Getting hitched on the cheap!

Mr. Coupondiva and I have been married for a few years, but I thought I'd write about ways to have a frugal (not cheap) but Elegant wedding.  Remember, for some people who may be involved in your big day, "Cheap" has a negative connotation, whereas frugal, does not.

Location: This can eat up a huge portion if the budget.  If you are a church goer, check to see if your church offers a discount to members.  If you are not religious, or if the fee for your church is out of your budget, check out the parks and rec. in your Area.  San Diego County Parks and Rec. has many great, inexpensive sites.

Who's going to marry you?  If you do not have a judge, religious leader, or other ordained person available, check with the county assessor/recorder/clerks office who issues marriage license, to see if a marriage comissioner for a day is available.  That way, anyone of your choosing can marry you.  That's what we did.

Food and cake:If your budget is very small, skip the sit down fancy dinner.   If your site allows you to bring in your own food, consider hitting up Costco, Vons, and Albertsons.  They all have great service deli trays (cheese, meat, fruit, sandwiches)- they all take custom orders which would make a great spread for the post wedding shindig.

Skip the booze- Most sites tack on a crazy charge for serving booze and really, any kind of decent booze is going to eat up a good portion of your budget. Sparkling cider is pretty inexpensive at Costco or Smart and Final- You can get 4 glasses per bottle, maybe more if you are easy on the pour (for the toast).

If you or someone you know has a Costco membership, they have excellent sheet cakes that are pretty inexpensive and would serve 20-30, if you cut them to the approx. size of a piece of average wedding cake (2x2 in. approx).

Paper plates, disposable champagne glasses and napkins, as well as silverware can all be purchased in a myriad of colors from 99 cent or dollar stores.  Check party supply stores, Costco, or Smart & Final for the best price (Sometimes they can be cheaper than 99 cent or dollar stores if you need to buy in bulk).

Flowers: Check wholesale flower shops or local floral shops for plain flowers.  You can save a lot by making you own arrangements, bouquets and boutenierres.   I got all of the flowers for my wedding at Dave flower box in north park. I did 4 bunches of roses (they are buy 1, get 1 free) and some greens for my flowers, the attendants and the table decor, and it was less than $40.00. We had to make the bouquets, but there are really easy to follow directions online. Just google "making a bountinerre".

If you want to do favors, skip Michaels. It's overpriced, even with coupons. Check out Oriental Trading Co.. Check out retailmenot.com beforehand to check for online coupon codes for free shipping of $$ off your order. They have GREAT cheap favors.

Your dress and his tux:  Check out bridal dress shop sales.  Check out JC Penney's website (They have nice, simple dresses).  Check out Craigslist too.  Think outside the box for your dress.

Tuxes: Mens Warehouse has a great deal on rentals: Rent 4 and the grooms tux is free!

Misc.: If your site doesn't come with tables, chairs and table clothes, consider asking friends and family to loan you their folding tables and folding chairs.  Buy fabric at discount stores (wal-mart) to use as tablecloths.

Don't be afraid to ask for help!  People love weddings and don't mind helping!

Meal planning

I'm working on meal planning for the next few weeks- for us that means going through the  cupboard stockpile to see what's available, and then filling in the few missing ingredients needed with items that are on sale or free with coupons at the market. Meal planning is a very easy, sensible way to save money.  If you have a meal plan set up, then you are less likely to go out for dinner.  If you do most of the prep work before hand, it will simplify the dinner making process.

Tonight we're having pot roast, veggies, salad and baked potatoes for dinner.  Here is how the rest of the week is shaping up.

Sunday:

Breakfast: Fritatta

Lunch: sushi from Fresh and Easy

Dinner: I'm taking the leftover chili and making chili mac (add some cooked macaroni, heat yup the chili, mix together, top with cheese!)

Monday:

Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee

Lunch: Frozen lunches (I have a stockpile of Lean Cuisines)

Dinner: Chicken Tetrazinni with Broccolli and salad

Tuesday:

Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee

Lunch: Frozen lunches or leftovers

Dinner: Soup and Quesadillas

Wednesday:

Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee

Lunch: Frozen lunches

Dinner: Whole wheat pancakes, sausage and fruit salad

Thursday

Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee

Lunch: Frozen lunches

Dinner:Veggie enchiladas, refried beans, salad

Friday:

Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee

Lunch: Frozen lunches

Dinner: Leftover night!

Saturday:

Breakfast: Bagels, juice and coffee

Lunch: Frozen lunches

Dinner: Potluck with friends (maybe) or stir fry with quinoa and fruit

Wowza!

Henry's wellness faire, full of yummy food, and loaded down with samples!

That does not include the 2 sandwiches, yogurt, and cookies that I brought home!

Most of the samples are for skin care products- which is great!  I love natural and botanically based skin care lines.

I ate a lot of really yummy food: Ice Cream, a sandwich, roast beef, lots of great beverages!

It was def. worth the $10 admission.  I also received a free Re-usable cloth Henry's grocery bag and a stack of coupons for free Henry's products- including cow's milk, soy milk, frozen fruit, frozen vegetables and garlic bread!

Fun Stuff!

Saturday is the Henry's Wellness Fair in Mission Valley!

Tickets are $15 at the door or buy in advance for $10 at any Henry's location.

I can't wait!

San Diego peeps in east county!

This is a great opportunity to get some tasty noms and some swag!

Jack-tivities on September 20, 2010:

Join 100.7 Jack Fm at Pat and Oscars on Monday, September 20th from 6pm to 8pm, located in Parkway Plaza 375 Parkway Plaza, El Cajon, Ca. 92020. If you spend $25 between 6pm and 8pm (not including tax and tip), bring your receipt to the Jack Fm booth and receive a complimentary ticket to one of San Diego’s premiere haunted houses, The Haunted Trail (6th and Juniper at Marston Point) or The Haunted Hotel (4th and Market, Downtown) while supplies last. You will also receive a special gift from Pat and Oscars. The Haunted Trail and The Haunted Hotel open on September 24th through October 31st, 2010. For more information call 619-696-SCARE or click www.hauntedhotel.com. Beat the back to school blues with Pat & Oscar’s! For a limited time Pizza Pairs is back. Purchase any medium pizza and get a second medium cheese pizza for Free. Dine-In or Take-Out Pat & Oscar’s has something for the whole family to enjoy. www.patandoscars.com.

Jack Fm will see you Monday, September 20th, 2010 from 6pm-8pm at Pat and Oscars in Parkway Plaza.

The Winners!!

Woo Hoo!

I have selected the winners thanks to the True Random Number Generator at Random.org.

The winners are:

TGIFriday's gift card: Jordan

Exxon/Mobil gift card: Eliza Prize Claimed

Elephant Bar and Grill Gift card: Maria

Kid-centric coupon wallet: Heather Prize claimed mailed 9/18/10

Pet-centric coupon wallet: Hillary Prize claimed- will be delivered 9/20/10

Misc. Coupon wallet: Jennifer Prize claimed mailed 9/18/10

If you could email me at akeen02037@gmail.com with your mailing address, your prizes will be shipped this weekend.

Thank you to everyone who entered and everyone who follows us on Twitter and this blog!  We'll be having another giveaway when we reach 200 Twitter followers!

One last chance to enter...

I'll be selecting the winners tonight for my giveaway.

You haven't entered yet?  Well, what are you waiting for!  Click the link above and enter!!

San Diego, CA private couponing classes available!

My San Diego, CA  readers, I am offering private one on one couponing classes, including private shopping trips, that include how to save the most at the sotre, where to find coupons and how to use them to your advantage! I'll help you find coupons to match your shopping list.

These private lessons include a copy of my savings book and a coupon wallet loaded with coupons.

For prices on lessons and availability, drop me an email at akeen02037@gmail.com.

The giveaway is finally here!

Woo Hoo!

I finally have time/energy to do this post and do it right!  To celebrate our 100 (now 110!) Twitter followers, we're having a giveaway for you, the readers!

There are quite a few awesome things you can win:

Child-centric coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, but lots of kiddo/baby coupons and family friendly foods.  The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.

Pet-Centric coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, but lots of puppy/kitty food/treat/supply coupons and lots of yummy people food coupons.  The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.

A coupon wallet with all kinds of coupons, including HBA and cleaning stuff.  The coupon wallet includes a calculator and a little notepad that fits into the wallet.

Each of the coupon wallets contains at least 75 coupons.

A $10 gift card to TGIFridays

A $20 gift card to Exxon Mobil gas stations

A $5.00 Dining Card to The Elephant Bar and Grill

How to enter: Leave a comment.  I'll select winners on the 9/15/10.

Extra Entries: Tweet a link to this entry- make sure to use the hash tag #cacpndiva. Please leave a comment here with a link. Make sure to leave your twitter user ID.

Extra Entry #2: Post a link on your facebook or myspace. Please leave a comment here with a link.

Extra Entry #3: Link to this giveaway on your blog! Please leave a comment here with a link.

Make sure to specify what prize you want to win- if you don't have a specific prize in mind, let me know that too! Thanks again to everyone who follows me on Twitter and reads this blog!

There will be another giveaway when the Twitter follower count reaches 200!

Bzzagent- share cool stuff with friend and family!

For my followers on Twitter, you may see me use the hash tag #imabzzagent in a post that can seem like an advert, often times with a website link or printable coupon link.

Bzzagent is a word of mouth marketing program.  Companies offer their products to bzzagent, who offers it to those who participate in the bzzagent program (called Agents).  Agents try the products and "share the buzz" by posting on their blogs, Twitter, Facebook, or sharing their experiences and opinions about the products with friends, family and co-workers in person.  Often times when the products are sent, the agent receives coupons or other material to share with others, to further "share the buzz".

Agents report back to bzzagent.com and turn in reports of their "buzzings".  Bzzagent.com in turn rewards the reports with MyPoints Points!

So it really is a great win-win-win. If you are interested in learning more about bzzagent and all the groovy stuff it has to offer, here's a  banner (click it and check it out!)

Woo hoo! September is...

National Coupon month!

Great stuff, I know!  To continue the geekery, the Wikipedia article about coupons says that the first coupons were distributed by Coca Cola in 1887.

Today there are coupons for everything from personal care products to foodstuffs to vehicle care- If you can think of it, there is probably a coupon for it!

Celebrate National coupon month by loading your store cards with e-coupons from Cellfire, Coupons.com, and Shortcuts and saving a boatload of cash!

A great article- 4 things not to buy at Target!

This is a really great article- and it does include 4 things to buy at Target too.

Thanks to this Frugal Life for the link!

More info on Jack in the Box paid surveys!

This was in my Inbox this morning and it is too goo not to share:

Thank you for registering for the Jack in the Box taste tester panel!  We’ll be contacting you as new sessions arise for which you’re taste buds are qualified as an expert.  Until then, please pass along this email with registration information to anyone you may think is interested in the greater San Diego area.  We’re going to need a lot of taste testers throughout the next few months!!!

Have your friends log-on to:www.stratasurveys.com/JIBtastetest

To join with the panel with you!

What are you waiting for?  Go sign up!

Some of my readers other favorite websites

I posted on facebook the other day:

"My dears- What are your favorite Frugal living/money saving/coupon websites?"

And here were some of the responses:

Oh Lovely {Coupons}! Maria is a So Cal local and she's got local deals and all kinds of good stuff!

MsBuildingUpDaBenjamins (she's a So Cal. local, so he has a lot of deals that my SD peeps can do too!!)

Supercouponing.com- Jill Cetaldo's website- it's pretty motivating!

The Budget Mommy- Not just kiddo/baby deals- all kinds of savings!

Baby Cheapskate- All kinds of deals for moms, kids, babies and more!

Abundant Food Savings- This is Nor. Cal based website, with a lot of great deals for all of the US, including printable and rebate offers!

So blog buddies- what are "Can't live without" frugal living/money saving/couponing websites?

3 day weekend ahead- Hooray!

I don't know about all of you, but I am really looking forward to this 3 day weekend!

I've been re-tweeting and posting some great deals and freebies.  Check it out!

In celebration of the upcoming 100 twitter followers, I will be spendign part of this weekend prepping the giveaway goodies, which includes:

5 coupon wallets stuffed with coupons (inserts, blinkies, tearpads, and IP's- lots of great IP's!!).  Each wallet will have at least 75 coupons.  There will be a special wallet for moms (lots of baby  and toddler Q's!) and one for pet owners!  THe remaining three will have a great mix of coupons!  Each coupon wallet will come with a small memo pad to slip inside the wallet, a couple pens and a brand new calculator that is color coordinated with your wallet!

I also have gift cards!  $20 Exxon/Mobil gas card, a $10 TGIFridays gift card, and a $5 Elephant Bar and grill card, and a few other misc. gift cards!

There will be a few ways to enter- details will be available as soon as we hit 100 Twitter followers!

Very important: No coupon inserts on Sunday!

That's right my dears.  It's a holiday weekend and that means no coupon inserts in the Sunday paper.  For those of us who get Red Plum inserts in our Junk mail the following week, that means no RP insert either :(

So, instead, sleep in this Sunday, clean out your coupon wallet and check out my Twitter feed for printable and freebies!

Printable coupon Round up!

Hormel Brand printable coupons- You have to sign up for an account, but it's quick and easy and they have some really great coupons! Thanks to Printable Coupon Spot!

Al Fresco All Natural Chicken Sausage $1/1 (I really like this sausage- it's really good!)-Thanks to Printable Coupon Spot!

$5/5 Kraft Cheese Products! (This is a great printable for upcoming holiday sales)- Via email

I am the most excited about this new printable- Girard's Salad Dressing (I recommend the Raspberry- it's sweet and goes great with Romaine, feta cheese, cucumbers, and walnuts).  $2/1!

And Remember- It's the first of the month, so all of the printables have refreshed, and the e-coupons have refreshed. Check out Shortcuts.com, coupons.com, and cellfire.com!

Go Forth and Print!