Category: saving money

Live music at a wedding reception can turn a celebration into a party! It — along with photography — is a part of wedding planning most people agree is worth spending money on.

But that doesn’t mean it has to break the budget. When shopping for a wedding band, do your homework to get the best value for your money.

It’s not like last-minute travel that can give you a major financial break by waiting. You need to start early to get the band that going to make you happy and help boost the celebration on the big day.

Here are 5 questions to ask every wedding band you interview:

1. What’s Your Style and Repertoire?

It’s a no-brainer to not hire a rock band if you and your beloved are fans of country music.

But asking a wedding band about their style of music goes beyond genre. It’s also about the way they play. Are they ultra-serious or playful? Is their energy mellow or ecstatic?

You also want to hear how they describe the way they interact with wedding guests. Do they talk to them between songs and make jokes? How do they respond to requests?

Find out the range of songs they know how to play. If people make requests, is the band going to know how to play the songs? Pay extra attention to this if you’ll have many older people at the reception.

Ask to see videos of the wedding band’s previous gigs. Better still, see if it would be okay for you to stop by an upcoming reception where they’d be playing. Clear it with the bride and groom first and then only stay for 15-20 minutes.

2. What’s Included?

Wedding bands either charge by the hour or a flat fee. But the real wedding band cost isn’t measured in dollars. It’s measured by value.

Either way, know what’s included to avoid surprise costs or worse, a disappointing experience for you and your guests.

Find out how they expect to be involved in setup and packing up. Most venues have rules and guidelines about that.

Will the band provide all sound equipment? If not, what equipment will you or the venue have to arrange?

Will the band leader also act as emcee for the evening?

Make sure you know if their travel and equipment transport costs are included the fee or hourly rate. Also, get the details on their liability insurance and terms of cancellation.

Bands will sometimes reduce the fee in exchange for having CDs available for sale.

3. Do They Have Recent References?

Hearing from other couples about their experience with the wedding band you’re interviewing can help you make a good decision.

Ask about the quality of the band’s performance during cocktails and dinner when their music should be in the background. When they played dance music, how did they encourage guests to get on the dance floor?

If you’re unable to speak to previous clients, ask for 2-3 short videos of the band’s performance at recent weddings.

4. Is the Wedding Band Familiar with the Venue?

When a wedding band has played at a venue before, it reduces the risks of something going wrong. They know the layout and acoustics. And they’ll often have business relationships with the venue staff.

If the band has no previous experience with your chosen venue, ask them to check it out before you sign a contract. This benefits them too. They can identify and resolve any logistic or equipment issues ahead of time.

5. What Are Their Contingency Plans?

The best planning can’t eliminate the risk of a musician getting sick or equipment malfunctioning just before your big day.

But good planning includes backup plans for critical issues. Asking reasonable “what if” questions can help the band put together a plan B, if they don’t already have one.

More, More, More

Do you have other questions you asked a wedding band? Share your story on our Facebook page. And if there are other wedding plan tips you’d like to see, contact us with your ideas.

Ever look in the mirror while you’re wearing a white shirt and realize your teeth are not as white as you thought? Note to self: time to buy some Crest whitening strips.

But aren’t whitening products expensive? Luckily, they’re really not. And whitening products aren’t only for celebrities and the wealthy.

Look Like a Celeb

Even those who won’t admit it would love the broad, white smile of a Hollywood hero. Is a large vanity budget all that sets them apart, or do they know something you don’t?

Before thinking too much about removing the stains, consider what’s causing the stains in the first place–because once you DO erase the stains, you’ll be back to square one pretty fast if you don’t tackle the source.

Coffee, black tea, and red wine leave dramatic stains. Unfortunately, those are pretty hard to give up. Instead, consider diluting your coffee and tea with milk, and either brushing immediately after drinking any of these beverages or at least rinsing with water.

Also, avoid carbonated drinks–they will erode your teeth, creating tiny craters where stains will become unreachable.

Whitening Products for Everyone

Whitening products are for anyone who cares about their appearance. Better yet, they’re for every budget.

In fact, for very little, you can buy Crest 3D whitening toothpaste and Crest 3D whitening rinse and see results in as little as 14 days. Now, if the stains are severe, this isn’t the answer–but it is a place to start.

Higher-priced kits are also available in most places that sell tooth care products. These are great and can be used every three to six months after you do the initial de-staining.

Seeing a Professional

Of course, if you have the resources, having a professional whitening treatment is also simple and effective. Is that how celebrities manage? Probably.

A dentist registered with the General Dental Council can perform professional-grade laser treatments to eliminate stains. Note: this should only be performed by a dentist–whitening salons without a real dentist are illegal and dangerous.

Laser treatments are done over several visits, so don’t expect to pop in before a big date and leave with perfect teeth.

Another great though costly tool a dentist can provide is dental trays that are created from a model of your own teeth. Once you have the trays, you use a special gel to whiten on a prescribed schedule.

Do What You’re Able

Pearly white teeth don’t have to come at a high price. Remember the basics before you stress about pricey treatments:

• Brush at least twice a day. Be gentle! Use a toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide in it.
• Either avoid coffee, tea, and wine or rinse and brush after you drink them.
• Try the products you can afford, like whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, and whitening rinses.
• Whatever treatment you choose, do it before bed to maximum effectiveness–you won’t be eating or drinking for hours.
• Even if you don’t plan to have your dentist whiten your teeth, still inquire about the proper (and less costly way) method to use at home.

That next look at your teeth when you’re wearing white will soon not be as startling if you start following these steps today!

Moving is an overwhelming experience that can be hard on your budget.

Besides deposits, rents and moving companies, you should also think about buying moving insurance, cleaning your old home before you leave and many trips to the store for packing supplies.

And while all this seems like a big headache, there are ways you can save money on cleaning when you move out.

For instance, if you leave your home in a good, clean condition, you’ll get your deposit back. This can help you redirect the money towards your new place.

So keep reading to see how to balance out your move out cleaning costs and how to save even more in the process.

5 Effective Ways to Save on Move Out Cleaning Costs

1. Clean the Place Before You Leave

One of the best ways to cut on moving costs is to get your deposit back from your landlord. But this is only possible if you leave the place in a good condition. This means no damages done to the property and furniture, but also cleaning it before you leave.

If you can, try to clean the unit yourself. This shouldn’t take up much of your time if you maintained the cleanliness throughout your stay.

If you can’t clean it yourself, hire a move out cleaning company. This does cost money, but it’ll increase your chances of getting your deposit back.

2. Sell Your Stuff

Another way to cut on move out cleaning costs is to get rid of the stuff you don’t need. You can either throw it away, donate it or organize a yard sale to sell things in good condition.

As a bonus, if you’re using a moving company, you’ll get a lower final price. This is because movers calculate their rates based on the number of things you need to be moved. So the less you have, the less you’ll pay and the less you’ll have to clean.

3. Pick the Right Time to Move

Summer is the peak season for moving. Thus, moving companies are in high demand, which can drastically increase their rates.

So if you can, organize your move in the spring or fall, when the movers are more available and their prices go back to normal. Use the summer to clean the home and throw away any junk you have accumulated.

4. Pack Your Kitchen Last

Packing an entire house is tedious, but don’t make the mistake of packing your kitchen along with everything else.

You can save money on move out cleaning costs by eating at home as long as you can before your move. This way, you’ll be able to pack everything yourself and leave the appliances in a freshly cleaned condition.

Also, if you pack your kitchen beforehand, you’ll have to eat out and that’s not a budget-friendly option.

5. Strike a Good Deal With the Movers

If you have a limited budget for your move, talk to your moving company about it.

Many times, you’ll be able to negotiate a good deal because they’ll want to keep you as a customer. The move out cleaning costs will be lower, and you won’t have to worry about damaged items or leaving stuff behind.

Conclusion

Moving to a new home comes with inevitable expenses. So if you want to keep your cleaning costs low, either try to hire a reputable cleaning company or do it yourself.

Do you have any tips to add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

We are facing a crisis.

Today, Americans owe over $1.3 trillion in student loan debt. That staggering number is often credited with keeping millennials from achieving financial success.

If you’re burdened with student loan debt, don’t give up hope. There is a way out.

In this article, we’ll look at how you can get rid of student loan debt in five steps.

1. Find the right repayment plan

Not every repayment plan is created equally.

When it comes to student loans, most repayment plans are either based on the repayer’s income or on a flat monthly rate. Depending on your financial situation, you may have a preference over one or the other.

Many people chose the plan with the lowest monthly payment. But over the lifetime of the loan, this can accrue much more interest. If you can afford to make larger payments, you should do so.

2. Look into unconventional options

There are more ways to pay off a student loan than merely making payments on the balance.

Debt consolidation

If you have a large number of different loans with varying interest rates, it might be in your best interest to look into debt consolidation.

A third party purchases all of your loans from the loan owners and afterward, you make a single payment to the new company.

Often, the interest rates are lower, and monthly payments are more manageable than with several separate payments.

Debt forgiveness

Many companies offer student loan forgiveness programs. For instance, Navient student loan forgiveness offered debt forgiveness based on income, public service, or disability.

Contact your student loan company to see if there are any debt forgiveness options you can use to your advantage.

Ask your employer to pay your loan

If you’re feeling bold, you can negotiate with your employer to pay you a lower salary in exchange for a payment toward your loan.

This might seem like a longshot, but in an economy where companies are struggling to provide proper compensation to qualified talent, it’s a deal your boss might just take.

3. Pay extra when you can

When you come into some extra cash, it can be tempting to spend it on a nice dinner or an item from your Amazon wishlist. Resist that urge.

Putting that money toward extra loan payments can go a long way towards getting rid of student loan debt.

But don’t pay extra aimlessly. It pays to be strategic…

4. Attack variable- or high-interest loans first

Not every loan is the same. Take a look at the interest rates of all of your loans.

Focus all of your extra payments on the loans with the highest interest. If any loans have variable interest rates, that includes these.

Once you pay off your highest-interest loans…

5. Snowball that debt!

Once you’ve paid off your first student loan, you’ll find yourself with a significant chunk of change freed from your monthly budget.

Don’t waste it.

Take the old monthly payment and apply it to your next highest-interest loan until that is paid off. After that’s paid off, take both amounts and pay it towards the third highest loan. And so on, and so on.

You’ll be shocked to see how fast your loans disappear!

Say goodbye to student loan debt!

Think about what your life would look like without student loan debt. Following these tips, you can make that dream a reality.

What’s your favorite tip? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments!

Are you struggling to pay off your student loan debt? If so, you’re not alone.

Student loan debt has now surpassed credit card debt and auto loan debt and is second only to mortgage debt. 44 million borrowers in the U.S. owe an average of $37,172 in student loans.

Even if you land a good job right out of college, making those monthly loan repayments can be tough. The average student loan payment of $242 per month can place a severe financial burden on young adults.

If this sounds like you, don’t despair. We’re revealing five ways to finally get your student debts paid off once and for all!

How to Finally Get Out of Student Loan Debt

1. Calculate What You Still Owe

Most of us signed off on student loan paperwork when we were teenagers. At that point, we really didn’t have the clearest picture of what those loans were – or how difficult they would be to repay.

Find out exactly how much you still owe, and to whom. Even if you’ve defaulted on some of those loans, taking steps to catch up will improve your credit rating.

Some banks and loan organizations may offer tips on how to reduce your overall debt.

2. Lower Your Interest Rate

If you have several loans with high interest rates, consolidating them could save you serious cash.

Refinancing involves combining many different payments into one, often with a lower interest rate. This will simplify your life by giving you only one monthly payment to keep track of.

A lower interest rate may not sound like it matters much. But considering it takes years or even decades to pay off student loan debt, even a small reduction can save you thousands!

3. Consolidate Your Federal Loans

Before you sign up for private refinancing, check to see if you qualify for a direct consolidation loan.

Offered through the Department of Education, this loan works much the same as the process outlined above.

The benefit of this type of loan is you can create an income-based repayment plan. This could significantly lower your monthly payments.

4. Make (and Stick to) a Stricter Budget

It could be that you’re having difficulty paying off your student loans because you’re spending too much money elsewhere.

Everyone’s situation is unique, of course. You may have already cut back as much as you realistically can.

Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to sit down and take a look at your monthly budget. By finding small ways to save money, you could put more of your income towards paying off those student loans.

5. Keep Chipping Away at the Debt

Even the smallest steps can make a big difference over time. If you haven’t already, consider signing up with a credit union or other type of membership rewards program. You could also open an account that rounds up purchases to the nearest dollar, and puts the extra pennies towards your debt.

Consider enrolling in an income-driven repayment plan. Finally, you could download apps that help you save on everyday expenses like groceries and gas.

Whatever you do, don’t give up! With enough time and effort, you can succeed in paying off your student loan debt.