The summer months are a popular time of year for weddings and whatever role you are playing on the big day the credit union is here to help.
None of the credit union team are getting married this year however Claire, one of our board members, got married last year and here are some thoughts from our very own wedding belle on how she made her day successful:
Your wedding day should be the happiest day of your life and it is something that many people look forward to planning. That said, it can also be a very expensive occasion and unfortunately with financial pressures being one of the main reasons for divorces, no-one wants to start married life with huge debts as a hangover from their big day!
Having recently got married, I wanted to share with fellow members how I used The Co-operative Credit Union to help me save for my big day:
- Your contribution is taken straight out from payroll and so I worked out what I could afford to save up every month and then didn’t notice it being taken and didn’t miss it. By the time I came to withdraw my money, I was surprised by how much I’d managed to save.
- You can access your savings at any time, unlike some savings accounts where your money is ‘locked in’ for a set period of time and dependent on reserves, the CCU pays an annual dividend to eligible members.
- If you decided to take out a loan to help meet costs, the CCU can offer a variety of loans at competitive rates of interest. We also have flexible payment plans to fit with your finances.
My general wedding budgeting tips:
- Set a realistic budget and record every expenditure on a spreadsheet.
- Don’t feel you have to keep with tradition on things, especially if it is likely to save you money.
- Consider hiring or borrowing rather than buying.
Ask for a favour or two. Do you have any friends or family members who could assist with wedding stationary, decorations, or the cake? Do you know someone with a nice car who might lend it as your wedding vehicle for the day? The chances are people will be flattered to be asked and happy to be involved!
