Budgeting

Planning a wedding but don’t want to break the bank? Here are some top tips on how to plan a budget-friendly wedding.

Avoid Peak Wedding Season

One of the first decisions you make is also one of the biggest determiners of how costly your wedding will be. Choosing an off-peak season will be less competitive and more affordable. Avoid the summer months and aim for winter, spring, or the fall instead to save on your venue hire costs.

Consider Renting and Hiring (not Buying)

Renting and hiring can save you thousands, the only downside is that you will have to return the items within a set time. If you are happy to say goodbye and save the closet space, borrow a wedding dress and suit for the day—this could mean being able to spend your big day in a luxury gown.

When looking to hire a wedding car, look for reasonable deposit costs and flexible services. The experts at englishweddingcars.com serve as an example for providing an affordable, high-quality service. When searching for a wedding car to hire, consider whether their fees are budget-friendly to save on unnecessary spending.

Seek Newly Established Photographers

Everyone wants the perfect photos to help them remember their special day, and often people will splurge in hope that the expenses will be worth the memories they can reflect on. Whilst experienced photographers may have a wider skill set, many up-and-coming photographers can offer work of the same caliber for a fraction of the price whilst they work to build up their portfolio and client base.

Limit the Flower Decorations

As beautiful as they are, the cost of flowers can soon add up with wedding planning. Get creative and search for cheaper alternatives to decorate with. Greenery is a good alterative if you are wanting to keep the natural element, but balloons, candlesticks, fairy lights, or fruits and veggies can also make a great substitution for a venue to impress.

Opt for Online Invitations

You might not think the printing will add up, but guest invitations can amount to quite a sum. Thanks to the internet, online invitations are growing in popularity and offer a solution to buying countless cards and then covering postage. Another alternative is building a wedding website and sending the link to your guests. This way, they can remain updated on the venue, date, and time, and see all the wedding photos in one place.

Shop Dress Deals in Advance

If you are adamant that you want to buy a wedding dress so that you can keep it as a wedding memory, start shopping early and keep track of bridal sales. You are more likely to catch a good deal early on than at last minute, and emergency dress searching will get expensive.

Embrace Minimalism

Some people have sophisticated themes in mind, but if you can keep that off the table, you are looking at saving money. Simplistic designs are much more affordable when it comes to venues, decorations, and even wedding cakes, but can still be impactful in an elegant way.

Cut Down on Name Cards and Menus

Another tip for avoid printing costs which is simple but effective—instead of having individual name cards and menus on tables, design one seating plan for everyone to see as they enter the venue; and shrink down the menu quantity to one per table or create an online menu that is sent out beforehand.

Budgeting with a Buffet

Wedding catering can add up, so it could be wise to provide a buffet to allow the meals to be personalized and keep your wedding guests fed. This will prevent waste and will also be cost-effective.

Playlist over Performers

To tone down your wedding and save on spending, you and your partner could decide on a special playlist together and enjoy it through speakers, therefore diminishing the need for live music.

 

 

Are you also planning for later life? Funerals can range from standard services at a funeral home, church, synagogue, or mosque to more unusual options like a sea burial. Let’s look at five different sorts of funerals so you can determine which one is best for you or a loved one when the time comes. So, how can you choose the right type of funeral for you or a loved one? The type of funeral that would best honor your life is based on how you live or lived. Here are many different funeral plans for over 50s.

• Traditional Religious Funeral Service:The family frequently welcomes visitors before the traditional religious funeral service. A viewing of the body in the casket may also be part of the visitation. There can be various kinds of funeral services here followed by religious leaders. A conventional religious funeral would most likely be your best option if you are religious or spiritual, or if you value tradition.
• Non-religious Humanist Funeral Service:The fundamental distinction between a religious and a humanist funeral service is that the latter does not mention God or religion. Humanist funerals are both a dignified farewell and a celebration of life for the deceased. The tribute segment of a humanist funeral, which can even be written in advance by the celebrant and includes tributes from family and friends, is the focal point of the service. A moment of silence may be included in the service to allow attendees to reflect on the celebrant’s life.
• A humanist service is a viable alternative for those who would rather not be associated with established religion. It’s also a wonderful option for families with members who practice different religions because the ceremony can’t make any religious references and may surely be spiritual without being religious. A humanist service is advised for someone comfortable having private recollections of his or her life recounted throughout the service because it is very personal.
• Direct Cremation:There is no viewing, ceremony, or service before a direct cremation. A memorial service, on the other hand, may be held at a later period. Simple cremation is another name for direct cremation. Direct cremation, which does not entail a service, may be preferred by those who are extremely private. It’s also a good option for individuals who wish to save money because there’s no need for embalming or a casket, and the memorial ceremony can be held at someone’s home afterward. Cremation is environmentally friendly if we compare it to other means like burial.
• Natural Funeral Service:A green or natural funeral uses fewer resources than a regular funeral, making it more environmentally friendly. A green funeral avoids embalming chemicals, non-biodegradable cement, steel, and other non-biodegradable materials used in traditional burials, and cremation’s carbon footprint. True environmentalists are more inclined to choose a green or natural funeral service. A green funeral is a way to go if you or a loved one is serious about decreasing one’s carbon footprint. A green burial is also a great option for an outdoorsman or environment lover because the body is buried in simply a biodegradable shroud, making it much easier.
• Burial at Sea:A burial at sea is a sort of funeral in which the deceased is released into the water, usually by boat but occasionally by plane. The cremated remains of the deceased are normally scattered in this type of burial; but, full-body burials at sea are also possible.

Therefore these are the different types of funeral plans that happen to be existing in a society that you can select from.

Are you looking into opening a joint checking account? It’s important to first understand what a joint checking account is. A joint checking account is essentially the same as a standard checking account; however, instead of the account belonging to just one person, it belongs to multiple people. All of the people on the account have access to the money and can deposit money, withdraw money, or use the money in the account.

Because of this, a joint checking account is extremely common for people who are married, people who are in businesses together, parents and children, and adults with aging parents. This is ideal, as it easily allows couples and people in business to use the shared account to cover the expenses they share, parents are able to monitor their children’s spending habits, and adult children are able to help their older parents manage their finances if that has become a struggle for them.

Joint checking accounts are important and efficient, and they work. However, you need to make sure to choose the best joint checking account for you and your family or for you and your business. How do you go about choosing the best joint checking account? Here’s how.

Do Your Research First

Different credit unions offer different incentives and fees when it comes to all forms of banking, and joint checking accounts are no different. It’s important to do thorough research first to see what these are. For example, if an account requires you to keep a certain minimum balance and you’re unable to do that, choosing that account might not be the best joint checking account decision.

Take a step back and think about the monthly income you’ll have going into the account, think about all the bills you’ll be paying that account, and so on. Once you’ve figured all of this out, find a credit union that will work for you and not leave you paying high fees.

Use an Online Comparison Tool

Doing your research is extremely important but can be overwhelming. There are so many different credit unions and options and numbers and incentives being thrown at you. How do you know which one really is the best joint checking account for you and your needs?

To make things easier for you, there are some online comparison tools you can use. It’s important to remember that these comparison tools do tend to show the larger, national credit unions rather than smaller, regional credit unions. However, it’s a good place to get a lot of information, side-by-side, in one place.

Find a Credit Union That Offers Joint Checking Accounts with Little Fees

One of the perks of having a joint checking account is that it usually results in fewer fees than having multiple accounts. However, joint checking accounts do still have fees, just as any sort of account can. It’s important to research different credit unions’ fees to see if they’re something that can potentially apply to you.

If there are fees associated with the account, see if there’s any way that it can be waived (e.g., by having a direct deposit go into the account). There are some credit unions that offer zero fees, so if paying a potential fee is a worry for you, you should look for one of these credit unions.

Choose a Credit Union You and Your Partner Trust

If you have a credit union you already know, trust, and have accounts with, it may be worth looking there first to see if they offer a joint checking account that fits what you’re looking for. A lot of credit unions offer incentives for members—new and established—who are looking to open an account with them.

If you have a credit union you already work with, reach out to them personally and tell them you’re looking to open a joint checking account and see what they can offer you. Explain the needs of the joint checking account (i.e., business, newly married, aging parents, etc.) and see what they recommend or if they can better assist you. Credit unions like to support their members, so it’s worth reaching out to a credit union you’re already working with.

Consider Everyone’s Needs and Ask Questions

Just like when it comes to any type of banking, it’s important to do your research before committing to anything. It’s important to keep your needs and what you need to get out of this new account in mind. This will better your finances overall. When it comes to a joint checking account, it’s important to consider the needs of all of the parties who’ll have access to this account. Remember, anyone whose name is on the joint account will be able to use the account at their liberty. That’s an extremely important component to remember when choosing the best joint checking account for you and your spouse, partner, or family member.

As always, it’s important to ask a lot of questions and to talk about the options with everyone who’ll be named on the joint account with you. If you’d like to speak to a professional, once you’ve narrowed down your best joint checking account options, visit with a representative at each potential institution about your needs and what you’re looking to get out of your joint checking account. They can guide you in the right direction.

Still have questions? Please feel free to give Rivermark Credit Union a call today or fill out our contact form, and one of our professionals will be able to help you out. If you’re in the Portland, Oregon, area, and near one of our branches, please feel free to stop in to speak with us in-person. Remember, what works for one person financially may not be the best for another. Let us help you figure out what’s best for you.

The mobile bank has been one of the major benefits of the Internet. With the aid of mobile banking, we can now bank on the go with our smartphones. There are several things we can do with mobile banking including sending money to people, paying bills and recharging our phones among others. Mobile banking has its advantages and disadvantages. However, its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages. One of the advantages of using mobile banks is that mobile banks make it possible to better keep track of your spending. Here are some of the ways mobile banks make it possible to better keep track of your spending.

You can easily pay with the mobile bank
One of the ways that mobile banks make it possible to better keep track of your spending is the fact that you can easily pay with the mobile bank. The implication is that you will make most of your payments from your mobile bank and not with cash. With this, it becomes easier to trace every single thing you used the mobile bank to pay for. You would subsequently be able to account for every single expense you made. This would also make it easier to reflect on your spending for the month especially if you are trying to consciously spend your money and look out for unnecessary expenses you can cut down on. You can read reviews about Monese to know how those who use the mobile bank are able to keep track of their spending.

You can always retrieve your statement
Retrieving your bank statement is very easy with mobile banking. At any point in time, you can check for your spending within the past week, month, or even year. Thus, you can regularly check your account balance and statement to be sure that you are on track with your spending plans for the month. When you notice that you are not within the plan, you would know to deliberately slow down and probably try not to make any new expenses within the next few days except it is extremely necessary.

It is easier to know when unauthorized spending takes place on your account
One of the major fears of mobile banking is unauthorized spending. With hackers on the prowl and trying to see how they can have access to the account of unsuspecting individuals and use their money, mobile banks also comfortably solve such problems. The fact that you get alerts on your phone and mail for every transaction on your account implies that you can easily be alerted once there is an unauthorized payment on your account. You can easily confirm that on your mobile bank and instantly use the mobile bank to block the transaction. Your complaint will be investigated and your money refunded to you. Even if you missed the transaction when it happened, if you are fond of checking your mobile bank activities regularly, you are likely to get to know about the transaction within a day or two after it happened. You would be able to request for the money to be refunded 5and it would be refunded.