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Cutting the Costs of Life Events

Review the following examples of ways to cut costs for life events.  Use these examples to inspire creative thinking about reducing the overall costs of the life events you anticipate.

Coming-of-Age Celebrations (Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Quinceanera, etc.)

  • Guest List:  Think about limiting your guest list to family and close friends.
  • Invitations:  With email and social media, there are free ways to invite your family and friends to your event without paying for expensive snail-mail invitations.
  • Decorations and Favors:  Going with do-it-yourself decorations and favors rather than the store-bought variety allows you to put your personal stamp on the party while keeping the price down.
  • Location:  Rather than renting out an expensive site for the party have it at your home or the home of a friend or relative.
  • Food:  Serve homemade food to save money on catering costs.
  • Photographer:  Use a friend with good photography skills to record the event rather than paying for an expensive photographer/videographer.
  • Music:  Instead of renting a DJ for your event create your own playlist, rent some speakers, and dance!

Weddings

  • Guest List:  Consider keeping your guest list to the family and friends who are most important to you as a couple.
  • Invitations:  In the age of email and social media, there are more and more options for inviting your loved ones to your nuptials beyond fancy engraved stationary.
  • Wedding Attire:  Save money on wedding attire by avoiding designer labels.  Also, check the racks in the summer and winter when prices are lower.
  • Ceremony & Reception:  By keeping your guest list small (see above), there are fewer mouths to feed and entertain after the ceremony
  • Location: Consider having your wedding in a backyard or local park rather than in a fancy ballroom.
  • Flowers:  Use in-season flowers, which are more affordable.
  • Photographer:  Use a friend with good photography skills to record the event rather than paying for an expensive photographer/videographer.
  • Music:  Instead of renting a DJ for your event create your own playlist, rent some speakers, and dance!

Birth of Baby

  • Insurance:  While you may assume that all hospitals charge comparable rates for the birth of your baby, they may vary significantly. Insurance coverage can vary from hospital to hospital, too.  Research prices before deciding which hospital to go to. If you are opting for in-home or birthing center births, be sure to check with insurance to find out the costs.
  • Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts:  Set up Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts to apply pre-tax dollars to certain health and child care expenses.
  • Nursing:  Consider breastfeeding your baby if you are able to and feel comfortable doing so.  Nursing is free and provides your baby with food especially for him or her.
  • Diapers:  When deciding on diapers, read the cost-per-diaper and know that the cheapest ones may not be the most absorbent (leading to higher laundry costs!).  Once you have decided on a brand, find ways to buy them in bulk to bring the cost down (until they start to outgrow them, then buy smaller packages so you are not left with 100 Size 2's!).
  • Clothing:  Through gifts, hand-me-downs and shopping at second-hand or consignment store you can save money on clothes that your little one will only wear for a few months.
  • Accessories:  Wait until you need an item to purchase it.  Newborns need very little:  diapers, onesies, a safe place to sleep. You can decide on items like baby carriers, strollers, and high chairs once the baby gets older. You might even be able to borrow an item that you will only need for a short time.