According to MSNBC, the new bride is a “budget bride,” less concerned about a designer dress than saving money for a down payment on a house. But every bride—and groom, for that matter—still wants to have a meaningful, memorable wedding, even if some things have to be scaled back. If you’re looking to cut costs so that you can give your guests Chinese wedding favors and still throw a great party without breaking the bank, here are a few ideas:

• Skip the deejay and plug in your iPod. This way, you can preselect the reception music rather than rely on someone else’s (sometimes questionable) taste in music.
• Consider candlelight. Candlelight, as we all know, sets the mood and works very well for smaller, more intimate weddings. Just be sure to warn guests to keep their Japanese wedding favors away from the flame!
• Rent rather than purchase table linens and lights. Renting these two items can cut costs considerably and also customize the look and feel of a ceremony and reception to the couple’s preferences. Paper lanterns are one way to set the look of your reception apart.
• Hold the reception at a friend or family member’s house rather than renting a space. Just be willing to help with the preparation and send a thank-you note and gift afterwards!
• Email invitations rather than mail them. You’ll not only be saving on paper and postage costs, you’ll also be doing the earth a favor.

There are lots of other ways to hold a recession-friendly wedding. Decide what’s most important to you and plan the details accordingly!

While life settlements provide policyholders with an opportunity to receive cash from their unwanted life insurance policies, they are also beneficial for businesses in need of additional capital during the recession. In order to benefit from this type of collateralization, investors need to designate a certain amount of their investment funds to purchasing life insurance settlements. A senior life settlement portfolio will then produce principle.

According to many senior life settlement brokers, these settlements provide a guaranteed payout. However, just like any other financial investment strategy, there are risks involved. When an investor purchases a life settlement, they are required to pay the premium until the original owner dies. In addition, many investors have been victimized through fraud. It is important to choose a qualified and experienced company to handle such a transaction.  Recent revenue rulings may be the beginning of a new era for life settlements. On May 1, the IRS issued RR 2009-13 and RR2009-14—two revenue rulings that deal with life insurance settlements, Web CPA reports. The former provides guidance to policyholders who sell their life insurance plans, while the later offers guidance to the investors who purchase them. How much guidance will be provided is not clear at this time, however, it may be the answer to making sound life settlements investment options.

One or more missing teeth negatively influence a person’s appearance, emotions, and also physical comfort while eating and socializing. Because of the aesthetic issues caused by missing teeth, many solutions can be found in cosmetic dentistry procedures. Missing teeth also lead to shifts in alignment, which can cause improper bites, speech impediments, and even a greater risk of gum disease and tooth decay. It is very common for patients to seek dental implants to replace teeth because implants are permanent and look and feel natural. The more traditional method of replacing lost teeth is a dental bridge—this method is also very commonly used. Dental bridges last about 15 to 20 years or more if properly cared for. Bridges are done over the course of a few office visits.

Steps for Bridges

The first step for patients looking to get a dental bridge is to be examined to ensure that the overall health of teeth and gums make him or her a viable candidate for the procedure. The next step for those who are qualified is to prepare the teeth that will support the bridge. (This generally involves each tooth on either side of the missing tooth.) These teeth are prepared by being filed down to a small size, as they too will be covered by the bridge. (One of the main reasons some patients opt for dental implants in Canada and the US is to avoid the step of filing down existing, healthy teeth.)

First visit: The dentist then makes an impression of the teeth and sends it to a dental laboratory where the bridge is made. Designing bridges from a replica of the patient’s teeth ensures a precise fit. This is critical to avoid decaying of the supporting teeth and other issues that can arise when there are gaps between gums and teeth or between natural teeth and a bridge. While the bridge is being designed, the dentist provides a temporary bridge. This protects the nerves of the teeth that have been filed so that the patient remains comfortable during the transition.

Second visit: During this visit, the dentist fits and cements the bridge firmly in place. Initially patients feel aware of the bridge due to the prior absence of a tooth in its place, but the appearance of teeth is transformed by the end of this visit, as patients leave the office with their once-missing tooth fully restored!

Candidates who need tooth replacement can contact local family or cosmetic dentists to ask questions or schedule an evaluation to find out if they have the required overall health needed to be eligible. Patients should be sure to go with an experienced professional to ensure the best aesthetic and functional results.

Although circuit breakers last longer than fuses, they may need to be changed from time to time. When they do, it’s imperative that they be replaced with the same breaker from the same brand. Circuit breakers are brand-specific rather than interchangeable, despite claims otherwise by some manufacturers. This means, unfortunately, that GE breakers can’t be swapped out for Siemens breakers or Murray breakers for ITE breakers. The reason for this is that circuit breakers differ in terms of electrical and mechanical characteristics such as mounting techniques and buss bar thickness. While a different breaker might fit into the existing panel, the new breaker exposes the panel to safety and performance risks.

Another reason to avoid interchanging breakers is to avoid a write-up from a home inspector when you’re trying to sell your home. Inspectors must comply with the guidelines set for by the National Electric Code, which states that “listed or labeled equipment shall be used or installed in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling.” This includes which circuit breakers are to be used for a given load center. So if an inspector finds General Electric circuit breakers in a residential load center that calls for Cutler Hammer breakers and issues a write up, the sale of the home may be delayed.  To avoid this scenario, it’s best to always swap out old breakers for the new ones of the exact same brand and type.

Now more than ever, businesses are opting to use an effective collection agency to pursue the fees and payments they have earned. Like many types of businesses, these agencies offer various options to make their services accessible to a broader range of companies and organizations.
Businesses that use collection agencies want to be sure they don’t overpay for the services—after all, why use the service if it doesn’t reap financial benefits? To get the best price, review a variety of agencies before choosing one. Ask specific questions about services, costs, and payment schedules, as well as questions related to accounts receivable management. The following guidelines are also recommended:

• Go with an agency that collects fees only upon successfully collecting debt.
• Choose a company that provides online access to claims so that you can monitor the money you have coming in.
• Take advantage of any free services or extras. Prestige Services, Inc., for example, provides free Final Notice forms.
• Look for a company that is fully licensed and bonded—this could save you money by preventing errors or faulty collection tactics.

In addition, companies pursuing commercial collection services should use a nationwide business collection agency that performs tracking, or skip tracing, services. Without this service, companies must pay an investigator to find parties that owe them money, which raises the costs involved in collecting debt.

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