$28,400 - average cost of wedding in 2012, according to CNN

Last week, CNN Money announced that the average wedding in 2012 cost around $28,400.  Here the link to the March 10th article.  This total, however, depends on the locale of the wedding, and they make comparisons to those in Manhattan with those in Alaska.

Almost half of this amount is spent on the reception, with the other top five expenses being: engagement ring, reception band, photographer, and flowers/decor.

The article breaks down the changes in expenses when compared with those prior to the economic downturn in 2008, and they have some interesting results.

If this number seems extremely high for you--as it did for us almost 16 years ago--then check out several books on the subject of having a wedding on a budget.  One such is my own publication, titled 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget.  It may seem like common sense, but then answer me this: why do so many couple never budget for their wedding and go deeply in debt for it?  My book helps find ways of slashing the budget AND/OR finding ways of adding funds to do it debt free.

Have a library card? Use OverDrive App for free ebooks and audiobooks

Have a library card?

Good.

Want free ebooks and/or audiobooks?

Of course you do.

Then try out OverDrive.  OverDrive is a service that allows libraries from across the country to download ebooks and audiobooks.  Lending periods are typically either 7 or 14 days.  I, personally, have just started using this service in the past few months, and I highly recommend it.  I have the app for both my Kindle as well as my Droid (found on the Google Play store).

If you're like most people who love to read but cannot afford to buy as many books as you want, then try out OverDrive.

Got a late start on your monthly budget?

Today is the 5th of March and I must ask you: did you start a monthly budget yet?  You didn't.  Instead of telling yourself, "I'll just wait until next month," start it now.

Having a plan for your money is the best way to get a handle on your expenses.

It doesn't have to be complicated.  Take a piece of paper and write down all of your expenses, from debt to food to gas to miscellaneous.

Prioritize that list, from food, housing, and transportation costs at the top.  At the bottom is your total debt and expenses.  Minus your income from that total.  If you're in the negative, you will have to go back and tweak something.  If you have money left over, that's good.

But what to do with that left-over money?

Save.  Give.  Spend wisely.  Get out of debt.

The Final Countdown . . . To The Wedding Season!

I can almost hear the iconic sounds of the 80's rock band Europe and their famous song:

Yes, it is the final countdown before the start of the wedding season, one month from today.  If you're planning a wedding, there are several resources listed on the WEDDING tab on this blog.

Another great resource is my ebook 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget which is available through the Amazon Kindle site.

Debt limits what you are able to do

Having debt (in any amount) steals away from your income.  In return, it also steals away what you are able to do.

You are not able to give more.

You are not able to buy more.

You are not able to save more.

Even if circumstances arise and you find yourself in need of cash (a recent funeral you need to fly or drive to, for example) you may not be able to do this if you have debt.

Years ago, a friend's father passed away.  Even though I was much closer to where the funeral was, I was still not able to make the one and a half hour trek to go to it.  Why?  Because I had to work and we had debt.  The work was a second job, which I needed in order to keep up with our expenses (which debt was a large part of).  I felt bad for not being there.  His father was a great man.  I only bring this up now because the same friend had to travel the 6+ hours this past week to attend a funeral and I thought of how I wanted to be there at his father's funeral.

Having a sizeable amount of debt has affected our life dramatically.  It has hindered what we've been able to do and even save for.

If you're in debt, create a plan to get out of it.

If you're not in debt, create a plan to stay out of it.

And stick to it.

Have you done your taxes? What are you waiting for?

I'll keep this one short:

Have you done your taxes yet?

If you have, great!

If you have not, what are you waiting for?  Don't let this be another one of those late-night cram sessions we all did in college.  Do it now.

Need help?  Go to the IRS website.

Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetheart!

This was taken roughly 16 years ago, on our wedding day.  Can you guess who I am?  (Hint: I'm the taller one).