I didn’t really care for Carnations before.  But as I started planning my wedding and looking for ways to save, I was able to realize the flower’s potential.  Carnations are very affordable.  Sometimes because of this, they’re looked at mostly as filler flowers or something not that elegant.  But when done right, they can be chic and beautiful on their own.

Row1: Samm Blake Photography, Real Simple, InStyle Weddings, Martha Stewart ; Row2: Martha Stewart, Brides.com, Brides.com, Martha Stewart

Row1: Brides.com, Wallcoo; Row2: Martha Stewart, With This Ring, Brides.com, Martha Stewart; Row3: InStyle Weddings, Toasts and Tables, Style Me Pretty

Row1: Brides.com, InStyle Weddings ; Row2: Brides.com, Brides.com, Country Living, Row3: Style Me Pretty, Pico Soriano Designs, The Bride’s Cafe, Amber and Jeff

There are plenty of ways a bride can find ideas and inspirations for her wedding. And I will not allow myself to spend a cent to do this. The magazines below are just some that I’ve gotten for free. Others I already gave to a friend.

Below are some ways to get ideas for your wedding at no cost:

• Go online! The world wide web is populated with tons of wedding websites where you can get plenty of ideas and inspirations for your wedding. Visit wedding sites, blogs, forums and photo sites. A few of my favorites are Brides.com, Snippet and Ink, Southern Weddings Mag, The Bride’s Cafe, Flickr. Click here for a complete list.
• Attend bridal shows or expos. Besides getting ideas from the event itself, you can also get free wedding magazines. I don’t go to events that I have to pay for. There are a lot of events that are free. If the event is not free, search online for coupons or ticket giveaways. Weddingwire.com has an extensive list of events and promotions. Wedding blogs often host contests and giveaways.
• Ask previous brides for ideas and if they want to get rid of their wedding magazines. Don’t just ask the people you know, join forums too. TheKnot forums has local boards which makes it easy to find brides in your area.
• Sign up at your local online wedding guide if any. I signed up at www.yournewportwedding.com and I received a lot of helpful info including the Newport Wedding Magazine.
• Ask vendors when you meet with them. Vendors sometimes receive complimentary copies of magazines that they can give their current and future clients.
• Browse through magazine racks. All you need is to see an idea or inspiration. You don’t need to take it home and stare at it, do you? If you think you won’t remember, jot it down or take a picture.

Tip: Take a note of where you get your inspirations from. I find myself going back to my sources for more info on those ideas I liked. For example, Brides.com usually has a note for each photo that includes where the materials were obtained and MarthaStewartWeddings.com has instructions on some of their ideas.

If you got the idea online, instead of just saving the photo, favorite the site or use tools like Polyvore.com. Plumeria Bud of BridalBuds has a list of online tools you can use. If you found the idea in an event or publication, take a photo. In addition, if you post the ideas online, you’ll be able to credit your sources.

Where do you get your ideas and inspirations from?

Photo from GeekSugar.com

I see myself looking at my budget worksheet all the time and trying to find a way to cut down on my living expenses.  The highest bills that I could probably lower are the heating and cell phone bills.

I still don’t have my heater on.  I just pile on pajamas and sweaters.  So I’m hoping to get a lower bill this year than last year.  But am I willing to cut down on my cell phone services?

I lived more than half of my life without a cellphone and a third of my life without any type of phone!  I also read an article stating reasons to stop using cellphones.  So I should be fine cutting some of my cell phone services or even cutting it totally, right?  Ummm I don’t think so.

I’m sorry but I love the convenience of being able to call someone anytime.  My friends text me all the time so I need to keep my texting plan or else my bill will be much higher if I pay per use.  My internet access is definitely a big expense and unnecessary.  I really don’t want to take that service away, but if need be I will.  But for now while my contract is not up, I have a reason to keep it .

How about you?

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Photo from Impact Lab

The data plans that come with the iPhone don’t include text messaging.  You have to either add a messaging plan or pay per text.  After voice and data plan monthly charges, nobody needs another.  So I compiled a couple of ways you can send texts messages for free from your iPhone.  Some also apply to other smartphones.Remember that the recipient may incur charges for the messages you send.

1.  AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)

Just like your computer-based AIM, the AIM iPhone app can also send text messages to phones.  Access to AIM on the iPhone is included in the data plan and does not count as a text message.  Recipients of your messages can reply directly to your message and you will receive the replies via AIM. Click here for instructions at Wired: How-To Wiki.

Read on to see more ways to send text message for free from you iPhone.

Read on…

Before school starts, several states suspend sales tax for a few days on certain items like school supplies and clothing.

Below are the states offering tax-free holidays. Click here for details on the products the states are waiving sales tax on.  I’m sorry this post is late for other states.

*State tax only. Local taxes may or may not be waived, depending on location.

Click here to see a complete list of tax-free holidays.

Here are just a few of the reasons why you would call me cheap, but I prefer the term economical :

• I’m still not satisfied with the design and layout of my websites.  I designed the websites myself.  And I can only do so much, as I haven’t taken any web design classes.  Even though my sites still need a lot of enhancements, I refuse to pay for web design services.  You can call me cheap as much as you want, but I won’t budge.  Instead, I decided to take a few webdesign classes where I’ll be taking my photography classes.  And best of all, the classes are free!
• The basement is being renovated and I have to furnish it from scratch.  Not only do I look and wait for sales, but I also search all coupon sites for more savings, I shop through ShopDiscover to get more cashback, and tap into my credit card’s rewards program for free gift cards.
• I’ve lowered the temperature at home to save on gas.  I also try to minimize our energy consumption by turning off lights I pass through.
• I take advantage of all taxable-income-reducing options at work including my MTA fare.
• I try not to shop anymore unless necessary.  The last time I shopped for a jacket was yearsss ago.  I had to buy one this month because I ruined my favorite winter jacket.  I leaned on wet paint.  I was so pissed.  I also bought a couple of boots coz the soles of my favorite boots were almost non-existent.  Of course the jacket and the boots were on sale .

I did slip last holiday season.  I spent way more than I was supposed to.  All the more reason to be cheap now, I mean… economical.

(image from HealthyHeating.com)

We call my brother in the Philippines at least once a week.  As a result, our phone bill is the largest of all monthly bills we have, except mortgage of course.

We use our landline to call.  A phone card may be cheaper, but we just don’t have the time to go and buy a few, not even knowing if they’re any good.  So I decided to find phone cards I could buy online.  It’s more convenient.  If we run out, I can just switch the computer on and take my credit card out.

PhoneCardsAvenue.com offers a HUGE selection of phone cards for several countries including the Philippines.  And a lot of the phone cards offer very competitive prices.  The list is very organized, showing rate, connection fee (if any), values available, minutes per value, and what I like the most… quality.  The quality of each phone card is rated 0 to 5 stars.  This is very important with phone cards since a lot of phone cards out there have very poor voice quality and connection.  I am not sure who rates them though.

The real estate market has been on the decline and real estate analysts predict it will continue to decline for the next 1-2 years.  It is probably a great opportunity for us who dream of one day owning our own home.  But I’m not at that stage yet, financially anyway.

Believe it or not, in some areas, it is more reasonable to rent than buy property.  Rents in these areas including NYC, Portland OR, San Jose CA, and Fort Lauderdal FL has gone lower than the average by 15% to more than 50%.  Click here to read the article at Forbes.com.

(via Forbes.com)

I’ve done some research on restaurants in Cabo and it looks like we’ll be spending an average of $70 per dinner for the two of us.  I’ve heard people say eating out in Cabo can be pretty expensive.  It sure is.

I’m so glad our hotel room has a kitchenette complete with the basic necessities including refrigerator, cook top, microwave, cookware, dinnerware, and more.  We could eat in.  But I can’t cook so I asked John if he’s willing to cook a few dinners when we’re in Cabo.  He said yes!  A couple of $70 meals saved.

By the way, to save more when eating out, don’t forget to Los Cabos Guide’s Vouchers.  You get to save 35% with the vouchers for restaurants, activities, hotels, etc.  If you don’t get to use them, you can return them.

Here’s our list of restaurants we want to check out:

• Mi Casa – mexican
• Baja Cantina – close to our hotel
• Solomon’s Landing
• Pancho’s
• Nik San – sushi

Click here for a map of restaurants in Cabo San Lucas created by a fellow TA CSL forum member.

I don’t bring lunch from home.  I always order food.  Mainly the reason is that I cannot cook and I don’t wake up early enough to be able to prepare lunch.  My dad is lucky, my mom prepares his lunch and even breakfast.  They’re mostly salads and sandwiches though.  At times, my dad complains that they’re all the same.  I guess my mom needs to get ahold of new salad and sandwich recipes.

I’ve come to realize that spending at least $10 for lunch at work can be too much compared to a couple of dollars I’ll be spending when I prepare my lunch at home.  So I’ve listed a few things that I may be capable of preparing:

• Salads
• Sandwiches
• Microwaveable meals – no preparation needed

Any other suggestions?