I am often bewildered when I receive our credit card bill each month. Why is it so high? Why are we not on or under budget (ha ha!)? In reality, I know I’ve done a good job with our financial plan and budget and the only category that we have trouble with is ‘entertainment and […]

This may well be the case but before you think about setting a new one, ask yourself a couple questions. When was the last time you did your budget? When was the last time you looked at it? Do you compare your actual income and expenses to the ones in your budget? Have you experienced […]

It’s that time of year again, yard work (if you have a yard) and property taxes. Vancouver, like many other places bills property taxes for the beginning of July…a whopping bill and that’s after the advance payment made in February! The bill arrived yesterday and because our bank collects and pays the property taxes on […]

The weather in Vancouver last week was stellar to say the least but this week I hear there’s snow on the Coquihalla! We took the snow tires off weeks ago. I am working under the premise that summer weather is on the way and here to stay. On that note, it’s time to take a […]

Do you expect a tax refund? What will you do with it? It may not be a lot of money but a little can go a long way, especially if you have a plan! How about splitting it between a couple of things? A little for you, some to savings and some to pay down […]

Now let’s talk about timing. It’s all about cash flow – when the money comes in and when it goes out. Half of the equation is probably out of your control as your employer will pay you at the same time as everyone else! The majority of employers pay biweekly (every 2 weeks) or semi-monthly (2 times per […]

If you took Making Your Money Management Simple – 1 to heart, you are now organized! This post is about paying bills on time and in no time. Our household bills all seem to naturally fall due towards the end of the month. This is okay as I sit down once per month and set […]

Juliet has been working in a retail shop for just over a year and has begun to ask herself two questions: Money is pretty tight at the end of the month and it’s tempting to use her credit card but is worried about getting bills that she can’t pay. What’s next for her? Juliet enjoys […]

Happy New Year! If you didn’t get around to sorting out your finances before or over the holidays, don’t worry, Dear Piggy Bank will catch you up. Start the new year with a plan that will make you feel like you have your finances under control and your money working for you. It’s easier than […]

No matter how organized we plan to be, the holiday season has a habit of sneaking up on us and before you know it, there are events to attend and gifts to buy. A bit here and a bit there has a sneaky way of adding up and can be tricky to keep track of. […]