Wedding Budget Bliss

Well hello out there, I know this blog has been neglected as of late with all us authors being suuuuper busy and well lets face it, still somewhat broke stressed and crazed but I am back! Toady's post will be part 1 of a 2 part series on how I budgeted for my recent wedding. Please note that I am going to be writing about getting married in the greater NYC area, prices and fees for anywhere outside of NYS wont really be discussed here, but feel free to steal any of my ideas for your own wedding regardless of where its held!

I know you are asking yourself at this VERY MOMENT "How in the holy CRAP did she afford a wedding if she's truly broke?" Answer:  It wasn't easy at all but I am here to assure you that it can be done. 

First things first: THE WEDDING LICENSE/CEREMONY. Now, Mike and I decided to only have a civil ceremony as both of us aren't what you'd call ardent churchgoer's. I know that's not the case for everyone but it fit our needs nicely. Getting married anywhere can be an expensive affair, but getting married in NYC can be a wallet buster unless you are the savvy sort. Where did we tie the knot? City Hall baby! Was it expensive? Nope. 

Here's the rundown:

A) To get Married in NYC or anywhere in NY State, you have to go to your local City Clerk's Office and apply for a marriage licence. Please note that 1) there is a $35 dollar fee for the licence and 2) you CANNOT get married during the 24 hours immediately following the issuance of the licence. The licence is valid for 60 days from the date of issuance. If you choose to go back to the Clerk's office to get married, you must pay an additional $25 dollars at that time. That brings the price of getting married (in a marriage bureau located anywhere in  New York State) to a whopping $60 dollars!

We went to the Manhattan Marriage Bureau (aka City Hall) but within the 5 boroughs of NYC you can get married in any of the Clerks offices,. Additionally, you can go out to Long Island or basically any marriage bureau in the state to seal the deal. The Manhattan marriage bureau was awesome, especially since they City of New York dumped a reported 12.3 million (!) dollars to renovate the entire place. Check out this Daily News article for more information.

Aside from going to a clerk's office to get married you can still save money and get married in any of New York City's public parks and stay within a broke couples budget depending on where and how big your group is. To get married in a New York City Park you must apply for a Special Events permit from the city which costs $25 dollars. Click here for more information. That opens up a whole host of options for the ceremony. You can get married in ANY of New York's 1,700 parks. **Other states might have their own fees for getting married on state owned grounds, so make sure you check with your states parks department**.

Now to the big buck items: the dress and the tux. 

The Dress: This can be an iffy affair in terms of the budget depending on what kind of dress you want. Personally I am a low key sort of person but I DID have two, count em - TWO  separate dresses. Why? Well one was my City Hall dress and one was my Reception party dress. I got married on the 16th and had the reception 2 days later for reasons that I will reveal later. Regardless I spent only $269 dollars TOTAL for both dresses. Here's is what I did, I went online to theknot.com. and looked at basically 5646756457747 million wedding dresses in their gallery. Theknot.com is a fantastic resource for a bride, they consolidate so much information on their site for everything from the dress to the flowers to merchants in your area that provide all sorts of wedding services. So I looked at dresses till my eyes bled and then I narrowed the dress style and length I wanted down to a few select choices. I then went on David Bridal's website and made an appointment to try on all the ones I liked to see what I looked best in. I finally chose the type I wanted - but the price at David's was a bit high for what I had budgeted. I went back home a did a Google Image search for the style I liked and I happened to come across a dress on Nordstrom.com that fit my style and budget EXACTLY. When I saw the price I didn't hesitate, I just went ahead and ordered it. Here is the link for anyone who's curious. I figured that at $178 dollars I could get another dress (since the first was a long gown and I didn't want to traipse around NYC in one) for City Hall. I found my City Hall dress on sale for $90 dollars. What I especially like about this second dress is that I can use it again and again as a pretty summer frock.  

Wedding total so far: $328 dollars.

Mike actually re-used two of his suits (one for City Hall and one for the reception) but got a new shirts and a beautiful tie from Men's Warehouse. That total? 80 bucks. Yeah. If your groom wants to spring for a tux, Men's Warehouse offers rentals as well. Mike decided to just wear a suit since we were not really having a big fancy ceremony / reception.

Next up: Flowers, Reception hall and Photographer. Check back soon for this info!

New Years Resolutions

According to various news channels (which I have been watching ALOT due to the case of the Black Plague that has claimed me and the rest of my family) the number one New Years Resolution that almost everyone makes is to lose weight, followed closely by quitting smoking. I am all for quitting smoking, although I know how hard it can be for most. I really have no recommendation on how to go about quitting, although for longtime users I think its wise to talk with your doctor so he/she can help you set up a quit plan that will be successful.

As for losing weight, well we have all been there at one point or another. I had 2 kids in 2 years and I went through the post baby weight loss drama. Guess what I learned? DIETING SUCKS. It sucks so bad, just thinking about it makes me want to run into the kitchen and eat a tablespoon of white, processed sugar. What I actually learned was that trying to lose weight is a stress inducing event unless, UNLESS, you go about it the right way - this is something I figured out after much trial and error. Obsessivley weighing and measuring yourself every day (or several times a day - yes I did it, shut up) is not the way to go. What does work is an exercise routine that you can live with and work in to your day to day schedule, eating healthy foods that you LIKE, and drinking about one bazillion gallons of water.

Too simple sounding for you? Well I really believe that if you keep things simple, they are more likely to work and your stress levels will obviously stay withing manageable, non-psychotic event inducing levels. Also, you wont find yourself locked in the laundry closet rocking back and forth and moaning while you stuff approximately 40 chocolate chip cookies in your mouth.

MOVING ON.....

This is what I did, mostly at home - to lose weight:

1) I went online, consulted with my OB/GYN and my doctor and read a million articles about healthy eating. I added a veritable CRAP load of whole grains into my daily diet, I drank the aforementioned bazillion gallons of water and I cut white rice and (sob) white bread out of my diet.

2) I first rented, then bought,  a few workout DVD's - 30 Day Shred (which I still do), some post baby specific pilates videos and I started walking EVERYWHERE. After a few months I got a personal trainer at the gym I was a member of near my (then) job.

**A note on the gym costs involved: I went to the gym and negotiated a deal in which a personal trainer trained myself and a coworker together and only charged us for one. We split the cost of the training sessions. Lots of gyms will give you this deal since they are looking to make a buck in these cash strapped times. It's easier to have a workout buddy to keep you on track, too. Dont be shy, ask and ye shall receive. Also, check with your health insurance provider for any deals they have with gyms in your area, many times you will get a reduced membership fee or your insurance will pick up some of the costs involved with your membership. They want you to be healthy so they dont have to pay out for any future health complications you may have.

I lost my baby weight and then some, and while I have since lost my job and hence my gym membership, I still work out at home (just ask my kids who loooove to watch me exercise - and sometimes they join in) with my workout DVD's, I still go out for walks ( I drag the kids out, even when it is 30 degrees out) around the neighborhood, and when I walk the dog I take her an extra few blocks so we can both get some extra exercise. I turn off the TV and I turn on the radio (or the ipod) and I dance like a maniac with my kids. We eat more veggies and whole grains these days and now we will eat even healthier since my husband has decided to lose some weight too. This week we will be installing a chin up bar that hooks over a doorway and that will be yet another form of exercise here at home.

All these things are simple things anyone can do to lose weight and keep it off. Believe me, you will feel much better about yourself, you'll be stronger, happier and you WILL fit into those jeans by the summer. Do you have any weight loss strategies that you'd like to share? Leave a comment below! - Gina G.

Healthy Eating On a Budget

We all think that eating healthy means spending more but this is not necessarily true.  The cost of obesity in America outweighs the cost of healthy eating. 

Here are some tips:

• Shop for produce that is in season.  It tastes better and costs less.  Here is a guide to help you find what's fresh and ripe where you live, right now - Eat Seasonal. 
• Research sales at your favorite supermarket online before heading out.  Check the frozen section each week and buy sale items so you always have a variety of veggies in the freezer.  Great for homemade soups.  
• Speaking of soup - make your own soup!  This way you can add as many vegetables as you desire.  You also have total control over sodium and the quality of the contents.  
• Stock up! Be sure to always have pasta, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, wheat germ and beans.  Beans are a great source of protein and fiber.  Brown rice and barley add fiber to soups.  Wheat germ is a great source of fiber, protein, vitamin B6 and folate.  Wheat germ can be added to stews, homemade or store bought pasta sauces and casseroles. 
• Limit take-out or dining out.  A great American convenience for those on the run but we literally pay the price in both our health and our wallets.  
• Microwaveable meals  - create your own!  Why spend more and consume large amounts of sodium when you can just double your recipes and freeze half?  Perfect for chili, soup and entrees.  You may store the leftovers in freezer safe ware.   Perfect for taking lunch to work!  However, be aware of the potential risks of microwaving plastics (paper plates or glass plates are the safest options) - microwaving plastics.

By taking the time to plan your meals and grocery lists, you will gain nutritional benefits as you go easy on your wallet.

For more information on eating healthy visit http://www.eatright.org/ brought to you by the American Dietetic Association. 

Last Minute Deals and Steals

One of the advantages of waiting until the last minute to get your Christmas shopping done is that stores are eager to get rid of extra merchandise. So go forth and shop!

Here are some great deals and steals:

For the book lover in your life:

The Amazon Kindle is on sale for $259.00 plus FREE shipping if you order in the next 1 day 11 hours. I have one and I love it. If you take a look at the price and think its a little steep, consider the fact that a person who loves to read and own their own books spends upwards of $2000.00 a year on books alone (thats low-balling it, folks - just ask my husband). Kindle "books" are cheaper than traditional books, no printing fees or paper fees to inflate the price. Plus, its the "green" way to go for all the environmentally conscious, as no trees are killed for the paper.

For the Wannabe Paparrazzo in your life:

One of the best deals I have found is Best Buy's sale on the 12.1 Megapixel Sony Cyber Shot Camera. Its a sweeeeeet little camera that can handle all those quick "this would make a great picture" "I wish I had gotten that on video" moments in your life. Its on sale at Best Buy for $159.99 - down from $209.00. If you have a Best Buy near you that has this camera in stock, all you have to do is order it online and then go down and pick it up - just make sure you choose the "Pick It Up In-Store" option at checkout.

For the kids in your life: 

Amazon also has great deals on toys for the next few hours. You might have to pay for shipping to get it on time for Christmas, but think about it, if you are going to see people AFTER Christmas and still want to get their kids a toy, you can order it at the sale price and get free shipping (remember it will be delivered AFTER Christmas) this is the way to go. If not, you still have a few hours to go to order a toy, or two, or thirty.

For the Teen in your life:

Yeah I know that they want all the super name-brand stuff but lets be honest, Gap jeans are really good quality and select styles are on sale today. At 19.99, these are a steal! Gap.com and instore.

And remember folks, if all else fails - there are always giftcards! If you have any deals/steals you'd like to share with us, leave us a comment! Merry Shopping everyone! - Gina G.

Shopping on a Budget

How does one shop on a budget? I ask myself this everyday as I try to prepare delicious, healthy meals without putting a bigger dent in my wallet.  The first thing I suggest is to create a list.  My second suggestion is to STICK to the list.  Thirdly, never, ever go food shopping while hungry.  I have made this mistake many, many times.  Lastly, before recycling the coupons you receive in the mail, go through them for coupons on items you actually purchase. 

Let's start with the list.  I find it more efficient to categorize my list by each market.  Here is an example:

• Local Supermarket - i.e. Stop & Shop 
• Tuna
• Milk, etc...
  
• Costco or BJ's
• Olive oil 
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper, etc... 
• Local Fruit & Vegetable Market or Farmer's Market
• Tomatoes 
• Potatoes, etc...

Okay, so this may seem like a lot but if you are organized, you can be a quick and efficient shopper while saving.   Now my reasoning for shopping at different markets - savings!!  While creating your categorized list think about the prices and the purpose for each market.   Your local supermarket usually has an abundance of weekly specials and their prices sometimes beat those at bulk item markets, especially for everyday items with a short shelf life.  Being able to organize the weekly flyer specials with coupons and recipes before you head out to the store, will also save you time and money. Costco and BJ's are good places for bulk items such as paper towels, toilet paper, razors, and food items if and only if you have a large family. However, before buying food items in bulk, be sure to check expiration dates and decide whether your family will be able to consume the items before they expire otherwise you have just wasted money, in which case it may be best to purchase the items at your local market.  Now as for your local fruit and vegetable stand or farmer's market, I find that the prices are significantly lower as opposed to your local supermarket.  An alternative to buying fresh fruit and vegetables is purchasing them frozen in bulk or at your local market depending on your needs.  They cost slightly more but last much longer.  Studies also show that frozen fruit and vegetables are better for us as they have been frozen at their peak maintaining more nutrients.

So, next is time management.  Do you need to shop at all 3, only 2 or just 1 of those markets?  If you need to shop at all 3, think of the most efficient way to do this to save time and gas.  You may prefer to start at the furthest place, then continue on from there until you reach home or vice versa.    

Most people buy the same items over and over due to familiarities, tastes, and cultures, so why not create this list on a Word document that you can use as a running list that can easily be edited for future use?   You will notice that the list rarely strays.

Keep in mind that once you come up with a routine, this will seem like a piece of cake! Mmm.... cake.

Any suggestions or questions welcome! - Chasity D.

Coupons! Coupons!

If you are lazy like me, or simply terrified of stepping foot in a store during the holiday rush (shudder), you have probably become a fan of shopping online. Personally, its been a lifesaver for me this holiday season; actually its been a lifesaver for me for the past 4 years on Christmas - since the Christmas when I was the size of a zeppelin while pregnant with my first. Add to that the fact that I detest crowds and online shopping is the way to go. Most of the time all the deals that you an find in-store also apply online, and often you can save yourself some money by not having to pay taxes for purchases made online. Keep in mind that this isn't always the case, but more often than not you wont pay taxes on online purchases. What's that you say? Shipping costs? Well lets take into account that during most online sales shipping is free and coupled with the money saved from not having to pay taxes, well , I call that a deal.

On top of all that good stuff there are a myriad of sites that offer online coupons that you can use. Just Google "Onlne coupons" and you'll get about a gajillion hits. Since groceries are one of those things that I am obliged to go to a store for, a lot of the sites I listed below offer pritable grocery coupons, especially useful if you don't go through the circulars when you are at the store.

Here are a few online coupon sites:

DealCatcher.com - This sweet site searches and put all the best online deals from many different online store sites, as well as offering printable coupons for all you hardy souls that want to go to the stores.

Coupon Cabin - Online coupons galore.

Coupons.com - Lets you select coupons and then print them out for deals speciafically in your area (you enter our zip code when you first log in).

Smartsource.com - Another great site with general online coupons and area specific coupons.
Enjoy! -Gina G.

Reinventing Family Fun

Our daughter has had to sit back and watch as our lives changed so drastically in the past 2 years. From the loss of our jobs to the addition of a new family member.  Her life thus far had been a happy and fruitful one for the most part.  Not to say that she was spoiled but she never demanded or asked for anything but had an abundance of everything…

When we knew things were about to take a turn for the worse we sat down and explained to her that Mom and Dad were going to have to cut back on excessive spending.  We took the time to explain that even though she might not be getting a toy, video game or dvd every so often, we would take some time out to appreciate the ones she had.  So we began to implement “family” game night or “family” movie night to share in her fun too.  We definitely didn’t appreciate all of the cool stuff this kid had in the past.  With our busy schedules she tended to play by herself or with her friends more than she did with us.  I have to say she ended up having more fun with her old stuff than she ever had before.

Now that Christmas is coming around we were expecting a long list of overly advertised, pricey garbage but she really hasn't even asked for anything unreasonable! Can you imagine our surprise?! Her main items on her list basically revolves around our Family Game/Movie Night!! - Shana R.

Christmas On A Budget With Family And Co-workers

As many of you know being broke during the holdiay season plain old sucks. Commercialism runs rampant even during tough economic times and although there are many ways to save and be budget concious during the gift giving season, the majority of us still tend to think that we have to give gifts out like we are made out of money. The truth is fellow broke people, that what we should do is take a step back and re-evaluate who we are going to give gifts to.
If you have kids you know that they are definitely #1 on the list, unless their actions over the past year have earned them only a piece of coal. Seriously speaking even with the kids, you'll have to take that proverbial step back and re-evaluate what you are going to be giving them. For instance, I know my youngest son, Seba, wants a Mickey Mouse Choo Choo Express, 16 gazillion Thomas Train figures, a pet toy dinosaur, more trains, more trains and more trains. I am getting him just one of those things. The other things he wants have been assigned to grandparents, uncles and aunts. I dont need to buy him everything he's asked for and to be fair I have asked that everyone keep to a spending cap because we aren't the only ones who are broke. I know that the grandparents will go that extra mile with the grandkids but when it comes to my brother and his family, they have just as many bills as we do and it wouldn't be fair to expect any pricey gifts from them. In order to keep the season a happy one, make concessions and agree to spending caps in the family.
What to do with people outside of the immediate family? That can be a troublesome issue when it comes to co-workers for many people. If no one in your office has suggested it yet, try doing a "secret santa" with your coworkers with a cap of $20-25 dollars. Another way to celebrate in the office is to have an office pot-luck, where everyone can bring a dish from home and that is certainly a way to save some cash.
As for all those other people in your life, believe me - they understand that the economy is in the proverbial toilet and they will be happy enough with a holdiay card from you. And if they aren't? Well a big BAH- HUMBUG to them.
What do you do in your family or in the office to keep your holiday spending down? Leave us a comment! - Gina G.

Introductions

So who exactly are these three people who are crazy enough to start this blog and write about being broke, how stressed they are and how crazed life has gotten for each of them lately? We are Chasity D, Shana R, and Gina G. Here are our condensed lives for your perusal:

Chasity D.:

I am a recent nursing school graduate. I have just completed a 15 month accelerated program that did not allow me to work full-time. During the last 12 months of the program, I was faced with a heart-breaking end to a 4 year relationship with someone I truly cared about and admired. This then led to a "humble" $2000 per month solo living expense for just basic necessities - rent being the majority of my costs. I have worked 5-6 hours a week babysitting but let's face it, it does not pay $2000 per month. I have been living off of my savings and well, frankly, funds are running very low. The job market is highly competitive, my lease expires in 2 months, so I basically have 2 months to find a nursing job before my funds are depleted and I lose my apartment. I will be writing about ways to prepare healthy meals on a budget without sacrificing taste as well as low-cost and free ways to enjoy life despite the hardships we are facing during these trying times. Gina, Shana and I are here to try to help you remain positive by leading healthy lives!

Gina G.:

I'm a...um, well lets just call it "married" *cough*( we are too lazy to go make it official) mom of two toddler boys, ages 2 and 3 (insert Irish twins joke here) who up until August of 2009 made a 98K a year at a pretty boring job for a huge insurance company that got itself into some hot water, financially speaking. The result was that on a fateful Wednesday I was laid off and my income completely cut off except for the $450 I now make a week in unemployment benefits. My current full-time job is as a SAHM (stay at home mom) who is constantly trying to make her husbands paycheck stretch to cover rent, groceries and the myriad of bills any normal family has while trying to save AND while not losing her mind - aka "stressed and crazed". I will be hunting for online coupons to share with you, looking for deals and trying to find cheap ways of keeping two "high -spirited" (read: insane) boys from being completely bored this winter and possibly orchestrating a mutiny in which my husband will come home and find me tied to a chair while the boys go all "Lord of the Flies" on me.

Shana R.:

I am a SAHM with two beautiful girls, ages 9 and 1 and two cute doggies.  I’ve been married to my wonderful husband for almost 15 years and would not describe our life together as “easy” by any means.  We were married almost 2 years after I graduated High School and started out with exactly 20 dollars in our pockets.  We’ve endured a lot of financial stresses over the years but these past two years have been the worst (financially).  With myself getting laid off January of 2008 and getting knocked up shortly after and the hubby getting laid off from his job of 12 years, in December 2008 (2 weeks after baby #2) it’s been hard.  Our little bundle of joy didn’t come into a joyous environment as the world around us began to crumble.  We were trying to adjust to our expanded family and expanded finances when the economy went down the drain.  All in all, we keep a positive outlook and try to maintain our dwindling bank account with the hopes of things turning around.  I will try to help give you all a positive approach in handling financial problems and how to get the bang for your buck when it comes to raising your kids from tweens to tots!

There you have it folks! We hope that you enjoy out take on being broke, stressed & crazed. We would love to hear from you often! Feel free to share your own stories and/or tips in our comments section or dropping us a line at brokestressedcrazed at gmail dot com.