The average wedding today costs upwards of $25,000. If a couple pays for most of their wedding expenses with credit cards and loans, they might be still paying it off when they celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Using Consolidated Credit's free Wedding Budget Planner to help couples sort out what is important and the costs of certain goods and services can be a life-saver. The wedding budget planner can be downloaded from consolidatedcredit.org's Learning Center section of the web site.
Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) June 4, 2007 -- Saying "I do" anytime soon? The average wedding with 125 guests, three male attendants and three female attendants can cost around $25,000 and, in many cases, it will cost more. No matter who is footing the bill - your parents or yourself - it's a good idea to set up a wedding budget to keep costs within reason.
"Do you really want to drag huge debts down the aisle?" asked Howard Dvorkin, author of Credit Hell: How to Dig Out of Debt and founder of the nonprofit group Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. "If I spend $25,000 on a wedding today, does that mean I can't buy a house for the next five or seven years and will be struggling to get out of debt?"
Credit cards, Dvorkin said, are the worst way to pay for nuptials, because of high interest and late-payment fees. If a couple is determined to spend beyond the cash they have, they might consider a home equity line of credit as the interest is often tax-deductible or ask for a loan from family members. Couples can use the Wedding Budget Planner to help them sort out what is important and it can help them to realize the cost of certain goods and services.
Here are some tips to avoid wedding debt:
1. As soon as you decide on matrimony, decide on your wedding budget.
2. Set a wedding date that will allow you and your family time to store up funds for wedding-related expenses.
3. If funds aren't readily available, consider getting a second job to supplement the wedding budget or simply cut the budget.
4. Do it yourself. Enlist the creative talents of relatives and friends who can make your wedding gown, create floral arrangements, or even bake your wedding cake.
5. Keep the wedding guest list to a minimum. Set a limit first and then create a list that falls within those guidelines. For example, first cousins may be invited, but second cousins not.
6. Use credit cards sparingly. It is not sound money management to charge an event that will be over long before the debt is due, causing you to struggle to get out of debt. Credit cards should be used sparingly for events such as weddings and vacations.
7. Choose a morning or afternoon wedding. They're less expensive than evening affairs.
8. If another wedding is being held within a few hours of yours in the same location, perhaps you may be able to share some of the costs of flowers and decorations.
9. Holiday weddings are more expensive because you are competing for catering services, wedding and reception sites, D.J.'s, limousines, photographers and more. During holidays, these types of services tend to raise their prices, especially at Christmas.
10. Keep an eye out for sales on items that you might need for your wedding, such as decorations and favors.
For more information on debt management, dealing with credit cards, and how to budget, please visit http://www.consolidatedcredit.org/.
Consolidated Credit Counseling Service's mission is to help people end financial crisis and solve money problems through education and professional counseling. Consolidated Credit is an industry leader that provides credit counseling and debt management services throughout the United States. Consolidated Credit is a non-profit agency that has helped thousands of individuals and families deal with life-altering credit, debt, and financial issues.
###
Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/UGlnZy1IYWxmLU1hZ24tU2luZy1UaGlyLVplcm8=
|
