Yahoo!7 Answers Blog Australia

It’s wedding fever at the moment. In the next year alone, my brother, 3 of my closest friends and I will be making one of life’s biggest commitments and saying ‘I Do’ to our partners.

It’s an exciting and daunting time; it seems that making the decision to get married is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to wedding choices. Should we get married close to home or have a destination wedding? Should we have a big extravaganza or a small intimate occasion? What should we wear? Who should be in the bridal party? And so it goes on.

Of course many of these decisions are related to budget. As much as you might want a large, lavish affair with 500 of your closest friends, in reality it’s tough on a budget of $5000 (although some have done it!). And although we all might want to wear Vera Wang on our wedding day, can we really afford to spend up to $12,000 on a dress we’ll only wear once?

Although we might not be able to have everything we want, there are certain things we won’t want to sacrifice. For many, it’s more important to have lots of guests so you might cut back on the dress budget. For others, fancy weddings cars is part of the dream and of course for many, the honeymoon is one aspect that can’t be scrimped on.

So how do we afford these little luxuries? We save of course. Bankwest asked the Answers community what are the best ways to save for a wedding and here are some great suggestions:

Cranberry says:

Research  ways of how to “hit two birds with one stone” with your expenses. It could be buying fabric for your wedding table clothes that you can later turn into curtains for your new home, or choosing a bridal gown design so that you can remodel the gown afterward into a dress you can wear again.

Marie157 has a great idea:

Both my fiance and I each have $100 per week taken out of our paycheck and deposited into an account at a different bank (that way we wouldn’t think about it every time we logged into our online banking through our main bank). We also deposit any money that we get for birthdays and holidays into the account.

almarj70 believes the savings are all in the suppliers:

Avoid any vendor that claims to be a wedding “expert” or something similar. We used a small suburban florist for my bouquet, I got change out of $100 and it was just as pretty as something you would get from an expensive florist.

Bubble130999 cut back on her daily expenses:

I opened up a high interest offset account that was attached to my normal wages account, I called it my fancy account. I gave up buying take-away coffees every day at work and taking my lunch’s from home. Those two items alone added up to $55.00 per week, coffee’s $15.00 and lunches $40.00. I had that transferred in my fancy account. I did the same thing with my partner, another $55.00 a week. Without effort we were saving $110.00 per week, $5720.00 a year.

That’s just only the beginning of the wedding advice on Answers. Using Answers, I’ve managed to find readings for the ceremony, figured out some great colour schemes and even a song to do our first dance to. If only the community could work out my place settings, do the invitations and find me some inexpensive bridesmaid shoes that match green dresses then I’d be happy!

Caitlin
Community Manager

We’ve got a question this week from Bankwest asking: ‘Do you only go to the movies on Tuesday?’ They’re obviously referring to Cheap Tuesday – the one day of the week where you can get into the flicks for sometimes only $5 – $10. When you’re on a strict budget, it’s these sorts of tricks that help you save money without sacrificing the fun side of life.

It made me think about other ways to enjoy life while still putting some money away. There are heaps of tips on Answers. I love XoxoxoxoX’s idea for pinching pennies at work:

…Buddy up with couple people at work and rotate to bring lunch. It is like family cooking at home, more people eat together actually save money… More

Washdcwhc has some great tips for reducing bills at home:

Do you have a lot of small appliances around that house that are always on? I cut my electronic bill almost in half by unplugging all the clock radios and night lights. I also bought some of those florescent bulbs that look a lot like a regular bulb. These things use 80% less electricity than regular bulbs. You would be surprised, but these small things add up. More

Elle says rethinking grocery shopping can save money:

We make sure to go grocery shopping only once a week so that we don’t spend as much on food. I notice that a few trips to the market become costly versus one trip to the (supermarket) saves us about 100/week. More

Chegg says it’s as simple as knowing what you’re spending:

The biggest thing that changed my spending habits and saved me money in college is that I started tracking what I was spending. It sounds so simple, even I was surprised at what a difference it made! I used an Excel spreadsheet, but you could just as easily write it down in a notebook or use an online service like Mint.com. Know where your money is going, and you’ll start to see where you can save money! More

I’m definitely going to try MSAD’s idea!

Have 80’s movie night. You can buy cheap older movies….so flash back to your favorite 80’s movie and invite your friends over. Everyone can chip in for the cost of pizza. (Caddy Shack, Footlose, Say Anything, Real Genius, The 3 Amigos, Pretty in Pink are all 80s movies). Encourage your friends to wear their best 80’s attire. More

What about you? What ways do you save money but still have a good time? Leave your tips below!

Caitlin
Community Manager

“How can you eat delicious, fresh food at home on a tight budget?”– Jamie Oliver

Having a little less in your pocket should not mean you scrimp on healthy food, or so says chef extraordinaire, Jamie Oliver. In posing his question to the Yahoo!7 Answers community, Jamie reaches out with a dilemma that so many of us face: can we shop, prepare, cook and eat in smarter ways?

Jamie Oliver is known as the man who successfully taught British school children about healthy eating. He believes that cheap doesn’t have to mean fatty, salty or processed. Fresh, tasty and healthy doesn’t have to mean expensive. But if you have tips on what this means in practical terms, why not answer Jamie’s question and share your knowledge with the community?

Answers itself is a hive of amazing cooking know-how, based around the Food and Drink category.

Is it healthy to eat broccoli raw? Nikita thinks so. According to her medical sources, “not only is this cruciferous vegetable high in vitamin C and fiber, it’s also a rich source of compounds known as glucosinolates which are broken down in the body to form sulforaphane. Sulforaphane has been demonstrated in numerous studies to have potent anti-cancer properties.”

On a slightly less serious note, Aurora asks for some tips on how to bake bread. T?R is on hand to offer some of his 25 years of experience with dough: “Kneading, letting it prove well and getting the mix just right. Use fresh yeast, not dried, and a good quality bread flour. Strong flour means it has lots of gluten.”

Est wants to know how to make quiche. David J offers a great way to combine bacon and mushroom with a little bit of Swiss cheese!

Yum, don’t know about you but I’m getting hungry!

Last week another Tuesday night passed and still the Oz Lotto jackpot hasn’t gone off. It’s a bit disappointing for all of us who spent our hard earned cash on a ticket. On the bright site, at least we had another week to dream about what we’d do with a cold, hard $90 million.

Last week I went to the launch of the Embraer Phenom 300, an Executive Jet that has never before been sold in Australia. If things go my way, this time next week I will have the winning Oz Lotto ticket in my hot little hands and I’ll be able to think about more extravagant purchases, like private jets. Imagine that, being able to fly 9 of your closest friends to Melbourne for an impromptu shopping spree or up the coast for some winter sun. And for only US$7.9million (AU$9.9m), you’d have plenty of change from your $90m for a couple of luxury cars to drive you to the airport.

What else would I buy? Well obviously I’d be calling the real estate agent to talk about my dream home. It would have to be overlooking the water with plenty of balconies and there would be a big fireplace for those cold winter nights where all you want to do is cuddle up with a hot milo and a book. And of course plenty of spare bedrooms for friends to stay when we throw those fabulous dinner parties and serve vintage Grange and Henschke until the wee hours of the morning.

Of course the altruistic side of me remembers that if I won, there would also be a fair amount of money going to charity. However the indulgent part of me wants to endlessly dream. I can just seem myself seeing the hippos and giraffes on a safari in Africa, enjoying a romantic night in a Michelin star restaurant overlooking Paris and splashing out on a boat cruise around the Caribbean with all of my friends and family.

How about you? What would you splurge on if you won $90 million?

Caitlin
Community Manager

This week, while we citizens continue to lose our jobs, our savings, and our patience; the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (aka the G-20) will convene in London to try to figure out some solutions to our global economic crisis.

The G-20 is a group of the top economic leaders from 20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the U.K., the U.S.A., and The E.U.  If you add them all together, the G-20 economies comprise 85% of global gross national product, 80% of world trade, and two-thirds of the world population. The G-20 likes to meet every year or so to discuss global markets, economic policies, trade, and the like. Obviously, this year they have a lot to talk about.

So, I guess we can all relax now that we know that our best economic and government leaders are on the case, right? We can just wait around while they think up a solution, right? I hope so. But, one could argue, after all, that it was banking and lending institutions that got us into this mess in the first place.

Just before last year’s G-20 summit in Washington, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said, “We must rethink the financial system from scratch, as at Bretton Woods.” British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said we must agree to a “new, international financial architecture for the years ahead.” And perhaps they’re right. Maybe we should stop relying on misguided bankers and financial pundits to solve our problems. Maybe instead, our heads of state should look to Yahoo!7 Answers.

Should we let the banks and investment funds fail? Should we continue to prop them up with tax dollars? Should we buy more? Consume less? Should we be more green and less profitable, or should we say to heck with the environment and start dumping all of our toxic waste into the ocean? Maybe we should just ditch the whole system and return to the woods where we could learn to hunt and survive on nuts and berries! Maybe not.

So, we’ve asked a question on Answers for you, the Answers community:

How can our governments work together to overcome the global economic crisis?

Since this is truly an international problem, we’re asking this question on all of our international Answers Blogs, sites, too. The Best Answers will be featured in a coming blog post. So, let’s give our economic leaders something to think about! We look forward to all of your opinions and ideas.

What a week. It’s been fairly dour these past few days, with discussions about Australia’s lowering employment rate, wild weather and even the sporting arena has been filled with controversy and speculation.

Many of us are hanging out for the tax stimulus payments to pay of various bills or buy that new washing machine, although some still seem unsure whether they qualify. Unemployment is up to 5.2% and there is huge debate over whether the government is doing a good enough job.

In the north of Australia, residents of Queensland were in the grip of Cyclone Hamish, wondering whether it would reach shore. Although in the end it weakened, it caused a fair amount of concern about how bad it could really get.

Considering the league hasn’t even started yet, it’s been a pretty big week in the world of NRL. There was plenty of controversy and fervent discussion over Brett Stewart’s suspension and whether he deserved it.

Dean W is on the compassionate side:

I feel for this guy in this case. I have been that pissed before. You wake up and ask the question “what happened last night?” Not being able to remember what happened is the worst feeling ever. This is still no excuse for his actions. In that kind of drunken state you are capable of anything and for that reason alone I believe he is guilty of TRYING to rape the girl. For the record 17 is legal. Not morally ethical but legal non the less.

Whereas Michelle J doesn’t think there should be any excuses.

Yes he should definitely be suspended until these issues are sorted out by the courts. These guy’s need to learn to account for their behaviour both on and off the field.

Well after this week, it’s probably time for some R&R! What’s your favourite way of relaxing to forget about your troubles?

Caitlin
Community Manager

Well they say money makes the world go round, and at the moment it certainly seems to be true. With jobs being lost left, right and centre and fears of an Australia recession, it seems everyone is talking about money and what we should be doing with it.

With the lower interest rates and decreasing property prices, many have decided to become ‘FHO’s. That’s First Home Owners for the unfamiliar   The Renting and Real Estate category has got a workout in the last few months!

We’ve seen the initial discussions of whether now is a good time to buy and what sort of check list you need to compile before you make the big step. There are decisions about how much of a deposit you need whether a fixed or variable loan is better.

Although the lowered interest rates are helping those with mortgages, it spells trouble for the Australian economy. As I’m sure everyone knows, the rates are currently at its lowest level and is set to dip even further.

How low do you think the interest rates will go? At this point, it seems it’s anyone’s guess!

Unfortunately I’m sure many of us know people who have lost their jobs in the last few months. It seems every industry and job type, from factory workers to financial bigwigs have been affected. Some are thinking about what else they could do if they lose their job, others are wondering about how to pay off existing loans and how much redundancy payout they should get. For many, they just need some help on how to get a foot in the door, and for some, it’s all about building confidence before they make that next step.

With all this recent talk of recession, many of us are hanging out for the Australian Government’s stimulus package. This stimulus package has been surrounded by controversy, with Opposition arguing that the last package didn’t help our economy, so why will another huge stimulus do any good? Regardless of our opinions, it’s going to be distributed to bank accounts in April.

If you’re eligible, let us know below what you will be spending your tax bonus on?

Caitlin
Community Manager

When I read this story the other day that Australian couples spend an average of $49,000 on their wedding, I was really shocked. After all, that sort of money isn’t far off the average annual wage of an adult Australian and is a pretty sizable deposit on a house. And aren’t we in an economic downturn?

Well there is a lot to pay for. There’s the cost of the diamond ring, the engagement party, invitations, the bridesmaid’s dresses, the wedding dress, buying or hiring the suit, the reception venue, hiring the church or celebrant, the photographer, music, the wedding bands, hair and makeup, flowers, the gifts for the bridal party, the favours, the honeymoon… phew! I’m feeling broke just thinking about it.

But does it really need to be $49,000 or can you get away with it for a lot less? This topic is a hotbed of discussion on Answers. All our experienced brides are on hand to give their tips on organising a fabulously frugal wedding.

• Where can I get Bridesmaid dresses in Australia online for under $250?
• My fiancé & I are planning a wedding for May 09 on a $5000 budget with 50 guests. Is this impossible?
• Should I do my own hair and make up on my wedding day to save money?
• What are some cheap and casual engagement party ideas in Sydney?
• How much is too much to ask people to pay on a Hens night?

Do you think it’s possible to have a nice wedding for under $49,000? How much do you think is reasonable to pay for a wedding in Australia?

Caitlin
Community Manager

What will you be doing to keep the costs down this Christmas?
Andrew Page – Yahoo!7 Finance Columnist

Christmas is always an expensive time of year. You’ve got presents to buy, hungry mouths to feed on Christmas Day and summer holidays to pay for. This year with the credit crunch, though, it’s particularly difficult for many.

One of Yahoo!7’s Finance Columnists Andrew Page has reached out to the Answers community asking how you’re going to celebrate the festive season without blowing the budget? Some of you had some excellent ideas!

For Christmas decorations, Megan B recommends:

Our old tree decorations were getting old and broken so for this year my mum and I bought some ribbon and tied bows on the tree. Looks stunning!

As for presents there are some great ideas from Jessy Pea and Innes:

I’m making up xmas hampers for all my friends and family. It costs less, is still loads of fun and I think adds a bit of personality to your gifts! After all it’s the thought that counts!

Online shopping so to ensure I get only what I need – instead of getting bombarded and tempted with the hype in store! Sending e-cards instead of paper cards where I can

For Kylie P, however, has good ideas for saving money for Christmas next year:

I start shopping early in the year and continue shopping throughout the year. By the time December comes, my budget stays in check and I have only about 25% of my shopping to do, which is usually clothes etc, Items that need to be purchased late in the year. Also buy your Christmas wrapping, cards etc, for next year, after Christmas this year. You can pick up great bargains.

As for the big Christmas meal, Rubydazzle7 isn’t sparing any expense:

The main thing about Christmas is the family get-together enjoying a meal. That’s what I’ll be spending on a good dinner or lunch for all my family on christmas. Everyone has agreed no gifts this year only a good time together. Kids will prob get some lollies.

and Min thinks preparation is the key:

The more you can prepare food wise yourself the better. I arrange all my cold food platters, which others in the family buy – I end up with a turkey platter full of cold meats/chickens compared to what some have paid for say a ‘large pizza size’ platter. Make my own pavlovas, christmas pudding & brandy sauce.

For more great money saving ideas or to add your own ideas, check out Andrew’s question here.

Also check out some questions from other Yahoo!7 Teams.

Yahoo!7 Dating – Where is a good place to meet someone during the holiday season?

Yahoo!7 Shopping – What are your best tips for Christmas shopping online?

Sunrise – What is your top Christmas etiquette dilemma and why?

Caitlin
Community Manager