Common sense tells us that keeping in good health is the right thing to do but sometimes, you can’t control what happens. Last Friday I had knee surgery to reconstruct my ACL (due to a soccer injury) and I consider myself very lucky. Granted, going in for surgery provokes anxiety and the rehabilitation process is […]

This is a great time of year to start saving because summer is over and it’s ahead of the holiday season. How much is enough? That is the question. For many of us, we assume we are limited by what’s left over at the end of the month. How about approaching it a different way? […]

It’s been a little over a week since we returned home after a fabulous summer vacation and the return to regular life is a bit of a shock.   Did you take holidays over the summer? Did you do something fun? A trip, travel or staycation? How much did it cost compared to your budget […]

It can be easy to lose track of what you’re spending on Back to School stuff. Supplies, books, clothes, courses, sports, lunches and getting set up in a new place. Here are a few very simple tips to spend a little less and save some money and they are keeping in theme with Reduce, Reuse […]

Mortgage rates were 9 to 12% when I started working at the bank in the early 90’s! They went up slightly before coming down and they’ve been so low for so long, I cringe at the thought of what higher rates will do to mortgage payments. Depending how much of a mortgage you have, an increase […]

For most of us who own a home, mortgage payments are are greatest monthly expense and of us who live in the Lower Mainland, mortgage payments can eat up a disproportionate amount of our income compared to other expenses.   The first thing to do is gather some information: What is your current mortgage rate and term (for how long will you […]

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 […]

We look forward to summer…a lot. Blue skies, sunshine and vacation. Here are some ideas to have a fun summer without blowing the budget: Activities: Purchase a multi-day or multi-use pass Parks and community centers Discount programs (on-line, coupon books) DYI rather than a tour Accommodation: Book far in advance Purchase in advance Pre-pay Discounts […]

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 […]