Wedding Blog
Marriage has made us poor. It’s not that we don’t have the same amount of money that we did before, it’s that suddenly we have all these extra expenses I didn’t know about (chalk this up to me being a young silly girl who was still partially supported by her parents when she got married).
With rent, utilities, savings, cars, and so many other practical items to contribute to, our entertainment/eating out budget has been substantially reduced. Since I do all of the cooking, eating out is a special treat that I really enjoy, so we needed to find a way to be able to go out and feel pampered without breaking the bank.
Enter Deluxe Food Date Night.
Instead of going out to eat once or twice (or several) times a week, we only eat out together once a month. He frequently eats out on the company dime, but both of us are very strict about not eating out using our personal budget unless it is on this special night together (except for the occasional dish of gelato at Paciugos).
A little place called Aurora has been my absolute favorite so far. Aren’t those little vegetables the cutest?
With a budget of $100/month, we can easily hit up some really great Dallas restaurants (especially since we both don’t drink!). Even better, we’ve been working on saving up some of that money for the first few months of the year so that during my birthday month we can go all-out crazy, dress up, and go somewhere really fancy.
For January, we chose to visit a place called Cafe Istanbul. It’s probably the most authentic Turkish food I will ever eat without actually visiting Turkey.
This chocolate covered pear was as scrumptious as it looks.
What unexpected adjustments did you have to make when you got married? Did you find your budget suddenly squeezed?
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Actually, our budget will blossom after our wedding — because Mr. MagPie (a full-time student) will FINALLY have his degree and be able to begin work as a physical therapist!
That, in and of itself, will be a major adjustment for both of us. 
Wow! I can’t even remember the last time West Coast Groom and I were able to go out to dinner more than once a month! With our wedding, honeymoon, mortgage, car payment, investment contributions and minor commitments to social engagements here and there, we’re left with a pretty tight entertainment budget! However, I have found learning to live on much less to be very freeing in some ways.
Where is cafe istanbul? I haven’t heard of it but I love Turkish food and I have yet to find any really good places in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Umm those plates look soo delicious! I love that idea of a once a month special meal.
Mrs. Avocado…I do not believe it’s possible for you to take a bad photograph!! Why do you always look so perfect??
@MightySapphire: It’s all about being picky with what photos you put up. LOL. You are too kind.
Mrs. A — I feel you. I think that my FH and I are going to go crazy since we don’t have “save for the wedding” anymore, leaving us in the poor house. Additionally, I thought the new pres was going to save me so I went and spent all my money on chivari chairs (JK, but I wish I wasn’t) 
Thanks for the post of the FOOD! And that pic of y’all is adorable!
Mrs. Avocado,
Fiance and I had to also go cold turkey on going out when we decided to pay for the wedding ourselves.
It sucks, but it makes the seldom times we actually go out to eat much more yummy.
PS. You guys are a lovely couple!
Such a smart idea! I’m going to try and talk the man into that idea because I’d much rather go out once a month to a nice restaurant and order some interesting things, rather than eat at Applebee’s five times and get the same Oriental Chicken Wrap every time… oooo, though I do love that wrap…
What a great way to keep your budget under control! I eat out WAY too much–because I don’t live in the same city as Mr. K! It will be so much better when I have someone else to cook for!
magpie: i’m with you too. i can’t wait until after the wedding because I will finally graduate with my masters and begin working (no more unpaid internship) and also the bloody wedding savings account that takes 50% of my monthly income for the past 14 months will not have to exist anymore.
ps. the added plus to this wedding was learning how to save for the first time in my life at 30 and realizing I can actually afford to do it.
We have been on food lockdown in preparation for the wedding! Mr. Taffy is good about taking the lunches that I make for him to work, and we mostly eat at home for dinner. We will probably continue the lockdown post wedding, as we are pretty used to it and it is such a great way to save!
wow - I didn’t think about post-wedding. We’re in such saving mode now - I thought it would be better once married! haha I guess I’m being naive 
I know that I have many evenings of Ramon noodles with my hubby ahead of me…I’l be moving (thus trying to find a new job) and he is in seminary for another 3 years.
But I can’t wait to be a poor newlywed!
Congrats to you and Mr. Avo on being able to stick to your budget so well!
Do you have a personal website that you post about your menus etc? I’d love to share recipes with you. We’ve had to do major adjustments ever since being married. We pack our lunches, eat in most days of the week. We usually go out to eat every Saturday. (This is really good since we use to eat out all the time). We also don’t buy DVDs anymore and rent them through blockbuster online. Both cars are paid off so we are not getting new cars for a while.
@KimberlyBee: I do have a website where I post weekly what I eat for one day, and where I post 2-3 different recipes that I try each week. At the very least it might help you find some recipes to try! That was the hardest thing for me in the beginning.
My site is: http://www.thatwifeblog.com
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Mrs. Avocado, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 23, Student
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Consultant
Engagement Date: July 27, 2008
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: June 30, 2008
Venue: LDS Seattle Temple & Hotel 1000
About Me: Somehow this little farm girl found herself a genuine Pole to fall in love and eventually move away to Poland with. I am an LDS bride attempting to plan a private religious ceremony, ring ceremony, seated reception for 100, and an open house while coordinating for guests flying in from across the United States and as far away as Poland. I try to avoid fads, excess waste, and saturated fat. I strongly endorse photography, DDR, calorie counting, rss feeds, cooking, and utilizing your resources.
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