Tips Archives - Live Debt Free

Most Costly Mistakes You Make When Paying for a Wedding

10.19.2022 by Harry //

Possibly the most special day in someone’s life is their wedding day. It is such a momentous occasion; even the most frugal lovebird can get caught up in sparing no expense and falling into the traps of the industry.

If you or a loved one are planning for the big day, you may wonder about the most costly mistakes to make when paying for a wedding.

According to experts, the most costly mistakes to make when paying for a wedding are a lack of clear budget communication with vendors, choosing a destination wedding without understanding money conversion, working in percentages instead of real prices, and failing to manage their expectations well.

Since there is so much to unpack about this issue, our article will cover each of the most costly wedding mistakes couples, and their wedding party can make when trying to finance a wedding in detail!

Most Costly Wedding Items

According to the Wedding and Party Network, these are the most expensive things you will need to buy for your wedding:

The venue
The wedding dress
The DJ
The catering services

When planning your wedding, consider the biggest costs and make sure your decision-making is based on well-managed expectations and great attention to detail!

Why You Should Communicate a Budget Clearly with Vendors

According to the creative director and owner of Charleston Wedding planning company, Calder Clark, one of the most significant issues soon-to-be newlyweds face is a simple communication issue with the professionals they’re planning the wedding with.

For example, when going into a bridal boutique and selecting the attire for the bridal party, the bride and groom may hear that their budget covers the costs of dresses and shoes. However, according to Calder Clark, it is typical for wedding-planning industry professionals to leave out the cost of additional purchases that everyone forgets. These can include accessories like ties, hairpieces, or even belts.

To avoid having a budget that looks one way to you and another way to the people you hire, clearly communicate how much you are willing to spend. Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as possible about how much each item will affect the bottom line, whether you are communicating with caterers or stylists.

Don’t Forget Vendor Vernacular

Sometimes a vendor’s choice of words can be unfamiliar, or couples can make plans without paying close enough attention to the stipulations listed on a vendor’s website or product.

For example, the words “plus plus” used on a caterer’s website can lead to a high percentage of extra fees that may go overlooked if you are not careful.

Make sure to examine every part of a vendor’s product and offering, leaving no stone unturned if you don’t want to pay surprising extra amounts.

How to Convert Money When Planning a Destination Wedding

Another incredibly hazardous mistake is getting lost in the fairy tale of planning an overseas wedding and forgetting that your nation’s currency might be converted into a different number in the country where you are getting married.

https://www.brides.com/story/must-know-advice-for-destination-wedding-planning

According to the owner of Michelle Rago Destinations, many couples assume their American dollar count will translate into the same number overseas, then wind up surprised when everything costs more or less than they were planning.

To help wedding planners avoid this mistake, here is a table revealing the conversion of United States dollar value to other countries:

Destination Currency	USD Exchange Rate	Does $ Money Go Further or Shorter?
British Pound	$1.15 to every Pound	Shorter
Euro	$0.99 to every Euro	Even
Australian Dollar	$0.67 to every AUS	Further
Indian Rupee	$0.01 to every Rupee	Further

Discuss Purchases in Real Prices Instead of Percentages

According to Bluebird Production’s Principal, one of the most common mistakes wedding planners make is planning in percentages. They will try to set aside a portion of their budget for caterers or venues without checking solid numbers.

Planning with data that is precise is always the best way to go, and it is especially true when planning a wedding.

Why Managing Expectations Matters

In the age of Pinterest, popular wedding shows, and social media, dream weddings can begin to look more extravagant before a couple ever has time to wonder what everything costs. For example, a single package of fairy lights only a foot long can cost up to $6 USD!

This may not seem like much, but start factoring in how often this particular style of light is used in wedding décor and how many feet of the product you would need to purchase, and it begins to add up.

This is simply a matter of decoration. So often, dresses, cakes, catering, and even DJ services for receptions are hyped up to be of such importance that the soon-to-be-married couple can find themselves having to choose between expectations and the sometimes cold, harsh truth of expenses.

One of the best ways to manage expectations is to consider what you like about the oftentimes-expensive components of your dream wedding.

For example, if a couple wants to say their vows in front of a fancy floral arch but can’t afford it, they might find that a few simple flower arrangements nearby will do the same job.

On the other hand, if a wedding planning group checks the price of everything they save on Pinterest to keep their expectations grounded in reality, it can be much easier to adjust bit by bit rather than all at once.

Why You Should Build in a Safety Net

Even if you manage expectations and plan for every possible thing that could go wrong, it’s still not a good idea to move forward with wedding plans without a safety net.

A couple should begin saving for their wedding as soon as possible, even before any ideas have been generated about things like decorations, attire, and food. This can start as small as 5% of each paycheck or advance to as much as 10% of each paycheck.

The point is to carve out enough of the budget to pay for unexpected expenses. Even the most meticulous planners forget the cost of send-off sparklers or repairs to the honeymoon vehicle! Not only will having a financial safety net be wise, but it will give the couple one more helping of peace of mind during the big day.

In Summary

To sum it all up, the most common mistakes when planning a wedding are a lack of communication, poorly managed expectations, and generalizing costs and ideas instead of being specific. As we discussed, for example, working in generalities like percentages rather than actual numbers can lead to mistakes.

The same mistake is to blame when assuming that overseas currency will have no significant difference from a couple’s national currency during a destination wedding.

To avoid these mistakes, think each decision through with well-managed expectations and overcommunicate! This way, nothing will spoil that big, magical day.

Image Credit: [KKShepel]

How To Make Home Cooked Meals That Taste Like Your Favorite Restaurants

02.22.2022 by Harry //

When you are trying to save money, one of the easiest things to eliminate from your budget is eating out or ordering takeout. Although takeout meals are easy and delicious, getting meals out instead of cooking at home can blow your budget quickly with the high food prices plus tips and delivery fees.

Your goal is to get serious about cooking more at home, but you do not want to sacrifice taste and variety. So, if you still want delicious meals that taste like dishes from your favorite restaurants, there are ways to recreate your favorite restaurant meals in your kitchen on a budget.

Ask for the Recipe

If you have a favorite meal from a restaurant nearby, ask the server or manager if they would be willing to give you the recipe. Occasionally, they may tell you that the recipe is a secret, but often, they will be happy to give you the recipe for your favorite dishes.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/restaurant-meals-to-make-at-home

Even if you cannot get an answer on the exact recipe from the restaurant, look at the menu description. It most likely lists the individual ingredients so that you can try to recreate the dish on your own. There could be some tweaking to get it right, but this will help you get started.

Some restaurants also list their recipes or ingredient lists on their websites along with the nutrition facts. Therefore, this is another option if you are trying to sleuth out how to recreate your favorite meal on a budget.

Take a cooking class

A big step towards cooking restaurant-style food at home is to gain confidence in your cooking skills. If you are overwhelmed at the thought of making meals at home, take a cooking class.

Taking a class will help you feel more comfortable in the kitchen or teach you some tricks to up your cooking game.

There are countless places to take cooking classes in your local community or even at restaurants in your area. Also, reach out to community colleges or town boards that run enrichment programs in your area. Most cooking classes are inexpensive, or even free.

If there is not a class offered in your area, express your interest. You may not be the only one looking for a cooking class, so you could help get a class started in your area. If in-person classes are not an option, there are also plenty of online cooking classes that you could do from your home.

https://moneywise.com/life/food/20-cheap-recipes-to-keep-your-stomach-and-wallet-full

You can find general cooking classes to teach you the basics or specialty classes that will focus on cooking a specific type of food like pasta or an Indian food class. So, whether you are a complete cooking newbie or just trying to get better at a specific type of cooking, there is a class for everyone.

Find copycat recipes

Many food bloggers have made a career out of creating copycat recipes for your favorite takeout meals. Pinterest is loaded with links to things like “Copycat Chick-fil-a” or “Panda Express at Home.” A quick search for your favorites will likely yield some good options to try at home.

Create a Pinterest board to save all your favorite recipes in one place so you can quickly come back to them when it’s time to give them a try for yourself. This will make it easier when you are looking for meal inspiration.

Being prepared for dinnertime is a big step in resisting the urge to go out for dinner or order expensive takeout. Instead of calling in an order when you are hungry, you can whip up a similar recipe at home for a fraction of the price.

In addition to recreating famous chain takeout dishes, there are plenty of recipes that will mimic your favorite types of foods. Use Pinterest, or even just Google “Restaurant style” with your favorite meal, and you will yield plenty of results.

Rethink your grocery trips

If you feel like you aren’t creative enough to make restaurant-quality meals at home, spend some time exploring at the grocery store. Most of the time, grocery trips are meant to be quick and efficient. You most likely follow a list and work your way through the store methodically.

While this is often a great way to get your shopping done quickly, sometimes you need to mix things up. So, if you are looking for meal inspiration, take a walk down the aisles with the sauces and ingredients for your favorite types of meals and see what appeals to you.

For example, if you have been craving Mexican food, take a walk down the aisle with all the enchilada sauces and taco kits. Often, the packages will have recipes on the back, so you can use that as a guide to get everything you need to make the recipe.

If you are overwhelmed at the idea of going into the grocery store without a plan, set a goal to have one meal per week be a “wing it” meal. Plan your meals and make a grocery list but have one of your meals be something you decide on the spot in the store when you encounter an ingredient that inspires you.

Use social media

Food bloggers have been around for a long time, but many are shifting to social media to drive more exposure to their delicious recipes. Search the hashtags for your favorite restaurants and your favorite types of food on Instagram or TikTok to find accounts that are your style.

Many of these food bloggers post easy recipes in the reels or provide links to their websites where you can find their easy, delicious recipes. Once you start to follow one account, you will start to see more like it on the page, so you can find more food accounts to follow.

Find food bloggers who share your mindset about cooking. The beauty of the social media food blogger scene is that there are accounts that are incredibly niche. You can find accounts for specific diet preferences like gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, Whole 30, and more.

If you want quick recipes that will take 30 minutes or less because you’re a multitasking mom, there are accounts for that. If you want to learn how to make things like fancy reduction sauces and don’t mind using every pan in your kitchen, there are gourmet accounts too.

Go old-fashioned with cookbooks

Cookbooks are not dead! While food blogs and reels are great for some people, there is a lot to be said for a nice, old-fashioned cookbook on your counter. There are cookbooks for every style of food imaginable, and even entire cookbooks dedicated to recreating restaurant recipes.

Look at your local bookstore or on Amazon for a cookbook that suits your needs. Whether you are looking for recipes to make the best Chinese takeout-style meals at home or an encyclopedia of grilled cheese, you can find a cookbook for that!

The beauty of using a real cookbook is that you can make notes on the recipes that you try. This helps to remind yourself what you liked, and what you would change to make a meal taste more like a meal from your favorite restaurant. It will also note the substitutions you made.

Image credit: [Prostock-studio]

How to Build Your Credit Score and Stay Debt Free

10.28.2021 by Harry //

Many of us know that being in debt is typically a bad thing from a very young age, but do we know why? Unfortunately, credit scores are not often discussed, so they may come as a bit of a shock to those who have just turned 18 and are looking to start building credit.

Your credit score has a significant impact on many areas of your life. It affects things such as buying a house, getting a credit card, and getting a loan. So, it is crucial always to keep it in mind when going about your everyday business.

Here we will tell you tips to build your credit score without going into debt.

What Is a Credit Score?

Your credit score is a three-figure number that indicates how likely you are to be a safe bet when it comes to loans. Essentially, it lets lenders know whether you are a risk. The higher the number, the better your credit score and the “safer” you are considered.

https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-to-build-credit-and-achieve-a-good-credit-score/

Your credit reports determine your credit score, but if you had never had to pay anything in your name, then it’s common to have little to no credit history.

Building a Credit Score

There are many ways to go about building a credit score, but some are better than others. For example, many people will tell you to get a small loan and pay it off when due simply to prove that you can do so. However, things are not always certain in life. What may not seem like a risk at the beginning can indeed become one.

So, how do you build a credit score without debt?

Sign on as a Co-Holder’s on a Family Member’s Credit Card

One of the quickest and easiest ways to get a credit score is to be a co-holder of a credit card. For example, if your parents are willing to let you do this, you can be added as an authorized user to their account. Once you are approved, the payment history will lend itself to your credit score. Essentially, you get a boost in credit score with no work.

It is better to become an authorized user on a trustworthy person’s credit card.

The last thing you would want to happen in this situation is that they make a late payment or even fail to make one altogether. This would then, of course, negatively impact your credit score through no fault of your own.

Open Your Own Credit Card

Perhaps a safer way to boost your credit score is to get a credit card with just you as an authorized user. This way, you won’t be reliant on anyone else’s spending habits for your credit. Of course, most credit cards will require you to have a good credit score already before they approve you. However, one option is a secured credit card.

A secured credit card needs a security deposit. The amount of money that you deposit with them is your credit limit. Essentially, it’s insuring you against yourself. You need to treat it like a typical credit card and pay the amount off when it’s due to receive your deposit back.

However, remember that failure to pay the sum or even a late payment negatively impacts your credit score. It also means that the lender keeps your security deposit to recover the money that you spent.

Set Up Autopay

The easiest way to quickly accumulate bad credit is to make a late payment. Your payment history makes up 35% of your credit scores, and so paying late does significant damage. In addition, late payment even just once can result in you being reported to the three main credit bureaus.

This report of late payment will then stay on your record for up to seven years. So, to avoid this, you should consider setting up autopay. It means that the amount owed will be automatically deducted from your account each month.

You can always keep a record of the amount spent and check it yourself against the amount automatically deducted to ensure that you are not being overcharged.

Get a Credit-builder Loan

A credit-builder loan is not your average loan, but it is designed to help people build up their credit scores. With this type of loan, you will need to place money into an account every month. When the set period is up, you will receive the total sum of your deposited money (possibly plus interest) minus fees.

What you are doing shows that you can be trusted to pay a certain amount of money by a certain deadline. Additionally, it demonstrates to companies that you are trustworthy and can keep your money in order.

To Sum Up

A credit score has a significant impact on daily life, but it is often overlooked when we are children. The importance of building up a good credit score cannot be stressed enough. However, many people state that getting a loan is the best way to go about this. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, as any form of a loan carries risks.

Instead, we have listed above some of the best alternative ways to build up a good credit score without the need to take out a loan. Each of the methods listed above still carries a small amount of risk, and it is up to you to decide which way is the best for you.

If you need to rely on someone else to get your credit scores, then becoming an authorized user is a great way. However, remember that you are reliant on someone else. Otherwise, lenders will insure you against yourself. Be sure to do you homework before opening a credit card.

Image credit:[Margo Hercules].