Wedding Stuff:

Photography: $2600
Officiant: $ 300
Flowers: $ 500
Invitations: $ 500
Attendant Gifts: $1000
Hair, Nails and Makeup: $ 200
Rooms for the Night Before: $ 500
Ceremony/Cocktail Music: $ 800
DJ: $1500
Rings: $1700


Ever see "My Big, Fat Greek Wedding"?

Yeah.

I'm really looking forward to my $7,000 raise coming in September - but until then, this is where my $ goes!

I get paid bi-weekly. I love those three paycheck months! Yeah!

$1156 (Bi-weekly take home pay)
$400 (House downpayment savings)
$400 (Wedding Savings)
$200 (Rent)
$25 (Credit Union Account)
$25 (Car Account)
$15 (Gym Membership)
$90 (Groceries, Gas and Play Money)

I know...it's a REALLY tight budget. I am lucky to still live at home (I pay my dad $400 a month rent). I do have a teacher pension that takes 7.5% out of my pay. I also have a ROTH ira account...but until I have my wedding and downpayment saved - I put my contributions on hold.

Here's the background info:

My fiance has a year of law school left and will be graduating in May 2009. We are getting married in Sept. 2009. We need to save about $9,000 for the wedding...my dad is paying for the rest (thank you, Dad).

My primary motivation is to save for our house. My dad would like us to stay with him for two years after we are married and then buy a house - when we are more financially secure.

This is my house savings plan:


Salary/Date/Projected Savings

$42,298 July 1st 2008 $2,735
$42,298 August 1st 2008 $3,535
$42,298 September 1st 2008 $4,335
$48,696 October 1st 2008 $5,135
$48,696 November 1st 2008 $7,135
$48,696 December 1st 2008 $9,135
$48,696 January 2nd 2009 $11,135
$50,298 February 1st 2009 $13,135
$50,298 March 1st 2009 $15,135
$50,298 April 1st 2009 $17,135
$50,298 May 1st 2009 $19,135
$50,298 June 1st 2009 $21,135
$50,298 July 1st 2009 $23,135
$50,298 August 1st 2009 $25,135
$50,298 September 1st 2009 $27,135
$57,725 October 1st 2009 $29,135
$57,725 November 1st 2009 $31,135
$57,725 December 1st 2009 $33,135
$57,725 January 1st 2010 $35,135
$57,725 February 1st 2010 $38,135
$57,725 March 1st 2010 $41,135
$57,725 April 1st 2010 $44,135
$57,725 May 1st 2010 $47,135
$57,725 June 1st 2010 $50,135
$57,725 July 1st 2010 $53,135
$57,725 August 1st 2010 $56,135
$57,725 September 1st 2010 $59,135
$67,232 October 1st 2010 $62,135
$67,232 November 1st 2010 $65,135
$67,232 December 1st 2010 $68,135
$67,232 January 1st 2011 $71,135
$67,232 February 1st 2011 $74,135
$67,232 March 1st 2011 $77,135
$67,232 April 1st 2011 $80,135
$67,232 May 1st 2011 $83,135
$67,232 June 1st 2011 $86,135
$67,232 July 1st 2011 $89,135
$67,232 August 1st 2011 $92,135
$67,232 September 1st 2011 $95,135
$75,849 October 1st 2011 $98,135
$75,849 November 1st 2011 $101,135
$75,849 December 1st 2011 $104,135



If we follow this plan...I think we will be sitting pretty by the time we are ready to buy our first home. I am thinking that we will be looking in the $300,000 range. That could hopefully get us not only our first home...but our forever home!