Finance Xpress

Posted by: Richie Bernardo

Many people dread visiting their dentist — let alone brushing and flossing once or twice a day. Some even fear seeing a dental professional, evident in the sheer number of websites, articles and support forums devoted to the topics of dental anxiety and phobia. Others simply can’t afford dental work.

Despite the hassle, expense and sometimes pain of maintaining them, a healthy set of chompers can go a long way. A brilliant smile is known to do wonders to a person’s self-esteem, and oral health tends to speak volumes about one’s general well-being.

But you won’t achieve a killer smile just by brushing and flossing. Where you live can directly affect your dental health, too — especially if you’re a woman. According to researchers at Columbia University, “women who resided in communities with fluoridated water during childhood earn approximately 4% more than women who did not,” adding that they found “no effect of fluoridation for men.” The loss of a tooth, on the other hand, can cost “an urban-residing woman earning $11/hour and working full time” approximately $720 in annual earnings. Besides that, oral diseases result in global productivity losses and treatment costs totaling an estimated $442 billion per year.

In order to determine which places boast the best teeth in the U.S., WalletHub’s data team compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 23 key indicators of dental health. Our data set ranges from “share of adolescents who visited a dentist in the past year” to “dental treatment costs” to “share of adults with low life satisfaction due to oral condition.” Read on for our findings, additional insight from dental experts and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/31498/geochart-dental.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2jCiowO;

 

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	‘Dental Habits & Care’ Rank	‘Oral Health’ Rank
1	Minnesota	82.20	1	3
2	Wisconsin	77.85	2	7
3	Illinois	75.96	9	1
4	North Dakota	73.12	5	9
5	Connecticut	72.28	17	2
6	Massachusetts	70.31	6	13
7	Michigan	69.74	12	11
8	District of Columbia	68.24	31	6
9	Iowa	67.87	3	16
10	Ohio	66.84	28	8
11	Rhode Island	66.43	4	20
12	Idaho	65.04	23	12
13	Indiana	64.22	16	15
14	Nebraska	64.13	11	21
15	New Jersey	63.92	44	4
16	Washington	63.51	36	10
17	Maryland	63.36	10	26
18	South Dakota	62.82	22	14
19	Kansas	62.32	18	22
20	New York	61.66	7	30
21	Delaware	61.62	20	18
22	Virginia	61.43	8	27
23	Georgia	60.67	26	17
24	North Carolina	59.50	14	31
25	New Hampshire	59.18	15	29
26	Pennsylvania	59.01	25	25
27	Oregon	58.77	30	24
28	Hawaii	58.29	50	5
29	Arizona	57.40	35	19
30	Missouri	57.19	32	23
31	Colorado	57.02	13	38
32	Vermont	56.55	19	34
33	Utah	53.32	24	39
34	Kentucky	52.70	21	41
35	Nevada	51.76	37	33
36	New Mexico	51.01	41	32
37	Wyoming	50.01	40	35
38	Oklahoma	47.19	49	28
39	Maine	47.08	47	36
40	South Carolina	46.05	46	40
41	Tennessee	45.71	48	37
42	California	44.69	34	45
43	Florida	44.42	42	42
44	Alaska	44.30	29	46
45	Texas	43.70	27	47
46	Louisiana	43.09	43	43
47	Mississippi	38.56	38	49
48	Arkansas	37.83	39	50
49	Montana	37.21	45	48
50	Alabama	36.98	51	44
51	West Virginia	36.40	33	51

 

Ask the Experts

To help you brush up on the importance and benefits of good dental care, we asked a panel of experts in health and family studies to weigh in with their insights. Click on the panelists’ profiles below to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What tips do you have for a person who wishes to maintain dental health without breaking the bank?
2. Beyond brushing and flossing, what are the most important habits and behaviors to teach children to ensure they have good dental hygiene?
3. Should cities and towns add fluoride to drinking water to improve dental health? What are the pros and cons of doing so?
4. Should school sealant programs be extended more aggressively, especially in low-income areas in order to better prevent tooth decay in the school-aged population?
5. How can dental health care be made more affordable?
6. Should dental coverage be included as part of standard health insurance or covered by Medicaid?

Methodology

In order to determine the places with the best dental health in the U.S., WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key dimensions, including “Dental Habits & Health” and “Oral Health.”

We examined those dimensions using 23 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for dental health.

We then calculated overall scores for each state and the District using its weighted average across all metrics and constructed our final ranking based on the resulting scores.

Dental Habits & Care – Total Points: 50

• Share of Adolescents Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Share of Adults Who Visited a Dentist in the Past Year: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Dental Treatment Costs: Double Weight (~6.24 Points)Note: “Dental Treatment” includes cleaning, crowns, root canals and tooth extraction.
• Reduced Dentist Visits Due to Costs: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population who didn’t visit the dentist more frequently due to costs (among those without a visit in the past 12 months).
• Dentists per Capita: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Share of Population Living in Dental HPSAs (Health Professional Shortage Areas): Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Adolescents: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Share of Adult Smokers: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Share of Population Who Receive Fluoridated Water Through PWSs (Public Water Systems): Full Weight (~3.13 Points)
• Presence of State Oral Health Plan: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)Note: This is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of state oral health plans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “A state oral health plan is a roadmap for accomplishing the goals and objectives that have been developed in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, including the state oral health coalition, and members from the public health, dental and medical communities. A comprehensive state oral health plan should be used to direct skilled personnel and funding decisions to reduce the prevalence of oral disease.”
• Presence of School-Based Dental Sealant Programs: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)Note: This is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of school-based dental sealant programs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “School-based sealant programs provide pit and fissure sealants to children in a school setting. These programs generally target vulnerable populations that may be at greater risk for developing decay and less likely to receive preventive care.”
• Medicaid Dental Benefits for Adults: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)Note: This metric measures the number of benefits, if any, provided to adults in the state through Medicaid. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “States have flexibility to determine what dental benefits are provided to adult Medicaid enrollees. While most states provide at least emergency dental services for adults, less than half of the states currently provide comprehensive dental care. There are no minimum requirements for adult dental coverage.”
• Presence of State Dental Periodicity Schedule: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)Note: This is a binary metric that considers the presence or absence of state dental periodicity schedules. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, “Early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment (EPSDT) services are required services under the Medicaid program for most individuals under age 21. EPSDT … includes periodic screening, vision, dental, and hearing services and other necessary health services. Schedules specifying the content and periodicity of these services are to be established by each state after consultation with recognized medical organizations involved in child health care (in the case of screening, vision and hearing services) and dental organizations (in the case of dental services).”
• Status of Older Adult Basic Screening Survey: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)Note: This metric measures the status of a state’s Older Adult Basic Screening Survey (BSS) administration — more specifically, whether the state has completed (and how long ago) or is planning an Older Adult BSS. According to Oral Health America, a BSS “a surveillance of the oral health conditions of seniors in community and long-term-care settings of older adults.”
• Oral Health Knowledge Index: Full Weight (~3.13 Points)

Oral Health – Total Points: 50

• Poor or Fair Oral Condition: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults whose mouths and teeth are in poor or fair condition.
• Share of Elderly Population with No Natural Teeth: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: “Elderly Population” includes the population aged 65 and older.
• Pain Due to Oral Condition: Double Weight (~10.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults who have experienced pain in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Dry Mouth Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults who have experienced dry mouths in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Sleeping Problems Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults who have experienced problems sleeping in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Reduced Life Satisfaction Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of adults whose lives in general are less satisfying due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Reduced Social Participation Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population who have experienced reduced social participation in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.
• Work Absence Due to Oral Condition: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: This metric measures the percentage of the population who have taken days off from work in the past year due to the condition of their mouths and teeth.

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Grid, American Dental Association, Health Resources & Services Administration, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Health America.

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One of the top reasons I hear for why a person doesn’t travel more is that they feel they don’t have enough money to do so. However, it’s very possible to travel on a budget and still have a great time!

Many people think that they need to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars in order to have a good vacation, and/or that vacations are only for those with high incomes.

Well, that’s simply not true.

I know many people who successfully travel on low incomes, travel for free, travel for cheap, and more – and yes, they have a great time even when budgeting!

And, you can do it too. Yes, you can go on an amazing trip and still travel on a budget. It may take a little bit of effort and planning, but it can be well worth it in the end.

By finding ways to travel on a budget, you can go on a stress free vacation and not have to worry about money. This makes a vacation much more enjoyable, because who wants to think about money when they are trying to relax?

Here is how you can travel on a budget!

 

Sleep on people’s couches.

I’ve never couch surfed, but I know a few people who have couchsurfed in order to travel on a budget, including my sister.

Couchsurfing is great because you can get a free place to stay, while meeting cool and friendly locals.

With couchsurfing, sometimes you’ll sleep on a couch, perhaps in a separate bedroom, or some other arrangement that you’ll know about beforehand.

You can try Couchsurfing out for free here.

Here are some blog posts from my sister’s blog about couchsurfing:

• 5 Important Rules For New and Old Couchsurfers
• Should Females Solo Couchsurf?
• Free Way To Travel The World Without Paying For Accommodations

 

Stay in hostels to travel on a budget.

Hostels are great for budget travel. They are usually quite affordable, and you can often find hostels for less than $20 a night depending on where you’re traveling to.

My mother is over 60 and lately she has been traveling all around the world. In the past year she’s gone to Switzerland, Canada, Korea, all over the U.S., Europe several times, and more. And, she has stayed in a hostel or couch surfed almost every single time. My sister often jokes that my mom has more couch surfing reviews than the average person.

 

Be flexible with your flight.

Have you heard of someone getting an insanely good deal on an international round trip flight and you just couldn’t believe it?

Yes, those $300 roundtrip tickets to Europe actually do exist!

To save the most money on your next trip, one of the best places to start is to look at ways to save money on your flight.

My favorite way to save on airfare is to go to SkyScanner, enter your “From” destination as wherever you plan on flying from, and then for your arrival destination click “Search Everywhere.” You can see this below:

Then for your departing and returning dates, choose “Whole Month ” and then “Cheapest Month.” Here’s how to do that below:

This shows you tons of places to go to and on the cheapest budget.

 

Join Facebook travel groups to find the best deals.

I’m a huge fan of travel-related Facebook groups. I love hearing about the amazing places that people travel to, and they often share great deals, such as limited time flash sales. Flash sales are a GREAT way to save money on travel, and without Facebook travel groups and other places where people share deals, it would be quite difficult to ever find out about them.

My two favorite travel-related Facebook groups are:

• Girls Love Travel – This is a travel group for females, and it’s probably the fastest growing Facebook group. In just about a year the group has grown to over 160,000 very active members. There are often amazing flights deals posted here, and one that was recently shared was a $400 roundtrip flight to New Zealand.
• Frugal Travel with Holly Johnson – If you want to travel on a budget, then this is a great Facebook group to join. This group was created by my friend Holly, who is a travel and credit card rewards expert. This group is more about budget travel through credit cards bonuses.

 

Travel in the mid or off season.

Traveling during the peak season is almost always going to cost you more than if you traveled to a destination during the mid or off season.

I like traveling in the mid season because the weather is usually similar to the peak season, also it’s usually less crowded and cheaper.

It’s less expensive to travel in the mid or off season because it’s a little harder for hotels, transportation companies, and so on to sell their services and products when not as many people are wanting them. To find the best budget travel deals, looking at off season travel may be the best idea.

 

Make money while you travel.

Yes, you can make money while you travel! This is more suited for people who want to travel for extended periods of time or even full-time.

Making money while you travel will only help you to fund your vacations.

You can do things such as:

• Run a website.
• Au pair.
• Find a job in the places you are visiting.
• Freelance write or become a virtual assistant.
• Sell products.
• Earn passive income.
• Housesit.
• Work remotely.

Learn more at Make Money While Traveling – Yes, It’s Possible!

 

Work for an airline to travel on a budget.

My dad worked for an airline nearly his whole life, right until he passed away.

Due to that, we always had free or super cheap flights, most of the time in first class. This was a huge perk of his career, and many other people who work for airlines get this perk as well.

 

Earn free budget vacations by using credit cards.

If you can trust yourself to use credit cards to their advantage while not going into credit card debt, then you can use them to earn really, REALLY cheap travel. If you don’t believe me, I recommend reading this – How To Take A 10 Day Trip To Hawaii For $22.40 – Flights & Accommodations Included.

Yes, it’s actually possible to go to Hawaii for less than $25 – all by using credit cards and gaining sign up bonuses and other points through them.

Credit card points can be used towards many different things, such as free flights, hotel stays, cash back, and more.

Each month, I put nearly all of my expenses on credit cards, which turns into points that I can use. AND, I don’t pay a penny towards interest or credit card charges because I always pay my credit card balance in full each month. I use my credit card as though it’s cash – I do it all for the points!

 

Housesit to travel on a budget.

Housesitting is becoming very popular these days, and there is usually a big demand for reliable housesitters with positive past reviews.

We even know of a couple who have their house on a housesitting website, and they often have housesitters, so I know it’s a real thing!

 

Find cheap travel destinations to travel on a budget.

Some travel destinations will be much cheaper than others. Due to this, you may want to research what cheap travel destinations are out there and which ones you may be interested in so that you can save the most amount of money!

 

Stay in an Airbnb for a better travel budget.

Whenever we go on a trip that we don’t bring our RV, we almost always stay in a short-term rental that we find on Airbnb.

An Airbnb is occasionally someone’s home, but I’ve found that most of the time they are just vacation rentals that a person is renting out.

I enjoy Airbnbs over normal hotels when I’m on vacation, because there is usually much more room, a backyard (a huge plus since we usually travel with our dogs), a kitchen, they are great for when traveling on a budget, and more. An Airbnb is usually very beneficial if you’re traveling with a big group. You can split the cost of a larger space with numerous people, which can make it often cheaper than a hotel.

If you sign up for Airbnb, you will receive a $35 Airbnb coupon for your next stay. This Airbnb coupon does not expire, so you can just sign up and it will save to your account for when you plan a trip in the future.

 

Sign up for a hotel’s loyalty card.

No matter where we stay, we always sign up for a hotel’s loyalty card so that we can earn free hotel stays for the future. This allows you to accrue points on the hotel’s member card (they are usually completely free) and accrue points on your credit card as well (if you can use credit cards responsibly). I have earned free hotel stays this way, and it’s always nice to earn double the points.

So, even if you book on a hotel discount site such as Booking.com, you can still use the hotel’s loyalty card. Don’t forget that!

There are also other benefits to signing up for these cards. Sometimes you can score free hotel room upgrades, early check ins, late checkouts, additional discounts, and more.

 

Be flexible with the dates for your stay.

A flexible schedule can save you a decent amount when booking where you will sleep. Staying on the weekends will usually be more expensive, and choosing a destination’s high season will most likely cost you more money as well.

If you can, you may want to do some research and see what the accommodation rate is when just changing the date by a day, a week, or more. This is an important money saving tip and can possibly save you hundreds of dollars on your vacation.

I once looked at a hotel that charged over $300 a night for a room, and just a few weeks later they had the same room for less than $50 a night. That is a HUGE difference for the same exact room.

 

Ask for a discount to travel on a budget.

My last vacation money saving tip on your stay is to simply ask for a discount. When you are looking at hotels, motels, short-term rentals, and more, simply ask if there are any discounts available. I usually book my trips at the last moment, and asking for a discount usually works for me because places are trying to fill up any remaining rooms.

Sometimes asking for a discount will work, other times it does not. It’s just a simple “Are there any available discounts I can receive?”

The worst that can happen is that they say no. The best is that they’ll say yes!

 

Find cheaper ways to get around locally.

Once I get to my destination, my favorite way to travel is to use Uber. It’s usually much cheaper than a taxi, which helps to travel on a budget.

Uber is a ridesharing company similar to a taxi service. Uber uses a phone app (I LOVE how easy their app is to use) so that passengers can easily find an Uber for their next ride.

All you need to do is open the app on your phone and request a ride. You can then see who will be picking you up, how long it will take the driver to get to you, and more. It makes finding a ride very easy.

You can read more about Uber at My Review of Uber and How To Get Your First Ride For Free. Also, by using the coupon code “kimmies8” or by signing up through this link, you can get $20 off your first Uber ride. So, if your Uber ride is $20 or less, then it’s completely free! Note: The dollar amount varies from time to time.

 

Hitchhike (but be safe).

Okay, so this may be frowned upon in some areas and by some people, but this can be a way to get around if you’re safe and know what you’re doing.

Hitchhiking is somewhat common in popular hiking areas and in some parts of the world.

When my husband and his friend went to hike the Colorado Trail in Colorado, they hitchhiked because there were no taxis. The person who picked them up was on the cell phone the whole time, and when he finally got off the phone he told them that many people hitchhiked in Colorado to get from a hiking spot back to their car.

 

Use your student ID to travel on a budget.

If you have a student ID, then you should definitely use it while traveling! This can get you discounts on many different things, such as attractions, transportation, food, clothing, and more.

A discount can help you to save more money and travel on a budget, of course!

 

Eat like a local to travel on a budget.

Eating like a local is the best way to dine while traveling, as you can save money most of the time and have a more authentic vacation experience.

 

Buy groceries and eat out less for budget travel.

Yes, it can be fun and even a little more relaxing to eat out when traveling to a new place. However, you can save a little bit of money by eating in at least once a day, especially if you’re not going to get something local or special anyways.

You can easily save money by eating out one less time each day on your vacation by just  buying groceries and making a meal where you’re staying.

I hope you enjoyed my tips on how to travel on a budget! What other budget travel tips do you have to share?

The post How To Travel On A Budget And Still Have The Time Of Your Life appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.

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Posted by: Unknown

Introduction

1. Main Findings
2. Red States vs. Blue States
3. Ask the Experts
4. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/31498/geochart.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2kQwxLN;  

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Effective	Annual	Difference	Annual	Adjusted
1	Alaska	5.69%	$3,066	-46.85%	$4,237	6
2	Delaware	6.02%	$3,246	-43.74%	$3,830	1
3	Montana	6.92%	$3,728	-35.37%	$3,561	3
4	Wyoming	7.45%	$4,015	-30.40%	$4,312	2
5	Nevada	7.72%	$4,161	-27.86%	$4,028	7

 

Red States vs. Blue States

 

Ask the Experts

Methodology

 

Source:

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This blog post is brought to you by 1040.com. All opinions are 100% mine like always.

It’s that time of year again!

Yes, it’s time to start thinking about filing your taxes, because they are due in April, which is getting closer and closer each day.

Taxes are something that the average person does not look forward to, but there are ways to make completing your taxes a little easier.

If you haven’t thought about how you are going to do your taxes yet, I recommend you start as soon as you can.

A great website where you can complete your taxes on your own is 1040.com.

By doing your taxes on your own, such as through 1040.com, you can be more familiar with your tax situation and you can also save yourself money as well.

I know way too many people who overpay for their simple tax situation when I know they have the capability to do it themselves, such as online.

Plus, you can estimate your tax refund with their free online refund calculator! Also, 1040-EZ returns are FREE!

Who is 1040.com and why should you do your taxes through them?

1040.com is a website where you can complete your taxes online yourself. And, it’s easy!

This website has an interview which guides you through filing your taxes and e-filing your completed tax return to the IRS. You can also choose to file your state return at the same time you file your federal return. Federal data transfers to your state return automatically, which keeps it simple and saves you time on your state tax return.

I’ve filed my tax return online every single year since I was 18 (before that my father just filed them for me) and I have never once had a problem. Last year was my first year where I had a CPA file my taxes, but that’s only because they became more complicated due to my business tax setup, traveling full-time, and so on. However, the average tax return is simple, so you may want to think about doing this yourself!

If you have an easy tax situation, then you may be able to save some money by filing your taxes yourself. There is one company that I definitely recommend you look further into if you want to file your taxes yourself and online, and that is 1040.com.

Also, there’s another benefit of using 1040.com over other tax preparation online companies. One great thing that stands out about 1040.com compared to other DIY online tax companies is that they have partnered with Healing Waters so that they can help bring clean water to thousands of people in the developing world.

Water is something that we take advantage of here in the United States, but there are people in many other countries who aren’t as lucky.

1040.com is going to give $2 to Healing Waters for every tax return filed through their site. Even if someone files a free simple return, they’re still going to donate $2 to Healing Waters for that return. That can help so many people and is one big plus for using 1040.com for your DIY tax returns this year.

You can find 1040.com on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Will you be doing your taxes online this year? Why or why not?

The post Do Your Taxes Easily With 1040.com This Year appeared first on Making Sense Of Cents.

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What is the rank of the United States among countries with the largest proportion of book readers? According to Harper’s Magazine, the U.S. comes in at number six. The country with the largest proportion of readers: China. Some people love reading. For me, the sight of beautiful new books – glossy-covered and filled with words…

How to Save Money on Cheap Books – Read More While Spending Less is a post from the Money Crashers personal finance blog.

from Money Crashers


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Posted by: Richie Bernardo

 

Anyone who’s ever organized a wedding knows all too well how demanding and protracted the process can be. It’s the reason couples hire professional event planners to do the heavy lifting — and also why the term “bridezilla” became a permanent entry in the wedding glossary.

Between sending invitations, securing reservations, planning a menu and obsessing over final touches on the cake, it’s no wonder the big day is arranged months, even years, in advance — and deservingly so. Tying the knot is a huge commitment, and the $60 billion wedding industry ain’t one to complain.

At WalletHub, we understand the logistical and financial stresses of that typically long march to “I do.” So in order to assist with the planning process, our data team compared the 150 biggest cities to find the cheapest and most convenient wedding destinations that also promise a memorable occasion. We examined each city across 20 key indicators of nuptial-friendliness, ranging from “average wedding cost” to “venues and event spaces per capita” to “hotel availability.” Read on for the winners, meaningful advice from wedding and marriage experts, and a full description of our methodology.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/18721/geochart-married.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="http://ift.tt/2kmik8W;  

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Effective	Annual	Difference	Annual	Adjusted
1	Las Vegas, NV	74.21	57	5	1
2	Orlando, FL	74.04	88	1	3
3	Atlanta, GA	69.99	64	2	9
4	Tampa, FL	65.43	41	11	5
5	Cincinnati, OH	64.63	27	8	27
6	Scottsdale, AZ	63.03	53	12	8
7	Salt Lake City, UT	62.92	92	3	22
8	Fort Lauderdale, FL	60.83	65	10	16
9	Knoxville, TN	60.59	4	29	42
10	Miami, FL	60.55	99	6	11
11	St. Louis, MO	59.78	82	7	25
12	New Orleans, LA	59.67	58	27	10
13	Springfield, MO	57.81	3	40	45
14	Boise, ID	57.14	9	49	32
15	Tucson, AZ	56.94	28	64	14
16	Birmingham, AL	56.13	19	26	59
17	Richmond, VA	55.95	63	13	36
18	Austin, TX	55.62	91	17	20
19	San Diego, CA	55.04	118	18	4
20	Tempe, AZ	55.03	47	34	23
21	Reno, NV	54.53	77	28	24
22	Albuquerque, NM	54.26	15	96	26
23	Portland, OR	53.36	116	15	13
24	Spokane, WA	52.49	22	50	43
25	Sacramento, CA	52.48	121	14	15
26	El Paso, TX	52.13	1	141	99
27	San Francisco, CA	52.13	150	4	2
28	Chattanooga, TN	51.91	12	43	83
29	Pittsburgh, PA	51.74	102	21	30
30	Denver, CO	51.56	115	19	18
31	Grand Rapids, MI	51.37	32	31	73
32	Seattle, WA	51.24	125	16	12
33	Baton Rouge, LA	50.47	34	48	46
34	Mobile, AL	50.07	8	87	85
35	Minneapolis, MN	49.31	96	32	31
36	Tulsa, OK	49.18	20	98	47
37	Honolulu, HI	48.84	145	9	6
38	St. Petersburg, FL	48.73	44	72	40
39	Los Angeles, CA	48.06	128	35	7
40	Modesto, CA	47.90	93	36	35
41	Kansas City, MO	47.86	50	83	37
42	Louisville, KY	47.47	26	92	66
43	Memphis, TN	47.36	5	127	100
44	Huntsville, AL	46.76	33	85	67
45	Omaha, NE	46.74	40	78	53
46	Houston, TX	46.54	97	46	33
47	Augusta, GA	46.49	10	94	110
48	Brownsville, TX	46.47	2	148	146
49	Tallahassee, FL	46.03	62	47	64
50	Phoenix, AZ	45.98	51	109	38
51	Shreveport, LA	45.79	7	118	113
52	Oklahoma City, OK	45.76	30	116	61
53	Madison, WI	45.53	66	69	48
54	Fayetteville, NC	45.43	16	75	114
55	Dallas, TX	45.24	73	55	55
56	San Antonio, TX	44.84	54	76	60
57	Rochester, NY	44.69	117	23	58
58	Nashville, TN	44.56	69	57	68
59	Colorado Springs, CO	44.54	94	73	39
60	Amarillo, TX	44.46	31	113	91
61	Bakersfield, CA	44.45	84	62	52
62	Raleigh, NC	44.39	74	56	69
63	Lubbock, TX	44.32	18	88	120
64	Anaheim, CA	44.06	126	37	28
65	Columbus, OH	44.06	49	105	57
66	Charlotte, NC	43.94	39	93	88
67	Lexington-Fayette, KY	43.78	35	124	78
68	Columbus, GA	43.67	13	114	119
69	Overland Park, KS	43.53	36	84	104
70	Laredo, TX	43.07	6	147	137
71	Glendale, CA	42.98	122	22	63
72	Mesa, AZ	42.96	47	104	75
73	Buffalo, NY	42.78	107	39	56
74	Montgomery, AL	42.75	11	117	135
75	Cleveland, OH	42.65	100	52	54
76	Durham, NC	42.45	60	81	89
77	Jackson, MS	42.34	21	111	123
78	Little Rock, AR	42.25	29	77	127
79	Washington, DC	41.92	143	30	17
80	Chandler, AZ	41.82	55	108	82
81	Plano, TX	41.62	81	66	95
82	Greensboro, NC	41.54	14	149	101
83	Fresno, CA	41.52	78	91	81
84	Lincoln, NE	41.45	68	82	96
85	Henderson, NV	41.42	61	126	71
86	Norfolk, VA	41.35	59	121	76
87	Sioux Falls, SD	41.32	43	95	107
88	Wichita, KS	41.25	23	120	118
89	Chicago, IL	41.09	131	58	29
90	Corpus Christi, TX	41.02	25	128	115
91	Milwaukee, WI	40.80	95	103	50
92	Santa Rosa, CA	40.67	132	20	74
93	Indianapolis, IN	40.66	46	145	79
94	Vancouver, WA	40.43	112	33	97
95	Akron, OH	39.93	42	97	121
96	Jacksonville, FL	39.84	87	110	77
97	Fort Worth, TX	39.78	79	107	87
98	North Las Vegas, NV	39.74	45	53	126
99	Virginia Beach, VA	39.63	98	90	72
100	Tacoma, WA	39.58	108	42	94
101	Des Moines, IA	39.51	76	79	109
102	Detroit, MI	39.42	67	140	80
103	Toledo, OH	39.42	17	138	138
104	Long Beach, CA	39.10	136	44	34
105	Garden Grove, CA	38.96	105	60	90
106	Winston-Salem, NC	38.95	24	150	103
107	Glendale, AZ	38.76	52	125	98
108	St. Paul, MN	38.73	103	71	93
109	Fort Wayne, IN	38.72	37	89	141
110	Irving, TX	38.37	71	67	128
111	Irvine, CA	38.22	127	38	70
112	Baltimore, MD	37.80	123	65	51
113	Cape Coral, FL	37.23	85	146	65
114	Arlington, TX	37.03	71	122	111
115	Gilbert, AZ	36.79	38	106	130
116	Hialeah, FL	36.48	80	102	122
117	Newport News, VA	36.16	75	131	116
118	Huntington Beach, CA	36.12	138	41	49
119	Philadelphia, PA	35.83	140	112	21
120	Oakland, CA	35.26	146	25	44
121	Stockton, CA	35.23	104	130	92
122	Chesapeake, VA	35.14	56	136	133
123	Peoria, AZ	35.07	86	133	112
124	Oceanside, CA	35.06	120	86	86
125	Pembroke Pines, FL	34.32	89	139	117
126	San Jose, CA	34.28	141	45	62
127	New York, NY	33.52	147	68	19
128	Riverside, CA	33.30	130	59	102
129	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	33.24	114	70	125
130	Santa Ana, CA	33.21	129	61	105
131	San Bernardino, CA	32.72	110	115	108
132	Ontario, CA	32.38	119	63	124
133	Aurora, CO	31.96	101	100	142
134	Garland, TX	31.87	90	135	139
135	Port St. Lucie, FL	31.48	83	142	148
136	Chula Vista, CA	31.40	109	80	144
137	Providence, RI	30.94	133	99	84
138	Grand Prairie, TX	30.75	70	144	140
139	Anchorage, AK	30.53	124	119	106
140	Boston, MA	30.15	149	54	41
141	Fontana, CA	27.78	110	132	147
142	Aurora, IL	25.92	106	137	149
143	Jersey City, NJ	25.91	139	74	132
144	Moreno Valley, CA	25.88	113	143	143
145	Santa Clarita, CA	25.77	134	101	131
146	Fremont, CA	25.70	142	51	136
147	Oxnard, CA	24.15	137	128	129
148	Worcester, MA	22.57	135	134	145
149	Yonkers, NY	21.00	148	24	150
150	Newark, NJ	20.31	144	123	134

Ask the Experts

Marriage is not only a big life decision, but it also can be a hefty financial commitment because money often dictates the extravagance and location of the wedding. But some couples have far fewer resources to dedicate for their special day. For advice on such matters and how to boost the local economy through the wedding business, we turned to a panel of experts in family studies, personal finance and local administration. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:

1. How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding?
2. How should a couple decide where to get married?
3. What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget?
4. Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What measures can local authorities undertake in order to stimulate weddings in their respective communities?

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• Luke Erickson Personal finance Educator at University of Idaho Extension, Madison County
• Diane Margaret Joyal Research Coordinator at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Owner and Lead Designer of Bowerbird Flowers and Apothecary
• Dorris Perryman Assistant Professor of Accounting at Bristol Community College
• Cameron Gordon Associate Professor of Psychology at University of North Carolina, Wilmington
• Carolyn Washburn Family and Consumer Sciences Agent at Utah State University Extension
• Karl Andrew Pillemer Hazel E. Reed Professor of Human Development in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University
• Karen J. Prager Professor of Psychology and Program Head for Gender Studies in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at University of Texas at Dallas
• Dasha B. Marchetti Executive Director of Continuing Education and Professor of Business Studies at Bucks County Community College

Luke Erickson Personal finance Educator at University of Idaho Extension, Madison County How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding? A good philosophy is to find a reasonable balance between creating a memorable, meaningful experience and preparing adequately for the months and years ahead. A dollar figure or even budget percentage is not an appropriate guideline as each couple will have to decide how to find this balance given their own unique circumstances. How should a couple decide where to get married? While and exotic location, or fancy reception hall might be unique and memorable, it won’t be nearly as meaningful without the people who mean the most to you. If your location is hard to get to and prohibits important friends and family members from being able to attend, consider alternatives. What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget? A wedding that forces the couple to spend so much that they immediately face piles of debt at the start of the marriage is doomed from the start. What good is a grand wedding if the marriage doesn’t last due stresses aggravated by debt and financial woes? Find a good balance between creating a memorable wedding experience and a marriage that will endure. Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What measures can local authorities undertake in order to stimulate weddings in their respective communities? I’ve seen countless wedding pictures on social media. A local community/business can do well to ensure that they create/sponsor photogenic scenes that are unique and recognizable. You want the friends of that bride to post comments and questions on the picture like, “Where is that? It’s so beautiful!” Diane Margaret Joyal Research Coordinator at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Owner and Lead Designer of Bowerbird Flowers and Apothecary How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding? Budget is a very sensitive and personal issue! They should only spend what they are completely comfortable with. I have seen couples very stressed out over the budget. Social media, wedding blogs and sites like Pinterest can set unrealistic expectations about what a wedding "should" look like. Since I am a floral designer, I try and guide couples and families towards what is in season, local or an alternative that would be more appropriate for their budget. If they have a favorite flower that they must have and it is expensive, we work from there. Compromise is key! I always reassure them that no matter what their budget is, the flowers will be beautiful and perfect for them! How should a couple decide where to get married? I live in an area that couples return to get married. I never thought of Durham and Chapel Hill as a destination wedding location but it really is now. Couples that met here while in school come back to gather their friends and family together and get married. I think that many couples that choose to get married here have very fond memories of their time here and they remember how beautiful it is. The southeast can be gorgeous in the spring and fall. As far as the physical location of the wedding, my impression of weddings right now is that the setting seems to reflect the personality of the couple. There are some fantastic wedding venues here and several have opened in the past couple of years (with more opening all of the time). They range from very formal old homes to industrial factory buildings that have been rehabbed to an old church that has been newly and beautifully restored to old barns with a little log cabin next door. All of these locations lend themselves to events with a different feel. Brides and grooms are drawn to the setting that reflects their style and the mood that they would like to create for their guests. This is their chance to convey who they are as a couple! What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget? Choose a venue that makes you happy and shows who you are and that provides some items that you can use for your event. Most venues provide tables but some might also supply chairs and linens. Remember, if they don't have it, you will have to rent it! That being said, I encourage brides to rent, not buy items for their decor. No one wants 12 lanterns sitting in the garage for the next 5 years! Also, don't fall into the Pinterest trap and think you can or should be doing something crafty, that you end up not using or spending lots of money on, or make your wedding more extravagant then you are financially comfortable able to. Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What measures can local authorities undertake in order to stimulate weddings in their respective communities? I think that they can encourage weddings by encouraging small businesses, making sure that there are lots of choices for lodging and dining and promoting tourism in general. We are in an area with several large academic institutions which is great, but even these communities have had more development in the last few years, which has helped bolster the blossoming local wedding industry. Dorris Perryman Assistant Professor of Accounting at Bristol Community College How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding? A couple should first assess their discretionary income available to spend for a wedding. This can be done by preparing a budget. Another option is to research and plan their ideal wedding from the smallest detail to the most expensive item (such as the bride’s dress) and then scale the wedding according to the couple’s discretionary funds available. I would recommend to first prepare a budget and see what their budget will allow them to spend on a wedding without taking on debt or depleting their savings. How should a couple decide where to get married? A couple should decide on a place that is special to them and it is within their budget. This is not the time to splurge on an exotic place unless you are well off and can afford the expenses. Also, a couple should consider their invited guests when picking the location. Is it accessible and will my guests be able to attend the wedding without breaking their budget? What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget? If the couple is to stay on budget, review all of the options available to them. On large ticket items, make sure you get at least three bids. If one of their large ticket items is special and slightly above your budget, you may have to cut costs somewhere else to achieve your goal of the most expensive item. I would suggest that the couple look at renting the bride’s dress or buying a used dress and purchasing the male’s tuxedo. The bride will only wear this dress one time, whereas the groom will be able to wear his tuxedo on more than one occasion (I am currently wearing my dress on Halloween as the Bride of Dracula). Another tip when planning a wedding is to plan your wedding for the poorest invited guest that you want so very much to be there with you to witness your glorious celebration. If you do, you will keep your costs low. Do not plan “themed weddings” - it is inconsiderate and selfish of you to ask your guests to spend their only three day weekend off with the bride and groom for and adventure, unless the couple is taking care of all of the expenses. The couple should try and coordinate events close together so that the out of town guests who have to travel do not have to seek additional transportation while attending the wedding in another locale. If time is on the couple’s side, then I would suggest that the couple take the researched cost of their proposed wedding and divide it by the number of paychecks that are available up to a month before the wedding. Then the couple should open a separate bank account and deposit the funds into the account and take all of the wedding expenses from this account. The couple doesn’t have to worry or stress about commingling the wedding expenses with their current living expenses. This will give them a picture and let them know quickly if they are exceeding their budget or will require additional funds to offset unexpected expenses. There are many checklists on the internet to help the bride and groom accomplish this task. Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What measures can local authorities undertake in order to stimulate weddings in their respective communities? If a community wants to capitalize on the wedding business, venues should be inviting and reasonable, from the smallest wedding to the largest weddings. The grounds should be well maintained, access to a caterer, a photographer, a wedding planner, a florist, transportation, entertainment, etc. And not just one of each - there should be a book with several numbers for the bride and groom to choose, from the least expensive to the most expensive. This should be one-stop shopping. Also, don’t forget items that make your community different from others, such as horse drawn carriages, water cruises, party buses, etc. The key is to make every couple’s wedding magical, however small. These one-stop shopping communities are not mutually exclusive for weddings. These same areas are good for birthday parties, graduations, family reunions, or any other celebration where people want to celebrate. Cameron Gordon Associate Professor of Psychology at University of North Carolina, Wilmington How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding? Issues regarding money in relationships can be surprisingly complex. At first glance, questions regarding spending and budgeting often appear to be a fairly straightforward matter of simple math. As such, couples who do not see eye to eye about spending can quickly become frustrated because each individual may consider his or her own point of view to be obviously and simply the “right” answer. The reality for many couples, however, is that money concerns do not represent only a mathematical issue, but also a psychological one. Each individual member of the couple has been developing a complex relationship with money his or her entire life. As such, complicated ideas about what money represents in life (e.g., a means for creating a safety net, expressing freedom, having fun, etc.) often underlie a person’s saving and spending habits. For most couples, each individual’s values related to money are valid, yet there can be great disparity between each person’s perspective that can leave couples bewildered and frustrated with one another. When it comes to planning for a wedding, budgeting decisions can quickly become even more complicated as other family members may contribute financially or with opinions regarding the ceremony which may have budgetary implications. Therefore, couples can help themselves a lot by approaching this question as the complex issue that it is, and prepare themselves for the possibility that they may need to come to the discussion with particular efforts toward patience and understanding for all those involved. Doing so can help the couple thoroughly communicate with one another and all of the relevant parties about their needs and values; both from a psychological and a mathematical standpoint. These discussions should not only involve the question of the wedding budget, but also the inextricably intertwined questions about each individual’s values pertaining to the wedding itself. For example, whether a couple wants a large celebration centered around a widespread community of loved ones or an intimate ceremony that emphasizes their transition into this phase of their relationship, obviously has large implications for budgeting decisions. With weddings that require extensive planning and larger budgets, a financial planner may also be a helpful asset. In short, planning a wedding can be a very enjoyable and also very stressful process. Spending time getting a clear sense of each individual’s needs and the reasons underlying them will help lay a stronger foundation for prioritizing and problem-solving as the couple (and perhaps family) addresses the wedding budget in an effort to reach everyone’s mutual satisfaction. How should a couple decide where to get married? This can also be a deceptively complex question. Similarly to addressing budgetary questions, the couple can benefit a lot from approaching this discussion with an effort to understand the values that a wedding ceremony represents to each individual. For instance, if the couple regards the wedding as primarily a way to celebrate the love shared among a community of supportive family and loved ones, then taking into account everyone’s ability to attend (as it pertains to timing, expense, size of the venue, geographical location, etc.) would be the most important consideration. In contrast, if the couple views the wedding as primarily a celebration of their personalities being joined together then an adventurous couple may wish to plan a destination wedding in an exotic location that represents their passions, even if it means fewer loved ones could attend. Thus, understanding the values that the wedding actually represents to each individual member of the couple can help aid in deciding where to hold the ceremony (whether that question pertains to geographical location or type of venue, etc.). What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget? In addition to staying organized and thoughtful about the mathematical and the psychological aspects of money and weddings, I would encourage couples to consider erring on the side of simplifying their expenses. Although wedding budgets have grown tremendously over the past several decades, I have never once had a couple come to my therapy practice years after their wedding lamenting that they wished it had been larger or more complicated. I have seen many couples, though, who struggle with the frustrations and pressures that often come with debt. At the end of the day, it is the couple’s enduring relationship that matters most, and not the wedding ceremony. So whether a couple wishes to have an elaborate and expensive wedding, or a simple and more economical one, everyone can benefit from keeping the perspective that the relationship is more important than the flowers. Carolyn Washburn Family and Consumer Sciences Agent at Utah State University Extension How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding? The best thing a couple can discuss before the wedding is their views on money. Each of us have a money style and couples who can understand one another’s money style will have much happier relationships. Discuss what is most important for your future happiness, the honeymoon, and future living styles before deciding how much will be practical for spending on the wedding. Yes, the wedding is built for wonderful memories, but too much spent on the wedding can lead to later despair when finances are hard. Do not go into debt to pay for a wedding. Credit card costs and loans and should be avoided to prevent beginning your future with a negative balance. How should a couple decide where to get married? Many couples choose a wedding location because of the value of the location in their lives. For some couples it will be a religious location, for others it may be the outdoors, a back yard setting, or even a beautiful special event center. What is of value to the couples will make the ceremony more valuable to them. Couples who can discuss values and goals that are important for their future family will have an easier time deciding which wedding location celebrates their views and values the most. This is an excellent time for couples to begin to build a “Family Crest”, or family identity. What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget? Communicate about the wedding and the budget. Build a budget together focusing on the needs and wants of each partner. Look at it often and try to stay on target. When one line item must be increased, look at where another may be decreased. Discuss the budget weekly and make sure that each partner is sharing their thoughts and feelings about where the money is being spent. If discussing the wedding budget is difficult, each partner may choose a sucker and one partner put theirs in their mouth while the other partner talks about the finance and then trade turns. This helps each partner to really listen while one partner gets a chance to talk. Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What measures can local authorities undertake in order to stimulate weddings in their respective communities? Communities can help celebrate the importance of marriage in many ways. Marriage is important to communities. Marriage encourages healthier families, better economic situations, stronger schools and happier people. Communities can encourage wedding events and expos, an annual marriage celebration to honor long time successful marriages, and even a marriage “Hall of Fame” that encourages strong relationships and sets a standard of role models. Local TV and radio channels can have marriage enrichment topics along with free marriage enrichment classes. Local business could encourage a “Date Night” activity with a reduced price for married couples and local groups could provide babysitting. Communities who value family and marriage can encourage marriages which in turn will build stronger communities. Karl Andrew Pillemer Hazel E. Reed Professor of Human Development in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding? I’ve spent the past five years interviewing long-married couples – often together happily for a half-century or more – about their advice for making love last. In many cases, they pointed to their wedding as a signature event that set the tone for their marriage. One of their key pieces of advice is this: A couple should spend what they can afford on their wedding. It may sound like simple advice, but many young people violate this straightforward rule, going into debt or spending savings (or their parents’ savings) for enhancements that make little difference in the event and how it is remembered. And the money saved can often be better used to start a life together. Why do people spend so much? In part, because they believe everyone else does. They read often-quoted figures like “the average wedding costs $30,000.” Actually, better statistics suggest that the median cost is more like $15,000 – so around half of couples get married (and most enjoy the wedding) for much less than people believe. It’s hard to give a specific amount, but aiming for the realistic median makes sense to me. But the key advice from the long-married is: Stay within a comfortable amount, because you will enjoy the wedding as much in a $500 dress as a $5000 one. The worst mistake? Upping the ante to keep up with (or exceed) friends’ weddings. How should a couple decide where to get married? According to couples who have made it to the finish line of marriage, there are three fundamental rules to choosing a location. First, focus on a place that is significant to you. In many cases, this is where one (or both) of you grew up. Or it may be a beloved location where you vacationed as a child, or where you are living happily now. Less likely to make you happy, in their view, is a mass-produced wedding at a place like a theme park. Second, prioritize making it easy for the people you care about to join you on the occasion. A destination wedding in Fiji may seem wonderfully exotic – but it will be limited to those guests who can afford it. My respondents in their 80s and beyond assure you that what you will remember are the faces and voices of the people who shared this day with you, much more than the resort’s pool and spa. Again, think people first, and make it affordable for them to celebrate with you. Third, if you disagree on where to hold the wedding, do this: Instead of stressing about the difference of opinion, use it as communication practice for the rest of your married life together. Stop to remember: If this is the most stressful experience you have in your married life, you will be very lucky. Learn to use some good conflict resolution techniques recommended by people married a half century or more, including:

• Let the other person have his or her say before interrupting;
• Avoid letting anger lead you to contemptuous remarks, like insults or sarcasm;
• Take at time out if you need it – not everything needs to be discussed until resolved; drop a contentious issue and come back to it.

If you disagree on where your wedding should be, why not take advantage of the golden opportunity to practice good communication early on? What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget? The elders worry about young people focusing too much on “stuff” at weddings, and not enough about savoring the people and experiences that come with it. Psychologists make this distinction, finding that greater happiness comes from activities that are rewarding in and of themselves rather than acquiring material possessions. When thinking about a wedding, you can be sure that 50 years from now, you will remember sharing the joy with friends and relatives and taking a great honeymoon trip than you will the cappuccino maker and the steak knives. When budgeting, thing about doing rather than getting. For example, having a wedding in a cheaper venue and lower-cost catering so you can invite more people you care about, in their view, is a good choice. And those gifts? Don’t forget to leave room in the budget for funding a trip that leaves life-long memories. You can more easily stay on budget if you focus on experiences over things – which is what research shows us makes us happy in general, too! Karen J. Prager Professor of Psychology and Program Head for Gender Studies in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at University of Texas at Dallas How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding? They should look together and with their parents at their finances and decide together what they can afford. I recommend that no one go into debt to finance a wedding. How should a couple decide where to get married? Tradition says it is in the bride’s locale. Otherwise, it’s wherever will be meaningful to both of them. What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget? Start 6-9 months before the wedding contacting venues, florists, photographers, etc. to get the best people for the price. Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What measures can local authorities undertake in order to stimulate weddings in their respective communities? Have lots of really nice places for couples to marry that don’t cost a lot of money to rent. Keep the city/community beautiful. Do things to encourage small businesses that do weddings. Dasha B. Marchetti Executive Director of Continuing Education and Professor of Business Studies at Bucks County Community College How should a couple decide how much they should spend on a wedding? Although there is an ‘older’ culture of having the bride or her family pay for the wedding, that is so yesterday. Before the couple even gets engaged they need to lay their finances, including debt, right on the table and be open about all of it. Yes, it will be tough for most, but will help in the long run. First of all, be reasonable. Look at your current expenses and see how much you can ‘save’ every month for a year towards your wedding. Some costs will be up front and right before a wedding (i.e., catering, flowers, final venue payment) so it’s important to lay out a budget and know that you will need a large lump sum towards the tail end of your wedding planning. How should a couple decide where to get married? Communication and understanding is key, however being brutally realistic is another piece to remember. Depending on your budget, although your dream might be to get married in a castle, your money might only be able to afford a fire hall. Do not go into debt for a wedding, which is only one day of your life. What tips do you have for a couple planning a wedding and hoping to stay on budget? Look at all options and think outside the box. We got married at a church and had the reception at a winery where the tables, chairs, and all the wine you and your guests can drink were included. We were also able to use an outside caterer (got to pick our own food and cost to meet our budget) and bring in our own beer and liquor (anything you don’t use you don’t pay for!). Weddings can often be an economic boost to local businesses. What measures can local authorities undertake in order to stimulate weddings in their respective communities? We are from Bucks County, Pennsylvania and used all local vendors; from the florist, to the caterer, to the church and reception venue. Vendors need to showcase their assets in different markets – I found a lot of mine through going to local bridal open houses as well as recommendations on social media. I followed some on Instagram and Pinterest, which helped me in the end not only get the vendor I needed but also the ideas for my wedding. Hooking up with a local Community College and offering courses in their areas for non-credit can also be a great way to be a part of their community!

Methodology

In order to identify the best and worst cities in which to tie the knot, WalletHub’s analysts compared 150 of the most populated U.S. cities across three key dimensions: 1) Costs, 2) Facilities & Services and 3) Activities & Attractions.

We examined those dimensions using 20 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for weddings.

We then calculated the overall score for each city using its weighted average across all metrics and constructed the final ranking based on the resulting scores.

Costs – Total Points: 40

• Average Wedding Cost: Triple Weight (~24.00 Points)
• Price of a Three-Star Hotel: Full Weight (~8.00 Points)
• Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~8.00 Points)Note: “Restaurant Meal” refers to a three-course meal for two.

Facilities & Services – Total Points: 30

• Wedding Chapels & Churches per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Venues & Event Spaces per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Party-Equipment Rentals per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Event Planners per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Videographers & Photographers per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Musicians & DJs per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Makeup Artists & Hair Salons per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Bridal Shops per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Flower Shops per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
• Limousine Rentals per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Best & Worst Foodie Cities ranking.
• Hotels per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Cities with the Best & Worst Weather ranking.
• Restaurants & Bars per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s Most Fun Cities in America ranking.

Activities & Attractions – Total Points: 30

• Number of Attractions: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
• Popularity as a Travel Destination: Full Weight(~6.00 Points)
• Foodie-Friendliness: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
• Weather: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
• Amusement & Entertainment: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create these rankings were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Wedding Report, Kayak.com, Numbeo, Tripadvisor, Travbuddy.com, Yelp and WalletHub research.

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There are three major tax preparation software packages on the market that most do-it-yourself tax preparers will use – TurboTax, TaxACT and H&R Block. Comparing these three options to find the cheapest can be a real chore. Each has several editions with varying features. As a result, it is important to compare competing editions between the providers, not just to look simply at the lowest overall price that any seem to be offering.

What is vitally important in selecting the least expensive tax software is making sure that you get the right one based on your own individual income tax situation. Each of these providers has a very attractive “free” package. But with two of them, they charge for a state return. The one totally free option is only for very basic returns. It won’t help those who have a complex tax return.

To help you sort through this mess, let’s take a look at the offerings of all three companies, as well as the individual editions, and the charges related to each. Note that the costs listed below are for the online versions of each tax software. The cost for the downloadable versions is listed at the end of the article.

TurboTax

TurboTax is highly regarded in the self-prepared income tax universe, and it is the most popular tax software. But it has five different editions, and you have to choose the right one for your tax situation. Otherwise, you’ll need to upgrade.

Here are summaries of all five editions:

Free Edition

This version is for simple tax returns, such as Forms 1040EZ and 1040A. It is free for both federal (including the Earned Income Credit, or EIC) and state returns. There is also no fee paid to TurboTax, as the name implies, and no fee to e-file. But just in case you’re thinking this is the way to go, remember that this edition is very basic. Essentially, it does none of the work that TurboTax is so well-known for.

For example, it does not transfer your information from a previous year. It also doesn’t provide online access to all tax returns on file, or search for deductions and credits. Still, for simple returns, it is the only free option available.

Deluxe

This is TurboTax’s most popular edition, and it provides most of the services the product is known for. It is recommended if you have tax deductions, as the edition is specifically designed to maximize those deductions. The cost is $34.99, and the e-file is free. There is an additional charge of $36.99 for state returns (per state). So if you have to file in your state, you’re really looking at $71.98 – and that’s assuming you don’t have to file for more than one state. Check out the TurboTax Deluxe Edition here.

Premier

This is the TurboTax edition you will need if you have taxable investments or rental property. It does everything the Deluxe version does, but it adds sale of investment securities, automatic calculation of cost basis for investments sold, and preparation of Schedule E for rental properties. The cost is $54.99 and includes free e-file.

It has the same additional charge for preparation of your state return(s), at $36.99 per state. Plan that you’ll have to come up with $91.98 for this edition if you have to file in your state. Check out the TurboTax Premier Edition here.

Self-Employed

This edition does everything that the Premier edition does, but it also adds preparation of Schedule C (sole proprietors). It maximizes business tax deductions and depreciation, and also reports income and expenses from S-Corporations, C-Corporations, partnerships, and multi-member LLCs (but not the actual returns for each). The cost for this edition is $89.99 including free e-file. And once again, many of you will have to add in the per-state charge of $36.99, bringing the actual cost to $126.98. Check out the Self-Employed Edition here.

TurboTax Business

While TurboTax used to offer this edition in an online version, it is now software/download-only. They have instead improved the Self-Employed edition that I just mentioned, making it a viable option for even more filers. If you have a more complex return and need the Business edition, though, you will need to download it this year.

This is the edition for small businesses other than those using a Schedule C. It includes preparation of returns for small S-Corporations, C-Corporations, partnerships, estates, trusts, and multi-member LLCs (this is different from, and more complex than, the capabilities of the Self-Employed edition above).

So, if your business takes one of these forms, you’ll need this edition. The cost is $149.99, which includes free e-file, but once again there is a $36.99 per state charge. The true price is then $186.98.

Related: Do You Need a Sole Proprietorship, an S-Corp, or an LLC?

With each of the editions, you start the process for free and just pay when you are done and ready to file.

Go to TurboTax’s Official Website

TaxACT

TaxACT works much the same way as TurboTax, in that it has multiple editions. In the past, it had a confusing array of editions and bundles. Recently, however, they have greatly simplified their production into three editions.

Free Federal. The free edition from TaxACT is limited to simple returns filed on Form 1040EZ and 1040A.  It is free for both your federal and state returns. The free edition also includes free e-file with the IRS. Check out the TaxAct Free Edition here.

Plus: The next level up is ideal for home owners and investors, as well as those itemizing their deductions. It costs $27 for the federal return and $33 for the state return, bringing the total to $60. Check out the TaxAct Plus Edition here.

Premium: This edition is designed for those who are self-employed, contractors, or freelancers. It costs $37 for the federal return and $33 for a state return. Total cost for federal+state (assuming you’re only filing in one state)? $70. Check out the TaxAct Premium Edition here. Before buying either the Plus or Premium editions, however, you must like at the Ultimate Bundle.

Ultimate Bundle. TaxAct does something a bit odd with its pricing. After running through all of the above editions with different prices, it then offers all tax forms and includes both federal and state returns in one bundle that it appropriately calls its Ultimate Bundle. The cost–$29.99. And once again, e-file is free. So for those that aren’t filing a 1040EZ (where the free edition is available) and plan to file a state return, the Ultimate bundle is the way to go. Check out the TaxAct Ultimate Bundle here.

**Home and Business Bundles. TaxACT offers three separate bundles if you plan to download their software (versus using the online version). These include filing options for a 1065 partnership return, a 1120S Sub-S Corporation, or an 1120 (C Corporation) return, at just $99.99 for each bundle. Each includes the basic package from Deluxe Federal and one free e-file. That price includes both business and personal returns, and both federal and state returns.**

Go to TaxACT’s Official Website

H&R Block

H&R Block has five editions, and you have to choose the one that most closely matches your tax profile.

More Zero Free Edition. H&R Block offers a “free” edition designed for simple returns and first-time tax filers. Like TurboTax and TaxAct, there is also no fee for a state return. Check out the H&R Block Free Edition here.

Deluxe. This edition is recommended for those with a more complicated return, such as freelancers. It has all the features of the Basic edition, as well as the ability to add freelance and independent contractor expenses (Schedule C-EZ). You can also store your return for up to 6 years with this edition. The cost of the package is $29.74. A state return adds $36.99 per state, so the total cost for this edition (federal and state) is $66.73. Check out the H&R Block Deluxe Edition here.

Premium. This edition has all the features of the Deluxe edition, but it is geared toward investors, small business owners, and investment property owners (Schedule E). The cost for the Premium edition is $46.74. As with the other editions, a state return will cost $36.99. The total cost for the federal and state package is $83.73. Check out the H&R Block Premium Edition here.

**Premium & Business. This edition is downloadable software (not an online edition, like the three listed above). It has all the features of the Premium edition, but is for preparation of corporate (S and C corporations), partnership, LLC, estates and trusts, and even non-profit income tax returns. It also produces payroll and employer forms, and unlimited business state program downloads. The cost for this edition is $62.97, and federal e-file is free. Check out the H&R Block Business Edition here.

Go to H&R Block’s Official Website

Worth Mentioning…

There’s a newbie to the free online tax filing game this year, in the form of an already-popular credit checking company: Credit Karma. Their new program, called Credit Karma Tax, is guaranteed to be completely free for almost all filers. The only exceptions are those filing small business returns — those filing small business expenses, however, can still use the program. You can check out our review of Credit Karma Tax here, which is brand new for 2017 (tax year 2016).

In Summary

All three vendors above have very similar editions available based on your tax situation. There is a wide variation in what each charges for their plans. TurboTax is definitely the highest priced, while TaxACT is clearly the lowest and H&R Block rests comfortably in the middle. It may come down to which program you have used in the past, and are the most comfortable working with.

Here is a summary of the costs based on various tax situations:

	TurboTax	H&R Block	TaxACT
Simple Returns (Federal Only)	FREE	FREE	FREE
Simple Returns (Federal + 1 state)	FREE	$9.99	FREE
Returns with Itemized Deductions (Federal + 1 State)	$71.98 (Deluxe)	$81.18 (Basic)	$29.98 (Plus)
Returns with Investments (Federal + 1 State)	$91.98 (Premier)	$89.68 (Deluxe)	$29.98 (Plus)
Returns for Real Estate Investors (Federal + 1 State)	$91.98 (Premier)	$102.43 (Premium)	$29.98 (Plus)
Returns with Self-Employed or Small Business Income (Federal + 1 State)	$116.98 (Home & Business)	$102.43 (Premium)	$36.98 (Ultimate Bundle)
	Go to TurboTax	Go to H&R Block	Go to TaxACT

Downloadable Versions

For those that don’t want to prepare their taxes online, downloadable versions of the tax software are available:

TurboTax: $29.99 to $99.99

TaxACT: Up to $70

H&R Block: $25.46 to $74.64 plus the cost of state returns and state e-file.

Topics: Podcast • Taxes

The post The Cheapest Tax Software of 2017–TurboTax vs TaxAct vs H&R Block appeared first on The Dough Roller.

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