No matter how bad the economy gets, people will still have babies and get married. You don’t have to spend thousands to have that wedding of your dreams. The first step is to figure out a realistic budget. You don’t want to start out your new life still paying on your wedding years later. We saved a lot of money by doing many things ourselves. We had a buffet style lunch, which is actually very common in this area, and we were able to buy the items at a good discount through a food distributor. You can save money on alcohol by getting kegs of beer and boxed wine or skip it completely. I know some people have saved money by having a cash bar.

There are many great sites that have quality wedding invitations at a fraction of the cost. Many of these sites also have wedding favors like napkins and such. You can buy your dress on clearance or it might be cheaper to have it made. Of course this would be cheaper if you know someone that might offer a discount, and if you want a simpler design. We also saved money by skipping the limo since the hall was so close to the church. You can also save money by doing the bouquets yourself or someone you know. You might be surprised at how many people have a talent that can help you. Many people will offer a nice discount or do it for free as a wedding present. I got our wedding cake this way. My mom had a cousin that owned a small bakery, and we asked her to do my cake. She offered to do it for free as a present to us. All we had to pay for was the topper which cost us $25 at her cost. I also saved money by using a tuxedo shop that offered us a great special. If we rented 10 tuxes, then my husband got his free. That wasn’t a problem since we had 8 groomsmen, and both the dads also wanted to rent a tuxedo. We did pick simpler tux but it still saved us $80. There are many great ways to save money and still have a wedding you will never forget.

Today’s thrifty tip is buy your wrapping paper and gift bags now for next year. It’s not always easy to find solid colored items, but I do find a few which is great to use for birthdays and other occasions. I really like the gold and silver for wedding presents. I also buy my greeting cards for next year. Many stores are offering 50% and, if you wait until next week, then you can get 75-80% off. Of course they are picked over more and less good items to choose.

I love living in an older house. I always knew I wanted to live in one with original wood flooring when I bought my first house. Old houses have so much character and charm to them. I get a certain feeling when I walk into one like they are telling me a great story from the past. We are trying our best to preserve our house and not modernizing it. We are slowly making the house look as nice as it did when it was built. It just gives me a great sense of pride and accomplishment as I finish another project. Older homes aren’t for everyone, but I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

I have used many different acne creams and face washes over the years. Using aloe vera is the best acne treatment to help keep my acne under control. I start with a good oil-free facial cleanser and then an oil-free moisturizer. I usually apply the aloe vera after washing and before the moisturizer. The aloe vera is helping to heal some of my old acne scars, and it’s really great on existing pimples. I have a plant and just break off a small piece. The most important thing to remember when treating acne prone skin is to use oil-free products and cosmetics.

My husband and I haven’t had a vacation since our honeymoon. That was well over 10 years ago. We are planning our first family vacation next year to Walt Disney World. I thought it would be wonderful to have a nice weekend getaway, just the two of us, for our anniversary next year. I have never been to Las Vegas and would love to go one day soon. We aren’t really into gambling, but there is so much to do and see on the strip. The best part is there is usually a great special combining air fare and las vegas suites to make the deal even sweeter.