Will using a travel agent help you save money for your upcoming trip? LearnVest has the answer. Are travel agents back? This question, posed by The New York Times, got us thinking. According to the piece, nearly one in three leisure travel agencies is hiring, and in 2011 travel agencies experienced a second consecutive year of growth; in fact, their bookings accounted for a third of the $284 Read more

Though we may be loathe to admit it, one of the most exciting — and frenzied — moments of wedding planning is setting up a registry. While deep down I knew that marrying the man of my dreams was the best present of all, other visions, like that of a perfectly appointed home, turned me into Dirty Harry with the scanner gun. A fondue set? I'll take two. The enormous countertop convection oven? Read more

Buying a wedding dress that someone has only worn once will help you save plenty of bucks, and although it sounds like a great deal, you need to be aware that there are some risks involved. To reduce the chances of a purchase gone wrong, make sure you ask the seller these questions before whipping out your credit card. Dress Care: Ask the seller what her method of cleaning and preservation is. Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! We got to thinking, as we do, about the difference between being single and married . . . that is, in dollars. Currently, singles make up 49 percent of the American population, and 28 percent of all households consist of one person — the highest levels of singledom in American history. According to sociology professor and Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! When you break up with someone, should you return any gifts? Not according to Never Liked It Anyway, where those unlucky in love can sell mementos of failed relationships and divulge the dirt behind the gift. And it’s not just teddy bears and uneaten chocolates — disenchanted lovers are selling wedding dresses, rings, weekend Read more

Winter can be an expensive season with all the gift giving, and your bank account may look worse for wear during this time. Don't worry, there are plenty of smart strategies you can take to lower your Winter bills. Here are some money-saving tricks to keep in mind this cold season: Invest in a programmable thermostat. Save energy and money by programming the thermostat to control the heating and Read more

No point in losing that shopping momentum, right? Now that you've got your Black Friday strategy mapped out, it's time to canvas the Cyber Monday landscape for the best retail deals and steals starting now. Luckily, the shopping madness will be confined to your computer screen and the speed and precision with which you can click "purchase" on that cyber cart of goodies. All you'll need to do is Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! Flowers, dresses, friends, yummy food, cake, and dancing. What’s not to like about weddings? Well, just one little thing: its drain on our bank accounts. Getting married is a big deal, and you want to be there to celebrate with your friends. But that often entails shelling out for an engagement gift, a shower present, the Read more

Most people have a love/hate relationship with destination weddings. While they automatically sound expensive, aside from the cost of getting there and staying there, they aren't necessarily budget killers. To see what I mean, check out the advice below given to someone who isn't sure she can swing her friend's wedding in Mexico. You can also submit your wedding-related finance questions in our Read more

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy! With wedding season soon upon us, many a bride is looking for a way to create the most special day imaginable…without racking up the biggest debt imaginable. The dress is no exception. Wedding gowns can run into the thousands, which can eat into a good portion of any wedding budget. You want to look amazing, but you’d also Read more