How to Approach Wedding Costs and Gift-Giving Budgets

Learn methods for planning a wedding that makes sense for your budget, then hear how the Nerds think about gift-giving etiquette. 01:12 This Week in Your Money: Get an inside look at the latest trends in wedding planning, as Zola.com Director of Communications Emily Forrest joins host Sean Pyles to discuss findings from a recent survey of more than 2,000 American adults. They discuss the financial challenges many engaged couples face during the wedding planning process, ways to prevent money matters from being overlooked in pre-wedding conversations, and tips for initiating these critical financial conversations. The discussion then moves on to the wedding budget, with Emily offering her expertise on using a budget calculator to estimate expenditure and strategies for cost-cutting without compromising the wedding experience. Emily also addresses the reality of a “wedding tax” and how to think about the costs for your special occasion. 18:22 Today’s Money Question: NerdWallet’s Liz Weston and Kimberly Palmer join Sean to discuss how to navigate the pressures of gift-giving, managing expectations for birthday party guests, and the art of selecting the perfect present that strikes a balance between thoughtfulness and price. They explore the complexities of gift-giving culture, including what to anticipate from gift recipients and how to avoid feeling obligated to spend money. They also offer a fresh perspective on how you could choose to opt out of gift-giving culture and instead focus on the celebration itself. In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: wedding budget calculators, financial conversations, gift-giving, wedding costs and surcharges, personal finance decisions, cost-effective weddings, wedding gift options, budgeting tips, gift-giving culture, birthday party gift etiquette, and party planning tips. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Om Podcasten

NerdWallet’s trusted finance journalists answer real-world money questions to help you make smarter financial decisions with confidence. Each episode dives deep into topics like budgeting, saving, investing, home buying, and credit cards, cutting through misinformation to bring you clear, actionable advice backed by thorough research. By the end of every episode, you’ll have the latest financial insights and the tools you’ll need to manage your money wisely, build wealth, and plan for life’s milestones. And if you have questions for the Nerds, you can leave them a voicemail at 901-730-6373. Join hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, Elizabeth Ayoola, and other expert Nerds as they answer your biggest money questions and share strategies to help you build wealth and reach your financial goals, including: – Investing: Advanced investment strategies, integrating ETFs and mutual funds into a diversified portfolio, tax-efficient retirement planning, understanding Roth IRA conversions, and navigating robo-advisors. – Credit Cards: Top credit cards for travel rewards and luxury perks, balance transfer strategies, maximizing credit card points, and optimizing credit card usage to boost your credit score. – Personal Finance: Advanced budgeting tips, building generational wealth, creating effective savings plans, managing high-income expenses, and developing a strong money growth mindset. – Home: Smart strategies for homebuying in competitive markets, leveraging home equity loans and HELOCs, refinancing for long-term savings, first-time homebuying tips, and budgeting for major home improvements. If you’re searching for the best personal finance podcasts or want practical knowledge to make smarter money decisions, then follow NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast. You’ll love NerdWallet’s Smart Money Podcast if you like podcasts like: Planet Money, The Personal Finance Podcast, DIY Money, Afford Anything, How to Money, The Ramsey Show, Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin, NPR’s Life Kit: Money, Popcorn Finance, Money Girl,Money Guy Show, Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, So Money with Farnoosh Tarabi, The Money with Katie Show, All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins, The Stacking Benjamins Show, MoneyWatch with Jill Schlesinger, or Your Money, Your Wealth. NerdWallet Compare, Inc. NMLS ID# 1617539 NMLS Consumer Access: http://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org/