You’ve finally set a date for your wedding. When you begin planning, you realize how much a wedding can cost. If you plan ahead and do your research, you can save money on nearly all aspects of your big day. Here are some ideas of how to save money on wedding stationery.

Most brides-to-be realize how important their invitations or announcements are in setting the tone for their wedding. These are the first indication your friends and family may have of your impending nuptials, so you want to find wedding stationery that matches your personality.

You may be aware of formal invitations, but what do you do if you and your fiancé are far from formal people? Simple designs are often the least expensive because they don’t have ribbons, double envelopes, or multiple pieces of vellum – all of which adds to the price.

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With the hubbub going on about a new healthcare plan and what it bodes for the country, people are wondering if universal healthcare is the answer. Many people have lived without health insurance for some time. They’ve managed to learn how to survive being uninsured. Here’s how you can do it, too, if you were suddenly faced with losing your health insurance.

Estimates claim more than 46 million people either don’t have health insurance or are underinsured. Studies also comment that half of all bankruptcies are due to excessive medical bills. There are also some reports stating those without insurance are more likely to die from major diseases because they don’t receive preventative care to catch these diseases as they begin. They are also more likely to miss work due to being ill.

Here are some options to help you survive being uninsured:

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Stress-reduction techniques are often sought after when pressures mount. But when that pressure comes from financial difficulties, stress-reduction needs to be economical as well as effective. Thankfully, you really don’t need a lot of money to take advantage of some simple stress-relieving techniques. Here are some suggestions to get your body and mind relaxed.

1. Breathe deeply
You breathe all the time; how can doing more of it help you relax? Breathing to relax is not the same as the breathing you do every day. Specifically, deep breathing helps center your focus and delivers much-needed oxygen to every part of your body. Take in air slowly into your lungs, visualizing the air going all the way to the bottom of your lungs and body. Pause, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Yoga, Tai Chi, and other Eastern disciplines use variations of this technique.

2. Exercise
Stress puts your body into “fight or flight” mode, which can exhaust your adrenal glands and cause a build-up of toxins in your system. Exercise reduces these toxins by increasing circulation. The increased blood flow helps relax tight muscles. Keep the exercise fairly gentle – injuries and muscle soreness are not what you are aiming for.

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The current financial circumstances have many people nearing retirement age wondering if they’ll even be able to retire. They wonder if it might be best to continue working to make and save as much as they can until the economy improves. The following are strategies for retiring in bad times you may want to consider.

Most financial experts agree the first five years of retirement are the most important. The first five years may very well determine how much money a retiree has available to them, especially when economic times are questionable.

* Get help. If you don’t already have a financial advisor you trust, you may want to find one soon. There are so many variables to think about when considering retirement that you may not have all the information you need. A financial advisor will be able to help you understand your options and make decisions based upon what is best for your family.

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Statistics claim that two of every three college students have at least one credit card. Statistics also prove that many of those first-time credit card owners will end up in financial trouble because they haven’t learned to properly use them. There are smart ways to use your first credit card, though. Here are some tips:

Learning how to properly use credit cards can help build your credit history instead of leaving big black marks on it. The benefits of having good credit means:

* Qualifying for lower interest rates on car loans or mortgages
* Getting a reduced cost for insurance
* Getting a decent apartment because many landlords check your credit these days

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The two general categories of loan are secured and unsecured. What are the differences, and which one is right for you?

* Secured Loans

To qualify for a secured loan, you must own something that will serve as collateral – that is, assets the lender can claim in case you fail to make payments on your loan. Usually, lenders require that prospective borrowers own real estate and/or a home. That means that the lender has something to fall back on should you default on your loan. If you own a home or other significant collateral, or if your credit history is less than perfect, a secured loan is an option.

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Financial experts recommend saving up to six months’ worth of expenses so you’re prepared for emergencies. An emergency fund might cover expenses when you’ve lost a job, had unexpected medical bills, or you have to take a leave of absence from work to care for a loved one. If you don’t have money coming in, should you use your savings to pay off credit card bills?

Before you run to empty your savings account to pay off one or more credit card bills, there are some things you may want to consider.

If you have limited income, try to pay the minimum payment rather than paying the balance off each month. However, as soon as you’re back to work, it is important to start paying more than the minimum payment so you can get your balance back down to a reasonable level. Paying at least the minimum will keep your credit in good standing.

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If you are in your thirties, you’ll most likely retire when you’re quite a few years older and you may not really be thinking about retirement at all. But even at this age it’s important to think about your financial future.

Many people in their thirties are beginning to realize how reckless they may have been in their twenties when they thought they had the world by its tail. They are beginning to see how spending like there was no tomorrow was wrong; tomorrow is now here. They may also be thinking about buying their first home, and retirement is in the not-too-distant future.

Beginning to think about your financial future while in your thirties is a great idea. It really is a time when you can create your financial foundation and then build upon it as you age. Here are some financial things you may want to begin working on now rather than waiting until later.

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People considering a large purchase may be concerned about their credit score and how it might affect their eligibility for a loan. Don’t despair; there are ways to raise your credit score. Try following some of these ideas to bring your credit score up.

Many people don’t realize how important their credit score is, especially if they’re just starting out. Like your social security number, however, your credit score is intrinsically linked to your name for your entire adult life. If you want to borrow money of any amount the creditor will check your credit rating.

* Each year, order copies of your credit report and check it for errors. Knowing what is in your report will enable you to get any errors corrected which could increase your score dramatically. If you have extenuating circumstances concerning anything on your credit report, you have the ability to write a letter explaining your situation and have that included in your report. Depending upon the reason, this information could encourage a creditor to approve a loan request.

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You may have seen the commercials on television with a famous actor suggesting senior citizens get a reverse mortgage to help with unexpected bills. While a reverse mortgage may be a good option for some people, it’s not for everyone. What are the pros and cons of reverse mortgages?

Cons

Many people like the idea of reverse mortgages because, according to the advertisements “your house pays you” instead of you having to pay for the house. Unfortunately, reverse mortgages can be very expensive. Reverse mortgages require all the fees to be added to the loan balance; depending upon how much your home is worth that could be quite a bit.

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