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 […]

Whether it’s flying the nest to college or sending your little chicks off to school for the first time, it’s a good idea to set a school budget. Knowing what expenses to expect and what money you have to pay for them will allow you to make wise choices. Here’s a quick and simple budget process: […]

I’ve signed on the dotted line to reduce my ‘work’ week to 60% = 3 days per week. With two  kids in elementary school we wanted to find better balance in our lives so that we weren’t quite so frazzled by Friday. The idea sounded good but it took a little bit of figuring to […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

How many accounts do you have? How many differenct banks do you bank at? What about credit cards, loans and investments? Spreading around your business is one thing but it can be tricky to manage. Fewer arrangements and relationships to manage will help to keep your money management simple. Here are some suggestions: 2 Major […]