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How to Be a Bridesmaid on a Budget

By U.S. News & World Report

There’s nothing better than hearing that your best friend got engaged.

Until you start running the numbers on what it’s going to cost you. Attending a wedding can be an expensive feat on its own — you need to get there, possibly book a hotel room and shell out for a wedding gift. With meals costing upwards of $150 a plate and etiquette guidance suggesting that your gift at least equate to the cost of the meal, things can get expensive real fast.

[See: 11 Expenses Destroying Your Budget.]

Once you’re in the bridal party, forget about it. To get picture-perfect for the wedding, you’ll need to spring for a dress, shoes, hairdo and possibly makeup. You’ll need a wedding gift, bachelorette party gift and shower gift.

You’ll need to attend the bachelorette party, which almost always includes popping for at least one night in a hotel, and you’ll pitch in to cover the bride’s share of things. You’ll split the cost of the bridal shower (along with the other bridesmaids). And you’ll use vacation days at work to cover those events and more to attend commitments like the wedding rehearsal.

In 2010, a WeddingChannel.com survey found that the average cost of being a bridesmaid was $1,695. As America has moved farther away from the depths of the recession, that number is only rising.

Don’t get stuck shelling out a month’s rent! Here are smart ways to trim the cost of being a bridesmaid.

The Dress

You’re a bit at the mercy of your bride here. Let’s start with the quickest and best way to keep your bridesmaid budget reasonable — level with the bride. Most of the time, you’ve wound up a bridesmaid because this wonderful thing is happening to someone you love! And the bride loves you, too, and probably doesn’t want to bankrupt you. If money is an issue, just say so. The most effective way to keep costs down is to have a frank conversation about it upfront and request that efforts be made to make budget-friendly decisions when it comes to bridesmaid requirements.

[See: 10 Money-Saving Websites to Check Before Shopping.]

You could suggest that the bride pick a color, and then allow bridesmaids to find appropriate dresses within these parameters. But even if your bride wants everyone to look alike — you can still save on her gown of choice.

Big wedding shops like David’s Bridal have clear style and color systems that allow you to search for the item online very easily. For instance, your bride isn’t asking you to get the short blue dress with the spaghetti straps, she’s asking you to get the Chiffon Short Bridesmaid Dress with Pleating Style F19229 in Horizon, which is a phrase that can be searched. You can go to David’s Bridal, try on the dress and then check sites like eBay.

There’s also a growing collection of sites dedicated specifically to reselling things like bridesmaid dresses, including Wore It Once, Bridesmaid Trade and My Bridal Bids.

The Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party

If you’re an out-of-state bridesmaid, it is completely acceptable to inform the bride that you just can’t make these activities, or explain that you can only afford to attend one of them, letting her choose which event.

Sometimes it also pays to lay it out for the other bridesmaids, noting that you’re cash-strapped and need to stick to a budget for covering communal costs; you could also offer to be the person who runs all of the errands and does extra tasks to make up for not being able to fully chip in.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

The Gift

While it’s customary to cover the price of your plate with your wedding gift, if money is tight but you’ve agreed to be a bridesmaid and your friend is aware that money is restricted, it’s entirely acceptable for the cost of all your bridesmaid duties to be the wedding gift.

It is also fine to forgo a check or cash and try to find a small, personalized memento to commemorate the day. It shows you care and if you keep an eye out for deals, you can keep the cost within your budget.

If your friend isn’t someone with whom you feel comfortable having an upfront conversation about your finances, then maybe you’re not really close enough to be a bridesmaid anyway. A true friend will understand if you’re so broke you can’t be in the wedding or if you’re so broke you need some concessions to be part of the celebration.

More from U.S. News

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How to Be a Bridesmaid on a Budget originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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