Bridal Brunch: September 13, 2009

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of enjoying brunch with one of my bridesmaids and a couple of coworkers. Since we don't live close to either of our families, I won't have a traditional bridal shower, but I thought it was awesome of my coworkers to celebrate us!


Mimosas, waffles, omelets, crab legs, and shrimp - YUM! And don't forget CAKE!

Our hostesses and ushers are an extra-special part/addition to our day. They will be :uber: important in making sure our guests are comfortable and everyone is happy at the reception. They will be wearing the wedding colors so that they stand out, and we've decided on this
and this for the guys (with black slacks and black shirts):

Weekly Savings Tip: September 14, 2009

End-of-Life PlanLife can change quite suddenly and unexpectedly. Decision-making during these stressful and vulnerable times can be difficult and the results can often have far–reaching consequences. The key is knowing the issues and having a plan in place before the unexpected happens.
Whether you are currently dealing with the loss of a loved one, caring for an aging parent, or own a business or have children and need to be ready for the future, a new free resource, A Guide to Financial Decisions: Implementing an End-of-Life Plan, will identify many of the issues, decisions and programs of which you should be aware, such as:- Guardianship for Minor Children: Choosing the person who will care for your child if you are unable to do so is a critical decision for all parents. Learn why it’s important to name a guardian in a legally executed will or trust so that your children are cared for by the person you designate.- Titles: Choosing the person to be the listed owner, or “title holder,” to your various assets, such as your home and financial accounts, is an important decision. Learn more about the steps to take to ensure that your wishes are known and respected.- Life Insurance: One of the most common reasons for buying life insurance is to replace the loss of income that would occur in the event of your death. Learn about the common types of life insurance policies to ensure there are funds available to support your family in the case of your untimely death.This guide, developed by certified public accountants, is the result of a vision brought to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants by Hospice of Michigan and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants.
For more information, visit the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy Web site.Visit http://click.bsftransmit1.com/ClickThru.aspx?pubids=lOq6Zi%2bzrWLqi1JWXun6Jc8No6wyvjR7QQxjXtqXYuE%3d&digest=P3VNOIwDruOLOUTSdVW0%2bg for more money-saving tips!

Our Photo Guestbook

Can you believe I ordered this from Picaboo (half off) on 09/08...and UPS dropped it off on 09/10?!?!?!? Can we say unbelievable service??

Great quality. Here are a couple of the pages. I'll have black, pink, and metallic gold pens for guests to sign.

(Excuse the crappy Blackberry pics).

EDIT: I hopped on over to Michaels (armed with a 40% off coupon) and grabbed some metallic-y writing scrapbooking markers and it's done!

YAY for checks!

Weekly Savings Tip: September 9, 2009

Annuities as an Investment Option

Your retirement may be decades away but it’s important to start saving and investing now. Consider annuities, a retirement funding strategy that was often neglected in the face of a boom economy. Now, however, the stability of an annuity often looks just as appealing as other retirement funding options. Here are some basic facts to help you decide whether an annuity might be right for you:

- An annuity is a tax-deferred investment contract. You invest your money (either a lump sum or a series of contributions) with a company that sells annuities, such as life insurance and mutual fund companies and banks. In exchange for your investment, the annuity issuer promises to make payments to you or a named beneficiary at certain points in the future.

- Rates of return and costs can vary widely between different annuities, so shop around! You'll also want to shop around for a reputable, financially sound annuity issuer. There are firms that make a business of rating insurance companies based on their financial strength, investment performance, and other factors.

- Payout options, also known as annuitization options, differ based on how you’ve elected to spread payments over the coming years. The amount of each payment depends on such factors as the amount of your principal investment, the particular type of annuity, the length of the payout period and your age if you elect for
lifetime payments.

Annuities may be a good option to explore if you’re looking for investment options outside the stock market. As with any investment, remember to research and educate yourself before making any decisions. For more information visit the Retirement Planning section of the 360 Financial Literacy website.

Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips!

Invitation LOVE!

If you remember, I posted here about how I just wasn't in love with my invitations. Even admist catering issues, I set out to find those that made me drool. I enlisted the help of my wonderful SIL (designedbygrace09@gmail.com) and dearest FI... Without further delay, here are the mock-ups of our invitations.



And of course, Mr. CB hard at work...



My darling SIL worked hard and never griped about my million edits. She even enlisted again to do our programs. Unfortunately, we never took any pictures of the programs, BUT they are GORGE.

Weekly Savings Tip: August 17, 2009

What's Your Financial IQ?

According to a recent survey conducted by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, almost half of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 have no savings. Additionally, 47 percent of Generation Y respondents gave themselves Cs, Ds or Fs in personal finance skills such as budgeting and saving for retirement.

The time to act is now! Take this short quiz to test your financial literacy IQ so you can improve your personal finance savvy.

This quiz is a good starting point, but the more you educate yourself on personal finances and savings, the more prepared you'll be when facing financial situations in the future. Be smart, and remember to feed the pig!

Visit Feed the Pig for more money-saving tips.