Posts Tagged ‘Saving Money’

My condo comes with two large storage spaces. I only need one, so I am able to rent out the other. This type of personal rental method is decades old – from renting a spare bedroom to a university student, providing an unused garage to protect someone’s car, being an enterprising neighbour with a rototiller…

When we moved into our new house my wife and I vowed to keep our home clean and clutter-free. We’re not minimalists, exactly, but the last thing we wanted was a basement or garage full of stuff we don’t need or use. We’ve kept up that promise, for the most part, but as our kids…

I challenged readers a while back to take a day off during the week to work on their finances. That means going through recurring bills, such as cable, internet, bank fees, car insurance, and monthly subscriptions to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck. You might also use the time to look for…

So, I’m standing glassy-eyed in front of a six-foot wall of toothbrushes at my local supermarket. “Can you pick up a new toothbrush for me?” my husband requested. I naively thought I’d just pick up a soft-bristle brush in a not-too-girly colour, and be on my way. Did you know there are more than a…

We’re always asked for money savings tips. I think we should all be aware of the most common ones by now – turn off the lights, short showers, brown bag your lunch, etc. etc. Serious savers are doing these already. Here are a few other tips you can consider. 1. Stop wasting food Food prices…

Like most parents with young children, we’ve spent the majority of summer trying to keep our kids out of our hair entertained. It’s a challenge to constantly find new activities while at the same time trying to keep the expenses within reason. We’ve had a fairly busy summer, and now that back-to-school time is (thankfully)…

Most of us are creatures of habit – we crave routine. We bank at the same place where we first opened an account. We renew our mortgage and insurance policies automatically without shopping around for better rates. Then when we see a promotional offer from a rival cable or internet provider, we complain how loyal…

I read an article about the “Contest Queen,” aka Carolyn Wilman, who has won over $250,000 in prizes from entering sweepstakes. She has been a regular winner since 2004, with prizes ranging from a bottle of pop to a trip for four to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics – just one of 16 trips she…

Canadians have few reasons to save these days. Cheap borrowing coupled with feeble returns on your savings deposits makes it hardly seem worthwhile to park your cash in a savings account. Some banks have decided to punish savers even further by charging fees just for moving your money around. Gaining Momentum Through Inertia But one…

Frugal people and cheap people both love to save money. But there is a difference between being frugal or thrifty, and being cheap and stingy. Frugality makes you a more conscious spender. Being cheap means you try to avoid paying for anything. Related: 30 signs you grew up in a frugal family Frugal people have…