having savings account for emergencies, this would be a wedding savings account. In my previous post I give a list of some money-saving Dollar Tree products you need to purchase to save on your wedding.
Now I want to give you seven tips to free up extra money for your wedding expenses!
I’ve gone through this process before with only myself and my now husband covering all our expenses and I had to get pretty creative to cover the costs to have our dream wedding.
And guess what I did exactly that by DIY’ing many things myself and doing some of the tips I recommend below. I know you can also have your perfect wedding with a little planning, guidance, and of course, money.
1. Create a Zero-based budget and stick to it
It is not always what we spend, but how much we spend, and many of us don’t know how much that is. This is why creating a monthly budget for expenses and sticking to that budget is vital.
You can either use an excel spreadsheet or freehand on a piece of paper. Whichever method you choose, creating a budget is one way to free up money.
A way to do this is to write down your monthly income at the top of the page or spreadsheet, then write down each expense such as Rent, utilities, car note, groceries, etc. Allocate the appropriate amount to each group; with the money left over, use it towards your wedding.
For more tips on how to create a zero-based budget, go to daveramsey.com.
2. Clip coupons or download virtual coupons
If you haven’t joined the coupon craze, now might be a perfect time”. Clipping coupons may seem grueling, but nowadays, virtual coupons are available. Although this process may be time-consuming, it can help you save!
3. Cut the Cable
Think you can’t live without cable, think again. Cable companies charge many consumers $50, $100, and maybe even $200/per month. With many of us working 40+ hours per week, most don’t have the time to lounge in front of the tube daily.
Amazon has a great option with a Prime membership with a FREE 30-day trial. Not only will you be able to view thousands of movies and TV shows for free, but you will also be able to receive FREE 2-Day shipping on over 100 million items.
Having a Prime membership has so many other benefits and comes in handy. Start your FREE 30-day trial now; you can always cancel if this is not a good fit for you.
If you can’t grasp the concept of no cable, how about cutting it off temporarily?
Once all those wedding expenses are paid, you can reinstate your cable and, often, receive a cheaper monthly payment!
4. Ditch Fast Food
You have had a long day at work, and the last thing you want to do is go home and cook, so what do you do, you go through the drive-thru of your favorite fast food restaurant.
I know this feeling all too well. I also know that spending $5-$10 daily on fast food can add up. Just think about it, $10 per day for seven days is $70 per week, $280 per month, and $3,360 per year. How about packing your lunch to work every day?
Another great idea is to plan your meals for the week. For example, you could cook on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and ensure you cook enough for the following day. Although you may not ‘feel like’ cooking, get past how you feel and do what will save you money.
Also, the health benefits of preparing healthy meals versus eating processed foods are invaluable.
Related: 14 Dollar Tree Money-Saving Products For Your Wedding Centerpieces
5. Just Say No
Learning to say no to things you know will increase your financial stress is key. Many times when you decide to change your previous habits to obtain your dream, which in this case is your dream wedding, you may have some resistance from those closest to you.
Such as, your ‘friends’ may not understand you can no longer go to the mall every Saturday or go to your favorite bar or restaurant every Friday. Your sister may say to ‘charge it’ on your credit card when you know you are trying to get out of debt and save for the perfect wedding dress.
Even though you may get criticism regarding your new behaviors, do not allow these negative people and dream crushers to get you off track.
Stay with your new plan, and remember this is your wedding, and you and your soon-to-be spouse are the only ones who need to agree with this new change!
6. Carpool or call an uber driver
With fluctuating gasoline prices, keeping your car parked may be the best. If you have a co-worker or friend who lives close by, maybe you can catch a ride with them a few times a week and vice versa. Implementing this simple tip could save you hundreds of dollars a month.
Also, this is another great alternative with great transportation services such as Uber.
7. Think Thrifty
Shopping at your nearest Goodwill, thrift shop, garage sale, or dollar store may be the last thing you would think to do, but many times you can get great deals on needed items!
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