Recession Tip of the Day

Recession Tip of the Day

Brought to you by Sharon Naylor

Keep an eye out for rebates at your office supply store when purchasing paper, ink and other materials for your wedding projects or home office.

Tip #217: Make Your Own Storage

Instead of buying specialty wedding storage bins for photos and keepsakes, make your own out of $1 cardboard photo boxes from the craft store.

Tip #216: Find Free Stuff

See what you can get for free, from trellises and vases to linens and aisle runners, at freecycle.org. Sign up for free and pick up what others want to recycle!

Tip #215: You Don't Need to Invite Everyone

You no longer have to invite all out-of-town guests to the rehearsal dinner. They know these are tough times and understand rehearsal dinners are reserved for the bridal party.

Tip #214: Visit Consignment Stores

Check consignment shops for jeweled hairpins and tiaras. Recent brides tend to place their bridal accessories in local sale shops to recoup some money—big savings for you!

Tip #213: Don't Go Overboard

Don't overdo it with your tribute flowers. One white rose and a pretty candle are fine, or set a small bunch of the departed person's favorite flowers next to a memory candle.

Tip #212: Skip the Aisle Runner

Don't buy or rent an aisle runner. The contrast of your gown against a wood floor or green grass makes for better pictures!

Tip #211: Find a Bargain

Don't buy a $200 designer girdle or slimmer. The Sara Blakely line of slimmers can be found at Target and online for under $30. It's so worth it!

Tip #210: Make Your Own Drinks

Everyone loves a great punch at bridal showers and even at the wedding! Find recipes at foodtv.com and DIY your way to big savings.

Tip #209: Forget the Potted Plants

Don't decorate staircase steps. It's great to have potted flowers on each stair, but it's not necessary! If you really want the look, place one on every other step and save half.

Tip #208: Go with a Classic Filling

Go with a classic cake filling, like the no-extra-charge chocolate buttercream filling instead of the chocolate mousse. Guests love classic tastes, and you save 10% or more.

Tip #207: Give Gift Cards

Give $10 gift cards to the hotel your guests are staying at as part of their welcome gift bag. Add a few water bottles and snacks for the most appreciated, inexpensive gift bag ever.

Tip #206: Use What You Have

Skip the garlands and hundreds of flowers it takes to create a grand effect. Let the beauty of your wedding site's marble columns or mahogany banisters shine on their own.

Tip #205: Forget the Traditional Luncheon

One fun bridesmaid luncheon alternative: Go to Friendly's! Turkey club sandwiches and a sundae for just $9.99? Fabulous!

Tip #204: Keep Your Décor Simple

Don't go nuts with your site décor. Do you really need a hundred orchids suspended on clear wire? Ask for a pretty orchid centerpiece instead and save hundreds of dollars.

Tip #203: Sign Up for Contests & Sweeps

Enter lots of contests! Visit bridalguide.com/sweeps often to find out how you can win great products or a romantic getaway to a fabulous location.

Tip #202: Check Out eBay

EBay is a terrific source for low-priced tiaras! I'm seeing some for auction starting at $10, a tenth of the average price.

Tip #201: Find a Travel Deal

Bringing your bridesmaids to the beauty salon for wedding-day hair and makeup? Ask the manager for a group discount. Recession = great discount odds, just for asking!

Tip #199: Check Your Local Listings

For a free workout, explore your cable channels to see when fitness and yoga programs might be on the schedule. My new favorite is Oxygen's morning yoga show Inhale.

Tip #198: Ask Friends to Help Out

Tell friends and family to be on the lookout for coupons you can use. They'll clip them from their Sunday papers to get you 10% to 50% off products you need.

Tip #197: Do Price Comparisons

As great as Etsy.com is for some handcrafted things, not all artisans charge low prices. Make sure you comparison shop when it comes to your wedding items.

Tip #196: Visit Your Local Library

Planning to start a fitness plan to get in shape for your wedding? Check out the free workout DVDs at your local library for a variety of routines to keep you motivated and stress-free.

Tip #195: Go to Breakfast

The big new trend in bridesmaids' luncheons? Skip the $200 group lunch at a restaurant and go for the budget-friendly breakfast instead.

Tip #194: Clip Coupons

Coupons save you big money! Find great discounts for items like gift bags, paper and ink at the top coupon sites: couponcabin.com, couponmom.com and coupons.com.

Tip #193: Use Simple Accessories

Sign up for free how-to classes at your local craft store and learn how to make some of your wedding items. You could save 60% or more by making them yourself.

Tip #192: Use Simple Accessories

Big, dramatic tiaras are out of style since no one wants to make a big show of opulence during the recession. Spend less on a smaller, simpler style.

Tip #191: Look for Group Discounts

Ask your travel agent if you can book tickets through an airline that gives a discount for wedding groups traveling for your wedding. Does the math add up when it's applied?

Tip #190: Find Green Deals

Keep track of your cell phone minutes! If you're starting to make more calls and send more texts than usual as planning heats up, adjust your plan. Overages cost a lot!

Tip #188: Watch Out for Fees

Don't plan your outdoor, garden, park or beach wedding without checking out the permit fees. Investigate well before making any plans, or risk wasting money on this oversight.

Tip #187: Choose the Short Version

When ordering your wedding video, ask for the one-hour version. It costs less and you're more likely to watch the one-hour highlights than sit through hours of footage.

Tip #186: Create Your Own Map

Forget about printing maps to include in your invitation (more expensive to mail). Make your map at weddingmapper.com and e-mail the link to your guests.

Tip #185: Use Your Gift Cards

Cash in on gift cards! Check out restaurant.com to see if any nearby restaurants you love participate in this site's fabulous deals!

Tip #184: Check Out Your Tourist Office

Tourist agencies everywhere are now offering more coupons and free items perfect for guest welcome bags. Visit towd.com to find your tourist office.

Tip #183: Hit the Outlets

Visit outlets to find your rehearsal dinner dress and honeymoon outfits, and let your friends and family know they can find bargains there as well: outletbound.com.

Tip #182: Get Crafty

Check the free classes list at a local craft store to learn how to do any number of crafts. Having an instructor guide you is way better than watching a video...and friends can join you!

Tip #181: Give Old Jewelry New Life

Go to jewelry shops to check out estate jewelry that's been put up for sale. Use pieces as is or reset quality stones to make them more modern for half the price.

Tip #180: Have a Party at Home

Instead of a bachelorette party, have everyone gather at a friend's house to watch a great TV series. Imagine a True Blood marathon with pizza and snacks for under $30.

Tip #179: Go with a Theme

For free entertainment at pre-wedding parties, ask guests to bring their favorite theme-music CDs, such as 80s icons, TV tunes or movie soundtracks.

Tip #178: Bring Your Own Music

For a casual pre-wedding party such as a shower or rehearsal dinner, ask your guests to bring their favorite jazz CDs, which will provide free entertainment and set a great mood.

Tip #177: Go to Consignment Shops

Check consignment shops for jeweled or pearl-studded hair accents. Visit resaleshopping.com to find a consignment shop near you.

Tip #176: Pick a Punch

Stretch your drinks budget by serving terrific punches—fruit and champagne or frothy sherbet and 7UP. Get recipes at foodtv.com.

Tip #175: Make Your Workout Social Hour

What's the best free workout? Going for morning or evening walks with your family and friends. Make it your social hour and invite different people to walk with you each week!

Tip #174: Work It Out with DVDs

Need variety in your workouts but don't want to spend a fortune? Check out swapadvd.com and trade in any of your old DVDs for workout DVDs.

Tip #173: Go with the Little Black Dress

Save your bridesmaids hundreds of dollars by allowing them to wear their own little black dress and heels. Accessorize them with a sash in your choice of color for $5–$10 each.

Tip #172: Use Facebook

Use your Facebook page to ask recently married friends and family for tips. Brides who Facebook their requests to trusted contacts often find great experts at big discounts.

Tip #171: Forget the Fancy Stuff

Choose from your site's standard dishes, flatware and stemware rather than paying hundreds extra for their "fancy" collection. Gorgeous food looks fabulous on plain china!

Tip #170: Go with a Talented Trio

Save on live entertainment by hiring a super-talented trio of musicians. Today's entertainers often play multiple instruments and may charge less due to their smaller group.

Tip #169: Shop the Sales

Take advantage of end-of-summer clearance sales for inexpensive honeymoon clothes. You could save 75% or more on dresses, flip-flops, bathing suits and cover-ups!

Tip #168: Try Pickles

Super-hot right now is the pickle station. It's an inexpensive, unique option that features all kinds of garlic and dill pickles, pickled tomatoes, carrots and other veggies.

Tip #167: Tapas for Your Cocktail Hour

One of the best-priced cocktail party menu choices that thrills guests: tapas! They love having so many choices. It's a way better option than expensive shrimp cocktail.

Tip #166: Choose the Catch of the Day

Ask your caterer to select whichever seafood is priced best on the market. Keep your options open: cod might be far better priced than salmon, and it can cost almost half the price!

Tip #165: Serve Kebobs

A great budget-friendly catering option: kebobs! Have a station that offers different grilled kebobs in a 1-to-3 ratio with veggies--and some all-veggie kebobs, too.

Tip #164: Try Something Different

Think guests will be disappointed if you don't have a sushi station? Think again! Guests get sushi at so many weddings they're glad to eat something else...and you save hundreds!

Tip #163: Choose a Budget-Friendly Alternative

Save on catering by planning an Asian-themed station filled with inexpensive, tasty noodles and veggies, fried rice, stir fry and great sauces instead of the expensive sushi station.

Tip #162: Pick Something Healthy

Save a fortune on catering by offering lush gourmet salads. Guests love the option of fresh, healthy foods rather than sauce-heavy or fried choices. Plus, you'll save up to 40%!

Tip #161: Shop the Sales

It's time for back-to-school sales, which means you could save 50% or more on craft essentials and other wedding supplies by shopping now!

Tip #160: Make Your Own Favors

A new, hot favor trend: gourmet sauces such as jalapeno marinade or espresso sauce in small jars. Buy the sauces in bulk and affix the jars with self-made labels.

Tip #159: Ask About Alterations

Ask the gown shop if you get free alterations with your purchase. You might get free or discounted alteration work if you ask the shop's owner.

Tip #158: Ask for Discounts

When you’re shopping for your wedding gown, ask if buying the gown gets you a discount on your veil or headpiece, shoes or jewelry. You can often get $15 to $20 off just by asking!

Tip #157: Find Great Sales

Right now is super-sale time on summer (a.k.a honeymoon!) outfits. Check out the sales on your favorite clothing websites for up to 70% off!

Tip #156: Limit the Number of Fonts

When ordering your invitations, don't exceed the number of different fonts the company allows without extra charge. It could cost hundreds more and often looks cheesy.

Tip #155: Use Regular Chairs

Don’t rent special chairs for the bride and groom. Those big throne-like chairs at the rental shop aren’t worth the expense. Sweetheart tables decorated with floral garlands cost less.

Tip #154: Pay for What You Get

Ask your entertainers how many breaks they take and add it to the contract. Re-adjust their fee to reflect their actual playing time, so you don’t pay for 5 ours of music and only get 3.

Tip #153: Shop Around for Accessories

Check Target and other discount stores for crystal hairpins, hair clips and combs that are as pretty as the ones in bridal shops. You'll rarely spend more than $15 on them!

Tip #152: Be Patient

Don't be in a rush to get your photos and video back; many vendors will offer a rush fee that can cost hundreds. Be patient and enjoy guests' digital pictures and video while you wait.

Tip #151: Shop Local

Avoid shipping charges for as many wedding supplies as you can by shopping local stores. Don't get tricked into spending $20 on shipping, which erases the great online bargain.

Tip #150: Forget Old Trends

Skip the wine fountain and ice luge at the bar. These trends are outdated and definitely not worth the expense.

Tip #149: Keep Invitations Simple

Stay simple with your invitations. Avoid ribbon bows, buckles and bejeweled borders. They're an unnecessary expense, and simple elegance is always better.

Tip #148: Get a Free Room

If you book blocks of hotel rooms at different hotels in the area, ask for a free suite or room at each. You can take one and give your bridal party the others to cut their expenses.

Tip #147: Bookmark Your Favorites

Now is peak wedding shopping time, when prices are higher for bridal essentials, so book mark your favorite websites to visit in the fall for better prices.

Tip #146: Pay Attention to Tipping Rules

Tipping is an essential proper practice, but you do not have to tip the owners of such establishments as your hair or nail salons if the owner is working on you.

Tip #145: Make Your Favors More Personal

If you're making a donation to charity in lieu of favors, make your favor announcement cards special by printing your own, with a wonderful quote found at brainyquotes.com.

Tip #144: You Best Option May Be at Home

Find the best-priced season of the year where you live. Different parts of the country have warm weather in different months, not always in keeping with the traditional peak season.

Tip #143: Make Your Own Labels

Don't order jewel cases from your videographer. It's easy and inexpensive to make your own using items from an office supply store...and your label will be more personalized.

Tip #142: Put Your Flowers on a Pedestal

Use pedestal cake plates (borrowed from friends or bought at garage sales) for your centerpieces. Set small arrangements or glass bowls with a floating flower on top of them.

Tip #141: Rules Change

Etiquette has changed! The good news is you don't have to pay for your guests' travel and lodging expenses anymore.

Tip #140: Get a Free Lesson

Go for a free makeup lesson at a department store cosmetics counter and perfect your own wedding-day makeup for self-styling instead of paying a pro $200.

Tip #139: Afternoons Are OK

A Saturday afternoon wedding can be identical to a Saturday evening wedding, but at 1/3 to 1/2 the price! The formality and menu are the same, and guests tend to drink less.

Tip #138: Ask for 3 Instead of 1

If your photography package includes one enlarged, framed print, ask to make a trade in order to get three, unframed 5x7s for you and your parents.

Tip #137: Add a Little Spritz

Extend the life of your wine supply by serving white wine spritzers...with a dash of originality, such as an iced green tea wine spritzer (it's amazing!).

Tip #136: Keep Your Table Simple

Skip the napkin rings on your tabletop décor list...pretty linens, centerpieces and table settings do all the décor work you need.

Tip #135: Find a Friend for Your Hair

If a friend has experience braiding or curling hair (perhaps she does her daughter's dance recital hairstyling), ask her to be your hairstylist as her gift to you.

Tip #134: Pick One Location

If your ceremony and reception are at one location, you won't need to pay the extra transportation and travel time fees charged by your photographer and videographer.

Tip #133: Get Your Paperwork Done

If you're traveling abroad for your wedding or honeymoon, apply for your passports as early as possible so you don't have to pay rush fees, which can cost over $100 each.

Tip #132: Use Standard Inks

Ask your invitation expert to show you only the standard ink colors, and avoid tempting yourself with those pretty premium ink colors and metallic inks that cost so much more.

Tip #131: Go for Quality

For tuxedos, go for look and fabric quality rather than designer labels. It might not be an Armani that you find with your groom, but it might look very dashing...for half the price!

Tip #130: Pick a Weekday

If you're planning a destination wedding, weekdays are often far better-priced than weekends; in some cases, to a tune of half the price!

Tip #129: Ask Nicely

Ask your site for free use of their colored charger plates to add a splash of visual interest to your tabletop design. Most sites won't charge if you ask nicely.

Tip #128: Avoid the Grease

Skip greasy appetizers, such as phyllo-wrapped meats and seafood that cost a lot more than simpler, hand-passed appetizers like mango and chicken skewers.

Tip #127: Go with a Simple Hairstyle

Consider a simpler hairstyle for your bridesmaids and yourself, such as a low, sleek ponytail secured with a band and fresh florals to avoid pricey expert styling.

Tip #126: Find Out What You Can Use for Free

For outdoor weddings, ask the site if you can use their portable heating or cooling machines for free to avoid spending hundreds to rent them from an outside source.

Tip #125: Limit the Number of Cameras

Forget one-time-use cameras on each table. Set 2 or 3 on the guest book table and invite guests to take group photos. This will reduce expenses by at least 60 %.

Tip #124: Think Before You Buy

Before you buy flip-flops for the reception, don't forget that you'll have stockings on! Look instead for ballet slippers found on the cheap at payless.com and Target.

Tip #123: Call in a Favor

Reception sites, caterers and bakers are eliminating their free tastings due to the economy. Try to negotiate down their fee if it's just you and your groom attending a scaled-down tasting.

Tip #122: Call in a Favor

If you need fashionable wraps for an outdoor wedding, ask a talented friend to sew an easy hem on triangular pieces of material you find at a discount craft or fabric store.

Tip #121: Borrow Family Jewelry

Ask grandmothers, great-aunts and other family matriarchs if they have any jeweled hair clips that you can borrow for the wedding.