Let Buddy's Help
You Plan Your
Next Party
Detroit's Original Square
Deep-Dish Pizza Since 1946
Pinching Pennies
JEWISH TELEGRAPHIC
Your best friend is get-
ting married. You have to
buy her an engagement
gift. And if there's a
bridal shower (or two), you'll have to
get a shower gift (or two).
There could be a bachelorette
party, flights, train tickets or a hotel
room to reserve, and ultimately, the
wedding gift itself.
Suddenly, the money you saved for
a dream vacation is being reallocat-
ed. Although you love your friend
dearly and don't want to miss what
will hopefully be a one-time event,
how do you reconcile your love for
her and the money you can't afford
to spend on her wedding?
What is the connection between
friendship and gifts, anyway? Will a
toaster, a gravy boat or a menorah
convey that you cherish your friend?
Will she and her fiance prefer a
kitchen gift off the registry, cash or
something personal? What are the
rules?
According to wedding goers in
their 20s and 30s, there are none.
But they've devised their own sys-
tems for not going broke while cele-
brating their friend's simchah.
One woman estimates how much
the pair has spent feeding her at the
wedding, and spends that much to
reciprocate in a gift. Another has a
$50 limit. She'll choose a $50 . gift if
she's buying it alone, a $100 present
if she's splitting it with a friend, etc.
Yet another decides on a case-by-
case basis, depending on the amount
of discretionary income she has at
the time.
Across the board, people say that
the more you spend in advance of
the wedding, the less you have to
spend on an actual gift. In other
words, if you attend showers or
bachelor parties, travel to the wed-
ding and pay for a hotel room,
you're not obligated to buy an
expensive gift.
Of course, your friend will tell you
what she thinks of your gift in the
thank-you note you receive a year
later. If she's less than gushing, you
skol\e \e \Pest
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FA1-j-°.
Ask about our all-you-can eat party
packages for dine-in parties only!
You don't have to go broke
celebrating your friend's
upcoming nuptials.
JODI WERNER
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NO' GO ax.
Buddy's casual, fun
atmosphere is perfect for any
of your special events
AGENCY
can bet she's less-than-thrilled with
the handmade tzedakah box you
painted at the local pottery store to
save a little money.
Couples seem most pleased with
cash. "Cash is best," said one bride,
"because you can do with it what
you want. Plus, receiving money
gives [a couple] a sense of starting a
life together. Making that first
deposit into the joint account was an
incredible experience for us. Plus, if
there are leftover items from the reg-
istry, you can use some of the money
to purchase the ones that are impor-
tant to you."
Others prefer electronics. "A digi-
tal camera; a TiVo, a DVD player
and a fax machine aren't the kinds of
things you would register for, but
they are important in starting a
home," said one recent bride.
Numerous Web sites, such as
theknot.com or ivillage.com , offer
advice on how to survive your
friend's wedding with your credit
intact. For Jewish-themed wedding
gift ideas, there's your neighborhood
Judaica shop, as well as ritualwell.org
and onlysimchas.com .
What's good about researching
gifts online is that you can do it pri-
vately, without fear that your friends
will think you're a cheapskate. But
while it may be taboo to try to save
money on a friend's wedding, the
truth is many people feel pressure to
do so.
Ultimately, the important thing to
remember is that your friend is
happy. And the best gift by far is
your attendance at the wedding.
After all ; memories of that day last
longer than Baccarat crystal or
Lenox china, which is bound to
break at some point.
So when in doubt, go with your
gut instinct. Buy something you feel
good about and put things in per-
spective. All of life's stresses should
come from such simchahs.
Pizza
Pizza & Salad
Pizza & Pasta
Pasta & Salad
Pizza, Pasta & Salad
$7.99
$8.99
$8.99
$8.99
* Please note that the prices do not
include beverage, tax or gratuity
Also, let buddy's cater your party at
home or in the office with our carry-out
salad & pasta party trays and
homemade soups & sauces.
Voted No. 1 Pizza,
Jewish News Sourcebook 2003
Recognized as one of the Nation's
Best Pizza Places
•
by the Food Network
Real Detroit Weekly 2004,
The Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News,
Hour Magazine, Metro Times,
Heritage Award, Northwest Gazette.
31646 Northwestern Hwy.
Farmington Hills
Phone: 248-855-4600
Fax: 248-855-3849
• Birthdays
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.Earik 104 Bucat's Pi a.
on the Food Network
March 21,22,27,28
Visit our website at
wwwbuddyspizzacam
for time listings
617590
}Kob9n ancl Dee's Goodies
Eve nts • • Weddings
• Adult/Kid birthday Parties
• Company
• bridal/baby Showers
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•bar/bat Mitzvahs
• Closing Gifts Cards
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Towels, Napkins
& Note Cards
Robyn Golcl 8e . Deanna Goodwin
cell: 2+8.5 14.8215 • cell: 2+8.350.2328
248.626.0+60
robanddeegoodies@msn.com
'PRIVATE CHEF to the STARS
•Experienced / References Available
•Creative dinner parties for large & small groups
•Perfect for at home entertainment
•Weekly food drop offs
• Cooking class dinner parties
Chef Cali 248-770-6521
Greg's Photography
Customized Packages Available for any Budget.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Wedding
Special discount with purchase of
, both photo and video. New contracts only.
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Farmington Hills
248.553-4867
807800
3/19
2004
43C