Well, it's Friday again, and that means it's time for another post on how to save money. Last time, we talked about means of cutting down spending on your wedding (or weddings, I suppose, although that's one of those things I hope you only have happen once in your life), so it's only fitting that we look at a few methods to cut down on the cost of your honeymoon now. Of course, the easiest, if not the most desirable, method of keeping your honeymoon spending at a minimum is to:
1. Not Have a Honeymoon: Yes, there's nothing in the marriage rulebook that says you MUST have a honeymoon after you get married. While it's certainly nice to be able to get away from it all, spend time with your new partner, and more than likely, enjoy some exotic scenery, if you don't have the money available, it might be better to simply skip the honeymoon.
If you are set on a honeymoon, as many people are, there are plenty of ways to have your honey(moon) and your money, too:
2. Delay Your Honeymoon: While the image of leaving the wedding reception in a limo, driving to the airport and whisking off to an exotic island is pretty much synonymous with ‘honeymoon' in most people's minds, it doesn't have to be that way. You could delay the honeymoon by a few weeks (to recover financially from the wedding before adding more debt), by a few months (to take advantage of better prices for the honeymoon you want during off months), or even a few years (consider it part honeymoon, part anniversary present). If you're flexible with the timing of your honeymoon, you can potentially save a great deal of money in the process of celebrating your union.
3. Join a Honeymoon Registry: Have all the supplies you need to set up a house and home when you're married? Given the larger numbers of people getting married later in life, after they've each had to furnish an apartment or home of their own, you might not need yet another toaster. So, why not ask your guest to help you go on your honeymoon? Similar to a wedding registry, you can register with some travel agencies and give your guests the chance to subsidize portions of your honeymoon, from plane tickets to dinners. You might be able to pay for some, or even all, of your honeymoon expenses in this way.
4. Stay Close to Home: The further you travel, the more you'll end up paying to get there. If you go somewhere closer to where you live, you'll cut down on travel expenses. (Particularly if you find somewhere you can drive to, rather than needing to fly.) It might not be as exotic as an out-of-the-way tropical locale, but there are likely some perfectly acceptable, even wonderful, places to consider spending your honeymoon. Try finding somewhere romantic within easy travel distance, and you can save a great deal of money. While we're at it…
5. Avoid the Normal Honeymoon Destinations and Times: Much as with any vacation plans, going against the grain can be a great way to save on your honeymoon. If you go the same places that every other married couple goes (particularly at the same time everyone else is going), you're going to pay more, so try to honeymoon differently, and you can end up saving a goodly amount of money in the process.
If you follow these tips, you'll be able to have a great honeymoon, and still have enough extra money to start a lifetime together. Have a good wedding, and a good honeymoon.