How do you make a budget when you have no money?

MsMac?

There are plenty of money saving ideas here on many, many threads; threads about cutting guest lists, cutting bridal parties, downsizing weddings, DIY's and otherwise throwing the wedding you can afford AND properly host. That is pretty much the mantra here.

Have you been reading another forum?

@op; we always tip our groomers; we have two ornery dogs,lol...

We planned what we would be comfortable saving each month and calculated the time between that point and the wedding. We saved at the beginning of each month so we weren't tempted to spend that money and by the time the wedding came around we had more than enough to pay for it. We continued to save that way to build up a savings account

Celia you're my hero. While it is totally my job to do the dogs regardless of behavior, most of the people who have dogs who I have to become one part bull rider one part Steve Irwin for don't tip. Then I have a lab mix who's the easiest dog on the planet who tips very well, and I basically feel bad taking her money.

This is such a good post . It's helped me put things in order myself . I never wanted a big weddding but my fh wants the hall and dance thing., but here's my deal . I moved 5 hrs from home to my fh ., I know his area n my family also has roots here BUT I didn't move here to play house ., he said he wants to marry me ... oct is what we picked ! We can both save til oct about 1,200!! Ok so I think I deserve my modest private wedding back home (eloping) civil wedding with my son 17 and my other son 23 who is disabled and living under assisted care . My daughter that lives with me will join as my maid of honor., she's 11 n my best friend is there to. My eloping will cut the cost big time plus all my kids. Fh can have his dance the following week ., budgeting is common sence.

If at all possible instead of taking the loan have a small an intimate wedding ceremony and then have a dinner party.

@OGA, it doesn't sound like her FH even makes $500 a week, so I can see how that amount of savings would be unrealistic.

@OP, another thought for you that I picked up from one of these posts a while ago. Somebody mentioned a savings plan where you put $1 into savings one week, $2 the next week, $3 after that, etc. It allows you to slowly grow what you put into savings over time and it adds up to $1300 something a year. Most of "our" savings is in DH's account because he's been working full-time while I've been in school, but I decided I wanted to start working on my savings even from my part-time jobs and this has been, for me, a very reasonable way to do it. I also have a Keep the Change program, so everytime I pay for somethign with my debit card my bank rounds up to the nearest dollar and moves that to my savings account. It's only probably $5 or so a week, but it's been adding up over time.

Everything Keisha said. OP, you have a great attitude and I'm sure you'd benefit from reading some personal finance books or even some of the reliable blogs out there. Good luck and I hope you guys catch a break so you can re build that emergency fund.

500.00 a week , even split two ways, is a lot to save.....

I don't even make $500 a week, but I do know I can put away a good $300-$400 monthly if I don't decide to day "f-it" on a purchase.

I'm glad you guys don't think I'm a jerk lol. I came here for help, so I have no desire to get combative with people even if I totally disagree with them. I know part of me is just very excited and wants to get started today, but I know that's not realistic. I've lived with my FH for 6 years so I mean as much as it bums me out to push the wedding out 3 or 4 years, its not going to make that huge of an impact or be a big deal honestly. I know we could just go and elope and be married and be done with it, and there is still a chance that may happen if everything blows up in my face, but its just really a day I want to share with friends, so I don't mind waiting. I'm still going to wake up next to him in the morning whether we're married or not.

@Celia it is doable

OP is you are finding it hard to pay yourself, which is essentially what saving is. Imagine how hard it will be to pay the bills that would come with a wedding. Before you make any plans get comfortable with paying yourself each pay. It doesn't have to be a set amount but do a percentage of your tips each pay. So regardless of the amount 15% will go into a savings account

We both work Full Time, I make $13hr plus some tips, FH works full time at $9hr, but he's actively looking for new work. If he can get back up to $12hr like he was getting its going to be a real game changer because he doesn't spend his money on ANYTHING.

You've got some great advice, and you're so positive about everything. Kudos Chris! Plus two kids in a shoebox made me laugh!

I want to second Digit (that Celia mentioned). They analyze your bank account and take out small amounts (often less than $1) as often as you like. it sounds crazy, but in 6 months I had over $1k saved, and I used to live paycheck to paycheck. You can transfer the money back at any time, and you can also transfer money in there to save.

Look at cricket wireless. DH has it and won't ever go back to a big name wireless plan again. You do have to have your own phone, but it's hard to beat $30/mo. And good service too! (I have straight talk, which is similar, for $45/mo)

Cut out cable. I had to at my old place, and we lived with just Netflix. I didn't miss a thing. You can even get one of those digital boxes for like $20, and get the free channels.

Saving is hard. I feel you. I'm still working on it. It's a learning process!

OP you have a great attitude and I for one welcome this on this forum.

I don't have too much advice since I do not know the pay in your area and what is considered good pay vs cost of living.

I think you guys are already living simplistic and I truly believe what others have said about not going into debt for the wedding is #1.

Other examples of savings some money:

- couponing

- buy food only on sale or generic brands

- price match items

- offer some of your time as consumer research studies (not medical)

- would UBER work for you?

Also I would ensure you are not occurring any fees that are not required - banking fees etc. and try to consolidate other things such as insurance (can you do tenant/home plus car to get a discount?). Are you paying the lowest insurance and have you shopped around?

Good luck!

@Kate, I originally went to school for art (mistaaaaaaake) but I've recently been looking into going to school for Accounting. I'm trying to find someone who also went to school to see if it's for me.

Oh and by the way, this is something we do at the grocery store but I do not know if this exists in the USA.

My husband still uses his student card to get 10% back in grocery points. I then use my credit card to get 3% back in grocery points. We then price match everything. So we save minimum 13% on each bill plus price matching to the cheapest grocery store.

I've looked into Uber buy unfortunately my car is just shy of the cutoff for age. I'd like to get a part time job but it's extremley difficult with my full time job. I do only work 4 days a week and work longer days, but my schedule could change at a moment's notice, and it's not possible for me to NOT go to work. I'm my boss' only employee so she literally can't get through the day without me. Most places in my area don't want to hire someone for only 2 days a week, and I've done the 7 day work week thing and I know I'll burn out fast.

ALSO: I've done a part time job with my current full time job, and scheduling was a nightmare. Constantly asking me to work Sundays when I've explicitly stated I'll never be available because its my busiest work day.

Don't go into debt for a wedding

Oh gosh buying on sale saves us so much. Aldi's is awesome! Even at our regular grocery store, we only buy on sale. I.e., if gummies aren't on sale, we don't buy them (sad), I only buy whatever coffee creamer is on sale, etc. It means we don't really have brand loyalty, but we also stock up when certain stuff goes on sale (jif peanut butter, for one!)

Just for an example, we bought dinner for 4 nights this week plus some extras for lunch and snacks (I'm a teacher so I'm home all summer with my daughter) for 3 people for $70. By buying on sale. DH drives me crazy sometimes, but he knows what he's talking about!

We are saving for a down payment on a house while renting and paying down student loans in a fairly high cost of living area, NJ. So I get it. We had many tense, difficult, emotionally charged conversations about our plans and priorities. We will not have financial help, but we honestly wouldn't take it if it was offered. FH has had family pressure to have a larger, more traditional wedding. I have had many breakdowns over spending our life savings, which we have earned with blood, sweat, tears, and resilience, on a party.

So, we are doing 25 people max, outdoor ceremony on township property and reception at a restaurant or hotel banquet space, on a Thursday. Off season. I will still wear a gown, we will still have a bridal party, photographer, full open bar, nice dinner and ambiance, cake. Our family will still see us get married, and we will still host them properly. I think it'll be fine.

Since making this decision, I feel like I can breathe. Our friends and family are confused, and some even aghast, at why we would want our wedding to be this way. Some think we will regret it. But it's what's right and smart for us. I grew up in a poor and unstable home and never dreamed about my wedding day - I dreamed about having a place to call HOME.

Many people in our situation want to save up for 3-4 years to have the big wedding, and that's cool, too. Nobody should deny themselves what they truly want if they're going to regret it later, especially as there's always a way to make it work (aggressive budgeting, second job, etc.) I just know that even after we purchase a home, there will always be something I'd rather spend that kind of money on (or save it) over a wedding. With my upbringing and personality, I just can't imagine ever thinking it is a good time to drop $20k++. Plus we just want to be married already.

See if you can take steps to get FH into a better paying job that he would enjoy, or one with a promising future. Come up with a rough timeline of where you see yourselves and where you want to be in five or ten years. Make goals. It's good to have something to look forward to and work toward. Set your priorities and make your decisions from there.

I'll share what worked for us... we sat down and wrote down every bill we need to pay each month with an estimated ammount, and how much of our paychecks are left after that, then set apart a small percentage to use as an emergency cusion and the rest goes to a joint account we used to use for vacations and now is our wedding account