Wedding-Guest Financial Fatigue Is Real. Here's How to Handle It
It's the definition of a good problem: You've been invited to too many weddings this year. While the upsides may include a surfeit of champagne, out-of-town trips and reunions with friends, the downside risks to your finances are no joke, particularly with the economy looking shaky.
For solutions as we hit wedding season's stride, I turned to three financial advisers and a wedding expert to get their best tips on how to manage the expensive obligation of being a wedding guest in 2025. At the end, I also offer you a break-glass strategy if you feel yourself drowning already.
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Washington Post
14 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Not just Mamdani: Centrist Democrats can win on affordability, too
Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) still remembers her best tip ever, when she was a college student waiting tables outside Minneapolis for the local NHL team's holiday party. 'Nobody can party like hockey players,' Rosen said, recalling how they showed off their sport's hard-hitting nature by pulling out their fake teeth. 'They drank and spent so much money.' More than 45 years later, Rosen — who moved to Nevada after graduating from the University of Minnesota — has emerged as the biggest Democratic booster of a signature economic proposal from President Donald Trump. She co-sponsored a bill with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to fulfill Trump's 2024 campaign promise for 'no taxes on tips,' the type of issue she experienced firsthand when the Minnesota North Stars left her a nearly $300 tip. A version of that legislation is tucked into the massive tax and immigration bill that Republicans are trying to pass on a party-line vote in the coming days. While every Democrat in Congress, including Rosen, opposes that broad legislation — largely because of its cuts to Medicaid — the Cruz bill won a unanimous vote last month in the Senate. If the massive legislation fails, Rosen will push her allies in the House to move a stand-alone tip bill to the president's desk. Her effort, fresh off a successful reelection bid in 2024, serves as a model for Democrats searching for a moderate approach to winning in swing districts and battleground states. Democrats are deep into internal battles drawn over generational and ideological fault lines and are debating how to use modern communications to get out their message. Many on the left see a model for winning in Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist poised to win the Democratic New York mayoral primary after running an online savvy campaign touting progressive ideas to fight inflation. Some centrist Democrats have pushed back against Mamdani for his far-left proposals, including free bus service and government-owned grocery stores. But similarities in the 33-year-old's mayoral bid and the 67-year-old senator's approach show the path to winning coalitions. Nevada was the only state that had twice voted against Trump but flipped to him last year — from a roughly 2.5 percentage point defeat in 2016 and 2020 to a more than 3 percentage point victory in 2024. But Rosen beat Trump-endorsed Republican Sam Brown by nearly 1.7 percentage points by embracing an aggressive approach to fighting inflation while positioning herself as an authentic voice, someone who didn't run her first political campaign until her late 50s. Rosen has held victory parties at Caesars Palace to remind folks that she was a cocktail waitress there. She gives off the political vibe of an encouraging aunt rather than career politician. 'It was really important to me to be present to people, for people, to listen to their stories,' she said in a recent interview. 'My motto is agree where you can, fight where you must.' In five presidential battleground states that hosted key Senate races, Democrats won four. Rosen was running her second statewide race ever, while Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Arizona) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) were running their first and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) was running her third. Incumbent Bob Casey, who lost in Pennsylvania, was running his eighth statewide bid in three decades. Two figures from opposite ends of the Democratic ideology spectrum recently noted Mamdani, a state lawmaker since 2021, offered a fresh alternative to former governor Andrew M. Cuomo, 67, with personal scandal baggage. 'The people are clearly asking for generational change,' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), a liberal icon, told reporters. 'They are looking for a new generation of leadership,' Slotkin said during a policy address touting her centrist vision. Republicans take a different view of Rosen's and Slotkin's victories, blaming their big-money donors for not believing in the GOP nominees until it was too late. 'Many didn't believe we had a chance to win. And the money was late breaking there. But I think had we had the resources earlier, Sam Brown would have won,' Sen. Steve Daines (Montana), who chaired the National Republican Senatorial Committee last year, said in a brief interview. Rosen raised about $50 million for her campaign, more than twice as much as Brown's, and outside political groups favored Rosen by an edge of about $55 million to $45 million, according to Open Secrets. Rosen received 4,000 fewer votes than Kamala Harris did at the top of the Democratic ticket, while Brown fell about 75,000 votes shy of Trump's tally. Rosen did have better appeal than Harris in what Nevadans call 'the rurals,' lightly populated conservative areas far from the Las Vegas Strip. Humboldt County, in the northernmost stretch of the state, favored Trump by more than 4,400 votes while Brown won by 3,662 votes. Rosen believes that national Democrats face higher hurdles in rural areas where they never campaign and end up branded with 'all that noise' from conservative media outlets. She overcame some of that as an incumbent senator with time to visit those parts of the state. 'You can't be everywhere. But in Nevada and some other states, people can really get to know you. So it is absolutely an advantage,' Rosen said. Rosen instantly knew the moment Trump started talking about 'no taxes on tips' that it would resonate in a state where roughly 1 in 4 workers are in the hospitality industry. They probably either receive tips or have close friends and family working for tips. That industry got crushed during the pandemic, and now inflation has prompted another decline in tourist visits to Las Vegas. 'It's such a variable job. You don't know what your tips are going to be day in and day out. One day good, one day not so good,' Rosen said. While Harris also supported eliminating taxes on tips, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada) was the only other Democrat to join Rosen in co-sponsoring Cruz's bill. Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Nevada's largest union, also endorsed the proposal. Some Democrats on Capitol Hill have been hesitant to embrace the no-tax-on-tips policy, worried it is unfair to workers who receive a regular hourly wage. Critics of the proposal say the biggest beneficiaries of such a policy are staff at high-end restaurants who are already making high salaries, not the lowest-paid workers in the service industry. It could create a rush on employers shifting their workers into a tipped-wage system, leading to customers facing tip requests in places that rarely used to have them. But Rosen knew that Nevada, with the lowest percentage of college graduates of any battleground state, would embrace a proposal that appealed to its working-class image. 'We're always trying to find ways to put more money back into people's pockets,' the onetime culinary union member said. Without a deeply partisan background, she doesn't hesitate to break from her party's orthodoxy on issues including crime and border security. Rosen used her financial edge to start airing ads at least six months ahead of the election that ref far-left ideas such as defunding the police and open borders. 'I work with both parties on things like helping veterans exposed to burn pits and stood up to my own party to support police officers and get more funding for border security,' she said in one ad. Many of these positions run counter to the ideas embraced by Mamdani, Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). But some Democrats point to issues Mamdani highlighted as appealing to most voters, allowing swing-district candidates to graft their own policy prescriptions into what fits their voters. 'It's not the left versus the middle — to win, it must be both. Mamdani's focus helps preview many of the issues liberals and moderates can embrace: affordability, quality of life and opposing slashing health care,' Steve Israel, the former New York Democratic congressman who ran the party's House campaign operation for four years, wrote in his Substack after the mayoral primary. For Rosen, that lesson goes all the way back to the time a bunch of professional hockey players got rowdy and left her a massive pile of cash. Rosen, who can't remember if she reported that tip on her taxes, moved away a few years later, and the North Stars became the Dallas Stars. But she always remember that lesson, one that resonates with a huge amount of voters in Nevada. 'Your tips were everything,' she said.
Fox News
40 minutes ago
- Fox News
Newlyweds Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos pack on PDA ahead of star-studded wedding celebration
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos were spotted sharing a kiss before leaving their hotel for a celebration after their lavish nuptials in Venice, Italy. The billionaire and the former journalist were photographed beaming at each other before embracing on Saturday. Lauren wore a strapless pale pink chiffon gown with silver embroidery along with dangling diamond earrings while Jeff sported a black suit. Several of the couple's celebrity guests were also seen in glamorous attire while heading out for the third day of the wedding festivities. Media mogul Oprah Winfrey donned a high-necked brown satin pantsuit with feathered cuffs while exiting a hotel with her friend, TV host Gayle King, who was clad in a floral cape over a cream-colored satin dress. The two carried handheld fans and Winfrey waved at onlookers as they made their way down the stairs. Kylie Jenner was spotted in a white fringe crop top with a matching long skirt while riding in a water taxi with her mother Kris Jenner and sister Kendall Jenner. Kris wore a black and white patterned coat with black feathered trim while Kendall sported a royal blue velvet and chiffon hooded minidress. Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Brooks Nader showed off her curves in a black off-the-shoulder bodysuit with a lace overlay as she was helped into a water taxi. Earlier in the day, the new Mr. and Mrs. Bezos were seen out and about after saying, "I do" on Friday. Lauren and Jeff were pictured arriving at Harry's Bar in Venice, Italy. The couple smiled and waved at the masses as they were escorted by bodyguards. In some photos, Lauren could be seen sporting a wedding ring, sans her striking engagement ring. Several other celebrities joined the newlyweds at the venue Saturday. Usher and his wife, Jennifer Goicoechea, were seen arriving at the event, while Kris Jenner and her boyfriend, Corey Gamble, made their own appearance. A reportedly newly single Orlando Bloom was also in attendance. Model Karlie Kloss and actress Sydney Sweeney were seen leaving the restaurant as well. Friday was the couple's big day. Shortly after tying the knot, Lauren took to Instagram to debut her wedding dress and new name. Her updated Instagram account now reads, "Lauren Sánchez Bezos." "06/27/2025," she captioned her post, adding a red heart. She also debuted her wedding gown on the cover of Vogue. Her Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress was a mermaid-style lace gown with sheer long sleeves and a high neckline. She told Vogue in her cover story she felt "like a princess." She acknowledged that her wedding gown was more conservative than the revealing looks she has worn in the past. "It is a departure from what people expect," she said, "from what I expect — but it's very much me." Lauren said she was expecting Jeff to be surprised. "It is a departure from what people expect, from what I expect — but it's very much me." "Yes. I think he will be pleasantly surprised. I think he's going to be so happy. I mean, it's so elegant. It's timeless," she said. Her two sons, Nikko and Evan, walked her down the aisle, she revealed to Vogue. Her daughter, Ella, was her maid of honor and delivered a reading during the wedding ceremony. All three of her kids, whom she shares with ex-husband Patrick Whitesell, were wearing Dolce & Gabbana for her wedding. A-list guests arrived in style for the wedding, including Oprah Winfrey and best friend Gayle King. Also seen making their way to the festivities were Ivanka Trump and Karlie Kloss, along with tech titan Bill Gates and Bezos' father, Miguel Bezos. Celebrities have been flooding the Italian streets for days prior to the luxurious wedding, one of the year's most talked-about celebrations. On Thursday, celebrities such as Bloom, Tom Brady, Kim Kardashian, DiCaprio, Kylie Jenner and others boarded water taxis at various luxurious hotels in Venice, Italy, ahead of the couple's extravagant welcome party. According to People, the couple hosted a welcome party for their guests in a closed cloister adjacent to the Madonna dell'Orto church Thursday night. Guests reportedly arrived in a convoy of about 30 boats. According to the outlet, guests were served pizza cooked onsite by a famous Neapolitan chef. Throughout the day, baskets of white and purple flowers were brought in to decorate the venue, along with a piano, People reported.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Warren Buffett Is Giving Away $6 Billion — Here's Who Is Getting It
Warren Buffett, a billionaire investor and philanthropist, announced he's donating $6 billion to five charities The charities that will receive the funds include his three children's charities and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust, whom he was a trustee with from 2006 to 2021 Buffett's estimated net worth is $152 billionWarren Buffett is giving away $6 billion — his biggest donation in almost two decades — to five charities by the end of the month. The chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and philanthropist, 94, announced in a press release on Saturday, June 28, that he is giving away $6 billion in Berkshire Hathaway shares to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust and four other charities. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust is one charity that Buffet has worked closely with over the years, as he has served as a trustee for the charity between 2006 and 2021. According to the trust's website, Buffett has pledged a total of $36 billion to the charity through 2022. Another charity that will be receiving a portion of the $6 billion is the charity he started with his first wife, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, which is focused on family planning and reproductive health. The Sherwood Foundation, Howard G. Buffett Foundation and NoVo Foundation, which were founded by his three adult children Susan, 72, Howard, 70, and Peter, 67, respectively, will also get a portion of the funds. The donations will be delivered to the charities on June 30. He converted over 8,000 Class A shares and over 12 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway shares in order to make the donation, which is his largest donation since 2006, according to Forbes. 'The mathematics of the lifetime commitments to the five foundations are interesting,' Buffet said in a statement. 'The schedule for annual grants was made on June 26, 2006, and has since been supplemented by significant grants to four of the five recipients.' 'When originally made, I owned 474,998 Berkshire A shares worth about $43 billion and those shares represented more than 98% of my net worth. I have converted A shares into B shares before making contributions,' he added. Buffett, whose estimated net worth is $152 billion, also shared in his statement that upon his death, 'about 99½%' of his estate is 'destined for philanthropic usage,' per his will. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Last year it was reported that the Nebraska businessman planned to donate his fortune to a charitable trust after his death, according to the Associated Press. His three children would be in charge of the trust and have 10 years to allocate the money to charities of their choice. 'It's not so easy to give away money if you want to do it smart, if you want to be intelligent about it,' Howard told the AP in September 2024. 'It's pretty amazing that he's giving us this opportunity.' He also plans to continue to donate to the Gates Foundation and to his family's charities annually until his death, per AP. Read the original article on People Inicia sesión para acceder a tu portafolio
