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Swap Books You Have for Those You Want
Dear Mary: I had the address of a Web site that allows you to list your books by ISBN and swap them with other members. My plan was to let my daughter enter all of our books into the system so she would have an allowance for her book purchases. …Read more.
Post Office Clerk Demonstrates New Flat Rate
Today's first great reader tip, from Shirley in Indiana, brings new meaning to the term "flat rate" and also earns Shirley a one-year membership to Debt-Proof Living Online (at http://www.DebtProofLiving.com). You are going to love this:
…Read more.
How To Jump Into the Coupon Game
A recent column about couponing produced a lot of mail. I recommended The Coupon Clippers as a way to choose the grocery coupons that you want and need, instead of taking a chance that you'll find them in the Sunday paper or elsewhere. I learned …Read more.
5 Lessons I Wish I'd Learned Sooner
While I refuse to live with regret, I must admit there are a few things I wish I'd learned sooner. Because I don't want you to make the same mistakes, I'm going to give you my top five so you don't have to learn the hard way.
1. The lottery is a …Read more.
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Frugal Brides Share With Future BridesI get a lot of mail on the subject of weddings. I get stories of joy and tales of woe, great ideas and even a blooper from time to time. I cannot recall a single time in the past 17 years when someone wrote wishing he or she had spent more money on his or her wedding. I must say that the best wedding mail comes from frugal brides who are eager to share their fabulous ideas with future brides: FIRE FESTIVITIES. For a wedding reception that is out of the ordinary, have a bonfire rather than a sit-down meal. My husband and I did this, and people still talk about how much fun our wedding was. We changed clothes after pictures and started a big fire at my grandmother's house. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and had side dishes brought by family members. It was the best potluck ever because we requested our favorite family dishes. By shopping in bulk for hot dogs and buns, we only spent about $200 on food. — Rochelle, Maine PHOTO FRUGALITY. I had my guests take pictures at the event, and we sprang for a professional portrait session before the wedding. Instead of spending $1,200-$5,000 on a wedding photographer, it cost us $200 to go to a park to have professional portraits taken in our wedding attire. This also would make a great gift to the couple from a family member who wants to contribute. — Diane, e-mail BIBLIO-BRIDE. The local library has lots of books on weddings, from making your own dress and accessories to wedding cakes, invitations and writing your own vows. BALLOON BEAUTY. I skipped flowers at my wedding and decorated with balloons instead. This allowed me to get creative with shapes, sizes and colors, and it saved me a bundle of cash. Kids had a ball with them at the reception. — Jean K., e-mail DESIGNER DEAL. My wedding dress was actually a bridesmaid dress in ivory. It was a beautiful designer gown, and it only cost $250 including alterations. My guests were surprised when I said it was a bridesmaid dress. When I was shopping for a dress, I found a wider variety of choices for high-end bridesmaid dresses than I did for wedding gowns, and they were all much less expensive. — Elizabeth, e-mail PERFECT TIMING. We saved money by holding our wedding ceremony and reception at lunchtime on a Friday. We rented out a small restaurant for 40 close friends and family members. We arranged to bring in wine, and the restaurant made a batch of sangria to serve with the meal. The total cost of the wedding and reception was about $2,500, far less than it would have been during prime time on a Saturday night. — Elizabeth, e-mail Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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