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Stretch your Dollars this Season with these 6 Easy Budget Challenges
We are about to enter one of the most expensive seasons of the year and, with prices skyrocketing everywhere, there’s potential for the holidays to break the bank. It can be difficult to figure out where to cut costs and save money, so I have some budget challenges that can help inspire you to save. Budget Challenge #1: The Pantry Challenge What is a pantry challenge? A pantry challenge is a way to use up items that you purchased in past grocery shops but have been sitting unused in your cupboard. How does it work? Shop your cupboards! (And maybe the back of your fridge too). This is a way…
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How to Create a Budget in 5 Easy Steps
I was listening to the news recently and they were talking about a banking survey. The survey revealed a change in the reasons why people were seeking banking advice. According to this newscast, in the past people were asking for assistance with saving and retirement planning, but now people are seeking help with budgeting and debt repayment. Since budgets are one of my favourite things, I thought I’d put some quick steps together for how to create a budget. Please keep in mind that I am not a financial planner and just enjoy talking about finances. It is important to seek professional advice for your financial plans and needs. In…
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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…
