Budget | Well Heeled Blog

Talk Me Out of Getting More Car Than I Need

Written by WellHeeled on May 16, 2013 · 40 Comments

One of the best piece of advice for would-be car buyers is: do not buy more car than you need. Auto costs are a big part of many Americans’ budget, and if you purchase a car you can’t afford, you can drive yourself into the poorhouse (har har har, pun intended!) I thought I was pretty practical in that regard, but I can feel my heartstrings tugging me to something that’s just a wee bit outside of my budget.

After two days of car-shopping that resulted in no car purchased, CB and I are gearing up for more dealership visits this weekend. We are going back to a Honda dealership to test drive the 2013 Honda Civic sedan again, but I’ve been eyeing the 2013 Honda CR-V as well.

Guys, I need you to talk me OUT of the Honda CR-V.

Why Civic?

According to my research, the Civic sedan in the LX trim will probably cost me $19,500-$19,800 out the door. The CR-V, however, will cost in the neighborhood of $25,000 out the door. We’ve crunched the numbers – and CB and I have enough money in the bank to pay for the Civic in cash or to finance only $2,000-$3,000.
The Civic has a better gas mileage than the CR-V due to its smaller engine and lighter weight. That will really come in handy if I have to drive frequently and the gas prices go up.
The extra $5,000 for the CR-V could be pulled out of the money I’ve set aside for tuition next year, but that means I’ll have to take out student loans. There is also the option of an interest-free loan from my parents, although I’d prefer not to go that route.

Why (not) CR-V?

I’ve always loved CR-V (it’s the perfect size!), but have thought it’s too much car for what I need. We are not planning on adding kids and we don’t go camping… ever… so there is no need for the additional passenger room or the cargo space of a crossover/mini-SUV.
CB’s car is a 1995 Civic and is over 150,000 miles, so he may have to replace it in a few years. At that point, hopefully we’ll be in a stronger financial position and be able to buy a CR-V or a similar car with cash.
More expensive car = lower gas mileage and possibly more expensive to insure.
The only reason I’d buy the CR-V now would be for 1. comfort (I like to be able to sit up higher in a car), and 2. safety in crashes against bigger cars. The Civic is a top safety pick, but it’s still a compact. The laws of physics are not kind to small cars in small vs. big matchups.

Have you purchased more car than you needed? Talk me out of the CR-V!

Fitness in your financial budget

Written by WellHeeled on April 1, 2013 · 30 Comments

Trying out fitness for free (or cheaper)

A few years ago I was spending quite a bit on fitness (those Zumba and Bar Method classes add up quickly!). Now that I am a graduate student without a car, those expenses not only seem extravagant, it is also impractical to drive the 20 minutes to find those classes. A friend recently told me that the university gym classes are free for students, and forward me a schedule. Guess what classes are offered? Yoga and mat pilates! This is a very exciting development. On a less frugal note, I am also exploring some private pilates reformer classes to build up my core muscles, as well as a physical therapy/myofascial release budget to deal with a nagging ankle injury. The subsidized private reformer classes cost $55/hour. I am planning to start out with a class once every two weeks.

What other bloggers say about their fitness spending

Lacy at Earn Verse (also a grad student) recently discussed her attempts to find an economical fitness option. She mentioned an upscale chain called Equinox that cost $150 a month, but ultimately decided to stick to cheaper options. I actually considered Equinox a few years back, (and yes, they are absolutely gorgeous). Fortunately for my wallet, I moved to an area without any of Equinox locations and so passed on the membership.
Elle Sees, a New Yorker, has switched to the YMCA gym to save $60 a month. She had been wary of the transition, but found the adjustment much easier than anticipated.
JW at Umbrella Treasury, another great new blog I’ve recently stumbled upon, has a $400 fitness budget for her and her husband. That number might seem hefty to some, but she does have access to unlimited Bar Method classes – which are awesome! – so it’s very understandable why such a membership costs $$$.
Joe at Retire By 40 also does the bar method – except in his case it’s the monkey bars! Joe has designed a playground workout routine for his fitness goals, and get to spend time with his son in the process..

Given that most people don’t get enough exercise, I am a big proponent of doing whatever you need to do to stay healthy and motivated for fitness. That might mean splurging on a nicer gym near work, buying a expensive, comfortable pair of running shoes, or hiring a private trainer. That might mean paying higher rent if you can live within a walking distance to work or getting regular, stress-reducing massages. Of course, none of our choices exist in a vacuum, so spending $500 a month on fitness means that money doesn’t go to other financial goals – such maxing out savings or topping off vacation funds, or saving for a child’s education.

Where do you strike the balance between fitness and other financial goals? How much do you spend on fitness every month?

Student Struggling With the Student Budget

Written by WellHeeled on September 2, 2012 · 15 Comments

Before I came back to school, I thought living like a student would be, well, not a piece of cake, but it wouldn’t be too hard. After all, I always been a saver (albeit with a shopper trapped inside!). It’s been two-and-a-half month since my last paycheck, and I have to be honest: it’s been ~~a little~~ difficult making the transition from income-generating young professional to poor graduate student. One day, my friend made a joke that we forget we don’t have an income anymore. That comment was said in jest, but it rang a little TOO true for me. I know I don’t have an income and cannot spend like I do, but it’s hard to actually put that knowledge into action…

First, there was all the expenses of setting up house. Now, I am planning to buy a car in the next couple of weeks. Interview season is coming up, so there are attending wardrobe and travel expenses for that. And of course, there were those bags…Even though my living expenses are quite reasonable at $650 per month and I try to bring my lunch to school everyday, all these little and not-so-little expenses (books, flights, interview prep materials) are relentlessly boring a hole into my budget. Instead of wrapping my head around this concept of “all cash outflow, no cash inflow,” I felt as if I’ve purchased every stylish dress I’ve seen at J.Crew, Banana Republic, and Ruelala. Productive? No way.

No matter. It’s time to finally get back on track and remind myself of the personal finance blogger I used to be! Speaking of blogging, I’ve been missing in action lately because of all the school stuff. But I’ve realized that I need this blog (and you guys!) to keep me accountable. So I’m committing to a 3-times-a-week posting schedule, and hopefully that discipline will translate to my budget as well.

Any returning students out there struggling with the student budget? Do you have any tips?

Investing in a Long Distance Relationship

Written by WellHeeled on August 21, 2012 · 36 Comments

You guys warned me, but I didn’t listen… long distance relationships are expensive! And most of those expenses fall into the form of cross-country airfare. When CB and I first decided to do this let’s-start-our-marriage-on-opposite-coasts deal, I thought we’d be fine seeing each other every couple of months. Now that we’ve been apart for a while, I’ve realized that the every-two-month schedule is one of Last Resort. We need to figure out a way to visit at least every 6 weeks, ideally every month.

After crunching numbers and checking calendars, we’ve worked it out so that we will see each other every month from September to December. Of course, all these cross-country flights don’t come cheap: just yesterday I plucked down nearly $600 for a Thanksgiving ticket. This fall, at an average of $500/flight, those four visits will cost us $2,000. Even though it hurts to spend the money (and CB is probably even more reluctant to spend than I am), I think this is the right move. It’s hard enough to be in a long distance relationship without having those little visits to look forward to.

On the other hand, even though I miss CB quite a bit, it is nice having time to just do whatever I need to get done. Many of my classmates have their spouses/families here with them, and I see how difficult it is for them to balance school, job search, and family. I envy them (because their loved ones are close), but I feel lucky that I don’t necessarily need to have “balance” right now. I can focus on whatever I need to get done. Then when CB and I visit, we can devote our time to each other. So, those plane tickets as “price of admission” to a successful long distance marriage. And high as it might be, it’s a price I’m more than happy to pay.

If you are in a long distance relationship, how much money do you spend on flights / travel to see each other?

Our $7,000 Southern California Wedding: The Budget Recap

Written by WellHeeled on June 12, 2012 · 41 Comments

When: Saturday in June
Where: Southern California
# of people who attended: 35
Initial Budget: $7,000

When I was allocating our wedding dollars, I loved “real wedding” budget posts – blog posts that broke down costs and gave a realistic sense of what kind of wedding is doable with what amount of money. In the spirit of paying it forward, I hope this budget recap will be helpful to brides & grooms out there, especially if you are planning a daytime event in Southern California. Plus, I get to show you some of our pictures! Read on for details on how much getting married cost us.

Ceremony: $532.00 / 8%

We held our ceremony inside this gorgeous city-owned property, which I believe is one of the BEST hidden secrets of wedding venues in California. As you can see, the room comes with leather benches, 12-feet ceilings, and double chandeliers, and needs no decoration. A 2-hour rental only cost $240. Where else can you get that kind of deal?! The only less-than-ideal thing about the room is that it tends to be dark, especially with the morning June gloom. An afternoon wedding would get much more light. The balance of the ceremony budget went to our marriage license, marriage certificates, and an acoustic guitarist. A family friend officiated – we gave him cash as a “thank you” that is included in the Gift section below.

Reception Food & Drinks: $1,961.00 / 29.6%

Our reception for 35 – including bride, groom, photographer, and photographer’s assistant – was held inside at a very lovely restaurant near our ceremony site. We didn’t have to pay a room rental fee and didn’t do much decorating at all. We selected a 2-course plated lunch with a choice of braised chicken with mashed potatoes or grilled salmon with risotto. In addition, we hosted champagne and wine for $300. Instead of a tiered wedding cake, we got three ”regular” cakes in different flavors. The food was pretty darn good, and everyone seemed to have cleaned their plates…at least at my table! By having a daytime event, we saved 25% on the menu vs. dinner.

Attire & Accessories: $1,838.98 / 27.7% (Bride: $987.82, Groom: $851.16)

My dress (from David’s Bridal) plus alterations cost $947.04 – I had to get an emergency $250 alterations job 2 weeks before the wedding. If I had not purchased my dress at retail I could have shaved $200 off this category. Ah well. C’est la vie. It’s mind-boggling how I spent almost $1,000 on a dress that I will wear for ONE DAY. Even more mind-boggling? I don’t regret the expense at all. I felt supremely bridal in that gown… and it was lightweight and comfortable. In addition to my dress, I also bought shoes (Marshalls) and a jeweled brooch (eBay) for the wedding. The only jewelry I wore, aside from my engagement ring, were a pair of pearl earrings that CB gave me the Christmas before. CB was the true budgeteer between the two of us. His Brooks Brothers suit plus alterations came out to $650.66. The shoes, shirt, and tie were all purchased at Nordstrom Rack.

Photography: $900 / 13.6%

What I learned when I first started looking at photographers: it costs more than I, pre-engagement, ever thought were possible. Photography is an area where many brides splurge on, and I can understand why. After all, when the wedding’s over, all you will have are the pictures and the memories. Fortunately, I found someone that I like and that fit our budget. We paid $850 for 4 hours of coverage and digital user’s rights, plus I tipped her $50. We decided to forgo a professional album as we can always print out our pictures later on. Our photographer was just starting out when we booked her, but I really like her style and her personality. Now she is much more experienced and her prices have gone up, but she is still surprisingly affordable. We met up with family an hour before the ceremony to take pictures, skipping the getting-ready shots.

Flowers & Decor: $294.49 / 4.4%

Throughout the whole wedding planning process, my floral mantra has been “fresh flowers plus succulents CAN’T look bad.” That gave me the confidence to DIY everything: 8 flower centerpieces, 1 bridal bouquet, 2 bridesmaid nosegays, and 1 cake table arrangement. Less than two weeks before the wedding, I ordered some succulents from Etsy for a total of $100. I also bought around $20 worth of goblets and glasses from Goodwill. The day before the wedding, my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and I went to the flower market where we purchased around $100 worth of spray roses, roses, lamb’s ear, banana leaves, floral foam, and wire and supplies. I did all of my flowers the night before the wedding – we got done around 12:30 am. It was a last-minute project but quite surprisingly the most fun I’ve had with wedding planning.

Stationery & Website: $54.00 / 0.8%

A family friend did our invitations and thank you cards as an gift. All our invitations just took a regular $0.45 stamp, with the exception of a single invitation to Southeast Asia – that was $1.10. I’m not kidding when I say that our stationery – letterpress on very thick, 100% cotton cardstock from Crane & Co. – is probably THE most-top-of-the-line item we have at the wedding. The cardstock was so substantial that the mailman at the post office asked me if I were mailing CDs! We sent out around 30 invitations, which would have probably cost us at least $200 had we paid for these invites (what’s the going rate for letterpress these days?). $39 went to the premium version of our online honeymoon registry. We got a free wedding website at weddingwire.com.

Gifts & Favors: $500 / 7.5%

This includes a $250 cash gift to our officiant (the same gentleman who did our invitations and thank you cards), the other $250 went to our parents and the wedding party. My mother-in-law did the favors (candy), so I’m not sure how much they cost. I believe it was somewhere around $50?

Hotel: $220 / 3.3%

The night before, we stayed 40 minutes outside of our wedding site because the area is just so. damn. expensive. I used my hotel points for this. The night of the wedding we stayed at a place we found via AirBnB for $220 total for Saturday & Sunday night. In an ideal world, we would be spending our wedding weekend at the Four Seasons (which was around $600/night during the weekend of our wedding. ha!), but that was 1. way outside of our budget, and 2. WAY outside of our budget. You win some, you lose some.

Hair & Makeup: approximately $300 / 4.5%

Hair and makeup were all on my own. In fact, this picture is the first time I have gotten a good look at how my hair looked from the back… I put my hair in foam curlers the night before the wedding and the pinned it with bobby pins in 10 minutes. In most of my pictures you can see a ton of flyaway hairs… but for a DIY hairstyle, I think it turned out really well. For my makeup, I went to Sephora and spent lots of dough. Then I went to Rite-Aid and bought more stuff. I want to consider those “normal expenses” as opposed to wedding expenses, but I probably wouldn’t have went so above budget had I not had the wedding. So.. in the wedding budget they went. It was all worth it, though, because I loved my makeup the day of. And now I have all the products to play with.

Rings: $35 / 0.5%

CB bought a tungsten ring for $35 from Amazon.com. Originally, I planned to get a cheap stand-in wedding band, but then I realized I’m fine with just wearing my engagement ring. There’s no point in getting a cheapie band if I don’t care about wearing a band in the first place. So that’s another cost forgone.

What We Spent: $6,635.47 (or 5% under budget)

A few more tips:

I stand by these 5 tips for a sane and (relatively) stress-free wedding without breaking the bank.
In my experience, it’s easier to cut expenses rather than trim expenses. So we eliminated dancing, reception music (the restaurant provided ambient music), professional florals, engagement photos, videography, transportation, separate hotel rooms for the bride and groom, tiered wedding cake, cake toppers, expensive rings, etc.
The simplest way to keep a low budget is to manage your guest list. That’s not to say you can’t have a great budget wedding with a guest list of 250. It will be much harder, however, to do so with 250 guests than 25 guests. As your guest list shrinks, your reception possibilities open up. Many quirky or interesting venues only host small groups. I don’t feel like we scrimped when it came to our guests, and the only reason we could do that on a budget was to have a small guest list.
Spend a little more on the groom’s outfit, and make sure to get it tailored. A good suit will last ages, certainly far longer than a wedding dress will.
Consider hosting your reception at a restaurant if you 1. want good food, 2. hate hassle, and 3. can give up dancing. Our decision to have the reception at the restaurant is probably one of my smartest. The food was great – better than any wedding food I’ve had before, everything went smoothly, and we didn’t worry about rentals. Our reception felt like a nice lunch party where we were the guests of honor, and it was fun to just relax and catch up with friends.
A wedding goes by in the blink of an eye. Seriously, I was a little surprised by how quickly the whole day passed. Make sure that you will not regret all the work and money you’ve put into an event that really, will be over in 12 hours, max.
On the other hand, wedding budgeting isn’t a competition. You don’t get a prize if you spent $2,000 on your wedding and you don’t get a prize if you spent $200,000. Just don’t start your married life with debt because of the wedding. Life is much better without wedding debt.

How much did you spend / will you spend on your wedding? And just as importantly… do you think wedding budgeting will be a fun process?

Our $7,000 Wedding Budget… In Color!

Written by WellHeeled on April 9, 2012 · 34 Comments

I’ve gotten several comments on our proposed sub-$10,000 wedding budget. Originally, I had wanted to wait until after the wedding to write about it in more detail, because how embarassing would it be if we just blew it during the last few days? Now that we are two months from the Big Day and have already paid for several items, however, I have a much better idea of how much things are going to cost (and weddings, unless you elope, will probably end up costing more than any other one day in your life. I have made peace with that).

So I present… our $7,000 wedding budget spreadsheet

The Budget column shows our best estimate of how much things will cost. The Paid To Date and Expense Complete? columns help us see where we still need to spend. A few notes:

The wedding is in an extremely expensive part of California in June, therefore we are not saving any money on the area or date (although we are on the time – more on that later).
There are two items that I haven’t decided on yet: videography and guest favors, but I have included them in the spreadsheet just in case.
Also, the readers who told me that my guest list will expand – you guys are right. When we first started planning, we were working with a tiny guest list of just 20-25. Then I realized there are close friends that we really wanted to come, and 25 became 40 – the max our venue will hold!

I am happy with the way the budget is taking shape. In fact, we have a good chance to coming in around or even under the $7,000 mark. When I started planning the wedding, I used a combination of “bottom-up” and “top-down” approach. We set $10,000 was our absolute limit, and then I looked around at the individual components to see where we can trim some dollars. The wedding percentage rules-of-thumb can be helpful, but I didn’t hew too closely to that. Case in point: I’ve seen several websites that suggest brides allocate 10% of their total budget to flowers. I adore peonies, but there is no way I can spend $700 on flowers.

We wanted to minimize stress and reduce cost

I knew early on that I was not going to try to have a “$20,000 wedding on a $7,000 budget.” Mad props to brides who can do that, but that just screamed STRESS to me. And all of our stress-bearing capabilities were spent on graduate school applications and work.

We looked for spaces where we’d need minimal decor and where we wouldn’t have to deal with rentals. Our ceremony venue came with seating (yes!) and is indoors (double yes!). After our daytime ceremony, our lunch reception will be held at a restaurant a short drive away. Therefore, we can get by with less alcohol, our meals are 30% lower than a comparable dinner menu, and we will not need a separate caterer. We do have to order wine directly from the restaurant’s wine menu (at a significant markup and starting at $30/bottle), but hey, we’ve all gotta make money somehow. So I don’t begrudge the restaurant that.
You’ll notice that we don’t have dancing in the budget – and we won’t have it at the actual wedding either. In an ideal world, we would have included it, but cutting out the dance portion allowed us to have a reception at that particular restaurant.
Originally, I was going to order a cake from a well-regarded bakery, but the owner refused to sell me a regular cake after she found out I was having a wedding. So I said “forget her!” Now we plan to buy several “normal” sized cakes from a local shop, so we can get more flavors and feed the same amount of people for less.
Bride & groom attire ate up more of our budget than I thought it would… but in the end I’m comfortable with how much we’re spending. Although I got my wedding dress at retail price, I shopped around for a deal on alterations and found a tiny neighborhood tailor who hemmed and tucked for $100. CB got an excellent Brooks Brothers suit that he can wear for years to come, for 50% off.
We actually found our photographer on Craigslist. Her pricing is low – $850 for 4 hours of coverage and full user rights – because she was just starting out when we booked her. It’s always a risk signing an up-and-coming vendor, but I really loved her portfolio, she was super responsive, and CB and I both liked her when we chatted on Skype. With a sub-$1,000 photography budget, I wasn’t going to hire an established, experienced photographer. We had to be comfortable with the fact that we have a newish photographer (although in the year since we booked her she has shot 10+ more weddings), but the savings are really substantial. I’ll let you guys know how the pictures turn out.

Some line items look really low… did you think about and ?

Probably. But please let me know if you think there’s something we forgot. A few notes:

We are not spending any money on stationery - a family friend is officiating our wedding as well as providing the invitations as his gift. We’ll be getting gorgeous letterpress on expensive card stock! The $25 is the cost of our stamps to send the invitations. We did not budget for pre-stamped RSVP envelopes because we’ll be having an online RSVP on our (free) wedding website instead. Is this a faux pas? Maybe… but don’t tell us that!
For the vases and cakestands, I purchased a few items from the local Goodwill, and my future mother-in-law borrowed a bunch of milkglass from her friend, so that makes up the bulk of our centerpieces. We are heading to a flower market for our flowers, and I’ve pretty much given up on a floral “vision” – only that I’d like to have blush-colored and light-pink flowers. Peonies would be nice, but so would roses, lilies, carnations, or flowers whose names I don’t know but would fit the look and the budget.
For wedding bands, we decided to with tungsten for him and a simple sterling silver or CZ band for her. It’s not supposed to last forever (talking about the ring, not the marriage, of course), so I wouldn’t mind waiting for few years before I get a platinum band to go with my engagement ring. It’s just not in the budget right now.
If we do go with wedding favors, I’m thinking of simple packages of madeleine cookies that I can pick up at the local bakery. I have talked to a college film student about videotaping our wedding, but he seems a little flaky so I’m not setting my heart on that. That’s why it’s still undecided.

I’m getting almost everything I wanted out of my wedding

The funny thing is that $7,000 is considered a budget wedding in Wedding World, but I don’t feel deprived. And NOT just in a Pollyannaish I-am-marrying-my-love-and-that’s-what-makes-it-perfect kind of way. Our budget removed certain choices, i.e., an evening reception, dancing, designer dress, etc., but I didn’t truly want those things, or at least I didn’t want them more than I wanted the money saved in bypassing those things. My parents are giving me $10,000 as a gift for the wedding, and so whatever we don’t spend I can use to fund graduate school costs.

You could say I managed my own expectations pretty well. So maybe that is the key to having the wedding you want at the budget you have. Just lower your expectations (or increase your budget!). ;-) Seriously, though, I got a really good deal, and I’m not just talking about money.

After all, I am having my ceremony at the place that I’ve dreamed of ever since before I got engaged. The food and cakes will be delicious. I bought a beautiful lace gown that I could afford even at retail price and CB got the suit that he absolutely loved. And we have friends who are flying from across the country and the world to celebrate with us. Bottom line, my budget is allowing me to get almost everything I want out of my wedding. That’s not the case for every bride, so I do feel very lucky.

Suggestions, questions, and comments welcome on this wedding budget!

In Search of Good Skin: What I Spend on Skincare

Written by WellHeeled on March 19, 2012 · 39 Comments

A few days ago, I was talking with a friend about different skin products and how expensive the process of maintaining a smooth and healthy complexion can be, and she asked me how much I spend on skin per year. I blurted out “oh… probably around… a $1,000.”

I hesitated for a long time before putting this post up, because, gosh, it can sound so vain. But my gut feeling was right. When I got home, I took out my calculator and punched in the numbers, and lo and behold, my yearly skincare costs have crossed into the four-digit territory. And I didn’t even think I was doing that much! When I was young, $1,000 seemed like an astromonical number. I couldn’t imagine spending that much money on anything. Then I got my first breakout. Throughout middle school and high school, I felt so self-conscious about my skin that I hid behind my hair and refused to have my pictures taken. One day in sophomore year, a friend’s younger sister asked me why I had “all those red bumps” on my face. I laughed and brushed it off, but inside I was trying not to cry.

Looking back, my complexion wasn’t horrible – I had moderate acne and uneven skin tone. But when you are 14, and everything else is awkward, even a tiny breakout is a huge deal. Memories of bad skin when I was young is why I am so willing to spend money on skincare now. Hair? I will get $15 haircuts at beauty schools. Makeup? I spend around $200 a year, though I haven’t purchased any new cosmetics in the last 6 months. But skincare? Let the money roll. Now that I am in my twenties, my skin is probably looking the best it has in the last 15 years. Part of is due to time, but a big part of it is because of the monetary “investments” that I’ve made. Unless you are blessed with great genes (case in point: CB has the most flawless skin of any “real person” I know. He washes his face with $6 generic drugstore cleanser. Life is obviously not fair.), the road to better skin is paved with dollar bills.

Dermatologist, prescriptions, and facials

I visit a dermatologist once or twice a year, at $30+ per copay for a check-up and to refill my prescription retinoid. 4 times a week, I use this retinoid (such as Tazorac, Differin, or Retin-A Micro). Even though I have medical insurance, the tube costs $180. Retinoids are great because they fight both acne and wrinkles at the same time, and their efficacy is backed by decades of research. Some studies have shown that they can actually stop the effects of sun damage already incurred. I also get deep pore cleansing facials with extractions four times a year at $100 per session including tax and gratuities. $650 per year.

Skin care tools

Every other night, I use the Clarisonic Plus sonic face brush ($210 retail). I also have to buy Clarisonic brush heads to replace the old brush head every 2-3 months ($25 each). I also use Skinfood Egg White pore strips every week. A $10 pack can last me about 5 weeks. Assuming a 5-year useful life for Clarisonic, total cost is $250 per year.

Skin care products

Because retinoids make people more sensitive to the sun, I also have a gaggle of moisturizers and sunscreens that costs $15-$45 for an ounce or two of product. My go-to protection, depending on how long I will be out in the sun, is Boscia Oil Free Daily Hydration SPF 15 or Elta MD UV Sheer SPF 46, and I go through 2-3 tubes of that a year. At $36 a tube for the Boscia and $25 a tube for the Elta MD, the costs add up. For my hands and neck (don’t forget those parts of the body when it comes to sun damage!), I use the Elta MD sunscreen.

Then comes the cleansers – I usually have three that I rotate depending on time of the year and how I am feeling – which although cheaper than moisturizers still cost $20+ each. Then I have a few facial masks that I use once or twice a month ($10-$40 each). Then there are the body lotions. I am also on the lookout for a good eye cream. Total cost of products: $350 per year.

The bottom line

When I break it down like that, I spend $1,250 a year on my skin. Spending so much money on what is arguably a cosmetic issue may seem frivolous. After all, a clear complexion isn’t a necessity. And I could perhaps get the same results with cheaper means: going to beauty school to get facials, cutting back on my number of facials, getting drugstore products instead of expensive items from Sephora. But I have finally found something (or a combination of many things) that seem to work for me, and I don’t want to give them up. I have made conscious decisions in other parts of my life (having a rent that is 15% of my gross income, driving a 15-year-old sedan, working extra hours, going without cable / TV, etc.) to be able to afford this spending. Plus, I’ve found that the better skin I have, the fewer makeup products I buy. Now I don’t even need to wear foundation on my good skin days, or I can just do a sheer coverage or a dusting of mineral foundation, and I’m good to go. I haven’t purchased any foundation makeup in over a year. At the end of the day, I am just grateful that I found something that works for my skin.

How much do you spend on skincare products and services a year? I can’t find good data on any sort of national averages.

Live Like a Student

Written by WellHeeled on March 12, 2012 · 39 Comments

Many readers suggested that I can save money by “living like a student” when I am in school and after I graduate from my MBA program. This might be harder for MBA students than other professional students who have gone straight from college to graduate school, and who haven’t had the chance to “inflate” their lifestyle. In fact, Cornell University’s financial website specifically extols MBA students to live frugally while earning their degree.

Pursuit of an MBA is an investment in your future. It will most likely require you to take on some educational debt. There are ways to limit the amount of education debt you accumulate as a student. The easiest way to reduce your overall debt is to reduce your discretionary expenses. It is much easier to live like a student when you are a student than to live like a student when you are earning $90,000 annually.

So what does “live like a student” mean? Is it strictly a diet of ramen and eggs? Or driving an old beater? Or living with 3-4 roommates? Or working a part-time or even full-time job while going to school at the same time? My cousin, who is in medical school right now, lives with a roommate in an apartment very close to the school and leads a frugal lifestyle, but otherwise drives a paid-off car courtesy of his parents and doesn’t work. My other cousin is a junior in a liberal arts college much like mine and while she holds down a few part-time jobs on campus, she doesn’t worry about paying for tuition or books. Her room and board are all covered, and so any money she makes is her spending money.

Another friend of mine who recently graduated from law school lived in a cramped apartment which she described as “on the outskirts of drive-by territory”, close enough to hear the gunshots sometimes, but far away enough that your friends aren’t afraid to come by during the daytime. When my dad was in graduate school, my parents lived on his teaching assistant stipend (meant for ONE person), renting a room in a basement. The only time they enjoyed fish was when they could buy discarded fishheads from the market. At the liberal arts college where I graduated from, you can see BMW M-6s and even a Maserati dotting the parking lot. Obviously, “live like a student” can run quite a spectrum depending on your expectations, resources, and background.

Here’s what I think of as living like a student:

1. Cooking at home most nights. It might be hard to do, but I am going to make a concerted effort to put together meals that are nutrious and cheap. Think canned beans, omelets, and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. What I will not do, however, is eat ramen every night.

2. Have a wardrobe that fits and flatters for what I need… going to class, networking, interviews, etc. What I will not do is over-buy in quality or quanity, especially not both. For example, I’d need a nice leather purse to carry resumes and folders, but I do not need that purse to be Prada or Chanel (or even Longchamp!).

3. Live with roommate(s). Housing expense is probably the biggest fixed expense most students have, and living with a roommate is a sure way to save the budget. I am going to embrace shared living… every $100 I can save is another $100 in debt that I don’t have to take out and that I don’t have to repay (with interest).

4. Get by without a car. I am going to make a concerted effort to not own a car while I am in school. No car means no insurance fees, no car payments (as my 16-year-old Honda cannot survive a cross-country move, I’d have to lease or purchase another car), no gas money, and no danger of getting tickets. Outside of getting a roommate, this move will probably save me the most money.

What does “live like a student” mean to you?

Our Biggest Money Fight

Written by WellHeeled on March 8, 2012 · 40 Comments

I didn’t write this post for several weeks because I was embarassed of how I behaved. But the fact is, CB and I had our biggest money fight ever. Over… lunch. A $4 lunch. (Or rather, many $4 lunches).

Here’s the scenario

CB buys lunch practically every work day. He usualy spend $4-$5 on these lunches, or around $80-$100 a month. This expense, while not ideal, is certainly not “unaffordable.” I have encouraged him to pack his lunch, but most of time we eat out much more often than we probably should. A few weeks ago, however, I let the frustration boil over and there might have been some choice words between us that goes along the line of “you are wasting all this money and we are going to be broke” and “you only care about money and you want me to starve” (see illustration above).

After a few hours passed and we had both calmed down, we apologized and I tried to figure out when I got so worked over over $100 a month. Sure, bringing lunch to work saves a lot of money, but I probably spend more money than CB on many things – clothes, restaurants, personal care, etc. CB IS a saver, but he just doesn’t prioritize saving on the same things as I may. And that’s something I have to learn to be OK with. He is fine with not going on those weekend getaways that I enjoy so much. He buys two pairs of pants for $100 and he’s done with shopping for 6 months. I give myself a pat on the back when I get through 3 weeks without dropping a dime at Nordstrom Rack or Marshalls. He can wash his face with generic facial cleanser while I shell out for the $20 bottles at Sephora.

What I was REALLY worried about

Then I figured it out – I wasn’t so mad about the going-to-lunch-every-day situation. Instead, I was frustrated because the reality of no longer being the sole owner of spending decisions affect my financial life. Getting married means becoming a team, and even though our finances are “technically” separate for now, what I do affects him and what he does affects me. I’m not quite used to being in that position, and so instead of sharing my worries and concerns rationally like a mature adult, I glommed on to the $100 / month lunch spending as All That Is Wrong With My Future Husband’s Finances. Oops, indeed.

Since that fight, we have both come a long way. Now CB keeps a loaf of bread, lunch meat, and cheese at work so he can make a sandwich most days. I have also taken to do the same, but I also don’t get worked up if he decides to grab lunch out two days in a row.

What was your biggest money fight with your partner?

This post is part of Women’s Money Week 2012. For more posts about Relationships and Money see, Relationships and Money Roundup.

8-Day China Tour for $49 – Great Deal, But There are Caveats

Written by WellHeeled on February 9, 2012 · 18 Comments

If you found out about a deal that would only cost $49/person for an 8-day tour of China, you would jump on it, right? After all, who WOULDN’T want to visit the Middle Country for less than the cost of a tank of gas? I talked to my parents, researched online, and checked out a few Chinese travel agencies to get more details on this seemingly too-good-to-be-true deal.

Here’s the gist on the $49 China 8-Day Tour

The Chinese government is subsiziding these deals for overseas Chinese (living in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and I think Australia, and New Zealand) and their friends/families to promote consumer spending inside China. That is how tour groups are able to offer such an unbelievable price – $49 for 8-day/7 nights of hotel stays, internal transportation, meals, and entrance fees and guided tours to popular attractions. So, the good news is that this is a legitimate tour with several benefits, not least of which is money. But remember the “there is no free lunch” axiom? That caveat applies here as well.

Here are the benefits:

It’s a cheap trip and a fanstastic value! All of your hotel, dining, and attraction expenses will be covered under this program. So, if you are truly frugal and disciplined, all you have to spend for 8 days in China is $49 (if you are an overseas Chinese) or $199 (if you are not) plus the cost of your airfare. You will not find a deal like this anywhere else. If you are short on funds, this is a fun and cost-effective way to visit China.
You will stay in really nice 4-star or 5-star hotels that go for $100+ a night, although they will likely be outside the immediate city centers. Just on hotels alone, you would have more than “made back” the cost of the trip.
You won’t have to worry about your itinerary and you will be led to the most popular attractions. There is very little planning you would have to do on a trip such as this.
You will have the opportunity to meet with overseas Chinese folks and maybe even practice some Mandarin!

But beware the caveats…

These tours have mandatory “shopping visits,” which makes sense as the tours’ purpose is to promote more spending in China. Every day, you must spend a couple hours a day at stores and malls that the tour guides take you to. You don’t have to buy anything, but the sales pressure can be pretty heavy. Plus, your time is not your own during those hours. If you miss these tours, you will be fined. This means you can’t take off to do your own activities.
The tour guide may only speak Chinese Mandarin and/or Cantonese. You will have to pay a surcharge for an English guide. This website says the surcharges are $200 per person.
Airfare isn’t cheap! From Los Angeles to Beijing, tickets can easily cost $800 per person for economy class. The costs are even more expensive if you are flying from the Northeast or the Midwest. There is no point in spending this money if you won’t be enjoying yourself on the tour.
Your restaurants and hotels will be predetermined for you. This aspect isn’t different from that of any other set tour, but is something to keep in mind. The food, according to reviews I have read, is not that great with the exception of breakfast. Several ads have described lunches and dinners as “local flavor banquet” and while I love Chinese food, the food that I find the least appetizing are banquet food.
Your time at the attractions will be more limited than if you are traveling independently or if you are traveling with a “normal-fee” tour group. Your guide may be good or not, but his main incentive will be to pack you inside shopping malls or stores instead of providing good commentary on the attractions.

I talked to CB and my parents about whether this trip would be worth it, and ultimately we decide it wasn’t the right trip for us. The airfare is still a major hurdle as it will be over $1,500 for the pair of us to fly back. We don’t mind tours, but sitting in buses and getting shipped to stores where we have to stay for hours per day doesn’t sound appealing at all. There is also the question of time. My PTO schedule is getting mighty tight (having to fly across the country for school visits and interviews will do that to you!), so these 8 days cost something too. Between the flights and the vacation days we’d have to take, we decided to just save up the extra money and just do a trip in China where we are free to craft our own itinerary.

The bottom line: this is a great deal if you want to see China on the cheap and stay in nice places, as long as you don’t mind the less attractive aspects of the tour. If you are interested, here are some reviews and tour descriptions (here and here if you can read Chinese). Your local Chinese travle agency would also know more about these deals. As far as I can tell, they have been going on for the past couple of years, and is extended into Spring 2012.

Would you ever go on a tour like this?

Hat tip to Happy Homeowner, where I first read about this type of tours.

Dollar In, Dollar Out: What’s The Best Expense Tracking App?

Written by WellHeeled on January 30, 2012 · 42 Comments

For the longest time, I thought I didn’t have to keep track of my spending, I told myself that I make a decent living, I save for retirement, I don’t spend wildly… and it just seems so restrictive to have to keep track of every penny that comes in and out of my wallet.

Incidentally, I’ve always felt that way about calorie counting – hated it, didn’t see the point of it, assumed my metabolism would just take care of everything. But as my dresses fit a little more snug and jeans hung a little tighter, the truth became clear. It’s all a matter of mathematics, and I’m not going to reverse the trend without some serious work. About two weeks ago, after I heard about the app MyFitnessPal through Newlyweds on a Budget, I decided to give it a try. I started counting every bite and every sip. Instead of finding the tracking restrictive, I love knowing exactly where my calories are “spent” on.

The very act of typing in numbers keeps me accountable and keeps me informed, and that’s what I need with my spending as well. After all, saving money is all about math as well – dollar in, dollar out. And it’s mightily hard to control or reduce dollar out when I don’t have any idea how much dollars are going out and what they are going out for. That’s why I am on the hunt for a good expense tracker app, something that does for dollars what MyFitnessPal does for calories, if you will.

I’d prefer the app not be linked to my checking or credit card account. I like Mint’s interface, but at this stage of my spending, I need something that forces me to manually enter the numbers.
I’d like the app to be able to separate my spending into different categories, and if it has preset categories, allow me to add my own. Little charts and graphs to display the data are always appreciated, but I don’t need anything too crazy.
I’d like the app to track income input as well – ideally also support the capacity to separate out taxes, pre-tax medical premiums, etc.
There are lots of great paid apps out there, but ideally the app is free. (I think my experience with my MyFitnessPal spoiled me).

Some apps, both paid and free, that I am considering are: ExpenseTracker, iXpenseIt, and Buxfer.

So, I’m asking for your help. Please share in the comments what you use and what you like (and what you don’t like)!

Spending Goal: $2,000 On My Wardrobe in 2012

Written by WellHeeled on January 5, 2012 · 31 Comments

Most of personal finance is about how to earn, save, and invest money. Yet, spending money with intention is just as important.

Bottom line, I don’t think there should be guilt associated with responsible spending. That is why I have made a goal of spending $2,000 in 2012 on something that is important to me: a wearable, chic, cohesive wardrobe. The $2,000 will cover everything related to editing, building, and refining my wardrobe, including alterations, shoe inserts, bag repairs, jewelry and accessories, etc. I am going to try to limit myself to $150/month, and have a month or two when I can make an extra purchase if I want – such as when I head to Buenos Aires, Argentina in June.

My favorite stores include Banana Republic, Gap, J. Crew, Nordstrom Rack, and TJ Maxx. I also check out sample sites Ideeli and Rue La La quite a bit. Before I make any purchases online, I go through Ebates so I can get 2%-5% cash back on my purchases. That money goes into my Funny Money account. I am a consummate sales shopper who tries really hard to look for at least a 50% discount on the original retail price before I pluck down my credit card. That’s how I am confident that I can get attire that is of good quality (wool, silk, and leather, fully-lined, etc.) at fairly reasonable prices. But at my planned spending limit, Louboutins are definitely out.

Why spending goals are important

When I first started blogging, and even to this day, there’s a level of guilt associated with buying things for myself – things that are not considered “necessary” or “important” (i.e. non-educational items). But we all make money to spend it – what matters is how we spend and on what we spend. And the only right answers to those questions, of course, is responsibly and joyfully and things that we value. With a spending goal, I can structure my expenses so that they are guilt-free, planned, and carefully considered. If I didn’t have spending goals, I may very well STILL spend $2,000 on clothes and shoes. But my purchases wouldn’t be nearly as fun or as planned.

(Also, a confession: I’ve tried to try (and like) the minimalist thing, and I decided that there is a difference between my 3 black wool sheaths, and I do need a 4th. Oops!)

Do you have spending goals for 2012?

$10,000 Wedding Cash from Mom & Dad

Written by WellHeeled on November 29, 2011 · 24 Comments

Our wedding budgeting is about to get a whole lot easier. My parents have decided to give me $10,000 cash as a gift for my wedding.

A 2009 New York Times Bucks column asked readers what they would do with cash from parents – use it as a wedding contribution or save it for a vacation or a down payment on their first home. Most people said that they would of course take the cash. I had an inkling that my parents may give me some money (my mom had mentioned something offhand a few months earlier), but I was still pleasantly surprised. My mom and I were chatting on the phone when she brought up the wedding gift topic again and reaffirmed that the money will come before the wedding next summer. When I was growing up, the topic of weddings never came up much and although we knew that historically, the bride’s family paid for the wedding, such things were never assumed – or even discussed – in my household. After I got engaged, CB and I planned our wedding according to what we felt comfortable spending without any parental help, so this money is a boon indeed.

When I told CB about the cash, he couldn’t believe what a generous gift it is. We are both so grateful. It made me feel 100% better about splurging on my wedding dress and helped us make the decision to expand the guest list from 25 to 35-40. The great thing is that the cash is a no-strings-attached gift. My parents have no special requests for how we should spend the money, who we should invite, or how to conduct the wedding. After reading some stories on blogs and wedding websites (and watching family spats on Say Yes To The Dress), I’ve realized that such easy-going parents are not to be taken for granted. Bottom line, the money is ours to spend as we wish.

How does the extra money change our wedding planning? It doesn’t – much. It’s not so much my discipline or frugality as it is the sheer logistics of planning. In many ways, I am glad my mom didn’t tell me about the gift until our venue has been selected and the photographer has been booked. If I had taken the $10,000 into account, it would’ve been much easier to choose more expensive venues, menus, photographer. I probably would have had dancing instead of a dance-free lunch reception. Instead of searching for our photographer on Craigslist, I would have signed with a more established person for double the price. (But I love our photographer, so maybe things worked out for the best). I might have gotten these $200 Badgley Mischka shoes. I suppose now we can hire a professional wedding videographer if we want. All those options are tempting.

If we maintain our current budget, we expect our total wedding expenses to clock in around $6,500-$7,000. Sometimes I wish I can be the type of bride who’d be perfectly happy eloping. Think about the type of vacation we can take for $7,000. But I know myself, and I know I’d want something. Despite all the anti-wedding sentiments that seem to percolate in the blogosphere (if you ever want to see a collective vehemence for spending, just read the comments of some wedding blogs), I do want a wedding, complete with a long white dress, a walk down the aisle, and celebration with friends and family. CB’s family has also generously gifted us $1,000 that we have put into our joint savings account / Galapagos fund, which stands at $9,000+. With our savings and parental contributions, the wedding is paid for twice over.

So here is what we have decided to do: we are going to stick with our sub-$7,000 budget, and then save the rest. Perhaps we CAN start our married lives with a little house fund.

Will your parents help you financially with the wedding? If your parents offered you money, would you spend it on your wedding, a down payment, or a combination of the two?

Do We Need a Wedding Videographer?

Written by WellHeeled on October 6, 2011 · 53 Comments

A year ago, I didn’t even know that wedding videographers existed. When someone talked about wedding videos, I thought of the wobbly shots captured by Dad or Uncle Bob with a handheld recorder (in my mind, this recorder would be from the mid-90s because I don’t think my family has upgraded our recording arsenal since then).

Shows you how much I knew! Now that I am deeper into the wedding planning ~~madness~~ process, I am starting to wonder if I need a wedding videographer. On the one hand, videographer = lots of dough. I don’t know if we want to ~~stretch~~ blow up our budget. Even a beginner will cost $1,000 or more. Professionals whose clips I’ve loved cost upwards of $3,000.

On the other hand, will I regret not recording at least the ceremony? Wouldn’t it be nice to hear our voices say our vows? More morbid… wouldn’t it be nice to have family’s images and voices captured for posterity, after their passing? A wedding is one of those rare occasions when everyone we love is there and dressed up and happy, and in 10 or 20 or 50 years, will I look back and regret that we did not have wonderful videos of our parents?

The third option, CB suggested, is to have a friend or family member man the camera. Won’t be professional, won’t be artistic, won’t be thousands of dollars. And we’d have those memories preserved on tape.

The internet has not been helpful, because all the answers to my Google query “Do we need a wedding videographer” comes back a fairly resounding “yes.” Most of those links are from wedding videographers. So just a slight bias there.

I’d love to get your feedback.

Did you have a professional wedding photographer? Did you regret your decision either way?

We Saved $2,000 On Our Honeymoon Airfare

Written by WellHeeled on September 29, 2011 · 19 Comments

Credit cards and I have always had an amicable relationship bound by mutual expectations: I pay on time, they give me rewards. Recently, though I’ve realized that I really have not been taking advantage of all the great things that can happen with credit cards.

In this case, a good thing is my honeymoon airfare. For two round-trip flights from Los Angeles to Buenos Aires, business class on the outbound flight and economy class on the return flight, I paid $418.20. Per Kayak.com, the cheapest flights on those dates would be $1,205 per person, economy class. For a mixed flight like ours (business class one-way and economy the other), the cost was $1,800 per person.

For airfare that would cost at least $2,400 for the both of us, we paid just over $400. A $2,000 saving does wonders for our honeymoon budget. All thanks to British Airways Chase credit card and the 100,000 miles sign-on bonus I picked up in May. Even if I include the $95 annual credit card fee in the airfare, it would still be just over $500 for two people, an incredible deal.

I’ve had my first taste of points experience and I think I’m hooked! I never really signed up for credit cards for the bonuses before, but I think I am a changed women. My Blog Reader is now filled with points and miles blogs such as The Points Guy, Million Mile Secrets, Mommy Points, Help Me Travel Cheap, and Frugal Travel Guy.

The Points Guy’s guide on British Airways miles helped me figure out how to book an award (and convinced me to do so before November 12, which is when a big devaluation on British Airways miles is supposedly due). After 2 hours of playing with dates on the British Airways website, I finally found this deal…. with the departure date a full week-and-a-half after our wedding date. A small hiccup, but for less than $250 per person I can wait a few days to go on our honeymoon.

Travel Planning – the costs add up!

Written by WellHeeled on September 14, 2011 · 20 Comments

Do you ever think that you are doing a great job keeping costs down on an upcoming trip, but once you’ve added up everything, you think – wow that’s a lot of money! CB and I are planning a trip to Boston area for me to interview at a business school and then to spend a few days playing tourist. We first went to Boston almost exactly a year ago to visit CB’s prospective graduate program, so I am really excited to come back to the city.

Here is our budget for Boston:

2 round-trip direct flights to Boston-Logan on Virgin America cost $630
1 night on the outskirts of Boston took 30,000 HHonors points plus $15 for the tax & fees
2 nights in Boston proper at a small B&B – with shared baths – cost $300 including tax & fees (it’s the same place we stayed at last time)
2 days car rental – haven’t booked yet – estimating at $150
Food & drinks for Thursday, Friday, Saturday is budgeted at $350. We are definitely big eaters on vacations – and we’re stopping by Stephanie’s on Newberry for its crabcake benedict!
Subway tickets, estimated at $25

Total estimated cost of trip: ~$1,500

*Eye pop*

When I look at the elements of the trip individually, they don’t look unreasonable. In fact, I was almost patting myself on the shoulder for managing to (a) find a red-eye from the West Coast to Boston so that we wouldn’t have to pay for a hotel Thursday night, (b) buy tickets that were less than $350 per person, (c) use points to get a free night at a hotel, (4) resist the nice $200+ hotels and instead stay in a small guest house with shared baths.

I love to visit different places, but no matter how carefully I budget individual pieces, somehow the sum of trip just seem so much higher than the costs of its parts. Do you ever get sticker shock once you get to the total cost of a trip?

photo credit: rachel titiriga via Flickr

How Far Would You Go to Cut Your Housing Costs?

Written by WellHeeled on September 8, 2011 · 18 Comments

In real estate, we are often deciding between Price, Location, and Space. You can have a big, well-priced apartment or home in a less-than desirable location. Or, you can get a cheaper, tiny place in a great part of town. Of course, if your budget is stretchy enough, you can get the biggest place in the best area!

Imagine that you can cut your rent by 70%-80%. Imagine what you can do with all the money you save. Now imagine what you have to sacrifice to get that rent.

Felice Cohen, a professional organizer in Manhattan, chose Price and Location. She has managed to live in a 90 sq. ft apartment where she sleeps less than 2 feet from the ceiling. She pays $700/month for the privilege, whereas her neighbors pay $3,000+/month for normal-sized apartments. Her “living room” is a chair with a reading lamp. Her “ktichen” consists of a hotplate, a toaster, and a tiny refrigerator. Her “bedroom” is a loft bed so close to the ceiling that when Felice is lying down, her face is 23 inches from the ceiling.

Talk. About. Dedication…. or a stunning ability to cope with claustrophobic spaces… I can’t decide.

Reading about Felice’s extreme sacrifices to get into the location she wants at the price she wants has made me think about what I’d be willing to give up for cheaper housing costs. Right now CB and I pay $1,100 for a big 1-bedroom apartment in a very convenient part of town – close to freeways, shopping, restaurants. The best part is that we have 2 parking spaces. Here’s what we’d be willing to do to drop the rent:

Live in a studio if we can drop our rent by 25% or more (savings = $275)
Trade down to a smaller apartment if we can save 10% (savings = $110).
Give up our 2nd parking space if there is a substantial break in the price (i.e. $250 or more). Two parking spaces are a real sanity saver when it’s raining or when street parking is unavailable.
Share a 2-bedroom apartment or house with roommates if we can save 30%+ (savings = $300+).

What WOULD you do to decrease your rent by 70%-80%? Would you move back home? Live with roommates? Live with a roommate in a studio?

Wedding Planning – Expenses So Far

Written by WellHeeled on August 26, 2011 · 22 Comments

After finally settling on a wedding date in June 2012 and deciding on a small wedding with a guest list of 30 or so, I started signing contracts and putting down deposits. Here are the costs so far:

Ceremony site: $240.

We are getting married in a public building. Because all the venue has incredible architectural details and built-in seating, we don’t need any decorations or chair rentals. In fact, we might even get some of this money back if we leave the site in good condition. I have wanted to get married at this place even before I got engaged, and may have even looked up how much it would cost.

Photography (50% deposit): $425.

I actually found my photographer via an ad I posted on Craigslist. We loved her portfolio, had a great Skype meeting with her, and booked her for 4 hours. She recently started doing wedding photography full-time and has a beautiful blend of photojournalistic and portrait pictures. This lady is going jump out of our price range very soon, if she hasn’t already. I know it can be hit or miss finding someone on Craigslist, but I wouldn’t have booked her if I didn’t do my due diligence, so I am hopeful that things go well.

Wedding dress: $66 including tax!

While I was wandering around a Nordstrom Rack 10 minutes before closing, I spied a long column of ivory lace. It was a completely spur of the moment purchase, but when I tried it on at home, I saw that it fits really well. It satisfies all of my criteria: it’s lace, it’s ~~budget-friendly~~ (all right, downright cheap!), and, if I may say so myself, it’s quite flattering. This material is also light weight, which was important to me because I want to be able to navigate easily from my seat to the cake table.

Restaurant reception deposit: $500.

This fee is applicable towards the price of food and drinks at the reception. It’s a quaint French place, and normally those places aren’t exactly to CB’s taste, but he really liked the meal we had here so we booked as well. I was won over when I saw coq au vin on the menu.

Running total: $1,231

Now that all the important vendors and sites have been secured, and I have a rough budget in mind (under $6,000), I am feeling so much better about this whole process. I can tell that we’ve underestimated certain items – $1,200 for food and drinks won’t cut it, but we are saving on other things so I hope it will all balance out. Sometimes, I find my attention drifting towards what type of flowers I’d like have to what cakes we are going to bring for the dessert table. So, I suppose, wedding planning can be (kind of) fun.