Penny Pincher Wedding Planning

5 years ago at this time we were planning my daughter's wedding (wow, 5 years! where did it go??!) and had a beautiful wedding that cost us more than we thought it would, but much less than it could have.

It was outdoors at a local botanical garden, then the reception was at a reasonably priced lodge on a local lake...nothing fancy, they provided all the food, we did all the decorating.

I purchased many things at great discounts through places that some with high-end taste may think it below them to shop...but I'll bet more and more are, or will be shopping at these places now as we find our economy changing so dramatically...and frankly, you'd never know that they were "bargain" items unless I told you.

We didn't skimp on the wedding dress, had to rent the garden spot we used, and the chairs for guests, had the cake made by a friend and decorated with flowers hand made by my sister, who later made the flowers into a beautiful wreath. Things we would have liked to do but didn't were a limo, and DJ, instead we put together music ourselves on CD's, and a friend MC'd for us. Bottom line, the sun shone brightly, and after all the planning we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

Now, going back some years to my own wedding, I was living out on my own for about 7 years before I married and when I met my husband, we had our wedding at a church, with a reception downstairs. The meal was mostly cold foods, but beautifully displayed. During the wedding a friend played the harp, another sang at our reception. I even made my own invitations, and the programs...I did that for my daughters wedding too....not the invitations, but the programs.

There are so many ways to save, maybe I've inspired thought if you, like us, are living the "penny pincher" life. Share your own ideas in a comment, if you like!

Printable Calendars for 2009, the New Year

What better way to pinch pennies than to find printable calendars online? You may have a software program for your computer that will do this for you, but believe me, there are a lot of them available for free online, I searched!

If you don't see any links on this site, please do search.

If your local markets and stores are anything like ours, you may have been handed free calendars with advertising on them. I know we have one for every room and them some, but I still needed my special datebook that I ask for from my son each year...he knows just what I like, it's one of those "At-A-Glance" day-keepers.

Another free thing that many who have played around on the web know about is emal reminders, there are many services that will send reminders to your email each day that you set up on their calendars, I know yahoo offers this free service.

Whatever you decide to do, may I wish you a Happy New Year...again?

Piggy Banks are Back!

Personalized Piggy Bank for Baby

As a young child, I remember one of my first piggy banks, it was one of those little ones with clear yellowish/brownish glass with a "bumpy" surface. I don't remember what happened to that one, but do have a little blue ceramic one that sits near the washing machine for small change that falls out of pockets in the washer.

Colorado Rockies Piggy Bank, in Honor
of my Colorado Hubby (They have other teams)

Tonight on the news I heard that the Piggy Bank is back now that people are literally counting their pennies. I'm showing you a few of my favorites here, cute, but not sure I'd consider the prices "penny pincher" prices, but I'll let you be the judge of that:-) click on the pictures for more information...or just enjoy looking at these cute little banks.

Ballerina Piggy Bank Art Kit

Since so many Baby Boomers are also Grandparents, some of these may make cute little presents for the grandchildren.

And just in case you're not interesting in cutsie little piggy banks, but want something a little more sinister...but still piggy bank related, how about...

I guess that's enough for now...have fun pinching pennies, no matter what you decide to put them in, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!