Planning holidays and weekends away is fun. It’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing. It’s a little more challenging these days with two constraints: Kids Budget

The flowers are beginning to bloom in Vancouver which makes me want to be outside and not at work. It also means lighter clothing, lighter evenings and holiday plans. All this fun can lead to a lighter wallet. The trick is to plan and budget for it.

What I learned from a group of young women about budgeting. Sure I was there to lead the discussion but I learned some things and remembered some tips from years ago. Living on a tight budget is sometimes easier. This may sound ridiculous but there’s some logic to it and here’s why. Lifestyle expectations must […]

Today I had the privilege of meeting a unique group of women. Participants in a program called Dream Seeds. The women aged 16 to 28 are wise beyond their years. Clear on where money stands in their lives, they are realistic about the requirement of the mighty dollar to pay for necessities but firm in […]

I thought we might finish the holiday season under budget this year. Realistically we will be $200 over budget. We can deal with that. Especially since January is generally more low key. It can be a challenge repaying the holiday bills at the same time as your paycheck decreases (those pesky EI and CPP deductions […]

Happy New Year! The holiday season is barely over but it’s not too soon to think about the 2011 holiday season! This is a great time to do a couple things to set yourself up for next year’s holiday season.

I must admit, most of my food ideas are generated from a craving. In this case Vancouver’s cold and rainy weather was my inspiration. Beef Stroganoff! Haven’t made it in years. Pretty simple to make, especially in a slow cooker. Beef, onions, seasoning, mushrooms, tomatoes, broth and sour cream. Served on a bed of egg […]

Weekends away are so much fun! Whether it is skiing, camping, shopping or visiting, it feels like a proper break from work. After having children, the logistics and destinations change quite a bit but one thing doesn’t…how quickly the cost can add up. Even if you carpool and share meals and accommodation, you typically spend […]

It’s that time of year again….time to put the snow tires on. The snow has arrived early this year. Typically we see snow in Vancouver for a few days once or twice during the winter. This year it seems to have arrived very early! I scheduled a maintenance visit combined with putting snow tires on. […]

Maybe you’ve been paying the rent or your cable bill without wondering whether you’re paying the same, more or less than others? Perhaps you want to move out on your own and would like to know what it will cost.