Newlywed Tips

Looking for name change advice or some tips for newlywed life? The MissNowMrs experts have created state-specific name change articles and checklists for you. We’ve chronicled our recommendations for how to travel while changing your name AND how to handle voting during the transition.

We’ve also compiled our best guidance for how to handle difficult sister in laws, holidays as newlyweds, the ever-annoying baby questions, and much more. Why? Because, while we are name change experts, we’re also newlywed wives, moms, and sisters.

We hope our name change advice articles help smooth your transition to your new name, and a whole new phase of life. Congratulations and best wishes from the entire MissNowMrs team!

Last Chance to Win Our Custom Thank You Note Giveaway!

As we mentioned in our earlier thank you note post, there are many ways to show your appreciation to your guests and thank them for their generosity on your special day. By now you’re probably sick of hearing about proper etiquette and rules on how to: (go ahead fill-in the blank) be the best bride, to act, to address your envelopes, etc. That being said, we’ve decided to compile a short list on what we’ve found to be the best practices in composing Thank You Notes (not to tell you what to do, but rather to provide you with some guidance)!

Best Practices:
Address envelopes and write out Thank You notes to people as soon as they send you a gift. Some guests send gifts prior to the wedding; which allows you to get a head start on this seemingly endless task.
Have a realistic plan of attack (i.e. complete 25 notes per day until they are finished) rather than attempting to write them all in one sitting. This way you will be sure to write from the heart, in your neatest handwriting; which your guests will surely appreciate. After all, what good is a Thank You note if they can’t read what you wrote?
Try your best to adhere to the “rule” of getting Thank You notes out in a timely manner:

within 2 weeks of receiving a gift (if received prior to the wedding)
within a month after you return from your honeymoon (for gifts received at the wedding)

Be as specific as possible when thanking your guest for gifts (with the exception of monetary gifts—there’s no need to say thank you for the $250).
Are you clueless as to what to write? Try using our samples as a guide to get you started or at least point you in the right direction!

Thank You Samples:
For a Monetary Gift: Thank you so much for your generous monetary gift! We are planning to use it when we buy our new house. Again, we thank you for your thoughtful gift and for sharing our special day with us. Love, Jane and Bill
For a Gift (whether from your registry or not): Thank you so much for the martini glasses, we now have everything we need for our next cocktail party! We hope to enjoy them with you when you visit us. Again, we thank you for thinking of us and for being a part of our most special time. Love, Jane and Bill

Anxious to win 100 of the custom photo thank you notes shown in this post’s picture? Click here for the contest details and leave a comment on this, or any of our thank you note posts on Mondays this month and you’ll be automatically entered to win. The randomly selected contest winner will be announced on August 31^st!! If we don’t hear back from the winner within 2 weeks, we will randomly select a new winner to make sure someone ends up with this great goodie!

Creating Newlywed Traditions

Are you creating newlywed traditions? Years from now, when you’re hopefully sitting on a porch swing hand-in-hand with your grey haired partner you’ll look back on your newlywed days and smile. One of the best parts of being a newlywed couple is creating your own inside jokes, stories and traditions. All of these will accrue over time, but it is important to prioritize making your own traditions as you make your way through married life together.

Compare Traditions
Did your hubby wake up the morning of each birthday with his favorite breakfast and then a small present before school or the party? Did you always go shopping with your father to find a perfect Christmas gift for your mom? Sharing these stories brings you closer to your mate and can help both of you understand how to best “spoil” the other on a special day. If you re-create a special childhood tradition for your mate, they will be completely touched by the gesture and thrilled that you listened to them.

Plan an Adventure
What was the craziest trip or adventure you went on as a child or young adult? I bet you can remember every detail, still. Your newlywed years are the perfect time to create your own adventure stories. Climb a mountain, go white water rafting or take a series of tango classes. Try something new to both of you that will test your limits mentally, physically or both! The result of this stretch as a couple is a fantastic adventure to cherish for a lifetime.

Combine Family Traditions
If you always had pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving, but your significant other was raised on chocolate meringue pie make both for your own holiday or try a combination chocolate pumpkin pie (delicious)! Understanding the importance of family rituals and incorporating each others, will only add to the richness of your own family.

Create a Tradition All Your Own
This can be as simple as always kissing each other before going to sleep or you could apply your tradition to another part of daily life. You could have coffee on the deck together every Sunday and read the paper, walk through a neighborhood park as each season changes, or make a fancy dinner together one night a month. The key is doing something you both like, together, over and over again. Before you know it, you’ll look back and realize you’ve had a tradition for years!

How are you creating newlywed traditions with your spouse? We’d love for you to share a comment with us!

Newlyweds Save Now, Retire Early

What would it be like to save now, retire early? I know what you’re thinking to yourself right now, I’m too young to be thinking about retirement, but the truth is…you’re not! As a matter of fact, it’s never too early to be thinking about retirement. After all, doesn’t everyone think of the Golden Years of living life however we choose to, enjoying our grandchildren, not having to answer to anyone or set an alarm clock to get up in the morning?!

I recently came across this article “Secrets of Extreme Savers” and thought wow, I wish I could be so disciplined to save my money and retire early. However, I enjoy shopping (a bit too much according to my spouse, but that’s a whole other topic)! We could all make at least one change to our expenses that would greatly help us in years to come.

Consider these few things and your Golden Years don’t have to be age 60+:
Lower your daily expenses: Hand-me-downs are one of the best ways to save money as a parent. As a newlywed, you may not have children yet so let me talk in a language that you may better understand. Avoid top-of-the-line designer boutiques and fancy restaurants that are often way overpriced and offer much of the same things that you can get at a lower cost restaurant. Try shopping at Loehmann’s, Filene’s Basement or T.J. Maxx the next time you need a new pair of shoes or slacks. Instead of bar-hopping or going out to your favorite club every weekend, try hosting a “happy hour” with friends at your house, asking everyone to bring their favorite bottle or drink…saving all of you from having to pay the costly bar tab and tip the bartender!

Pay in cash to avoid debt: If you want something, save your money until you have enough to pay in cash or by personal check for that item. Believe it or not people have done it (even to buy cars and houses!) ultimately, avoiding high interest rates on bank loans and credit cards.

Live Below Your Means: Just because you can afford it, doesn’t mean you have to buy it! A vacation to your local beach or a free museum could be just as fun for you (and your children) as a lavish 5 star resort without the cost. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that there is a difference between your dream vacation and a day-trip to your local amusement park, but isn’t the point to enjoy quality time with your family anyway?

Avoid instant gratification purchases: Similar to how people lose weight by waiting 15 minutes before indulging in junk food to see if they still need it or want it. Try waiting a few months before purchasing anything over $50-$100 to see if you still want it. You may find that you don’t need it and save yourself the money for something you truly need (or want) later on down the road.

Stretch a Dollar: Many companies offer rebates on their products and you would be surprised by how many people don’t take advantage of getting their money back! Take the time to complete the rebate form and mail it in for your money. Another way to stretch a dollar is to use credit card reward points to purchase airline tickets or book hotel rooms for “free.” Some restaurants will offer you a coupon for your next visit just for taking the time to review their services, so take advantage and you could be dining out on them, rather than on you!

One thing to keep in-mind, the more you save now, the earlier you and your partner will be able to retire. Here’s a great list of 92 Painless Money-Saving Tips for you to check out. Live a financially fit life and you could start reaping the benefits earlier than you think!

What do you and your partner do with the concept of save now, retire early in mind? Share your saving tips with us and other readers, leave a comment below!

Fido Right After “I Do”?

What are the pros and cons of fido right after I do? As you settle into married life and become truly comfortable with your mate, you may start wondering if you should add to your family. Many newlywed couples run right out after the wedding and get a puppy together. For some it’s the best (well second best) decision they ever made, but for others pet ownership brings more responsibility than they bargained for. Eager to hear the pitter patter of little paws? Read on before making a decision that will affect the next 10-15 years of your life.

How Much Do You Travel?

If you and your partner travel for business constantly or end up spending many weekends away from home, you might want to postpone your trip to the breeder or Humane Society. A puppy of any kind requires scheduled walks, house training and hours off exercise to burn off all of their excess energy. It would be unfair to add a dog to your family if you’re not home enough to give him/her the proper attention. If you can’t wait until your schedules settle down to get a pet, consider a kitten. They’re much lower maintenance and still provide a great deal of love and cuddling.

Consider Your Lifestyle

Are you part of the married jet set? Constantly attending out of town parties and going on last minute vacations? Unless you want to hire a dog sitter and dog walker every time you aren’t going to be home or come home to a unhappy puppy and totally wrecked house, you might need to put purchasing a pooch on hold. If you’re dying to get a dog, try to enjoy other people’s pets in the absence of your own. You could even volunteer at a local shelter, but beware of bringing multiple pets home!

Think About Your Housing

Do you live in an apartment or rental house? Your landlord might not appreciate an unannounced addition to your home. Should you need to find a new place to live, having a dog severely limits your rental housing options. If you live in a small condo, you need to decide if your puppy will have enough room. Even home owners have many questions to answer before bringing home a dog. Will it stay indoors, should the yard be fenced or should a doggie door be invested in?

Select the Right Pet For You

So you read the last three sections and know that you are ready for a dog. Congratulations! Take some time to discuss what you and your partner want in this pet. Do you want a cuddle buddy and he wants a guard for your home? Your perfect dog is out there, so try taking this quiz that matches people with pets based on criteria such as yard size, shedding, exercise habits, etc. Once you know the best type(s) of dog for you two, you can begin the fantastic journey of finding a puppy and making it part of your family.

Pets are such a wonderful part of life, but they are a big responsibility. Did you get a fido right after “I do?” Did you fight over the name or breed of dog? Did he “surprise you” with a puppy for Christmas? We’d love to hear the good, bad and ugly….so leave us a comment!

Why Saving Doesn’t Mean Stop Living Your Life

Hoping to understand why saving doesn’t mean an end to having fun? Saving money to buy a house after marriage can be equally as exciting as getting married, but costs astronomically more than your wedding. An overwhelming thought, I know! Once you and your partner decide to start saving your money you may feel like you can’t afford to do anything. We’re here to tell you it’s not true.

While it is important that you think about exactly how to allocate your money and keep track of your monthly expenses, you shouldn’t forego all extra-curricular activities such as going on out on dates or making small purchases once in awhile. When couples decide to save all their money it leaves little room for having fun through experiences…or just plain living life!

Don’t get me wrong, you can live your life at home and enjoy yourself, but after a while you’ll be sick and tired of the same-old-same-old all the time. Think about it, how often can dinner and a movie on your couch be the most fun you’ve ever had?!

Here are some helpful tips on what you and your partner can do (socially) while still saving up for the biggest purchase of your life!

Plan a monthly happy hour or dinner with friends. It doesn’t have to be at the hottest spot in town to be a great time! You could host a pot-luck dinner at your house and ask each guest to bring one thing, keeping the cost down for everyone. The perks are that you don’t have to pay high prices for your dinner, cocktails or leave a tip at home! A great site for party planning themes, tips and recipes is hostesswiththemostess.

You and your spouse can go out for a lunch date, rather than a dinner date (since lunch prices tend to be lower than dinner entrees). This allows the two of you to enjoy quality couple time out without paying higher prices– often times way over-priced, without sacrificing your dates all-together. Depending on where you go, tips may not be necessary (i.e. any place that you don’t have a waiter/waitress serving you)! While these places may not offer a romantic ambiance, what they do offer is a place for the two of you to catch up and simply enjoy one another’s company.

If you’re the active type; you may be interested in participating in a charity event (spending money, but on a good cause—BONUS: tax write-off!) A great site to search for events is active.com allowing you to select the type of event you’re looking for and a specific date range, displaying all the events for your region or in the country!

If you are dead set on saving every penny, then the two of you could do some research using the internet or read your local paper to find out about free local events. Many communities have free festivals, concerts, church socials, etc. especially during the summer months!

What are you and your partner doing to keep things interesting while saving for your dream house? Share your stories or tips and help out other newlyweds in the process!