Payday Loans May Only Temporarily Cover Up A Budget Problem

Are your personal debt problems taking over your finances? Ignoring the problem or using safe payday loans as a band-aid to quick fix it isn't going to make money troubles disappear. Payday loans are a great resource for extra cash when credit challenges become overbearing. Most people equate people in this situation as being low-income. With increased living costs and static wages, there are more and more people finding the perks of short-term loans more appealing.

As fast and easy as it is to acquire a payday loan, the cash advance is not going to solve ongoing money problems. It can take some of the immediate stress away for the time being as long as you can get it paid back on time. If you don't have the money to pay it off on the original due date, you will only add more stress to your financial situation. Now you have multiple problems.

When financial troubles take over, budget woes will be a continuous uphill battle until you assess the money malfunction. Why is your budget not able to cover regular costs and the occasional emergency payment? Once you discover the leak in your income, you will be able to develop a plan to plug it up for good.

Budgets are a funny thing. Even the best made plans can go awry when too many unexpected costs pop up. These costs are not necessarily emergencies either. Unplanned invitations to several birthday parties or just one of those weeks where time gets away from you and too many dinners took place in restaurants. All the extras add up and suddenly there is not enough money to cover scheduled payments. These types of problems are not severe but how you handle them could make or break the next month's budget plan.

If you add up all your regular monthly expenses and find that your income barely keeps up, you will need to do more for your finances other than finding a fast payday loan service to help. Alleviate any impending trouble right away with a short-term loan, but then you will want to take the time to start whittling away at any unnecessary expenses. Slimming down your living expenses may not be convenient, in fact it could be downright frustrating, but if it means that your income will support your finances, it is a must do.

Besides cutting costs, it is important to get rid of as much debt as possible. It won't happen overnight so don't think that this job will be completed anytime soon. Tackling debt is a slow and sometimes painful process. The key ingredient to a successful pay down is perseverance. It doesn't matter if it is credit card debt, payday loan lender debt or student loans looming over your head. You will want to set realistic goals for yourself. Make sure that all your payments are made on-time and set all but one expense at the minimum requirement. When you focus all extra cash on the highest debt first, you increase your income each month. You will face less debt and smaller interest payments. Prioritize your debt based on interest rates. This means that if you have short-term payday loan debt, you will want to get that bill out of your budget as soon as possible.

As you continue to whittle your debt away, your budget will feel like it received a raise. Do what you can to keep new debt while you pay off the old. Give yourself a few months to see the changes begin to take place. With each payoff, apply the money towards the next bill on the list. The next time your budget feels crunched, don't find a band-aid until you evaluate the situation and know how long it will take to heal.

Approved Money Center Payday Loans offers fast loans when you need quick cash. Visit http://www.approvedmoneycenter.com for more information on how to obtain a short-term online payday loan.

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Current Trends in Bitcoin

Bitcoin is built on the notion that money is any object, or any sort of record, accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts in a given country or socio-economic grouping. Bitcoin uses cryptography, or mathematical equations, to control the creation and transfer of money, rather than relying on governments and central banking authorities. Transfers for loans, sales, purchases or any other methods of payment can be processed by anybody, using a desktop, smart phone, tablet, or laptop. This is all possible without the need for a financial institution to act as an intermediary or recording agent.

Created in 2009, Bitcoin is a digital currency introduced as open source software by an MIT student named Satoshi Nakamoto. There is much speculation as to whether Satoshi is an actual person, or a collection of individuals using a pseudonym. Bitcoin are minted by a process termed mining, in which specialized computer hardware complete complex mathematic equations and are rewarded with a block of bitcoins. This process takes about 10 minutes and the current block rewards 25 bitcoins. The block reward will be halved to 12.5 bitcoins in 2017 and again approximately every four years thereafter. By 2140 there will be roughly 21 million bitcoins in existence.

This week has shown a whirlwind of activity with business owners of all stripes getting on track with Bitcoin. From small businesses in New Orleans, to the Sacramento Kings of the NBA accepting Bitcoin for ticket sales and team paraphernalia, to casinos in Las Vegas, Bitcoin is popping up everywhere. Venture Capitalist Chris Dixon believes Bitcoin may reach $100,000 if it becomes the primary means of ecommerce ( Wired ). The CEO of a major online retailer was quoted as saying "Other retailers will not want to miss out, Bitcoin market is growing by 30% per month." This same retailer saw a 5% increase in sales the first day it accepted Bitcoin. Zynga Games, one of the largest online gaming companies, responsible for Farmville, Castleville, and a host of others also began accepting Bitcoin for in game financial transactions. After the five Big Banks said no to money from marijuana dispensaries and growers, Colorado's legal marijuana dispensary industry turned to Bitcoin ( ZeroHedge ). The IRS has also recently launched a campaign that allows taxes to be paid with Bitcoin. There has been Bitcoin ATM's popping up in cities such as Vancouver, Ottawa, and a Bratislava Slovakia shopping mall. Recently, the New York City Bitcoin ATM was put on hold until a public hearing under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Financial Services can be held.

After flirting with the $1,000 value just after the New Year, Bitcoin has been steadily trading at around $950 on the Mt. Gox exchange over the last fortnight and is being nicely supported by the 50 day moving average indicating Bitcoin is still decidedly bullish. This was surprising to most analysts who believed the regulatory news coming out of China, India, and Russia would burst Bitcoins bubble. However, Michael Robinson, with over 30 years of experience in market analysis, believes most analysts are wrong. He suggests that the strong correction we saw in early December, coupled with the consistent support of the 50 day moving average, indicates Bitcoin is an extremely healthy market, and should only continue to increase in value.

Bitbillions Beginner, http://www.bitbillionsbitcoin.com, is a blog and information page focused on novice Bitcoin enthusiasts and entrepreneurs. We are currently giving away 10 co-founder positions within the GBBG network, each a $30 value. This is an incredible opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an organization that is set to take the world of ecommerce by storm.

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Before You Quit Your Day Job Get Your Financial House in Order

Yesterday I gave you some insight on why you should keep your day job. I told you to not be lured by the sexiness of quitting. Now I will give you ten steps to make your transition from your day job to your home business.

This is not gambling with your families savings. This is not hoping to win the lottery with your home business. This is an intentional plan that takes action. It's not sexy, it's not a thrill ride, and your success story will be a story of a home business owner who succeeded.

Steps 1-5 deal with you getting your financial house in order. Quitting without being financial secure is not smart. You know the countless horror stories of failed entrepreneurs. Before you make that prison break make sure you can survive the pitfalls that will occur.

Five Steps to get Your Financial House in Order

Step One: Keep Your Day Job

Your job is your best source of creating wealth. I don't care if your job sucks, your boss is mean, or you hate the commute. Your job pays your bills, provides food, shelter, clothing, and transportation. Your job is the income source that will fund your business. It will pay for marketing, trainings, products, and services.

You can build your emergency fund, pay all your debts, and be ready when Mr. Murphy knocks on your door (Murphy's Law anything that can go wrong will go wrong). Mr. Murphy tends to stay away when you keep your day job.

Step Two: Create a Cash Flow Plan

It's time to put your personal finances and business on a budget. Oh no the "B" word! People hate budgets. They feel constricted when it comes to budgeting. It has a water and bread connotation. That's why I call it a cash flow plan. Cash flow plan sounds better and it makes you feel like you have more money.

Creating a monthly budget will help you fund your business and eliminate useless expenses. You can track your spending and uncover any money surpluses. People procrastinate on creating a budget because they fear where their money is going. You are an entrepreneur you don't know the word fear. Do your cash flow plan.

Step Three: $1000 Emergency Fund

I recommend a 3-6 month emergency fund for living expenses. The first goal is to get $1000 in your savings. Mr. Murphy has a way of visiting people who are not financially ready. Emergencies like blown tires, air conditioner stops working, fender bender, or a trip to the emergency room will happen. If you don't have any money you are in trouble and you pull out that credit card. You just added more expenses to your cash flow plan. Expenses that your emergency fund could have handled.

With your job and home business you should get to $1000 quickly. Fight temptation and don't spend the money. It's for emergencies only! Hint... the pizza guy is not an emergency. New shoes is not an emergency. Fast food for the kids is not an emergency. Only you can decide what an emergency is for your family. Get that $1000 and put it away. Put it in a frame and say "In Case of An Emergency Break Glass".

Credit Donkey Says that only 59 percent of Americans have at least $500 in a savings account. That's horrible for the one of the richest countries on the planet. Entrepreneurs should have better money habits than the average American. Put away your $1000 now.

Step Four: Pay off those Darn Debts

In my office I have agents who quit their jobs or got laid off and don't have a penny to their names. It takes money to become a licensed real estate agent and you have to pay for classes, Realtor dues, and MLS Fees. You may have a monthly office fee. We are talking about at least $1000 and you haven't sold one house yet. They don't have the cash and they start using their credit cards. Most agents quit during their first year and sadly the debt stays around.

For my internet marketing team if you buy all of our products you will spend $6000 to learn how to succeed in your home business. Most people don't have this money saved and they use their credit cards. Saving money to purchase items is smart. It keeps you out of debt. People don't practice delayed gratification. Sales justify purchases. Boot strapping is the best way to expand your business.

Going into debt doesn't guarantee sales. Debt kills businesses. Debt will murder your dreams. Debt eats up your cash flow and instead of reinvesting into your business you are paying your debts. Do not listen to the Gurus who tell you to use your credit card to purchases the next super-duper scooper. Pay cash only. The next big thing and shiny objects will be there when you can afford to pay for them with cash.

Keep your day job and pay off those debts. Take 20% of your business income and pay off your debts. According to Nerdwallet.com and Credit.com the average American household carries this amount of debt:

Average credit card debt among indebted households: $15,263
Average credit card interest rate: 14.95% APR
Average mortgage debt: $147,591
Average outstanding student loan balance: $31,646
Average auto loan debt: $30,738
The average non mortgage debt payment is $1100 per month. That's monthly payments on credit cards, personal loans, student loans, and car loans. How much marketing can you do with an extra $1100 per month. How fast can you quit your job if you didn't have to pay $1100 per month on debts.

There are plenty of books, classes, seminars that teach you to become debt free. I went to Financial Peace University. Three things to do now to become debt free:

Don't buy anything else on credit
Live on cash only
Find a book, class, or training program that will help you control your finances
Step Five: 3-6 Months of Living Expenses

After you get your $1000 emergency fund and you paid off all your non mortgage debt it's time to put away 3 to 6 months of living expenses. When you quit your job this will be your safety net. This will get you through the lean times.

Final Thought

Getting your financial house in order is essential to your business success. Work with your spouse, partner, or friend so you can stay accountable. This is a team effort. Act on these five steps. Be in like with your job, get a cash flow plan together, create an emergency fund, and pay off those debts.

Tomorrow steps 6-10 deals with you keeping your full-time job and building your wealth part-time.

Charles Fitzgerald Butler is an expert when it comes to internet marketing Prosperity Team. To find out everything about Your Business Blueprint, visit his website at Your Personal Escape Plan.

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How Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Works to Save Your House and Other Things

If you are behind on your mortgage and facing foreclosure and the loss of your home, filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be an effective way to save your home from foreclosure and also get three or five years to catch up on the past due mortgage payments that you are behind. Keep in mind that the bankruptcy court generally has no authority to lower your monthly mortgage payment or to change the terms of your loan or mortgage. For most people, Chapter 13 bankruptcy will only work for you if you have regular monthly income. Upon filing your case, you will be legally required to begin making your regular mortgage payments to your lender, plus and extra payment to catch up on the past due mortgage payments. This extra monthly payment will be paid to the Chapter 13 Trustee, who will keep track of your payments and pay off your creditors over the 3 or 5 year timetable.

For example, let's assume that your regular mortgage payment is $1,000 per month and that you are 6 months behind. Also, by this time, your bank has usually hired attorneys, which you will have to pay for because you agreed to that when you signed your mortgage and promissory note. It is common to see legal fees you now owe your bank, totaling around $3,000 to $5,000 depending on how much work the bank's lawyers have done. If an auction of your home has been scheduled, you will also likely have to pay auctioneer fees and advertising fees in addition. So now you owe the bank $6,000 for past due mortgage payments plus $3,000 in legal fees, for a total past due amount of $9,000. In most cases, the bankruptcy court will make you repay that $9,000 by dividing the payments up over 3 years or 5 years. So that means that each month you will pay your $1,000 mortgage payment to the bank, plus you will have to make an additional payment of $250 each month for the next three years in order to catch up on your mortgage. If you miss too many payments, usually two or three, the court will usually dismiss your case, which means you are no longer under bankruptcy court protection and the bank can reschedule the foreclosure auction of your home.

Chapter 13 also works if you are behind on car payments, SUV payments, motorcycle payments truck, camper, boat or RV payments or generally anything you are behind on and want to keep for one reason or another. Keep in mind that if you have other debts, such as credit card bills or other unsecured loans, that you will also have to pay a portion of those back, which means that your extra monthly payment will be higher in order to pay back all your creditors a portion of what is owed and after you complete the three year repayment plan, any remaining balances on your credit card debts or other unsecured debts are discharged and you will never have to pay them again. The monthly payment you make will be determined according to your Chapter 13 "Plan." The Plan is a document that has all your debts, both secured and unsecured, as well as the amount of your regular monthly income and also indicates how much your monthly payment will be. As soon as your Plan is agreed to by the Chapter 13 Trustee, and the Judge, your Plan will be confirmed and as long as you make the monthly payment to the Chapter 13 Trustee, who will pay each of your creditors a little money at a time, according to your Plan, you will be on your way to a successful Chapter 13. But don't forget, you still have to make your regular mortgage payment to your lender, as well as make any other payments to secured lenders, such as car payments or installment payments on furniture or other household items.

A Chapter 13 also has some other benefits for people, depending on their individual circumstances. One of the most helpful benefits is that in some cases, a Chapter 13 can get rid of a second mortgage off your house and you will never have to pay it again. This is called a "strip off" and whether you can take advantage of it or not depends on several factors, including the fair market value of your house and how much you owe the first mortgage holder. If you have student loans, or income taxes owed, a Chapter 13 can stop collection enforcement and the accumulation of interest on past due amounts for tax liabilities, as well as give you protection from your creditors because any payments made to them will be subject to court oversight. Another benefit of a Chapter 13 is that is protects co-signers on your accounts because they will receive the same bankruptcy court protection that you do, even though they are not filing bankruptcy.

As with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy will require you to produce substantial documentation of your financial affairs, so that your attorney, your creditors, the trustee and the court, will have an accurate picture of your finances as of the date of filing your case. You will be required to have your tax returns filed and up to date and you will have to show the trustee your paystubs, or other evidence of income if you do not receive a paycheck. In addition, you will have to produce a binder for your homeowner's insurance on your house, as well as provide evidence of the value of your house, which usually comes from a real estate broker who can give an opinion as to your homes fair market value.

This is only a brief overview of some of the main areas of how a Chapter 13 bankruptcy works. There are many other aspects to a Chapter 13 and each case is different because no two people have exactly the same set of circumstances. Bankruptcy law is complicated, and it is always best to be represented by an experienced bankruptcy attorney who can help you get a fresh start through completing a Chapter 13 repayment plan.

By Attorney Richard S. Ravosa
©Richard S. Ravosa
http://www.MassachusettsBankruptcyCenter.com

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What Can Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Do For You? Or Not Do

The purpose of this article is to provide you with information if you have already decided to file bankruptcy, or are seriously considering bankruptcy as one of your options for dealing with your debts. For individuals and small business owners, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy can be a fast way out of financial difficulty and clear the way for a brighter financial future, but like anything that holds the promise of something good, there are usually strings attached, and bankruptcy is no different.

If you are being harassed by your creditors by non-stop phone calls, threatening letters from collection agencies and lawyers, or are afraid that you will be sued in your local court and your paycheck will be garnished, or your utilities will be shut off, your house foreclosed or vehicle repossessed, these are all valid reasons to seek bankruptcy protection from your creditors. It is your legal right to do so and Congress passed bankruptcy laws for the protection of people just like you.

With a Chapter 7 case, the moment you file your case in court, an automatic court order goes into immediate effect and makes it illegal for your creditors to contact you in any way. This should give you a sense of relief and allow you to have some much needed breathing room. There are, however, some types of creditors who can still collect from you if you are under other court orders to pay for child support, alimony or other domestic support obligations. These obligations, along with most income taxes and student loans, generally do not go away from filing bankruptcy. However, there are times when income taxes and student loans may be eligible to be "discharged" and a consultation with an experienced bankruptcy attorney is recommended because this area is very complicated.

A Chapter 7 case stays open for about four months and upon conclusion, you will receive a court order from the Bankruptcy Judge discharging all of the debts that you have listed in your bankruptcy petition which are dischargeable. Any debts that you have failed to list will not be discharged and you will still have to pay them. It is best to carefully review your bankruptcy papers before they are filed because you are the best person to know who all your creditors are. If you are unsure about who all your creditors are, you should obtain copies of your credit reports from the three main credit reporting agencies, Trans Union, Experian and Equifax. These reports can be obtained online and in some states, you are entitled to one free report per year.

Most of the tasks that you will have to do as a client are at the beginning of your case. The bankruptcy process is "frontloaded", meaning that most, if not all of the information that will be asked of you, you must provide to your lawyer, the court and the trustee, before your case is filed, or very soon after the filing of your case. Generally, you will be required to produce two years of tax returns, recent paystubs or if you are self-employed, evidence of your income through profit and loss statements and bank statements, as well as a host of other documents that may apply to your case, such as deeds to real estate, evidence of the value of your house or other real estate, the value of all your vehicles, retirement plans, life insurance, tax refunds, as well as the value of all of your personal belongings.
About a month after your case is filed, you will have to attend a "meeting of creditors" where you will answer questions about your case to a trustee in a conference room setting. Most of these meetings do not take place inside of a courtroom and most people filing bankruptcy never see the inside of a courtroom. This meeting is usually very brief, lasting about ten minutes and typically, the only people in attendance are you, your lawyer, and the trustee. However, if you have lots of assets or have a complicated or unusual case, the meeting can last longer and even be continued to another date. Many people who try to represent themselves without an attorney often get their meeting continued because they have not done something properly. This can be very frustrating for the person filing bankruptcy and for the trustee. It is always best to have an experienced bankruptcy attorney involved every step of the way to make sure that the trustee is happy. In turn, the chances are good that if the trustee is happy, you will be happy too.

Most people in a Chapter 7 case get the best of both worlds by getting to keep everything that they own, but get rid of their debts for good. The bankruptcy laws have a long and generous list of exemptions that let people keep their real property and personal property, so long as they fit within the allowed exemptions. This is also why you hear of people in the news who "filed bankruptcy and came out smelling like a rose". While those stories should be taken with a grain of salt, there is usually some truth to them and that is because of the bankruptcy exemptions at the federal level, as well as some states, that have their own state law exemptions that may or may not provide for better protection for someone filing bankruptcy. An experienced bankruptcy attorney can analyze your specific circumstances and give you advice on which exemptions may be available for your use.

If you have a mortgage on your house or a loan on your vehicle, generally, you will get to keep them, provided you continue to pay the lender just like you did before you filed bankruptcy. If you miss payments on your house or car, the lender can foreclose on your house and repossess your vehicle, but they usually need to obtain permission from the Bankruptcy Judge before doing this. Loans on houses and cars are called "secured" loans because if you do not pay your lender as agreed, the lender can take back the property to sell it and satisfy your obligation. Bankruptcy only gets rid of the debt associated with what you owe on a house or car. Bankruptcy almost never gets rid of the secured status of a lender who has loaned you money to buy a house or car. This is why someone can still lose their house or car after their bankruptcy case has long since been closed. If you intend to keep your house and car after bankruptcy, just remember to keep paying as agreed. But if you decide that your house or car is too expensive or not worth keeping, you can "surrender" them or give them back to the lender as a part of your bankruptcy case and you will never have to make another mortgage payment or car payment.

This is only intended as a general summary of how a Chapter 7 case works. If you are considering filing bankruptcy, it is best to consult an experienced attorney who can advise you about your specific circumstances so that your case proceeds smoothly from filing to discharge and that you get a "fresh start". Legal advice, like anything, costs money, but its value to you can be enormous.

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The Secret to Living Debt-Free

Given the rampant rise of household debt within the country, it is very hard nowadays to find a middle-class American without any amount of debt (whether in the form of credit card debt, student/auto loans, and/or mortgages). This scarcity of debt-free Americans is a growing problem throughout the country as increasing amounts of debt are reducing the financial flexibility of many domestic households.

For those of you interested in learning how to withstand this trend, below are some great tips to help you to live a debt-free lifestyle:

Set Up Automatic Deductions. If you are anything like most people, payday is one of the worst days of the week for you, financially speaking. The reason for this is because you are much more likely to spend more money on the day or so following payday then you are on any other portion of the week. There's significant truth to the notion of people living "paycheck to paycheck." If you wish to avoid your sudden urge to splurge the day you get paid, it's definitely a good idea to set up automatic deductions that get deposited directly into a savings account.

Personally transferring the money yourself is not as effective, it should be automatic. If you are manually transferring the money to a savings account, then there's a greater chance you will try to postpone the transfer thinking that you will save twice as much next week or the week after. Automatic deductions will help you to avoid this procrastination altogether, and allow for more consistent saving.

Block Off Excess Cash. Once you have enough money for an emergency fund (generally enough cash to cover for six or more months of salary), it's allows a good idea to block off some cash to prevent the urge from dipping into your savings account. A great way to do this is to put money into a CD account or other long-term restrictive account. By blocking off immediate access to your excess savings, you will feel less of an urge to dip into your savings for unnecessary big ticket purchases such a new car or television.

Pay Down Credit Card Debt. Before you even think about entering into the world of investing, it is absolutely important to ensure that you have little to no credit card debt. No matter what type of economic environment you may be in, it will prove to be very difficult for you to beat the 20%+ interest rates on outstanding balances on most credit cards. You goal should be to pay down this debt as soon as possible. Only then should you even think about starting to invest your money.

Start Investing. Once your credit card debt is at a reasonable level, it's time to start investing. Thanks to the rule of compounding returns, the earlier you are able to start, the more money you will likely end up with in the long run. For this reason, it's always a good idea for you to contribute as much money as you can reasonably afford towards investments. The investment vehicle you end up choosing is ultimately up to you, but I strongly advise that you do your research first. It's also not a bad idea to read about the different classes of investments before you get started.

About the Author: Ketul Kothari is an accomplished investor and entrepreneur. He is also the author of several popular business books including the Invest Your Way to Riches series. Ketul's upcoming book, Presenting Greatness, will reveal the presentation techniques and strategies employed by some of the world's leading presentation gurus. Follow Ketul on Twitter.

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Who, What, and When to Gift - Weddings

There are many times that brides wonder to what extent they need to pay for their bridal party, if at all, and what the procedure is for that. Well, that depends on the couple. I've known some brides who feel that since they've asked the girls to be in their bridal party that they need to pay for everything - the dress, shoes, hair/makeup, travel reservations, etc. I have also known brides who will pay for a portion of the accessories, such as the jewelry and hair/makeup, while the girls pay for the rest. This all depends on budget and each couples opinion on the matter. When it comes time for me to get married, I will pay towards a portion or give the jewelry as their gift.

Wait, we have to give them gifts too?

... yes! But you should WANT to! Just like it is traditional to give the parents of the couple gifts and bride/groom gifts, it is also traditional to give the wedding party gifts as a "Thank you for supporting me on my big day!". These are special people that are in your life. You asked them to be in your wedding for a reason, and most of the time they are paying for things on their own - Bachelor/Bachelorette parties, wedding gifts to the bride and groom, dresses and tuxedos, hair and makeup, manicures and pedicures, travel arrangements, etc. I know, there are student loans to pay for, car payments, new apartments/houses, kids, or even paying for their own wedding! However, you've asked them to be in the wedding party because you love them, and they love you so much that it didn't matter to them how much they might end up splurging on your big day. You only get married once right?!

Despite the issue of money, there is also a factor of time. The people that are in your wedding party are your right-hand men and women. They are there for you to handle the drama, to encourage you and remind you why you want to marry this wonderful person in your life, to help with ideas and inspiration, to give you that tissue when you see yourself in your dress, to have late night crafting dates, and to have fun with in this wonderful journey of your engagement. Now, don't you WANT to thank them? I won't be able to resist gifting and saying "These are my girls! They're awesome! Thank you!"

So now you're thinking: Okay, well, I have a tight budget, so how much do I have to spend?

Great question! The answer to this varies per couple, of course. As I mentioned earlier, it depends on your budget. One thing to keep in mind is how much the wedding party is contributing. If they're paying for everything themselves, then it is a good idea to give a more substantial gift. If the wedding party is contributing a decent amount and they receive a small hairpiece or a cheap travel coffee mug, then it might seem like you are ungrateful. Now, I'm not saying that you need to match what they are contributing at all! We all have a budget! But, I am saying to make it special. Somewhere between the ranges of $50-$100 is good for a nice wedding party gift.

Another idea, and this is one that I will most likely do, is instead of giving a gift that they might appreciate but may never use again, give them the gift of lighting the financial load of being in your wedding party. This would be good for when the costs are starting to really add up. Paying for their hair, makeup, dress, travel expenses, etc. are equally as valuable as giving a gift.

If you have decided that you would like to pay for most of the accessories and expenses involved in being in the wedding party, then you don't need to spend as much on a gift, if you give a gift at all. It's always nice to receive a small token as a Thank You, though, and this could be a bracelet with their initials, personalized cufflinks, or customized shot glasses for a pre-ceremony toast!

And don't forget about Mom and Dad! Most of the time, they are contributing a majority of the finances toward your wedding, whether they're paying for the whole event or not. In addition to finances, they are right there besides you giving input and helping you plan your big day! They have been there for you throughout your entire life and as you start a family of your own it is the perfect opportunity to give them a token of your appreciation. I know, I know, you can never repay them right? I completely agree. But surely, a small token of your appreciation can't hurt.

Okay, I can't wait to give them the gifts I've chosen for my wedding party! When can I give them?!

There is no right or wrong time to give out your gifts! Typically, they are given as close to the wedding date as possible. So this could be at the rehearsal dinner in front of everyone while you give a toast, or privately while everyone is getting ready - it's up to you!

Remember, there is no set amount, there is no set time, and there is nobody who will judge how much you gave or didn't give. Don't worry, you're wedding party is there to support and love you and, of course, would not have said yes if it were otherwise. If you're worried about what they might say about your gift then do you really want them in your wedding party to begin with? Just have fun with it and I promise it will all turn out great!

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