The fourth annual Regiftable.com story contest is underway! Regifters from around the nation are invited to share their regifting stories and videos for a chance to win prizes valued up to $500.

Regifable.com is a forum for all things regifting, including an archive of more than 1,000 consumer stories running the gamut from the heartwarming to the horrifying. In addition to this year’s regifting story contest, the site also offers a cool game (nope, I am not going to reveal Regifting Robin’s secret!), regifting facts, personalized gift certificates, free eCards, regifting party rules, a song to rewrap by, and much more.

We created Regiftable.com to give people a fun way to learn more about regifting, and to start the conversation on a topic many people are reluctant to discuss—holiday spending and financial worries. Holiday gifting this year may be particularly difficult as economic stressors continue to stretch family budgets.

This is a guest post from Anna Nguyen, Marketing Specialist and soon-to-be bride.

With all of the details to mull over like what your wedding colors will be, which flowers to choose, or where you will find your dream dress, how much a wedding will cost may be the last thing on your mind as a bride-to-be. The fact is that the cost of the wedding is something you simply cannot avoid. According to theknot.com, couples are spending an average of nearly $28,000 to walk down the aisle!

To avoid a post marital financial crisis, consider the following tips while planning your big day:

Create a wedding budget (and stick to it!). Creating a reasonable wedding budget is one of the first things you need to do when you begin planning. Once you establish who will be contributing and how much you can afford, you can base your decisions on that amount. Wedding sites like theknot.com have budget calculators that can help you figure out how much to spend on each category based on the number of guests expected and your budget.

Book your vendors as early as possible. Early planning will allow you to research and compare prices of any vendors you may want to use. It will be more likely for you to be able to reserve the date you want for all vendors and avoid having to pay more or be less happy with any alternative choices. Keep in mind that a Saturday night will be the most expensive time to have your wedding.

Hunt for discounts. Great deals can be found through joining the mailing list at various wedding sites or at bridal shows where vendors offer specials to attendees. Also, bridal boutiques frequently hold sample sales where you can choose the designer dress of your dreams for a significantly reduced price. Or if it’s in your budget, a good wedding coordinator can provide references to many vendors who will be willing to give you a discount based on your relationship with the coordinator.

Do-it-yourself. When it comes to the details of your wedding, such as invitations, favors, or even flowers, consider doing it yourself. Printing your own invitations has become more acceptable and you can find all kinds of ideas online. As for favors, consider not having any or donate to a charity of your choice in honor of your guests. If you need inspiration, here are a few of my favorite sources: snippetandink.blogspot.com, swsmag.net/blog, and beautifulpaper.typepad.com.

It’s hard to not let the excitement of a wedding get the best of you, but you don’t want to spend your days as newlyweds worrying about the debt you built up to pay for your wedding. It’s also important not to forget that the purpose of a wedding is to celebrate the start of a marriage and although your wedding is in fact a very special and important event, it will only be one day in the life span of your entire relationship.

Yesterday, I fed myself for an entire day on less than $8. I didn’t mean to do it, it just happened. Here is what I ate:

Bowl of cereal with milk $ .60
Coffee $ .25
Banana $ .20
Soup $2.65
Energy bar $1.00
Rice, peas, and ham $2.80
Pretzels $0.25

I also drank water, but I am not going to get that specific; the point is that I ate pretty well for very little money. I think it is a common misperception that it is just too expensive to eat right. According to the Organic Trade Association, more than 65 percent who do not eat organic foods cite price as a major factor in their decision.

It is true that health-related foods can cost several times more than conventional foods. However, cutting back on food expenses doesn’t have to mean cutting back on nutrition. When heading out to shop for healthful foods, remember to:

Shop around. Health food stores aren’t the only places that sell healthy food—some grocery clubs sell the same items in bulk at a discounted price. Also consider generics; the store brand is often a name brand with a store label. You might also consider joining a member-owned food co-operative, where you trade volunteer time for big savings. For a list of co-ops in your area, visit www.greenpeople.org.

Make sure it’s worth it. While the label “all natural” leads many people to believe that the products are healthy, you still need to watch for dietary pitfalls. For example, vegetable chips fried in oil may be just as high in saturated fat and sodium as regular potato chips, but they may cost you twice as much.

Hydrate.  According to iVillage.com, if you switch your favorite drink from soda and sugary juice to water, you will pump up your metabolism and boost your bank account. If you used to spend $2 a day on soda, you’ll save $730 a year.

Finally, if you do opt for a frozen meal (according to the American Frozen Food Institute, frozen entrees are now among the top 10 most frequently served in-home suppers), choose carefully; dinner for adults should include at least one cup of cooked vegetables.

For more tips on smart shopping and healthy eating, visit the online home of the Supermarket Guru. If you know other ways to keep you and your wallet happy, please share your secrets through the comments section.