$ave $eptember

Our wedding planning has commenced, house shopping is on the to-do list, and we have more purchases on the horizon! Though initially these weren't our reasons for starting '$ave $eptember'.

In order to set us up for success as future husband and wife, Weston and I proactively started pre-marital counseling 2 months ago. Some of the "big topics" that came up in these sessions: sex/intimacy, religion, finances, future planning & effective communication. We were given homework weekly and as part of our assignments we were tasked to compile our monthly spending as a couple.

One of the largest rifts in marriages and leading cause of divorce are financials. That being said, we had discussed finances extensively previous our assignment. The eye opening takeaway for us was the amount we spent on date night dinners out, travel, and ancillary spending. All of this adds up. When you just swipe the plastic you often don't feel the impact of money actually leaving your wallet.

By implementing what we learned from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University we evaluated our net income and variable costs per month. Most credit cards offer categorized spending charts that make this exercise much easier. Apps like Personal Capital also offer free services that help you stay on track and sync with your purchases automatically.

Do you ever feel like this is you? I have put together some quick tips to help you and/or your significant other to trim your budget and save for those big life moments!

Tips:

Focus on at home date nights

• Chose a fun recipe you both can make

  • Fancy dinner in: both of you dress up and make a 5-star meal. We did steak & asparagus (Restaurant average price: $30 per meal + wine. Stay-At-Home price: $35 total for us both)

  • Make homemade pizza or bake cookies (Did you know restaurant pizza is the most profitable restaurant entree?)

  • Buy some Trader Joes wine & wine taste at home

  • Pack a picnic, spend time outside and go to the local park/beach

  • Ride bikes at sunset

Cut costs at the grocery store

• Buy off-brand at the store

• Buy in bulk and freeze

• Shop on Wednesdays because some grocery stores (Sprouts for example) have both last weeks items and this weeks items on sale

• Shop & plan your meals for the week based on meats, produce and shelf stable items that are on sale

• Steer away from pre-made selections (grab produce, not frozen)

Shopping

• Assessing 'need' vs 'want' items (for girls this can be so tough!)

• Shop the sales! You can always find great deals and steals if you have the patience

• We are wedding planning- so be ready to negotiate them down on the price

Budgeting

• Review how much you and your significant other bring in and what your fixed costs are and agree on a budget

• Work through your budget monthly. Talk about planning for future purchases that you as a couple agree on. I.E. a house, new car, vacations, Christmas or birthday presents, etc.

By no means does saving need to be a cringe worthy word! Having fun and being a couple is about communication. So being on the same page financially is both fruitful and gratifying. So where do you start? Take a look at your current spending habits to see where you have opportunities. If going out to dinner is a must, try to make it budget friendly by going for Happy Hour when drinks and appetizers are discounted, or order an appetizer and split a meal. By adding in a night of cooking together you will save money and the quality time bring you closer together.

Like I have said so many times throughout this blog; life is about balance!!!

Cheers!!!

Slayplayrosé