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8 Things You Should Buy Secondhand Instead of New
Part of the reason for this post was the uncertainty I’ve been feeling about possible changes to the afforability of life in Canada. Thrift stores and online marketplaces are both great ways to obtain needed items at reasonable prices, so I started to take stock of what future needs I could meet by scouring my local thrift stores. But shopping secondhand isn’t just about saving money—it’s also a great way to reduce waste, find unique pieces, and support local businesses like consignment stores. While some items are better bought new for safety and hygiene reasons, many products are just as good (or even better) when purchased from a thrift or…
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How to Effectively Live off of your Emergency Fund
Life doesn’t always go as planned. That’s something I’ve become intimately aware of these last six months and, because of that, I’ve also become more acquainted with my emergency fund. It’s something I’ve hoped to never use, but as I’ve had to step back from working, I’ve needed to consider. Since it’s been on my mind, I thought I’d share a little more about what an emergency fund is and how to use one. Keep in mind I am not a financial advisor. When making financial decisions, it’s always good to seek advice from a professional. I just enjoy talking about finances and am sharing here what has worked for…
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Turn Dreaming into Practical Steps: 3 Financial Necessities to Change your Life
Changing our lives, whether it be a career change or a change of location, can be daunting. Every change comes with a financial cost to it and that can be a hindrance to us following through on our dreams. I’ve been dreaming with a friend lately about some big life changes, so I wanted to share how some essential financial habits can help make those dreams a reality. My Journey to Making Life Changes I’m going to preface this entire post with the fact that I’m not an accountant, nor a financial advisor, nor anyone qualified/educated to give financial advice. Financial decisions are very personal and should be talked through…
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10 Reasons to Keep Track of Every Purchase you Make
It has been a while since I’ve written a post about finances, so am diving back in with something I’m passionate about doing: I keep track of every purchase I make. Doing this is one of the things that helped change my financial habits and helped me gain control of my finances, but often people react negatively to the idea. Because of that, I want to share 10 reasons to keep track of every purchase. Looking Closely at our Finances A number of years ago I was in a financially abusive relationship which left me in a pretty poor financial state once I got out. Rebuilding my life and regaining…
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4 Ways To Shrink Your Grocery Bill by Going Low Waste
Grocery Bills are Increasing I’m not sure about you, but I dread looking at the budgeted versus actual amount I spend on groceries these days! Groceries have exploded in price and reviewing my receipts leaves me wondering how I can bring the grocery bill for my weekly shop down. It’s a constant struggle for me, the balance between time and budget – when I was on maternity leave I had more time to make things myself to reduce the amount spent in the store on pre-made items. But since going back to work, the time budget outside of working hours is pretty small, and stretched between too many things. As…
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12 Fun and Budget-Friendly Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids!
Why Budget-Friendly? Here we are at the end of December and it’s hard to believe that we’re only days away from Christmas! For many years growing up, the budget was very tight in our home. And though the movie-prop style stacks of glimmering gifts on Christmas morning were not within reach, we would draw upon our ingenuity and creativity to come up with gifts that would make our loved ones feel special nonetheless! So whether you’re looking to add a few last-minute gifts, or to stretch a dollar, see below for my go-to budget-friendly Christmas gift ideas for kids! Also, for some ideas for activities to do over the break,…
