quarantine

Easy Ways To Save for Your Big Day
One of the best ways to spend your time during quarantine is to think about ways to save for your wedding, especially if it was postponed.

One of the best ways to spend your time during quarantine is to think about ways to save for your wedding, especially if it was postponed.

The last few months have forced many people to postpone or cancel their wedding plans. While this might be upsetting, it is also an opportunity to take a step back and rethink some ideas. Whether you had your plans pushed off due to the current global pandemic or you were just starting to talk about ideas with your partner before the quarantine began, extra time to plan is really a blessing in disguise for some. One of the best ways to spend your time is pondering how to save money.

A wedding is an expensive event. If you want to come out of the pandemic with a clear plan and a pocket full of cash, take a look at these easy ways you can save money for the future.

Evaluate Your Current Expenses and Budget

If you want to save money on the wedding you need to have a plan. You can’t formulate a plan if you don’t have information. When it comes to money, all the information you need can be found in your life and daily habits. What is your income? What is your partner’s income? How much do you spend a month on expenses, and how much can you realistically afford to set aside without tapping into crucial funds? Knowing the money you are starting with and what you’re likely to see from your job can help you forecast.

A wedding budget is also a vital component. You need to set a limit on your spending and stick with it. This will help you control what funds you are applying to which services and evaluate whether or not you are spending too much or too little on anything in particular. The budget will depend entirely on the preferences you share. If you don’t care about the venue but love food, then put the bulk of your funds behind the catering service. Work on this part of the plan in advance, and you’ll see better results with the rest.

Take Down Your Debt

Extra time is a blessing for many reasons. Maybe your credit score is not exactly where you would like it to be. Improving your rating takes time, and time may be all you have right now. If you have existing debt preventing you from getting your financial status into a better position, try to pay down some of this right now. Make higher payments to pay off the premium over the interest, and see if you can work with lenders to get better rates based on good habits you have established over the years.

The reason this is helpful is you might want to consider opening up or using an existing credit card for wedding expenses. If you have a specific card that you use to cover a good chunk of the payments, then you will have a really easy way to both track your budget and know exactly how much you have spent and on what. While this is a great step to take for some, it might not be right for you. Putting money toward your debt when you need it for other expenses is also a fine and sensible decision.

Look for Local Deals

Going local with your vendors is a smart move because it helps you engage with your community in a meaningful and productive way. What’s more, you might be able to save money by doing this. Ask one of your vendors for recommendations, and this might lead to you finding an array of other excellent vendors that offer great rates, all because you asked a person with connections who likes to connect others.

It can be difficult to find ways to save for a wedding, but it can be a little bit easier when you have a quarantine keeping you from going out and spending. Think about your strategy and develop a plan that works for your future nuptials.

Evaluating the Safety Risks of Outdoor Activities During COVID-19
With COVID-19 still devastating many communities, but summer time upon us, many people are wondering how and when to engage in outdoor activities.

With COVID-19 still devastating many communities, but summer time upon us, many people are wondering how and when to engage in outdoor activities.

Conflicting news reports and uninformed political leaders have led to widespread confusion when it comes to safety and preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though much is still unknown about the novel coronavirus, organizations like WHO and the CDC have been trying to offer as much information as possible on how people should be responding to this crisis. Unfortunately, the longer some people have been stuck indoors, the stronger the urge becomes to get out and interact with the world again. To avoid a resurgence in numbers, it is vital that people everywhere avoid rushing into anything uncertain, and take extra precautions when engaging in outdoor activities.

If you’re losing your mind indoors with your partner or family, you might be curious about what is actually safe. Consider these points and make a decision that will help to keep your family protected without accidentally adding to the rising number of cases.

When To Stay on Your Property

How you should be responding to the pandemic comes back to where you live. Those living in rural areas where residences and businesses are spread out might not need to be as cautious as those who reside in bustling cities or even packed suburbs. This should inform how far you go with your family and how you engage in outdoor activities. Going to a park in your neighborhood once your state allows it might be legal, but a crowded park is a crowded park.

As tempting as it might be to go to a local park or public spot, it is definitely much wiser to refrain from these activities until you start seeing hard data that case numbers are in control. Stay on your property when you need fresh air and sunshine. If you live in a city, take a walk around your block while wearing a mask and whatever other gear is required. It might be difficult, but taking these steps now helps to increase the odds of everyone being able to enjoy outdoor activities sooner rather than later.

When To Venture Out

In America, states are rolling out plans for reopening at wildly different paces. With many politicians and economic stakeholders concerned about losing capital, public health is being sacrificed in the rush to open businesses again. This hastiness is causing even more confusion about whether or not it is actually safe to go out and about. According to all major health organizations, the pandemic is in no way contained and reopening can easily lead to more complicated problems at a faster pace. If you’re concerned about your state’s decision to open, try to refrain from going out even though you’re allowed.

The politicization of the novel coronavirus has caused a serious disruption of fact-based information from informing the decisions of average citizens. To weed through the noise and know when it is safe for you to go out for more than essentials, you need to get your information from health organizations and sources that are not affiliated with major media. Though the news is trustworthy to a degree, media conglomerates will often publish material with a political slant for more internet views. Avoid sensationalist clickbait to cut to the heart of the situation and develop an informed perspective.

Why You Need To Stay Informed

Though being obsessed with news surrounding the pandemic can be quite unhealthy, you also need to keep yourself informed on developments. Until you know it is safe to resume your usual outdoor activities, limit your excursions. Places like gyms might be sorely missed by patrons, but you can easily exercise at home until the coast is clear.

Information surrounding the novel coronavirus might change on an hourly basis, but making any decisions without consulting current data can be irresponsible. While you might be eager to lazily hang in the park with friends, showing a bit of reservation will definitely yield better results for all.