Your daily life is packed with dozens of money saving opportunities.

Grab 10 easy tips that will help you put a halt on overspending:

1. Plan in Advance And Go Grocery Shopping Only Once a Week

You might not realize it just yet, but all those little extra things you buy everyday for your meals represent a whole lot of money. Not to mention that a half-empty fridge may lead you to go out to a restaurant for lunch or dinner, which is costly. So try to organize yourself: Plan your week in advance and go buy everything you need in just one trip to the grocery store or the market. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can save by doing this.

2. Get a Reusable Coffee Mug

Instead of buying your coffee at the coffee shop every morning, prepare it at home and drink it on the go, in a reusable coffee mug!

3. Avoid Using Your Drying Machine

Your clothes dryer comes second after your refrigerator on the list of the most energy-hungry household appliances. Try to avoid using it, at least once in a while. Instead, hang your clothes to dry them – preferably outside if you can, but inside will do too. It will help you save money… and it will also make your clothes last longer.

4. Use Rags Instead of Paper Towels for Cleaning

Not only is this trick good for your wallet, it is also good for the environment. Lose the habit of using paper towels for cleaning, and start using rags. They are just as effective as paper towels, plus they are reusable. Wanna go extra thrifty? Use old towels or clothes to cut your rags from!

5. Learn All The Different – And Surprising! – Uses of Some Everyday Products

You might not know it yet, but some of the products you use everyday are surprisingly versatile. Olive oil, for example, can be used as a skin moisturizer, shoe polisher, eye makeup remover or as bath oil. White vinegar, when mixed with water, makes a great and cheap multi-surface cleaner. It can also be used as a dishwasher cleaner, brass and copper shiner and much, much more.

6. Walk or Ride a Bike

A car is convenient… too convenient. Cars have become such a huge part of our lives that we use them to go everywhere and to do everything without thinking twice. If you live in an urban area, try to use your car as less as possible! Trade it for a bike, or even walk: It won’t cost you a dime plus it’ll help you stay in shape. What are you waiting for?

7. Subscribe to a Public Library

Instead of buying the books and magazines your like, subscribe to a public library and rent them there. Granted, you might have to wait a couple of weeks before being able to read a new trendy best-seller, but the savings you’ll make in the end will make it worth it!

8. Make Your Home Energy-Efficient

A lot of our money is spent on energy bills. To help cut on costs, make your home energy efficient! Before winter, seal your windows with heat shrinkable plastic covers to avoid cold drafts from sneaking in. Buy programmable electronic thermostats: Program them to lower the temperature when you are at work or during the night. During summer heat waves, close all windows and curtains during the day so that no hot air and no sunlight is coming in: This will help keeping your house cool without having to crank up the AC. Also, take the habit of turning the lights off as soon as you exit a room. On a yearly basis, such simple gestures can reduce your energy bill of as much as 30%.

9. Buy Second Hand

A product does not have to be brand new in order to be perfectly satisfying. By buying your things used, you can save tremendous amounts of money. Granted, some products are better bought new, like electronics, for instance, or household electrical appliances. But you can find some pretty decent furniture, clothes, tools and even vehicles if you look in specialized second hand shops or on websites such as Craigslist or Freecycle.

10. Make You Own Beauty Products

Not only will making your own beauty products save you dozens of dollars, it will also spare you from being exposed to all the harmful chemicals found in commercial creams, lotions, shampoos… It’s quite amazing to see how many products can easily be made at home, and, often, with ingredients that we already have in our fridge, our food closet or our cupboards. You’ll find plenty of ideas and tutorials on the internet: For starters, check out the Daily Green’s homemade beauty products ideas, or Colleen Vanderlinden’s Top 50 list of products you can make yourself.

Mireille is a travel, music and theater enthusiast. She wrote for the stage and television, and is now working as a freelance blogger for Standard Life, a leading long-term savings and investment company, providing Canadians with advices on Quebec retirement planning.

Our friends at FOX Business – Stocks Editor Elizabeth MacDonald, shares with us tips on how to save given the rise on food and gas prices.

The Labor Department reported today that consumer prices rose last month by the most in three years.  Higher gas prices were responsible for about 80% of the increase, and food prices rose 0.2 percent. Nothing tests the sanity of the ordinary American than seeing gas prices steadily climb at the pump, or food prices inexorably rising at the cash register. I’ve been at both, and the experience is teeth grinding, my molars are almost Tic Tac size (kidding). It seems just about everything is rising in price except your biggest asset, your house. Therefore, I’ve been test driving tips on how to cut costs on both. Here are five to help you get started:

Bring your lunch to work:
$10 a day times five is $50 bucks a week. Knock out two weeks’ vacation, and you could save $2,400 a year—enough for your next vacation. Maybe cut back on eating red meat and look for other sources for protein that cost less. Food like tofu, legumes, eggs and beans are cheaper than meat. And didn’t Einstein say that was the future for human gastronomy?

Take advantage of your grocery store
And I’m not just talking coupons from the Sunday paper inserts. I love coupons—you can knock well more than a quarter off of your grocery bill. But more so, big supermarket chains like Publix and Kroger have the equivalent of frequent flyer miles for repeat shoppers. They’re called ‘customer loyalty’ programs, and you can get lower, cheaper ‘member pricing,’ like double coupons or cheaper costs for gas. It makes a big difference in saving despite what you may think!

Use store brand alternatives
Read the ingredients label and you’ll be surprised at how much they are the same. That’s because supermarkets often purchase food products from national brand companies and slap their own label on them. And watch the space on each end of a grocery aisle; that’s where the store manager puts the store’s deals on junk food, cookies, soda pop, soup or pasta sauce. Bring a calculator and do the math on the price of the item and the number of units in it, like yards for paper towels or ounces for milk. I do this all the time and it saves me lots of money. Oh and while you’re bringing the calculator, leave the children at home. While I adore children, (I’ve been changing diapers since age 6), they’ll guilt you into buying all sorts of pricey things.

Use your smart phone and credit cards to buy gas
There are lots of new apps pointing you towards the nearest gas station with the cheapest gas prices. And buy a global positioning satellite system to help you find the shortest distance to your location, saving you gas money from getting lost (and saving you from divorce due to the fighting). Also, there are lots of credit cards offering gasoline reward money back for filling up your tank. Be sure to get a cheap card though and not one with a high annual fee or interest rate. And, don’t buy high octane, only buy regular. High octane offers no more benefit than regular.

Maintain your car—or use public transportation
Checking the oil, changing the air filter, spark plugs, rotating the tires and keeping them inflated can save you as much as 10% to 15% on your gas bill. And stop being a tail-gatin’, road ragin’ speed demon. All of that speeding, braking, stopping and going wrecks your savings on your gas. Gas savings decline precipitously at speeds over 60 to 65 miles per hour, and through constant braking and revving up the engine. Consider trains, buses and subways. It’s nice when someone else takes the wheel!

Tell us in the comments!  What tips can you share with us on how to save on gas and groceries?

Couponing has increased in both interest and practice over the last few years due to many families falling on  hard times.  For example, Thanksgiving forces many families to consider how to feed at least 5-25 people on a budget.  Yikes!  That’s alotta moolah!

We tell you how to do just that in today’s article.

Using Thanksgiving as an example, here are some tips and tricks to get the most bang for your buck when cooking for a large group or just basic tips getting started with extreme couponing which helps you save money on groceries.

Thanksgiving Tips/ Deals:
If you need to save money on Thanksgiving this year, the following tips are pretty useful:

• Host a potluck Thanksgiving where each family is responsible for bringing a main dish and dessert.  This eases the burden on one family having to host and  bear the full cost of feeding several people at one time

• Break out the coupons!  This is one of the few times I think extreme couponing applies.  If you happen to be hosting Thanksgiving dinner on your own (no other family helping out) then you’ll need to do the following to get maximum bang for your buck on supplies:

• Printable coupon sites:
• SmartSource
• Red plum
• Coupon Mom
• Coupons.com

How To Extreme Coupon To Save Time And Money

1. Get a coupon binder.  QueenBeeCoupons has a fantastic binder with tabs which makes it easy to keep everything organized
2. Create a list of all foods and ingredients you will need based on your final menu.
3. Decide what you already have and what you’ll need to stock up on
4. Scour the Internet for your desired coupons (For example:  Google: Sara Lee Strawberry Lemon cake + coupon).  The Grocery Game is also a fantastic place to start.
5. Figure out your local grocery store’s double coupon day.  For example, Harris Teeter’s is on Tuesdays so you’re able double your manufacturer’s coupon in addition to using their coupons/sale pricing available
6. Match the coupons and stock up on what’s necessary for your mean and even the items that you regularly use.
7. Finally, check the following sites for specific coupons for your Thanksgiving dinner.  For other items, check the manufacturer’s website.
• CampbellsKitchen.com
• Pillsbury.com
• Honeybaked Ham
• Butterball Turkey

Short and sweet?  That’s how we like it!  Let us know if we missed anything in the comments!

In today’s tough economy, saving money is a top priority for many individuals and families. Enacting money-saving measures can help families get through tough times today and prepare for a brighter future. Cutting back on a family budget can be difficult but is certainly not impossible. There are many simple cost-cutting measures that anyone can use to save money. The following ten tips provide easy ways to save money on a day-to-day basis.

Make the most of produce sales. Buying fresh fruits and vegetables can bolster the health of anyone’s family. Unfortunately,
these items are often among the most expensive on a shopper’s grocery list. To make the most of produce sales, learn how to preserve fresh food. Buy in bulk when you find a great sale and put aside preserved items for later use.

Research inexpensive ingredient substitutions. If you use recipes for the majority of your cooking, you may be using expensive ingredients that can make a big dent in your grocery budget. Look up substitutes for butter, cream and other expensive ingredients. There are inexpensive alternatives to almost all frequently used  ingredients.

Bundle your car, home and life insurance. Paying separately for auto, life and home insurance can get expensive. Ask your insurance agent if you will receive a discount for bundling policies. Before renewing an insurance policy, shop around and see if you can find the cheapest car insurance rate quotes out there.

Evaluate your TV and Internet needs. High-speed Internet, cable subscriptions and satellite television often come at a hefty price.  Carefully evaluate whether or not you really need these services before committing to a lengthy contract. Look for
less-expensive options and keep your eyes open for special promotions and deals.

Purchase a family phone plan. Most individuals consider a cell phone an absolute necessity. You can save on cell phone costs by purchasing a family phone plan. Be sure to carefully monitor how many minutes and text messages each family member uses. If you can, avoid buying a data plan as they can be very expensive.

Consider buying refurbished electronics. Everyone loves owning new electronic toys. Instead of purchasing brand-new electronics off the shelf, check to see if the manufacturer offers refurbished goods.  Refurbished electronics work just as well as brand-new models and are generally offered at a reduced price.

Flex your bargaining muscle. Try making large purchases in local stores where you can bargain for great deals. You may be able to land a reduced price on a new furniture set or television. Also be sure to bargain when visiting flea markets and thrift stores.

Look for local clothing exchange stores. Buying new clothing for an entire family can be extremely expensive. Search your local area for clothing exchange stores where you can receive store credit for used items. You might be impressed by the gently-used duds you’ll be able to pick up at such stores.

Join retailer email lists. No one likes having his or her inbox flooded with junk mail. However, joining retailer email lists is a
great way to receive information about current sales and promotions. Many retailers also offer email list subscribers special coupons.

Reward yourself for meeting savings goals. This is an important money-saving measure that many people overlook. Be sure to make savings goals and reward yourself when you meet them. Your rewards don’t need to come at a high cost; they can be as simple as a trip to the ice cream shop or a local park. What’s important is that you celebrate your efforts to save money. Doing so will help you stay enthused about sticking to your budget.

Admittedly, I drive a large vehicle.  However, when I filled my tank this week for a grand total of $110 I almost fell over.  When will the madness end?!  In the meantime, most of us have no choice but to continue to drive our vehicles, so something’s gotta give when you’re maintaining a strict budget.  Luckily, there are some easy, fairly painless opportunities to make some room.

Gas
While we can’t do anything to change gas prices, at least we can make sure we’re not filling up at the most expensive station in town.  Before you head out for the day, check online sites like GasBuddy.com to see what local gas stations currently have the cheapest gas.  Just don’t go too out of your way to get it or you defeat the purpose!  In my case, a 10 cent difference means a savings of $3 per fill-up!

Food & Drink

• Coffee – make it at home and bring a travel mug with you to work
• Water – don’t buy bottled water; get a faucet filter or filtered pitcher at home and bring a refillable water bottle with you when you leave the house
• Lunch – make your lunch at home and bring to work
• Dinner – cook dinner at home; your grocery bill will be higher but you’re saving the 20% tip!

Entertainment

• Happy Hours/Nights Out – instead have game night, movie night, or dinner parties at home (BYOB!)
• Weekend Daytime Activities – bring a picnic to the park, go for a bike rides, look for free outdoor concerts or festivals
• Books – instead of buying, check them out for free from the library

Shopping

• Groceries – resist impulse purchases; plan meals for the week and make a list…and never go to the grocery store hungry!
• Extra Purchases – before you buy, ask if it’s a “Want” or a “Need” – suspend the “Wants” for now
• “Need” Purchases – research online where to get the lowest price & check sites like Retailmenot.com for coupons before you buy
• Credit Cards – consider making only the minimum payment (only TEMPORARILY!)

Personal Care

• Gym membership – buy workout DVDs instead; if you need extra motivation to work out at home, have workout dates with friends
• Manicures & Pedicures – do your own at home!

Kids

• Diapers & Wipes – buy generic; or if you’re devoted to your brand, buy in bulk!
• Kids Activities – take advantage of free activities like playing at the park, story time at the library, or play dates at a friend’s house; if you have a favorite zoo, aquarium or museum, buy a season pass and get your money’s worth!
• Baby and Children Clothes – shop consignment; they outgrow it so fast anyway!

Home

• Be Energy Conscious – turn off unneeded lights, reduce air/heat when you leave for the day
• Re-purpose Stuff – find new uses for old furniture, storage containers, shelves, etc. (Hint:  there are ton of great re-purposing ideas on Pinterest and HGTV!)
• Consider Downgrading Your Cable/Satellite Service – do you really watch 500 channels?
• Consider Disconnecting Your Land Line – a matter of personal preference, but there is increasingly less justification for keeping one

Who knows if gas prices will decline anytime soon, or if this is the “new normal?”  In either case, it never hurts to trim expenses.  With the pace of inflation, if it isn’t gas prices, it will be something else!  As the great Yogi Berra said, “A nickel ain’t worth a dime anymore!”

How much does it cost to fill your tank?  What are you doing to make room for today’s crazy gas prices?

It is never too early to start saving for college for your children!  529 plans are an excellent tax-advantaged investment tool to save for higher education expenses.  Here is a guide to introduce you to how they work.

What is a 529 Plan?

A 529 plan is a college savings plan named after Section 529 of the IRS tax code.  Contributions grow on a tax-deferred basis and withdrawals used for qualified education expenses of a designated beneficiary are tax-free!  529 plans are administered by state agencies and higher educational institutions, so there are many available across the USA.  There are two types of 529 plans:  prepaid tuition plans and savings plans.

Prepaid Tuition Plans

With prepaid tuition plans you purchase tuition at today’s rates with a payout to cover the future price of tuition.  The plan administrator, which can be a state or a financial institution, pools the assets and invests them to achieve returns sufficient to cover the cost.  Prepaid plans are currently offered in 12 states and cover tuition only.  Typically prepaid plans can only be used at in-state institutions, but not always; be sure to check with the plan to be sure.

Savings Plans

Savings plans are accounts where you choose the investments (generally mutual funds) in the plan according to your risk profile and growth is based on market performance.  Distributions can be used not just for tuition, but for additional qualified expenses such as room & board.   Savings plans are administered by states only and can be used for schools in any other state, provided the school is an “eligible educational institution”.

Tax Benefits

After-tax contributions to a 529 plan grow on a tax-deferred basis and qualified distributions are tax-free!  Additionally, while federal income deductions are not allowed for 529 contributions, many states allow state income tax deductions.  But the tax advantages don’t end there!  Contributions up to $13k ($26k if married filing jointly) during one year for a single beneficiary are exempt from the IRS gift tax.  Further, you can take five years of the exclusion in one year (barring you from using the exclusion again until the five year period is up).

Beneficiaries

You can designate anyone as beneficiary of a 529 plan, regardless of their relationship to the account owner.  You can even designate yourself as a beneficiary!  The only requirement is that the beneficiary be a US citizen or resident alien and that they have a social security number or federal tax ID.

If the beneficiary of a savings plan doesn’t end up going to college or receives a scholarship, you can change the beneficiary to a family member of the beneficiary, leave the savings in the account to continue to grow, or take a non-qualified distribution (earnings are then subject to taxation as well as a 10% penalty).  For prepaid plans, refund and transfer options are typically available but vary by plan.

Qualified distributions fall into the following categories:

• Tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment required for enrollment or attendance of a designated beneficiary at an eligible educational institution.
• The cost of room and board for a designated beneficiary enrolled at least half time.
• Expenses for special needs services that are incurred in connection with the enrollment or attendance of a special needs designated beneficiary at an eligible educational institution.

Non-qualified Distributions are any distribution that is not a qualified distribution.

Other Interesting Points

• The assets in the account are not considered part of the donor’s estate so it is also a great estate planning tool!
• Funds from one 529 plan can be rolled over into a different 529 plan one time per 12 month period.
• Some states offer benefits such as matching grants to participate in their plan.
• Generally, there are no income limitations or age restrictions.
• With most plans, you can contribute as little as $15 and as much as $300k (although there is a maximum gift tax exclusion.)
• If you’re interested in reviewing the top plans listed by state, Morningstar has a great listing of the top 529 plans here

10 Lowest Cost 529 Plan Investments

• New York’s 529 Plan (Direct) .25%
• Utah Education Savings Plan .28%
• Nevada Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan .28%
• Ohio CollegeAdvantage 529 Savings Plan .29%
• College Savings Iowa 529 Plan .34%
• California ScholarShare College Savings Plan .37%
• Michigan Education Savings Program .40%
• Colorado CollegeInvest Direct Portfolio .42%
• Virginia Education Savings Trust .42%
• North Carolina National College Savings Program .45%

10 Most Expensive 529 Plan Investments

• South Dakota CollegeAccess 529 1.85%
• Ohio BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529 Plan 1.77%
• Maine NextGen College Investing Plan 1.76%
• Nebraska State Farm College Savings Plan 1.76%
• Iowa Advisor 529 Plan 1.75%
• NJ Franklin Templeton 529 College Savings Plan 1.74%
• Alaska John Hancock Freedom 529 1.70%
• New York 529 Program (Advisor) 1.70%
• South Carolina Future Scholar 529 (Advisor) 1.69%
• Nevada Columbia 529 Plan 1.68%

(Source: CBS News)

What About College Savings Plans?  How are They Different?

(Source: SEC)

How to Open A 529 Plan?

Plans can be purchased directly from the state with lower fees, however, it is always prudent to seek professional advice and purchase the plan through your financial professional.  Fees are charged to pay standard sales commissions, however, a professional can advise you on what plan is right for you, as well as what level of contribution and investment risk profile is appropriate for your family.

Bottom Line

As with all investment plans, the goal here is to end up with more money in the account, therefore the expenses matter.  Pay close attention to the expenses associated with each plan and start there.

Sources:

• Smart529.com

The article, Expecting the Expenses in the Washington Post highlights issues couples should consider when deciding to have children. Here are the some of the main points gleaned from the article:

• If you are planning on having children, save as much money as you can before baby gets here. Kids are expensive, but do I really need to tell you that?

• Look into a short-term-disability policies such as one from Aflac, a secondary insurance provider, to help cover the loss of salaries while the new mom is home taking care of baby

• Increase your withholdings (check with your financial/tax advisor) to help make up for the loss of one salary for a few months

• Create a will. I know its scary to think about this but it must be done. The fact is, should something happen to either parent or God forbid both, you want it very clear what’s to happen and who retains custody of the child.

• Set up a trust

• Enroll in your employers dependent care savings account. Otherwise known as a health savings plan which allows you to set aside up to $5,000 of your earnings annually, tax-free

• Decide how you will pay for college. Will you allow your little one to take out loans or do you want to start saving now to pay for college later?

The last point brings us to our main point of discussion:  Will you save for your child’s education? Or will you allow them to take out loans?

The debate in my home is as follows:

Mr Latte contends that we should save for baby Latte’s college fund so that they will not have to struggle with paying back student loans upon graduation. I think otherwise. I believe that if our child understands that they will be paying for their own education they will value the experience and education itself more than the child that was sent to college knowing that mom and dad paid for it with no sacrifice on their part. 

Furthermore, the value of a college degree is debatable these days and I don’t see the need to lay out 6 figures for it.  At the very least, 2 years at a community college and then the other 2 at a state school.

I go back and forth on the issue but I would be so hurt if we sacrificed for so many years by saving for their education only to have them blow it all by dropping out or getting bad grades warranting expulsion.

Furthermore, “you can get a loan for college but you can’t get a loan for retirement“, is pretty self explanatory. I want to be more than just comfortable in retirement because who plans to rely on Social Security?  I don’t! Admittedly, I still have a 6 figure loan balance myself so saving for my future child’s college fund is somewhat off my radar at the moment.

What’s your stance on the debate? Will you save for college or will you focus on other areas such as retirement? Will you do both?

This article was originally published on December 23, 2007 and updated on March 6, 2012.

Are you one of those people with several unused Groupon or Living Social vouchers in your account?  If so then pull up a seat, because this post is right on time for you.  Maybe you’re thinking that you save money with companies like Groupon, and maybe you’ve scored a few unbelievable deals. But the most expensive is the one you forgot to redeem.

Groupon Purchases Are Impulse Driven

Every morning you wake up with a new deal in your inbox.  And you probably think, “oooooh I could use that!”  Well the reality is that you don’t need it.  Unless this is a deal you’ve been searching for that aligns with your budget, then you should probably hit the x in the upper corner of your screen.  Rarely are the deals related to something that you actually need so think about how this impacts your financial goals.

This is how companies like Groupon and Living Social make money.  They depend on your inability to control your impulses and buy things you don’t need.  Trust me, they’ve researched your spending habits and like a rat, you’re aiming for the cheese.  But your budget gets snapped like a twig with every unplanned purchase you make.

30% Expire Before Ever Being Redeemed

30% of these deals are never redeemed.  Think about it, you bought the deal to save money and end up wasting it because it by never redeeming them. This takes money away from things you can really spend your money on to improve your financial life.

What Do You Do Now?

• Cancel your subscriptions. Those emails you get every morning?  Unsubscribe and don’t look back,
• Ask for a refund.  Groupon and Living Social are usually pretty good about refunds depending on your situation.
• Sell or trade the vouchers online.  Check with your voucher’s policy on transferring ownership before doing this as each site maintains their own rules.

Are you a deal-a-holic?  How many unused vouchers do you have in your Groupon, Living Social et al accounts?

The art of shopping has become quite a complicated affair. It has become an art form because on one side you have the business owner who has to keep selling or he or she doesn’t make a living, and the consumers on the other side who really only want to buy what they need but are tempted on all fronts to buy more. It is more than an art form.

This is a very real battle.  Instead of going through this constant battle, I’d rather get everyday savings with Walgreens coupons.

Much research goes on behind the scenes to find the most effective way to get you to buy more than you need. Business owners want you to part with your money and they are willing to give you a so called ‘bargain’ in order to win the battle of the wills. But you must stand your ground if you are to keep that last dollar in your purse for what you really want, not what you are told you want.

Extreme Couponing is For Suckers

Extreme couponing is a good example of you having good intentions when you go shopping but only finish up with cupboards full of products you don’t really need because you were told you had a bargain. You might not realize it at the time but the current clipping frenzy is sucking you in to buy things you don’t want and the business owner’s are laughing all the way to the bank.

The whole plan behind extreme couponing is to get you into the shop so you will purchase something at full price. The business owner feels it is worth sacrificing something of smaller value to him as long as you buy something of more value while there.

For instance, they hoped you will leave the store with a new outfit that you just couldn’t resist when you initially entered the shop to get a free bottle of perfume with a coupon on a pair of $20 earrings.  Sound familiar?

This is not to imply that you can’t play them at the same game, you can beat the system if you use self discipline:

• Make up a shopping list of what you want before you go shopping, go
  through your coupons to see which ones you can use to your advantage.
• Check newspaper ads to see where the bargains are and off you go. It is a fact that you can save a lot of money by
  being careful how and when you cash in your clipped coupons but the secret is only using a small
  amount at a time and don’t allow yourself to be sucked in.
• Make use of the frequent shopper program (sales emails) whenever you can as this is a way you will get told in advance of any bargains that are planned in the future.
• When shopping always be aware of the various marketing ploys employed by the different shops and their products. When rummaging through the dump bins keep an eye out for the price, you will often find a higher priced article thrown in among the bargains.
• Island displays are another to be wary of. The middle shelf is often where the higher priced brands are placed, very low and very high shelves usually contain the lower priced.
• Also, items that attract the impulse buyer are usually made more prominent than others, especially around the checkout counter.

By, keeping all this in mind while you shop you could save yourself hundreds of dollars a year.

Kristy Ramirez is a frugal freelance personal finance writer for Life Insurance Finder where she helps people sort through a range of different insurance types and find the best solution to meet their needs whilst saving money.

Over the last few weeks, several friends, family members and acquaintances have gotten engaged which of course has prompted discussions around wedding planning and the inevitable, how much will all of this cost?  Your wedding should be memorable, but it shouldn’t break the bank.  Check out the following tips on how to save in different areas:

Budget Costs and Save For The Wedding Before Setting A Date
This isn’t always possible for those who want to get married within 6-12 months.  However, for those planning on being engaged for 1-2 years before tying the knot,  it would be prudent to save the money based on your expected budget.  We’re in a recession and if you know that should one of you lose a job things would be on hold then it’s best to save and have the money set aside so the show can go on should you lose your job.  Never dip into your emergency fund for a wedding.  Go to Vegas instead!

Wedding Dress
Get what you love and make sure you swoon when wearing it!  But, don’t break the bank.  Ebay has quite a few custom wedding dress makers who can make exactly what you want or pretty close to it fir $200.  It is best that you start this process early and test out some vendors by looking at previous work.  Ebay also has overseas sellers who will sell you the dress at an insane discount because they sell their stock dresses to the same companies who mark it up 300-700% and sell it back to you.

Wedding Invitations
People throw these out once the day is over so there’s no need to spend more than $150 in this area depending on how many guests you’re planning on having.  Vista Print has an awesome deal for wedding invitations at $75 for $200 invitations.  If you really want something fancy for your own memories then create that special invitation just for you and maybe your parents but otherwise, paying for something your guests will eventually toss in the trash is a waste of money.

Target also sells wedding invitations that can be printed out at home.  Again, you may spend the same amount of money as Vista Print depending on how many guests you plan on having.

Bridesmaid Dresses
Whatever you do, please don’t make your bridesmaids spend $300+ on a dress.  They will hate you for it especially if they can’t wear it again.  Trust me, I’ve been there a few times!  Give them information on how to rent a bridesmaid gown/dress as prices start as low as $65!  Do them a favor and rent the dress!

DJ-Music
This is one area that has come down in price over the years with the advent of the iPod and other music devices.  Unless the DJ is coming with his own equipment, talk them down to a decent price.  Today, I would pay no more than $600 for a DJ at my wedding.  When  got married, they were charging $1500 for 4 hours.  I didn’t go with that option and I am glad we didn’t.   Bottom line is I would get a schedule of music I want played and have an iPod savvy friend or family member work the iPod during the course of the day.  At the most you may need to rent speakers and other equipment but that’s it.

All in One Catering Hall (location + food/catering in one place)
This is often the best bet when trying to secure a catering hall with a wedding location.   You pay for everything in one price rather than going a la carte when you find a location that doesn’t offer catering.  Wedding caterers are known to jack up the prices because they know how to pull at your heart strings given the enormity of the big day.  They will charge you extra down to the type of fork you use, so be savvy about this and get everything done for one low(er) price.

I was fortunate enough to be able to use my uncle’s home as he has a rather large estate at 10,000 square feet and 8 bedrooms.  Therefore we were able to save $4000 on the location and move some of that money towards the caterer.  You can even check with large estates that have gone empty if they are on the market.  Check with the Realtor to see if the owner would be open to renting out the home for your big day.

Something else that helped cut costs is that  since my family is Vegan, we did not have the cost markup that can come with having meat on the menu.  Before you gag, no one knew the menu was vegan!  Based on some of the selections, let’s just say the meat eaters thought we had meat on the menu!  And to this day, people talk about the menu on our wedding day, it was indeed delish!

Photographer/Videographer
I tend to think that this is an area where you should splurge because this crystallizes all the memories of your wedding day via video or pictures.  This is not the time to  skimp and go with a photography student or a novice in the field.  I’ve heard horror stories of people not showing up or forgetting film etc  This isn’t limited to newbie video/photographers but personally, it isn’t a risk I would take. Still paying more than $2000 in this area is a bit much.  Make sure you understand what you’re getting and talk to other brides to get a sense of their experiences.

Destination Wedding
This is my favorite option and I even wish we did this instead of staying stateside.  Looking back, the whole wedding would have cost us no more than $7000 if we went this route.  Brides are often concerned about some family members not being able to afford this option but if money is tight, do it.  You can always have a party when you get back to announce your nuptials formally.

Looking at the Ritz Carlton in Jamaica (where I totally want to have a vow renewal ceremony!) and based on the numbers it would cost no more than $5000.  I’m a little older now so it doesn’t bother me that certain people wouldn’t be able to make it.  If they think you are important enough then they will make it their business to be there.  And, if they can’t, that’s OKAY too.  Remember, everyone who is supposed to be at your wedding will be, don’t sweat the people who can’t or won’t come if you choose this option.  This is your day, own it.

As always negotiate prices in each area where you can!  Nothing is set in stone as all vendors are eager to get your business.  Most of the time they are expecting you to negotiate and have a price in mind based on your request.  As the day nears, compose yourself and be mindful of your spending, but don’t forget to stop and soak it all up!  You have one chance to get it right so don’t let anything mess it up!