InCharge Debt Solutions Offers Couples Advice on How to Budget for Their Dream Wedding
National nonprofit financial counseling agency helps couples avoid wedding debt
ORLANDO, Fla., June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer wedding season has arrived, and couples nationwide are planning for their big day – while looking for plans that won't break the bank. InCharge Debt Solutions, a national nonprofit organization that provides free credit counseling and housing counseling services, offers couples three tips to planning a memorable wedding while avoiding a monumental price tag:
- Create a budget – and stick to it: Wedding expenses can quickly add up, so it's essential to go into the planning with a set budget. Knowing in advance how much you have to spend will help you ensure that you don't get excited by the planning – only to leave yourself with a mound of unwanted debt after the big day. Sit down together and have a direct, honest conversation about how much money you have to commit to the wedding – and stick to it.
- Prioritize: For some people, it's the location. For others, it's the band and/or the caterer. When you start planning for your wedding, be sure to have a list that you both agree on about where you want to spend your money. Choose a few areas where you don't want to compromise – and be willing to compromise in other areas to make up for it. This way, if something ends up costing more than expected, you immediately know where to cut back.
- Think long-term – not just for the day itself: It's natural for couples to get wrapped up in planning their wedding day – and forget that they'll also be blending their finances for normal, everyday expenses. Be sure to have open communication about how you want to handle the finances in your household. Who is responsible for paying the bills? What accounts will you use for what types of expenses? How will you make decisions about large purchases? Talking about these issues before you're married will help ensure open communication about your finances for years to come.
"For many couples, marriage is the most exciting event of their lives, but the burden of debt can be emotionally straining," said Etta Money, President of InCharge Debt Solutions. "In fact, financial stress is one of the main reasons for divorce – but that minefield can be avoided with advance planning and open communication."
InCharge Debt Solutions is a nonprofit organization that provides consumers with education and personal financial management tools, teaching them to gain financial stability and use their credit responsibly. InCharge has guided financially-distressed individuals and families to debt-free futures since 1997.
For more information about InCharge Debt Solutions, visit www.InCharge.org or call 1-888-360-9694. InCharge Education Foundation and bankruptcy information may be found at www.InChargeFoundation.org or www.PersonalFinanceEducation.com.
About InCharge® Debt Solutions (www.incharge.org) — InCharge® Debt Solutions (IDS) provides professional credit counseling housing counseling, and financial education services to consumers and is a member of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA). IDS is an affiliate of InCharge® Institute of America, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Another affiliate is InCharge® Education Foundation, Inc., which publishes Military Money® magazine and offers financial literacy education to clients and the general public.
SOURCE InCharge Debt Solutions
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