Wedding Checks:

Should you save them or splurge? Whether your cash gifts total $1,000 or $1,000 you'll want to make the most of every dollar. And that doesn't mean blowing it on a new plasma t.v. Here's what SCBC personal finance expert Suzie Orman would do with it.

First take care of your immediate needs. For most newly weds, this will involve some aspect of nesting, like putting down a deposit on a rental apartment. buying basic home appliances or purchasing a bigger bed.

Next work out a way to decrease your monthly expenses. This usually means addressing the debt you have. from acrued credit cards and home loans. Line up your debt payments from the highest to the lowest. Pay off the bills with the highest interest rate first.

Set up an eight month emergency fund. Even two happy newly weds need one. Sock the ,omey in an fdic secured account, so that if one of you looses your job you will be able to pay basic bills.

Start a savings account for your house. The best bet for any young marrieds is to start an emergency account as soon as possilbe. Start your account for the down payment on a home for the two of you. Shop around for an account that will bring you the highest yield.

Fund your retirement account. Invest in a 401 k or put your wedding money into a Roht Ira. That way, the money over time, won't be taxed. After all the best way to start marital life is not being just young and fabulous but solvent too.

Wedding Budget

Typically the following should be observed when planning your wedding.
Reception 50%, Music 10%, Flowers 10%, Wedding Attire 10%, Photography 10%, Stationary 10%, Additional Expenses 6%. Of course, like any project the additional expenses when planning a wedding budget can go over considerably.

Just try and make a budget and stay as close it to it as possible. I know you start to look at flowers and gowns and reception locations and you start to dream grander dreams but you must stop yourself and remember that this is for one day and you can make your wedding look like a million but not spending a million. The most important thing to do is to have fun in the planning and a great time on your wedding day.