wedding gift: cash toward

MSN Money - A practical wedding gift: cash toward a home MSN Home My MSN Hotmail Shopping Money People & Chat Sign In W eb Search: Money S earch MSN Money: Help Home News Banking Investing Planning Taxes My Money Portfolio Loans Insurance Planning Home Retirement Savings Insurance Family/College College Tools Scholarship Search College Search Resources Decision Centers Commentary Index More Tools Related Links Message Boards Print-friendly version Send this to a friend Get market news by e-mail See if refinancing works Personal finance bookshelf Find It! Article Index Finance Q&A Tools Index Site map Related Articles Marriage means updating important documents Romance can wait; first, talk cold, hard cash Tie the knot without busting your budget Related Resources Decision Center: Essential homebuying guide Decision Center: Love, money and marriage See if youre carrying too much debt Stay at home or work? Try our calculator Related Sites Bankrate.com The Basics A practical wedding gift: cash toward a home advertisement If anyone asks what you want for a wedding present, you might try 'cash for a down payment.' Its legal, if you follow the rules, and asking for cash even meets the Emily Post test for politeness. By Bankrate.com June is the busiest month for weddings, and a forest's worth of invitations either already has been mailed or soon will be sent. A lot of couples want money for wedding gifts. A wedding-day cash infusion can make putting a down payment on a home easier. With prices appreciating rapidly in much of the country, lots of couples need all the help they can get. There are formal and informal rules governing gifts of money to help newlyweds buy a house. First, the informal rules: Is it OK to ask one's wedding guests for money? "It's not rude to request money as a wedding gift," says Peggy Post, author of Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette. "However, it's extremely important to ask politely." Peggy Post is Emily's great-granddaughter-in-law, the wedding etiquette expert for WeddingChannel.com and the main spokesman for the Emily Post Institute. She says one of the most common challenges that couples face is how to request money as a wedding gift. Doing so is acceptable, if done politely. If you seek down-payment money, get the word out through family and friends, Post recommends. Just don't include that info in the same envelope as a wedding invitation. "If you are asked point-blank what you would like for a gift, you might say, 'Whatever you choose will be wonderful, I'm sure, but money for a house down payment is on the top of our wish list,'" Post says. It's OK to say what it's for Go ahead and tell people what you want the money for. Who knows? If you let people know that you plan to spend the money on a down payment, rather than on a honeymoon in Tuscany, they might be more willing to open their pocketbooks. Wedding guests who insist on giving you yet another toaster or wicker picnic basket or a set of rosewood corn holders should be thanked anyway, even though they aren't helping you buy a house. "You should always accept any gift graciously, and remember that the choice of what to give really belongs to the gift giver," Post says. With the etiquette question out of the way, that brings up how to get the money from your guests' pockets and into the hands of the folks who eventually sell you their house. It's not simple, because mortgage loan programs have differing rules on the use of gift money in making a down payment. So know the gift rules Generally, you are expected to be able to make a down payment of at least 5% from your savings, excluding gifts. But what if you are too impatient to wait that long? Some mortgage programs allow you to use gift money if you can't scrape together that 5%. Loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration allow you to use money from gifts to make a down payment of as little as 3%. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two biggest purchasers of home loans, offer similar programs through lenders. Fannie Mae's program is called "Flex 97" and Freddie Mac's is called "Alt 97." If there is a problem with these loan programs, it is that they limit whose money you can use. The FHA, Fannie and Freddie allow you to use money from family members. In the FHA's case, givers have to be members of your "immediate family." It's up to the loan officer to figure out who is family and who is immediate family. What about friends? Can you use gift money from, say, the woman who has been your mother's best friend since kindergarten? Technically, no. The money has to come from family (or from a nonprofit or government agency, but they don't give wedding gifts). It wasn't always this way. In 1996, the FHA encouraged lenders to offer "bridal registry accounts," where couples could stash gifts from friends and family. "Then, when the newlyweds purchase their new home, the money will be available and documented through a lender-supervised account," the FHA said. A few lenders responded enthusiastically, establishing account programs specifically for newlyweds complete with gift cards that could be returned to the bank with a check enclosed. One such lender is SunTrust Mortgage, a subsidiary of SunTrust Banks. Through SunTrust Mortgage, you can open a bridal registry savings or checking account at SunTrust Bank. When a wedding guest makes a deposit, the bank sends a card to the bride and groom to let them know. Ready to find a mortgage? "When they're ready to go ahead and make that first home purchase, they access those funds and we get a mortgage for them -- and we hope they remain a SunTrust banking customer," says Cheryl Nolda, senior vice president of marketing for SunTrust Mortgage. In the last few months, about 500 brochures have been given to prospective couples, Nolda says. The lender usually sees an upsurge in interest in the two months before June and October, which tend to be the busiest months for weddings. Despite their success at SunTrust, bridal registry accounts never really caught on. You can always open a regular old savings or money market account to hold your down payment fund, but you might need to document where the money came from. That's easy enough when the money comes from your paycheck. If some of the money comes from gifts, be prepared to document the source. Encourage gift-givers to give checks from their personal accounts. And don't forget to write those thank-you notes. Editor's Choice 3 legal papers you can't live without Your own business, your tax shelter Brush: The 5 most overpaid CEOs Are seniors gambling away retirement? Cut your taxes by going solar Readers' Choice Ratings Top 5 Articles 9.34 Zombie debt collectors dig up your old mistakes 9.33 10 ways to stop identity theft cold 9.31 10 ways to avoid outrageous hospital overcharges 9.22 The tricks and traps of debt consolidation 9.17 Safeguard your Social Security number View all top rated articles More Resources · E-mail us your comments on this article · Post on the Your Money message board · Get a daily dose of market news S earch MSN Money tips advertisement MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. 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Housewarming Gifts Our gifts

Gifts for the Executive – Executive Office Gifts – Housewarming Gifts - Unique Gifts, Personalized Gifts, Luxury Gifts - RedEnvelope -- Gifts Gifts by Recipient Gifts for Him Home + Office + Travel - Gifts for the Executive -- Gifts for the Executive – Executive Office Gifts – Housewarming Gifts Our gifts for the executive , executive office gifts , and housewarming gifts are perfect home, office and travel gifts for him. Our gifts for the executive range from photo frame magnets , monogrammed silver-plated card cases , money trees and many more executive office gifts . In addition, our assortment also includes unique housewarming gifts such as our recording clock and picture frame as well as our framed bookends . Since we have many exclusive gifts for the executive and housewarming gifts, your executive office gifts will be extraordinary and unique. We invite you to explore our gifts for the executive, executive office gifts and housewarming gifts for him. 1 showing items 1 - 24 of 24 palm bonsai monogrammed leather excursion case deluxe weather dome excursion tie case belden leather catchall accordion leather photo key chain i.o.u. a table for two framed four-leaf clover stainless steel flash memory montgomery safety travel wallet bose sounddock golfer's bar tools belden leather folding frame photobook belden dual time clock lucky symbol paperweights lucky horseshoe plaque monogrammed leather journals personalized candle monogrammed silver-plated mouse pad autobiography book + journal personalized silver-leaf frame album deluxe valet lucky bamboo in red vase 1 showing items 1 - 24 of 24 -- Gifts by Occasion • Gifts by Recipient • Online Gifts by Shops • Corporate Gifts Last Minute Gifts • Anniversary Gift Guide • Birthflowers Gift Guide • Birthstones Gift Guide -- ©2005 RedEnvelope, Inc. All rights reserved. The RedEnvelope mark and logo are trademarks of RedEnvelope, Inc. Index .

Shower Gift

BabyGreek.Com - fraternity sorority baby gifts baby shower gifts Welcome to Babygreek.com, your premier source for sorority and fraternity clothes and gifts catering specifically to infants and children. We carry only the highest quality items officially licensed through sororities and fraternities worldwide. Alpha Chi Omega Alpha Omicron Pi Alpha Phi Alpha Tau Omega Alpha Xi Delta Beta Theta Pi Chi Phi Chi Omega Delta Chi Delta Delta Delta Delta Gamma Delta Tau Delta Delta Zeta Gamma Phi Beta Kappa Alpha Kappa Alpha Theta Kappa Delta Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Sigma Lambda Chi Alpha Pi Beta Phi Phi Delta Theta Phi Gamma Delta Phi Kappa Alpha -- Phi Kappa Tau Phi Mu Phi Sigma Kappa Pi Kappa Alpha Psi Upsilon Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Chi Sigma Delta Tau Sigma Kappa Sigma Pi Sigma Nu Sigma Phi Epsilon Sigma Sigma Sigma Theta Chi Tau Kappa Epsilon Zeta Beta Tau Zeta Psi Zeta Tau Alpha Search Catalog Priority Mail Used For All Orders Future Organizations Coming Soon -- Order & Return Policy Baby Greeks innovative styles and selections are sure to delight young and old alike! Select your organization at the left and browse the collection. A free gift card is included with your order! We will be adding more items constantly so be sure and bookmark this site and return often! Order online using our secure server. Your transaction will be encrypted using the latest technology. Or, see the order blank for payment by check. Our customer service staff is available to answer any questions you may have. If you dont see your fraternal organization, or would like to see a particular product offered, email us at csr@babygreek.com and well be happy to serve you! Call 1-877-368-7923 Monday through Friday 10 to 3 E.S.T. for further assistance. A gift from Baby Greek assures you that you have sent a quality item to your loved one! © Baby Greek Inc. All Rights Reserved. Design & Hosting by:Unlimited Media

Teacher Gift Set with

Amazon.com: Toys & Games: Barbie Time Teacher Gift Set with Analog Watch Your Store Toys & Games See All 31 Product Categories   Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help toy finder | age ranges | browse brands | browse categories | toys outlet | learning toys | video games Search Amazon.com Toys & Games Imaginarium.com "R" Zone Advanced Search Web Search Note : This item is only available from third-party sellers ( see all offers ). Not eligible for Amazon Prime. ( Learn more ) ITEM INFORMATION ( what does this mean ) Explore this toy buying info from toysrus.com & amazon.com Share your thoughts write a review write a So You'd Like to... guide e-mail a friend about this item RATE THIS ITEM I dislike it I love it! 1 2 3 4 5 Edit your ratings Toys"R"Us Price: $20.00 Availability: 24 hours Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . Don't have one? We'll set one up for you. Barbie Time Teacher Gift Set with Analog Watch Other products by SII Marketing International Inc. Price: $20.00 Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours from Toys"R"Us See more pictures Manufacturer's age: 4 years and up Our recommended age: 4 - 7 years More age info Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. Box Size (in inches): 11.00 x 6.70 x 2.30 Shipping weight : 0.40 pounds. ASIN: B0008FUC9Q SKN : 197766 From Toysrus.com & Amazon.com From the Manufacturer This "Time Teacher" watch set comes with a Barbie Watch, an instructional "Time Teacher" clock, and an instructional booklet. This set was developed by elementary school teachers to help children learn to tell time. Safety Information WARNING: Choking Hazard - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Be the first person to review this item! Customers who viewed this itemalso viewed: Barbie Watch: Jelly Band by SII Marketing International Inc. Barbie Digital Watch with Heart Shaped Case and Beaded Bracelet by SII Marketing International Inc. Barbie Watch with Pink Leather Band by SII Marketing International Inc. Barbie Digital Watch with Pop Open Ladybug Case - Lavender Strap by SII Marketing International Inc. Explore Similar Items : 7 in Toys & Games Browse for Toys Age Ranges > 3 & 4 Years > Pretend Play & Dress-Up > Dress-Up & Costumes Age Ranges > 5-7 Years > Pretend Play & Dress-Up > Dress-Up & Costumes Categories > Activities & Learning > Watches and Time Teachers Categories > Activities & Learning > Pretend Play & Dress-Up > Costumes > Costumes for Kids > Girls' Dress-Up Where's My Stuff? • Track your recent orders . • View or change your orders in Your Account . Shipping & Returns • See our shipping rates & policies . • Return an item (here's our Returns Policy ). Need Help? • Forgot your password? Click here . • Redeem or buy a gift certificate. • Tax and seller information • Visit our Help department . Search Toys & Games "R" ZONE Imaginarium.com All Products for Top of Page Toysrus.com | Toy Finder | Age Ranges | Browse Brand Browse Categories Toys Outlet | Learning Toys | Video Games Amazon.com Home | Directory of All Stores Our International Sites: Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | Japan | France  | China Contact Us | Help | Shopping Cart | Your Account | Sell Items | 1-Click Settings Investor Relations | Press Releases | Careers Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1995-2005, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

College Gift

Skidmore College - Gift Planning - Life Income - Pooled Life Income Fund Search | Calendar | A-Z Index Thu Sep 22 5:37 PM EDT Skidmore Home | Admissions | Current Students | Faculty & Staff | Parents & Friends | Alumni Wills and Bequests Life Income Gifts More Gift Options Breaking News To Honor Donors Bring Legacy to Life! Scribner House Contact Our Staff Gift Planning Home STANDARD MAIL 815 North Broadway Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866 GIFT PLANNING PHONE 518-580-5655 E-MAIL CONTACT Gift Planning Gift Planning Life Income Gifts - Skidmore Pooled Life Income Fund The Pooled Life Income Fund (PLIF) provides a way for alumni and friends to make gifts to the College in exchange for lifetime income, favorable tax treatment, and other financial benefits. The collective power of pooling gifts from many donors increases the size and investment earning potential of the overall fund. Donors may join in the Skidmore PLIF with a gift of cash or securities of at least $5,000. Subsequesnt gifts of $1,000 or more may be added. Each participant receives a percentage share of the total PLIF investment earnings each year. The amount of income received by the donor, or a beneficiary designated by the donor, depends upon the subsequent earnings performance each year. Growth in the value of the Skidmore Pooled Life Income Fund results in increased annual income for beneficiaries and a larger eventual gift for Skidmore. When the donor and/or beneficiary passes away, the donor's share of the PLIF principal is withdrawn and transferred to Skidmore College to be used for general educational purposes or for such specific purposes as the donor may have designated. Please call or email to learn more. Bring Legacy to Life! Philanthropy • Legacy • Security The Office of Gift Planning urges donors to consult their legal and other professional advisors when considering charitable gift giving. Our staff is always pleased to work directly with donors and their advisors during the process. Creative Thought Matters. Skidmore College · 815 North Broadway · Saratoga Springs, NY · 12866 Skidmore College Main Links ©2005 Skidmore College · Contact Information Skidmore Home | Admissions | Current Students | Faculty & Staff | Parents & Friends | Alumni