WeddingGuideUK.com - Budgeting For Your Wedding

Tips on Buying Products and Services
You probably know someone who always seems to get a discount on anything they buy. Is this a special skill they have or is it something everyone can do? The answer is yes to both. Certainly it is a skill, whether natural or through training but with a little preparation before you place your order you should be able to achieve some form of saving on many items.

Getting a discount often involves a bit of 'give and take'. By this we mean that there must usually be something to be gained by the company in exchange for a discount. For example, if something you want to order costs £200, you might say something like 'we'll offer you £180 and pay for the item in full now'. If the company accepts, you both have benefited - you have made a 10 per cent saving and the company has your money up front to help their cashflow. Sometimes just saying 'we'll offer £180 and we'll place the order now' will be sufficient. If you feel confident you could offer a large deposit or full payment as a fall-back position should your first offer be declined. One word of caution if you pay a large deposit or payment in full. Should the company go broke before your wedding day, you will lose your money (although this will be covered if you take out wedding insurance).

Here are a few other tips that might help you achieve a saving:

Try to hide your excitement and enthusiasm about items you have fallen in love with. A company will be less likely to respond to a request for a discount if they feel that their product is your only choice.

Try to establish through conversation how busy your supplier is around the date of your wedding. At certain times of the year (October to May) companies can be very quiet so they will want your order (and money) as much as you want their products!

Try to give the impression that there are products from other companies you are seriously considering but for a discount you are prepared to place an order now.

Don't offend a company by offering cash. Most companies are respectable and the inference that they are otherwise could upset them and weaken your negotiating position. Also, with cash transactions, where no receipt is given, it may be difficult to prove what you paid should you have reason to complain later.

Finally, bear in mind that you generally get what you pay for. If you are a skilful buyer and you knock a company's price down too much, you may not get the full quality of service that others will get who are paying full price. Companies need to make a profit to stay in business, so don't insult them by offering too low a figure - a little saving is better than none at all. Remember, a good deal is when both parties are happy with the transaction.

Value Added Tax (VAT)
When you request quotations, you may notice that for the same product or service, one company might charge VAT whilst another does not.

However, VAT can only be charged by companies that are registered for VAT. Therefore, if one photographer quotes you 'inclusive of VAT' while another does not, it will not be because photography is or isn't subject to VAT, but because one photographer is registered for VAT while the other is not.

Consequently, if a company is registered for VAT, it will be at a price disadvantage compared to a company that is not registered for VAT since it has to addthe VAT to its prices. Therefore, there are clear merits in using companies that are not registered for VAT. many small companies are not registered for VAT so you might benefit from saving a few extra pounds by delaing with smaller companies.

Finally, you should ensure that with every quotation you receive you are absolutely clear whether VAT is included in the price or needs to be added. You don't want any costly surprises when it comes to paying up!

Keeping Accurate Records
It is vitally important that you keep accurate records, particularly if you are working to a strict budget. You should retain all your paperwork, quotations and receipts you receive and keep details of any deposits paid and when any balances are due.

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