Bad news You probably dont have MLK Day off this year

Bad news You probably dont have MLK Day off this yearBad news You probably dont have MLK Day off this yearIf you work at a business in America, you fruchtwein likely dont have Martin Luther King Jr. Day off on Monday, January 15.Research sponsored by Bloomberg Law found that in 2018, out of 387 employers surveyed, just 42% of them say they will give all or most workers a paid day off for the holiday, versus 56% who wont.This years findings are similar to those in 2017, which found that 43% of companies were giving their workers paid leisure time off on that day. Roughly a quarter of employers hold commemorative events related to the holiday.Workers in these sectors are most likely to have a paid day offIn 2018, only 16% of manufacturing companies surveyed said they will provide all or most workers with a paid day off, compared to 34% of non-manufacturing companies.The employers most likely to offer paid time off for the holiday are overwhelmingly non-business organizations. Seventy-t wo percent of these employers - which includehealthcare organizations, government, and educational institutions - get paid time off.How the observance of this holiday has changed over timeThe 2017 Bloomberg data show an increase in the percentage of employers giving the holiday off in recent years 43% in 2017 37% in both 2016 and 2015 35% in 2014, and 32% in 2013.You may not have Martin Luther King Jr. Day off in 2018 if you work in corporate America. But perhaps you will next year.

7 Ways to Deal with Anxiety on the Job

7 Ways to Deal with Anxiety on the Job7 Ways to Deal with Anxiety on the Job Lets face it A lot of our go-to stress-management tools - think taking a bubble bath, binge watching our favorite Netflix shows, hitting the gym, or drinking a glass of beer or wine- arent exactly office-appropriate or possible. So how can we deal with serious stress on the job? For the answer, we turned to expert who gave the following seven de-stressing ideas. 1. Incorporate distress breaks into your workday. If you can, schedule five minutes for every work hour in which you can take deep breathes, stretch, or even meditate , suggests Gloria Mitchell , personal crisis and performance coach. To breathe deeply, inhale for five seconds, hold, then exhale for five seconds, she says- and recommends YouTube for guided stretches and meditation you can do at your desk. 2. View, smell, and touch a potted desk plant. (Or just look out your window.) OK, this may seem odd, John La Puma , M.D. boa rd-certified internal medicine specialist, warns, but many office plants are not fragrant. But those that are- especially herbs, such as chamomile- may be relaxing. So, add a fragrant plant to your desk- and when you feel stressed, take a sniff. If you already have a non-fragrant plant on your desk, dont worry. It can help you de-stress, too. Feeling their leaves lets you use a different part of your brain, and restores your attention to something natural- instead of lists and demands, he says. No plant? No problem. Puma says looking out a window at trees or greenery can help, too.Hunger and dehydration play a huge role in agitating and exacerbating stress, says Mitchell. So, when you feel stress, ask yourself if youre hungry or dehydrated. If you are, head to the water cooler for a glass of water- and pack healthful snacks you can nosh on at your desk. Puma says that views of nature in hospitalized patients improve satisfaction, lower stress levels and the need for pain-killing m edication, and shorten hospital stays. By hanging a nature poster by your desk, similar results can be achieved in the workplace. In the work setting, they lead to more kindness between co-workers, and better focus, Puma explains. 5. Use your lunch break to your advantage.If you can, spend your lunchtime doing more than just eating, says Mitchell. (But be sure to eat, no matter what) That could mean walking, reading a book, or even watching a funny comedy on your phone, she says. The main goal is to get away from your desk, preferably out in the fresh air, and focus on something other than your work during your lunch hour. 6. Listen to relaxing nature sounds.Rather than play your party playlist at work, consider switching to a soundtrack of nature sounds, which will soothe you and help to release your stress, Puma says. The sounds can be water, forest, meadow, wind, or leaves, he says. But no matter which sound you choose, this white noise can lower blood pressure, pulse rate, and cortisol levels, all of which are elevated in people acutely and chronically stressed, he says. (Spotify offers nature tunes.)From the buzz of your phone to your computers alerts when youve got incoming mail, you are barraged with notifications all day long- and that can cause stress, Puma says. But switching off notifications for a few minutes allows you to appreciate that there are things in life more important than them, he says. Of course, you need to turn them back on- but theres nothing wrong with a five-minute break from notifications while you simply relax.

Michael F. Modest, ASME Honorary Member

Michael F. Modest, ASME Honorary Member Michael F. Modest, ASME Honorary Member Michael F. Modest, 2017 ASME Honorary MemberMichael F. Modest, Ph.D., distinguished professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Merced, is honored for pioneering and impactful contributions in the fields of radiative heat transfer and the laser machining of ceramics, for excellence in educating and training future generations of engineers and scientists, and for dedicated service to the profession.After earning his Dipl.-Ing. degree from the Technical University in Munich in 1968, Dr. Modest came to the United States. He earned his masters degree and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley in 1972. For several years he taught at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the University of Southern California, followed by 24 years as a professor of mechanical engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. He retired from Penn State in 2009 with the title of distinguished professor emeritus and joined UC Merced, where he was the Shaffer and George distinguished professor of engineering. He retired from UC Merced in 2017.Dr. Modest has made important contributions in all areas of radiative heat transfer (measurement of surface, liquid and gas properties theoretical modeling for surface transport and within participating media) as well as in the field of laser processing of materials. He is perhaps best known for his work on thermal radiation in combustion systems. Dr. Modest is the author of Radiative Heat Transfer. Now in its third edition, it is the most widely used textbook in the field. He has authored or co-authored more than 350 refereed publications including 10 book chapters and many keynote and invited papers.An ASME Fellow, Dr. Modest has served the Heat Transfer Division in various capacities since 1975. He received the Societys Heat Transfer Memorial Award (Art) in 2005 and a 75th Anniversary Award from the Division in 2013.Video profile produced and written by Roger Torda, ASME Public Information. The copyright of this program is owned by The American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Freelance Media Jobs and What to Expect

Freelance Media Jobs and What to ExpectFreelance Media Jobs and What to ExpectThe term freelancer has different conbedrngnisations in different industries. Interestingly, in the media, there are a number of different freelance jobs you can get. You can work a part-time position as a freelancer, working a reduced schedule, or you can be a full-time freelancer, working either as a freelance writer, photographer, or illustrator. You can also work a full-time job and freelance on the side, doing projects here and there. The Advantages of Freelancing The biggest advantages of working as a freelancer are mostly lifestyle related, beginning with the freedom it affords you. A freelancer isnt bound to keeping a certain schedule. In fact, most freelancers are able to work the hours that suit them, provided they meet the deadlines expected by their clients. Generally, freelancers also work remotely, which saves both time and money on commuting and alleviates the stress of sitting in traffic . Depending upon where the freelancer lives, that can make the prospect of freelancing enticing enough on its own. Freelancers are also free to find the right situation for themselves. Whether its picking which clients to work with or managing their workload, they dont have to answer to anybody else. Many people gravitate toward having that sort of autonomy. The Disadvantages of Freelancing At the same time, however, being on your own can also be seen as a downside. Working by yourself means you are doing everything from finding new clients and overseeing billing to collecting payments and handling the accounting. And all of that administrative work is essentially being done without immediate compensation, on top of actual paid freelance duties. Another disadvantage of working as a freelancer is the lack of financial stability. Your ability to generate income is directly tied to your ability to attract clients. If youre not necessarily outgoing, you might have difficulty gaining clients, and that, in itself, can be stressful. Even if youre good at interacting with people, it can be equally daunting to bring in that new business consistently. Then there is the process of billing when the job is finished and making sure youre getting paid on time. Sometimes it can take a month or two before you receive payment. A freelancer doesnt have the luxury of a steady paycheck. That can be tough when youve got bills to pay yourself and other obligations to meet such as income taxes and self-employment taxes, which need to be paid quarterly. Freelancing can also be tough because most freelancers dont receive health coverage (unless they have a specific contract with a company and then have a unique full-time freelance position), a benefit that is typically afforded to full-time employees. Working for an employer also offers additional benefits that arent available to freelancers, including having paid time off. When a freelancer is ill or otherwise needs to take time o ff, they do so without pay. How to Transition From Full-Time to Freelance To become a full-time freelancer, you need to assess where you are in your career and what your needs are. Do you have the contacts you need to get a steady stream of assignments? How much money can you reasonably expect to make? Do you need health insurance? These are all questions someone needs to address before they can start freelancing full-time. Many freelancers, in various sections of the media, will work full-time for years, making contacts within their industry and picking up freelance jobs on the side, before they take the plunge and become a full-time freelancer. One thing a successful freelancer needs is strong ties to people who assign the work they do. Successful freelance magazine writers, for example, often have strong relationships with certain editors who they rely on for multiple assignments. Once you have certain people who you can rely on to give you work, then you can comfortably get to a point where you can search out other jobs and bring in even more potential assignments and more money. Because of the risky nature of freelance work, its very hard to develop a successful freelance career unless youve been working in the media for some time. There are exceptions to every rule If youre a famous novelist, for example, you can often wrangle a plush freelance writing job because of your stature. But the key to successful freelancing is leveraging the experience and reputation you build by working in that field.

Details of Athletic Resume

Details of Athletic Resume The Birth of Athletic Resume If you adore college basketball, you want to examine into teilen two basketball. Of course new players have a great deal of questions regarding how to find the proper place to gamble safely. Most soccer players might have to promote their abilities and abilities themselves in the practice of college soccer recruiting. High school soccer players have to take note that the standard of play at college level is extremely significant. In the current recruiting planet, student athletes want to have some kind of athletic online resume. In order to acquire the interest of college division 1 baseball coaches, your resume should all essential contact information for you as well as for your existing coaches. Use these ideas to make your resume draw the interest of college coaches. Consequently, marketing and promoting your talents to colleges is not just excellent for you, it is a good deal for college coaches. Athletic Resume Secrets The scholarship CV ought to have an objective. Selection committees often look over your scholarship resume before they begin reviewing different documents. Once approved, you are going to be able to submit an application for positions. As stated previously need to pick skills that have some relevance to the job that youre applying for. It is necessary to be truthful in regards to outlining your abilities. In case you have any special abilities or abilities, be certain to include them. A very clear statement about how you are going to utilize your strongest relevant abilities and professional experiences to satisfy the specific role youre applying for 3. Each guide is based on another degree of skilled experience, so locate the one most appropriate to your specific circumstance. The full procedure can be quite intimidating. In truth, it is the toughest portion of the whole sponsorship procedure. If youre starting the recruiting process a little late, be certain to look at the prior years checklist to be certain you catch up and have those tasks completed Top Choices of Athletic Resume Throughout the web, there are lots of resources which can help you construct a powerful resume. If you feel as though youre in need of further recruiting aid, Jessica will be offering time-saving services so that you can get all your recruiting needs met in-house at Momentum. If you arent currently being recruited, or in case youre receiving just a tiny recruiting attention, you have to spend some time marketing and promoting yourself to coaches. Nationally, there are dozens and dozens of scholarships available based on the place you work, where you shop, what products you get, what field of study youll be taking or maybe what geographic area you reside in. The Downside Risk of Athletic Resume Have a peek at some suggestions. Plus, you will get tips and rightvs. Get the information that you will need to discover the very best college for you. Therefor e, there are a few things that you want to keep in mind own Professional Resume to aid you. The download link is right below the webpage title. Free best photos of sample athletic resume college athletic college athlete resume template sample, A resume is a significant tool which supplies a crystal clear picture about your instincts into the prospective employer so that its crucial that the resume needs to be short containing all the very important details in connection to the post for which youve applied. Ideally, you shouldnt need to make many adjustments to your sports career resume, but you must be well prepared to create vital changes to every cover letter. The following are a few tips and suggestions to help guide the player and their parents (yes parents, youll be involved a lot mora than think) through the practice. High school resume templates are a valuable resource for such students. You are working to turn into a college student-athlete. Its rare to fulfill a high school student whos so mature, organized and. Students right out of high school discover that its quite an intimidating job to apply for. Get the Scoop on Athletic Resume Before Youre Too Late Work aspirants will need to be on the lookout for a resume template rather than a curriculum vitae template. Highlighting your skills isnt the one thing you have to do with your resume. You could also see Resume Examples. Knowing the difference between a resume and programs vitae is far more crucial before deciding upon a template. To make it simple for you, weve got a lot of ready to use coach resume templates. Developing a premium content based sponsorship proposal may be tricky undertaking. Pick a proper scholarship resume template, and you will have the ability to serve the committee what theyre searching for on a silver platter.

Top Choices of Grant Writing Description on Resume

Top Choices of Grant Writing Description on Resume For example, prior expertise in the medical industry can be valuable to a group hiring a grant writer to keep funding for a completely free clinic. You need to have excellent interpersonal skills as youre likely to do plenty of interviews with your customers. Additionally, there are lots of freelance grant writers working from their own house. Self-employed grant writers face additional challenges, including finding enough work and directing their own company. Your grant proposal should demonstrate that your client is fit to deal with the funds and is the most suitable candidate to get the grants. Grantors like to know whenever your project is going to be completed. Talk and interact with those on the program side of your nonprofit to sustain a relationship that doesnt just come up when youve got a grant proposal deadline. As soon as youre prepared to be an expert grant writer, you can start working with a company to learn more experience. Describe how you want to track the undertaking and how you are going to measure its success. Dont worry when this is a continuous project. Introducing Grant Writing Description on Resume Generally, these organizations are non-profit. You will have to stay flexible as a grant writer in order to fulfill the demands of a variety of people and departments, while mucksmuschenstill keeping your focus on writing a crystal clear and thorough funding proposal. The grant writer, in many situations, provides a voice for those programs and services supplied by a nonprofit organization. Experienced grant writers also might elect to get certification, which demonstrates a degree of proficiency and may enhance their employment choices.

3 Tips to Survive Black Friday as a Retail Worker

3 Tips to Survive Black Friday as a Retail Worker3 Tips to Survive Black Friday as a Retail WorkerWhen did Thanksgiving weekend become an occasion to flaunt ones prowess for retail hunting and gathering rather an opportunity to count ones blessings? If you work in the retail industry, you are probably gearing up for Black Friday. The official departure to the holiday season has not historically seen Americans exhibiting their kindest or their most festive behavior. Intoxicated by the prospect of saving money on holiday gifts, Black Friday shoppers notorious reputation has only fueled retailers enthusiasm to direct the throngs into their stores. At some retail locations, the Black Friday festivities start Thanksgiving afternoon or evening, while other stores are closed for the holiday but will be open bright and early on Friday November 27. Whether your Black Friday assignment starts Thursday or Friday, here are a few tips to help you make it through Dress the partMake sure to wear co mfortable shoes, because you are going to be on your feet and running hard for the duration of your shift. Also, with so many more people in the store at one time, you are going to get really warm, so dress in layers. And due to the holiday vibe, you may be asked to wear a Santa hat or some other festive apparel for the occasioncute for ten minutes and then brutally hot. Exercise mental crowd controlExisting in crowds doesnt bring out the best in people. Crowds cause stress. They make people worry that their individual needs are going unheard and so their behavior becomes louder and increasingly urgent. Dont absorb the urgency in the environment. You dont have to share in this discomfort. Aim to be a beacon of calm.You have a job to do, and your customers are important. But you are important too. You are the one controlling this situation so dont hesitate to politely ask them for the respect you deserve. Using a controlled voice remind your customers what you expect Sir, Im happy to assist you, but I cant do so when you are raising your voice to me. Ill give you a moment to reclaim your composure and then we can continue.You are a professional who came here to work. While you would like to help as many people as you can, you deserve respect. Rudeness or aggressiveness is unacceptable. Adults should understand this. They may believe that their urgency gives them the right to try to control the situation with rude behavior. This is simply not true. Have fun with itWorking retail on Black Friday is a true cultural experience. You will get a slew of interesting stories out of this and it is also resume building. Its impressive to be able to say that you did this. Its hard work and people will respect you for doing it. They will also want to hear your juicy stories about it. You and your coworkers can have a lot of fun with this. Come up with a team contest for the best story, craziest customer, oddest request, etc. It will make those difficult moments a bit easier to handle and it will help you put this whole experience into perspective. RememberWorking Black Friday might be a bit of a zoo, but its also a huge accomplishment. You are multitasking, providing customer service, and troubleshooting problems at a truly impressive pace. Its going to be an interesting life experience. It will yield great answers to future job interview questions. Plus, this can be a lot of fun. So own it. Black Friday here you come.

3 Tips to Nail Your Phone Screen

3 Tips to Nail Your Phone Screen3 Tips to Nail Your Phone ScreenDuring the infancy stages of the interview process, recruiters often contact you for a phone screen after theyve determined you are a potential candidate for the job. What does a phone screen mean for you?A phone screen shares many similarities to a phone interview, but the two serve different purposes. A phone interview is often lengthier and requires more in-depth answers from the candidate. A phone screen is often 15-20 minutes long and allows the recruiter to share more details about the role. Even though the phone screen may seem unusually simple compared to an in-person interview, it is a vital piece of the interview process and can make or break your chances of moving forward with the hiring process.What can you do to make aya you are ready?Do your researchOne of the first questions a recruiter will ask you is, What do you know about the company? They wont expect you to rattle off the companys history, but youll n eed to prove that you have a superficial understanding of the company.Its okay if you dont grasp the full scope of the companys services, but openly admitting you dont know anything wont impress the recruiter.To accomplish this, you can use a variety of methods, most of them involving your savvy tech skillsVisit their website, check them out on Glassdoor.Reach out to your LinkedIn connections to see if they know someone in that field who can point you in the right direction. Even five minutes of internet research can make all the difference when you are inevitably asked this question.Know your Why?Another common question during the phone screen will be something like What about the position attracted you to apply? or What interests you about this role? What the recruiter is looking for here is a thought-out explanation of why youre applying to their role specifically.Use the job description and the companys industry to your advantage here. If its in the technology field, maybe you e xplain that you think the tech industry is innovative and you want to be a part of that. If you have prior experience that overlaps with the role youre applying to, use that, too Recruiters know that youre probably applying to multiple positions at once. Your ability to relate your career aspirations directly with their company will tischset you up for success.Ask relevant questionsAsking relevant follow-up questions after the phone screen shows that youre engaged and genuinely interested in the role you applied to. Prepping some questions before the phone screen is a great plan and keep in mind the key here is relevance. The last thing you want to do is ask the recruiter intrusive questions about their career path or any questions regarding sensitive company insights.Any relevant questions during the phone screen are also acceptable. If at any point in time you need the information reiterated because you dont comprehend it, its fine to ask the recruiter to repeat themselves.Its als o okay to ask the recruiter to wait for a moment while you take notes. What you dont want to do is ask a question in a way that seems rude or interruptive. Be mindful of social cues and keep the conversation flowing.One last thing to rememberEven though the phone screen sometimes takes less time than filling out a job application, it is just as important as an on-site interview and you should treat it as such.Doing your research, reflecting on why you are interested in the role, and asking relevant questions will help you hit that phone screen right out of the park

All of the times Ive felt guilty for spending money

All of the times Ive felt guilty for spending moneyAll of the times Ive felt guilty for spending moneyIf you read my blog regularly, you know that I am not the type of financial expert who says you shouldnt spend any money ever. I dont believe that you can be hyper-restrictive of yur spending and still have a good quality of life. In fact, I think its imperative to build the things you value into yur budget so that you feel mora motivated to stick to a budget in the first place.One of the best ways to include the things you value most into your budget is to save up for them over time. That way, when a big expense comes up, you know you have the money for it and you dont have to feel stressed out or guilty about it. However, there will still be times when you have a hard time spending the money you saved up. At least, thats how Ive feltAs someone who is fairly structured with spending and saving, I dont often spend a whole lot of money. But the truth is, a lot of very exciting things cost a lot of money And in the past year especially, Ive had a lot of guilt and conflict about spending large sums of money. These feelings havent been particularly rational, but they do make some sense, because spending a lot of money is scary So here are some of the times Ive felt most guilty (and scared) about spending my money.TravelThe funny thing about this guilt is it welchesnt about the actual money I was spending. In fact, for years, Ive prioritized saving for travel so that I can explore this world without guilt and without going into debt. I believe that if you love to travel, spending money (that you have) on it should never be a shameful thing. It only improves your quality of life. And thats what ultimately mattersThe guilt I have felt has actually come after Ive spoken to friends and family about my travel plans. Not everyone is able to save the money or take the time to travel, and I completely understand that. Its also true that a lot of people dont prioritize thing s like travel. And thats okay Everyone has their own priorities.The problem for me is when I talk about my travel plans and the snarky response is Well, that must be nice or I wish I could travel or Wow, do you ever work?. Its a frustrating response and often makes me feel hintermannschaft and guilty about the exciting trips Ive been able to take. Luckily, my reaction has softened over time, and the comments come less and less. In fact, I havent heard any negative comments about my upcoming honeymoon in ThailandThe lesson here is that you just have to continue doing what makes you happy, and try not to worry about what other people think. Its your money and its your life, so use it in a way that means the most to youHouse ExpensesMy actual guilt hasnt been too high on this end. However, buying a home was probably the most stressful thing Ive ever done We only put down 10% as our down payment, and that was the largest check Ive ever written in my life I wanted to vomit. But at the sa atkorn time, Ive always wanted to own a home, and I allocated that money specifically for our down payment. I was still surprised at how conflicted I felt when I was actually writing the check. I wondered if we were making a big mistake.The real money drama came when we started construction on our home renovations. We had a big job that included knocking down walls and rebuilding new ones. We found a contractor we liked a lot and ended up adding a bunch of work to the project just to get it over with faster. That was a mistake We ended up overspending on shoddy work and feeling really foolish about our decisions. In fact, I had a hard time talking about how much we spent on new counters and railings, because I wasnt happy with how they turned out, and I felt like we were taken advantage of. I also felt foolish and regretful, which is not a great way to feel when youve just spent a ton of money.That was definitely a learning experience, because we are much more careful with our contr actor choices and home renovations now. We are choosing smaller, individual projects and getting at least three quotes before moving forward. This has helped us keep our costs and stress levels down, and makes us feel like were making the right decisions with the people we hire and the money we spend. ur next project will be getting a new fence installed in the backyard. I hope to share pictures soonMy WeddingAs a feminist and a financial coach, Im very aware of how capitalism and the wedding industrial complex pressure people to overspend on their weddings. So I felt very strongly about not spending a lot on my wedding. When I received a financial settlement from a shoulder injury, I set aside $10,000 earmarked for my eventual wedding (we werent even engaged yet can you tell I like to plan ahead?). I was certain that $10,000 would be plenty for a wedding. Boy, was I wrong. In fact, were paying more than double that amount for our wedding. And were only having 130 people attend And we are getting married an hour away from DC. And we pursued a lot of cost-cutting measures The point is weddings are incredibly expensive. We really wanted a wedding where we could invite almost everyone we love the most. Put those two things together and you have to spend quite a bit of money. Luckily, we have been able to save up the amount in full, and will not be going into debt for the wedding. In fact, we may have some money leftover afterwards, because we saved an extra 10% as a buffer.But having enough to spend on our wedding didnt take away the intense shame and inner conflict I felt throughout the planning process. I felt strongly, on principle, that we should spend as little as possible. But at the same time, there were many things I was not willing to DIY in order to save money. I also wasnt willing to have a tiny, inexpensive wedding that many of our loved ones wouldnt be able to attend. I had many values that were in direct conflict with each other. However, as time h as gone on, Ive had to accept that we decided to have a wedding and that means we have to fork over a lot of money. Theres no sense in being ashamed about it the entire way. In fact, there have been some areas where the higher cost probably means itll turn out better.Here are the areas where we spent more than I wanted to, but will actually turn out greatOur photographer.Shes amazing and we have great chemistry with her. It took some convincing, but now I realize that spending a lot on photography will be worth it. I cant wait to see how our wedding photos turn out.Our florist.Do you know how many times I said we dont even need centerpieces? I said it a lot. Were spending more than double what I wanted to spend on flowers. But I also didnt want to be up late the night before my wedding finishing up the centerpieces and bouquets. So we hired a florist who is associated with our venue and who grows many of their flowers themselves. They value sustainability and authenticity. They seem ed to really vibe with our wedding day vision, and I think the flowers will turn out beautifully. Plus, we definitely cut some costs here, as the bridesmaids will not carry bouquets.Our venue.When we first booked our venue, I felt really good about the price. This was because I was completely naive about everything else we needed to pay for. I also wasnt fully aware that almost nothing else came along with the venue fee. We had to rent a bathroom trailer, tables, chairs, and we had to pay for all of the staff from a different vendor. But I saw our venue two years ago and knew I wanted to get married there. Its a beautiful space and I cant wait to see how it looks on our wedding day.Here are the areas where wesavedsome money and I feel really good about itDJ.Were actually not hiring a DJ. We are making our own Spotify playlists and we hired an audio engineer who will run the sound system for the day. Were also having our good friend, Liz, emcee the reception for us.Booze.We had to ov erspend a bit on wine because we were required to purchase wine from the venue (theyre a vineyard), and their wine is more expensive than the three-buck chuck I would have gotten from brsenspekulant Joes. But were making up for this by buying our own cases of beer. Were going to try to only buy local beer, but this will still be more affordable than having our vendor provide the booze.Wedding dress and shoes.Ive written about this before, but my wedding dress cost less than $250. (Plus, my mom paid for it.) I dont often spend a lot on my clothes, so I felt strongly about not spending a lot on my wedding dress. I also really wanted something very simple that I felt like myself in. I found the perfect dress fromBHLDNand it was even cheaper than I expected To top it off, Dan and I both bought our wedding shoes fromPoshmark.Here are the areas where we spent more than I wanted to, and Im still annoyed about itOne vendor.This vendor was who we were originally looking at for catering. They are a one-stop shop for weddings and it seemed like it would be much easier to just hire them to handle everything, rather than having multiple vendors. And it would have definitely been easier But it would have also been way more expensive. The original quote they gave us for food and drink alone was nearly the entire amount were paying for the wedding. We decided not to use them for food and booze, but we ended up having to hire them for a few other items bathroom trailer, tables, chairs, linens, bartenders, day-of-coordinator, etc. I think their staff will help the day to move more smoothly, but Im still frustrated by how much were paying in operations fees.Invitations.When Dan first told me wed probably spend $400 on invitations, I had a fit. I couldnt believe that something so small could cost so much. Of course, Dan is a graphic designer and has made wedding invitations in the past, so he knows better than I do. But I thought that having him design our invitations would mean that we would save some money But the truth is, printing is expensive. And printing gold foil on thick paper is even more expensive (did I mention Dan is a designer?). So well likely spend around $400 on our invitations, after all. Im not pleased about it, but Ive accepted it at this point (for the most part).So why did I tell you all of this? Well, first of all, I needed to write about it for catharsis. But I also wanted to let you know that its normal to be freaked out about spending money, even if youve planned and saved for it. Its okay to have conflicting emotions when youre making big decisions. And youll probably find yourself in situations where you have competing values. Its okay You just have to decide which value is more important in that instant. For me, its having a wedding day that well love, while still not going into debt.Thisarticlefirst appeared onMaggieGermano.com.