Ask a Savvy Bride: My Engagement Is Wreaking Havoc on My Credit Card

Being engaged is a rare special occasion in life, so it's no wonder people go to great lengths to make it perfect. That need for perfection comes at a cost, and it's easy to get carried away. Your special wedding season Ask Savvy questions, like this one below, will be answered by SavvySugar and a very savvy bride. Submit your questions in our Ask Savvy group.

Dear Savvy,

I was two paychecks away from paying down my credit card in full and then to my pleasant surprise, my boyfriend popped the question! Ever since we've been engaged, I've had this unrelenting need to spend money. With so many events coming up, I want a new outfit (dress, shoes, bag, etc.) for every one! I keep telling myself that I should enjoy this time since it'll only happen once in my life, but I know that's just an excuse that won't pay the bills. I want to enjoy my engagement and look good doing it, but how can I do that without getting back into credit card debt?

Don't Want to Go Broke Betsy

To see what a savvy bride has to say about this keep reading after the jump.

Savvy bride says: Your situation sounds all too familiar! I, like you, am having a hard time curbing my spending but try to remember what's important — you will eventually have to pay your credit card bill, and the more you use it, the harder the balance will be to swallow. That doesn't mean you can't have something new for every occasion, you might just have to shop more budget consciously, that's all. So you stay on track, make a list of all your events and what you'd like to buy for each one. Once you have it all written down, you'll have a better understanding of what you actually need and how to allot your funds. Typically your engagement party comes first so try not to get too consumed with finding a rehearsal dinner dress now; go in order. Giving yourself time to save for those later events will help lesson the blow. If a new dress for every occasion just isn't feasible for your budget, accessories have an amazing ability to transform any outfit into something fresh and new. Another option is to borrow from a friend — you might not be able to cut off a price tag, but the outfit will be new to you! Colorful shoes can also turn an old little black dress into a completely new look. I know it's hard not to get carried away with all the engagement excitement so hopefully some of these tips will help you as they've helped me!

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