Wedding Etiquette Forum

How to decline help

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Re: How to decline help

  • @short+sassy great advice, although I’d say more than $1000 is needed. I think we spent $1000 just on window coverings alone. Our tiny house is a flippin’ fish bowl.


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  • I just wanted to chime in that this is absolutely correct.  My H doesn't work and I'm the sole provider or our household.  No kids either.  I don't get any kind of tax consideration because I support my H and I'm definitely NOT eligible to file as HOH.

    I don't have any issue that your FI's parents have gifted you all the wedding, as long as they weren't asked to and there was no "prompting" for this gift.  However, you can't ask them to pay for cleaning to help out the generous aunt, because they haven't offered that.  You DEFINITELY need to provide cleaning for the aunt.  Either out of your own pocket or, after the reception, you and your FI can change out of your all's wedding clothes and get to work.  And do not hint or ask for help from friends.  Accepting help is only okay if it is freely offered. 

    You do seem to be putting a lot of weight on factors you don't control, in terms of your house down payment.  Like the old adage, don't count your chickens before they hatch.  But, on the bright side, the only negative if things don't turn out the way you think they will...and I know this will be true for the taxes...is it will just be a longer delay before you can start house hunting.

    One more piece of financial advice from a woman who knows all about unexpected house/property repairs.  Don't buy a house with only two dimes to rub together, after closing.  As a homeowner, your responsibilities increase 10-fold.  You need to have reserve funds.  I'd suggest at least $1,000, after everything you need for the house is purchased.  There is an unbelievable amount of stuff to buy after buying your first home.  Appliances, tools, lawnmower, furniture, curtains/rods for EVERY window...this is a starter list to think about and assumes the house is already in perfect condition!

    I agree! We are in the process of saving for our first home and did not think about all of these purchases until we sat down and listed everything we thought we would need on our whiteboard. 

    There were so many extra expenses! With our first home we obviously want shiny new stuff, so we pushed our timeline back a few months as a result. We love our apartment community, so we are not in a hurry. 
  • ...We've lived in our house two years and still haven't bought window treatments.

    We have these terrible 90s mauve blinds in the living room. It was the first thing my friend noticed when she walked in for the first time. Oh well! Maybe this summer!

    I made ours. However, I just found out that IKEA makes blackout blinds and I have a trip planned for later this summer...
  • levioosa said:
    @short+sassy great advice, although I’d say more than $1000 is needed. I think we spent $1000 just on window coverings alone. Our tiny house is a flippin’ fish bowl.


    Agreed!  That's $1,000 (at least) reserve funds AFTER all the new house needs are purchased.

    Really, it should grow to more.  But $1,000 to start with would at least be enough to cover emergencies like: a basic new fridge if the old one totally breaks ($600), stopped up sink or toilet that needs a plumber ($150-$300), repairing the HVAC (maybe)...pfft, those repairs start at $300-$400 for minor issues.  Alas, that is a mere small sampling of things homeowners would want to repair immediately if when they break.

    When I bought my first house which, to be fair, was a fixer upper.  The "big" repairs I needed were, in a way, easier to plan and budget for.  Because they were hundreds or thousands of dollars.  But it's the dozens of "little" $20-$50 Home Depot purchases that will leave you wondering, "What?  Where did all my money go?", lol.

    Wedding Countdown Ticker

  • Agreed!  That's $1,000 (at least) reserve funds AFTER all the new house needs are purchased.

    Really, it should grow to more.  But $1,000 to start with would at least be enough to cover emergencies like: a basic new fridge if the old one totally breaks ($600), stopped up sink or toilet that needs a plumber ($150-$300), repairing the HVAC (maybe)...pfft, those repairs start at $300-$400 for minor issues.  Alas, that is a mere small sampling of things homeowners would want to repair immediately if when they break.

    When I bought my first house which, to be fair, was a fixer upper.  The "big" repairs I needed were, in a way, easier to plan and budget for.  Because they were hundreds or thousands of dollars.  But it's the dozens of "little" $20-$50 Home Depot purchases that will leave you wondering, "What?  Where did all my money go?", lol.

    So true. All of our money went to Lowe's for the first year we owned the house. And it didn't need anything major. 

  • Agreed!  That's $1,000 (at least) reserve funds AFTER all the new house needs are purchased.

    Really, it should grow to more.  But $1,000 to start with would at least be enough to cover emergencies like: a basic new fridge if the old one totally breaks ($600), stopped up sink or toilet that needs a plumber ($150-$300), repairing the HVAC (maybe)...pfft, those repairs start at $300-$400 for minor issues.  Alas, that is a mere small sampling of things homeowners would want to repair immediately if when they break.

    When I bought my first house which, to be fair, was a fixer upper.  The "big" repairs I needed were, in a way, easier to plan and budget for.  Because they were hundreds or thousands of dollars.  But it's the dozens of "little" $20-$50 Home Depot purchases that will leave you wondering, "What?  Where did all my money go?", lol.

    A month after we moved into our new house, the washing machine and the toilet in the main bathroom had issues. Oy. BTW, it never stops, this year we are redoing our bedroom after a leak in the ceiling, the shower, and parts of the backyard. Thankfully I know people so I get a bit of a discount. 
  • debbeaudebbeau member
    Knottie Warrior 500 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper
    We had no furniture in our living and dining rooms for a year after we moved in. An unexpected new washing machine and refrigerator took priority 

  • Agreed!  That's $1,000 (at least) reserve funds AFTER all the new house needs are purchased.

    Really, it should grow to more.  But $1,000 to start with would at least be enough to cover emergencies like: a basic new fridge if the old one totally breaks ($600), stopped up sink or toilet that needs a plumber ($150-$300), repairing the HVAC (maybe)...pfft, those repairs start at $300-$400 for minor issues.  Alas, that is a mere small sampling of things homeowners would want to repair immediately if when they break.

    When I bought my first house which, to be fair, was a fixer upper.  The "big" repairs I needed were, in a way, easier to plan and budget for.  Because they were hundreds or thousands of dollars.  But it's the dozens of "little" $20-$50 Home Depot purchases that will leave you wondering, "What?  Where did all my money go?", lol.

    Have a home warranty built into your contract- have it in writing that you want the seller to provide a home warranty for a year, and if you can't swing that I'd just invest in one.  Home warranties will cover or partially cover a lot of this.

    So far we've had to replace our boiler, water heater, and had the dishwasher repaired twice.

    "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."


  • Emergency fund 3-6 months of full unreduced expenses taken in to consideration an increase with a house. Also, for any new house purchase 1-5% total house value as extra for unexpected house only related expenses. 

    For example: house cost $200000, should have $2000-10000 as extra for house alone extras. Same amount minimum yearly for upkeep (have also heard that 10% is a better amount). Emergency fund would be 3-6x(monthly take home-leftovers once expenses paid). 
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