Posted by Elizabeth Retton

With the endless list of expenses which pile up during the planning phase of a wedding, all brides and grooms to be search diligently for ways to save money on their nuptials. Unfortunately, the splendor and celebratory nature of this special occasion often means shelling out money in extravagant fashion. One of the wedding costs which can quickly take a bite out of your bottom line is the photography used to document the multitude of memories which will soon take place. Everybody wants to show off pristine, professional photos of their extravagant wedding day, which means exchanging quality for savings is out of the question. By taking advantage of the following five ways to save money on wedding photography, you can assure that your wedded bliss is fully captured on film without breaking the bank.

1.)    Negotiate a Lower Rate – A professional wedding photographer is always the best way to go if you want to be fully confident in the final product. However, in today’s bleak economic climate you should not feel obligated to pay premium prices for premium photography. Most workers providing their services on a freelance basis, including the majority of wedding photographers, are feeling the financial crunch and will be more than willing to negotiate a fair price to secure your contract. Be up front and ask prospective photographers if they are willing to work with you on the fee, and you will soon secure a great deal.

2.)    Practice Due Diligence – if you elect to contract the services of a professional wedding photographer, you must be prepared to scour the local marketplace for the best deals. Contact companies and compare rates, ask around the local community and find out everything you can about the competition in your area. When you are informed and prepared during the hiring process, the chances of you being ripped off or overcharged are significantly reduced.

3.)    Consider a Photography Student – A visit to your local community college or university’s photography department can yield surprisingly effective savings. Young and ambitious photographers will be hungry to gain your patronage, and their drive to succeed means you will receive dedicated service. Make sure to examine their portfolio beforehand to confirm their skill level and acumen, and then let them loose during your wedding to let their talents shine.

4.)    Approach a Photographically Minded Friend – Planning a wedding involves inviting dozens and dozens of guests, which means you may just have a photographer friend on your invite list. Ask them discretely if they might consider lending their services to your special day and you will be surprised by the generosity shown to soon-to-be newlyweds.

5.)    Take Your Own Photos – The power of Photoshop has turned us all into amateur photographers, so why not try your hand at capturing and crafting your wedding memories? You can always touch-up or refinish digital photos, so have fun with it and see how many amazing and creative shots you and your wedding party take during the night of revelry.

Elizabeth Retton is a contributing writer for EssencePV, the premier source for wedding photographer in Chicago.

Posted by Elizabeth Retton

Still paying off the bills from Christmas?  If that’s the case, then you probably aren’t looking forward to yet another holiday that will require you to dig deeply into your checking account.  But don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is about spreading love, not money, which really means that you need not break the bank when lavishing affection on your honey bunny.  Here are a few ideas on how to keep this Valentine’s Day special and inexpensive at the same time:

Night at the movies.  Even though movie ticket prices are nearly through the roof these days, taking in a movie together is still less cost prohibitive than a two hundred dollar dinner at French restaurant.  It doesn’t have to be a romantic comedy either.  Compare notes:  what are you both dying to see?  Compromise, then share a big greasy bucket of popcorn and an oversized soda.  Hold hands and giggle about how the popcorn butter product makes your fingers slippery.  (A scary movie will make sure that you stay close!)

Home videos.  Or take the same idea, only do it at home instead.  Pop up a batch of popcorn and turn on the Netflix or rent a dollar movie from Redbox.  Deciding on the kind of movie you want to see together can be fun and romantic at the same time.  Include a few Valentine’s themed treats with the popcorn like chocolate covered cherries or candy hearts.

Dinner at home.  A fancy restaurant would be fun but a little more expensive than you may be able to afford right now.  Planning the same elegant dinner at home saves you a few bucks without sacrificing any appearance of extravagance.  Plan the menu together, or surprise your partner with their favorite meal and a good bottle of wine or champagne.  Dress up so it feels more like a date.  And don’t forget the candlelight and soft music playing on your iPod in the background.

Sensual massage.  Purchase some inexpensive botanical oil and practice giving each other massages.  You can create a sensual atmosphere with flickering scented candles and incense and with soft, sexy music playing in the background.  Enjoy a long, hot shower or bath together to relax and let all that workaday tension melt away.

Road trip.  Check out websites that offer an inexpensive car hire so you can swoop in and take your sweetie on a surprise weekend or overnight adventure.  Spend the night in a hotel or a quaint little bed and breakfast.  Try out a city or part of your area that neither of you know much about – the romantic nature of your road trip will increase as you both embrace the adventurous spirit of the holiday.  You can make the trip even more special if you pack your own Valentine’s dinner, complete with bottle of wine and heart-shaped box of chocolates.  Spend the early part of the evening reading romantic poetry to each other or telling your partner what you love most about them.  Reminisce about your first date and when you knew you were in love!

Posted by Money Tips Staff

The idea behind an emergency loan is fairly self-explanatory: it is the type of loan you get when you need funds fast to pay for an emergency situation.  And while this type of loan could be used to go on an emergency shopping spree during a major sale weekend, it’s really intended more for actual crisis situations that will impact your life negatively, such as the death of a loved one (including end-of-life expenses), a car breakdown (that leaves you unable to get to work), or an unexpected illness or injury (with attendant medical costs that aren’t covered by insurance).  In such situations you may find yourself in dire need of instant funds.  So here are just a few tips on how to go about getting the emergency cash you need in a way that works for you.

The best and easiest way to get money in a hurry (that doesn’t include a ski mask and jail time) is to use the equity in your home (if you own a home).  There are three things that lenders love: good credit, collateral, and interest payments, and they can often get all three by offering a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit (provided you keep up with all your mortgage payments).  You might think that these two loans are the same, but while they are similar, there are key differences that you need to understand before you choose one over the other.

For starters, they operate on the same principle (pardon the pun): the equity in your home.  The amount of money you can secure depends on the amount of equity you currently have, but in general this could provide you with a pretty decent chunk of change to play with.  With a home equity loan, you will set the loan at a specific amount and then begin paying it back with interest on a monthly schedule, much like your home loan.  And like a home loan, you will have to decide if you want a fixed or variable rate for this loan.  The benefits to this type of loan include low interest rates, limited requirements for approval, and no restrictions on how the money can be spent.

Virtually the same is true of a home equity line of credit, except the way in which you borrow the money and pay it back.  You can most easily think of this type of loan like a credit card (albeit one where the limit is based on the equity in your home).  You will be set up with an account that comes with a card or checkbook, and you will spend from the account as though using a credit card.  You will pay accrued interest on whatever you borrow, your available funds will go up as you pay, and in some cases you will have an annual fee as long as the account is open.

Of course, these methods will not work for anyone that doesn’t own a home, but there are other possibilities.  An unsecured loan is a good option as it requires no collateral, but you’ll have to have good credit to secure one and you’ll likely face a higher interest rate than normal.  A payday loan is another possibility, but again, the high interest rates could be more trouble than they’re worth if you are unable to repay the amount immediately.  And you could even pay with a credit card, but as with the other two options, this will come with higher interest.  Your best bet may be simply to ask family and friends for a loan.  This could be the key to securing the funds you need with little or no interest and a lot more leniency than other lenders will offer.