Recent Articles
Sunk Costs
February 2, 201237 Comments
Ever heard of a “sunk cost”? That’s the expense that we’ve already reconciled ourselves to so we don’t think twice about spending the money anymore. It comes from the fact that we perceive our various pots of money as having different values, and we react to them in different ways.
Y’know the cable package and digital [...]
Selling It to Your Kids: Empathizing
February 1, 201214 Comments
While active listening is job one when it comes to getting kids to do what you want them to do, active listening alone won’t do it. Another tool you need in your parenting toolbelt is “empathizing.” When you empathize with your Mini-me, you acknowledge your child’s feelings. The statement, “I’m sorry you got so upset,” [...]
The Next Generation
January 31, 201231 Comments
People keep telling me that young people need a better education when it comes to money. There’s a lot of noise about incorporating financial stuff into school curricula. There’s a fair amount of squabbling about what should be taught, by whom and when. Overall, nothin’ much is changing.
Why?
Well, young people like being carefree about their [...]
Saving Makes Cents
January 30, 201225 Comments
Saving is a lost art. You’d think that with all the yada-yada about how important it is to save, what a big deal RRSPs and TFSAs are, and the scant resources we’ll have if we count on the government, that we’d all be squirreling away money for the future at a wicked clip. We’re not.
When [...]
Gail's Tools
Now, easier to find than ever, here are the tools you’ll need to take control of your money and your life… like the Interactive Budget Worksheet. Make sure you read Gail’s Guide to Building a Budget or my latest book, Debt-Free Forever, before using the Interactive Budget Worksheet so you know how to put it to good use.
And have a look under Favorite Blogs for what I’ve written on topics people most often ask questions about.
Gail Vaz-Oxlade
Hello! I'm Gail Vaz-Oxlade. I'm a mother, step-mother, grand-mama, friend, confessor, writer, TV host, money maven, teacher, artist, and ex-wife. I'm loud, large and laugh a lot. I'm passionate about learning, committed to sharing and hell-bent on getting people to take control of their money and their lives.
I've written 13 books on personal finance, hundreds of articles for the financial media, published a financial magazine for women, hosted three prime-time television shows and worked with Canada’s leading financial services companies to help educate employees and clients. (I've been busy, eh?)
My corporate projects have ranged from the design of a product knowledge and sales curriculum to cover every product sold through the branch network, to the writing of several consumer-oriented brochures, the development of web content, the on-camera hosting of consumer-oriented videos, and myriad public presentations. I can make the most complex financial topic accessible to everyone, even kids.
For those of you who have detected an accent, go ahead and guess! I immigrated to Canada in 1977, lived in The Big City for a long time and then moved to the country. I have dozens of houseplants, read or listen to about 150 books a year and I'm a fabulous cook. I’m learning to knit and dying to get a new puppy… but the time’s not quite right yet so I’m practicing what I preach and being patient.
I’m all about change, and I believe that we can have anything we want in life…anything. It’s all a matter of what’s important to us and how hard we’re prepared to bust our butts. I also believe that a well-balanced life is one of the keys to happiness, and so I strive to achieve a sense of balance.
I’m happy with my life. I am determined to do interesting work and to be useful. I love to learn new things. And I’m practicing living in The Now. I am a work in progress.
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