Comments for gailvazoxlade.com

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Lindsay

Lindsay — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:58:08 +0000

Hi Gail,

I’ve read almost all your blogs on this site. They’ve all been very influential in their own way and have helped me stay on track. I appreciate the time you spend to share your to-the-point common sense advice. It’s very refreshing to be shown that it can be done!

To pick a favourite blog is a bit challenging. However, I do love ‘Who’s in Charge Here?’ from July 27, 2011 (#3006). After reading your blog daily, it is a great one to always refer to. It’s a constant reminder that I am in charge of my finances and it CAN be done! Although life happens, it’s ultimately up to me to keep control.

Thank you for all your time that you invest in helping others. You’ve been such an inspiration to me. Thank you for helping me stay on track!

Best regards,

Lindsay

Comment on Starting the Jars by Don

Don — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:50:52 +0000

After a year of solid renovations and buying on credit with some payments in cash I’ve exhausted my of my financial resources. After completing the renos my wife decided it’s time to move on to greener pastures,would have been nice to know a year ago. however I’m left to pick up the pieces and start over So I’m not looking back but only ahead I’ve been watching Gail’s show for a awhile and have already started chipping away on my debt setting my goals small and accomplishing them and getting the debt paid down. Hopefully by working hard and staying focused I’ll be debt free in 2years and have already started saving for my emergency fund

Thank You Gail for helping inspire me to be more positive in my financial goals.

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Elizabeth A

Elizabeth A — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:49:07 +0000

My favorite was Our Love Affair with STUFF. The other three were good, too, but this is an issue I deal with constantly. Like one of the posters on that article, when I divorced, I got the house and many, many contents. I donated a batch every week last year, and I’m not done yet. Trying to find my personal “stuff level” after thirty years of marriage is a big challenge. As is acquiring what I need to have a functional home, rather than a collector’s museum of a home. I have my favorite collections but work on paring them down as well. It’s been interesting and I am sure will continue to be so!

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Crystal

Crystal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:47:05 +0000

My favourite is “Wants & Needs and what you can Thoil” from May 28, 2009.

Comment on Sunk Costs by Melaniesd

Melaniesd — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:26:48 +0000

When it comes to bank fees, the biggest recommendation I can make is to regularly review your accounts. Have your banking habits changed? So many clients are in accounts that no longer suit their needs. It’s a good thing to regularly review. If you don’t have the opportunity to visit your local branch, call the 1-800# and as to review your accounts. These changes can generally be done by phone saving you time & money!

Comment on Sunk Costs by Melaniesd

Melaniesd — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:24:39 +0000

I am debating on paying out my Telus cell phone contract because I want to switch to Koodo. I make a lot of long distance calls and the Telus contract just isn’t working for me. It’s ridiculously expensive for what I need. I’m half way through the contract and it will cost me $300+ to cancel the contract. decisions… decisions…I may even just reduce it to the minimum monthly amount and give the phone to DH. I just hate to have to change my number.

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Tara

Tara — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:22:06 +0000

Work and Play
Posted by Gail | Filed under Goals, Take Control

That’s my favourite, it’s from Oct 30, 2009. It spoke to me because it’s literally what I’m doing with my life for all the reasons you wrote about.

I even started a money club and blog! I’m having so much more fun that drudgery … hopefully I can keep it going.

thanks Gail!

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Maureen

Maureen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:32:32 +0000

I started by searching my birthdate and only found one entry! It is hard when you have a February 29th birthday. I love so many of Gail’s blogs and have learned so much, I decided I would pick the only February 29th entry – it was from 2008.

The blog itself was informative – but I loved the comments that people left. There were so many positive items about how rewarding and easy it is to follow Gail’s plan if you you really think about the costs of silly things like coffee and magazines.

After I read this I did a rough calculation of what I spend in a year. The blog spoke about what certain households spend and as a single person – $29, 000+ per year was the average. I learned that I do not live an average life….I still need to cut back more. The statistics on household spending were from the 2005 census I think, and they were eye opening.

As always Gail’s blogs make me think, and often re-evalutate what I am doing. I like the daily (or almost daily) check up and reminder! Thanks Gail.

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Nicola

Nicola — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:31:00 +0000

I found “Happiness is a Purpose”.
We spend so much time trying to figure out the big things that we think could make us happy (money, career, etc.) that we forget to enjoy the little things, such as the sound of your child’s laughter, or a hug from a loved one.
It is those little things that send the warm fuzzies through me.

Comment on Smile and The World Smiles with You by debtgirl

debtgirl — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:18:53 +0000

Very true!

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Lori

Lori — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:44:33 +0000

My Fav is from Life Lessons and it was titled “Be a Positive Person”. This really is my mantra in life and I believe it is the be all and end all of all the “bleep” people have to put up with in life. My husband tends to berate me at certain times saying, “I’m too calm, and that nothing ever gets me upset!” Well I just tell him, “Honey life is too short to worry about such and such…” I can’t be bothered with people who have a negative outlook on life…again life is too short!! I have always smiled, looked on the bright side of things, and found a way to stay positive even when faced with life’s ups and downs! Do we really have any other choice???

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:43:44 +0000

I used my anniversary date (although I had to choose two blogs from the next closest day since the date fell on a weekend) and my favorite blog was “Be Uncomfortable” (August 23, 2010). It seemed to speak to my current situation, and I loved that the concept can be applicable to all aspects of life, including financial. Whenever I’m in a new situation, I feel nervous and become terrified that I will somehow ruin whatever opportunity I have been given. I’ve come to realize that once I get past that uncomfortable feeling and just do whatever it is I’m worrying about, I feel so much better and I’m much more comfortable the next time.

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:32:24 +0000

I picked my birthday as the date. Since for the last 2 years it has fallen on a weekend, I picked the date before or after it.
Feb 18, 2011: Give Yourself More Time
Feb 19, 2010: Who Are You Trying to Impress
February 20, 2009: Satisfaction Guaranteed

It was a toss up. Feb 20/09 hit home for me because I am now at the stage in my life that I am satisfied with what we have. Sure I would like new stuff, but do I need it. My husband often sang “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” to me. We came from 2 different financial backgrounds (yes, I could have been a princess). And now as I am cleaning out my sewing/craft/anything room downstairs so my son can have it and moving things upstairs to his old room, I am getting rid of a lot of stuff because there isn’t the same square footage in the room. I have enough craft/sewing stuff that I don’t think I need to buy anything for probably 5 years.

My other favorite was Feb 18/11. That is the stage that I am in. I have made my budget, analyzed our spending and am trying to break old habits and really trying not to beat myself up if I screw up one day. I have a bad spending habit that I think I have broken 95%, it is time to get the other 5% fixed.

I will be 50 this month and I made a vow to myself before Christmas that this was the turn around year as far as financial, physical, spiritual, emotional and house-wise. I’ve started slow in January but it is getting better. I haven’t set any deadlines as far as accomplishing things except for the debt free in 3 years thing, as I found in the past that if I set a goal and don’t reach it I get all down on myself and stop any progress.

Have a wonderful break Gail.

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by Karen M

Karen M — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:39:17 +0000

Just checked out the sweet potato canneloni!!! Looks yummy and we will be having this for dinner tonight. We’re vegan, so I am going to add some vegan cheese (Daiya Mozzarella) instead of the cream cheese and parmesan, but I’m convinced it is going to be fabulous.

Thanks!!

Comment on Tell me your fave and why. by joanne

joanne — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:31:17 +0000

I hope this will count While I love your blog and come daily to read them – my favourite was a Til Debt Do us Part episode that aired in Dec 2009 that spoke volumes to me. It was the episode of the 6 figure Dr Dad and Scrapbook store Mom. You made a comment in that episode – “its not a job if you don’t get paid – its a hobby” (or something along those lines – the reason it stood out is that my self employed husband was technically not drawing a proper pay cheque and while we were making by we were not getting ahead and I told him that his business has to pay him otherwise it was a hobby and it wasn’t worth having – and this was after 10+ years of having the business. While the business did help us save on daycare etc with our twin girls (he runs the business from our home) – it was not allowing us to benefit financially from his “job”. Several weeks later we incorporated his business and he started drawing a proper pay cheque that provides a T4 at the end of the year.

Unfortuantely, with the current economy down turn we had to suspend his pay in Nov 2011 to protect the business and reduce over all costs. BUT, in doing so he got a part time job (with almost full time hours in the evening) in the industry that he left 12 years ago when he started his own business. His PT job works around my fulltime hours, child care and business support (I answer the phone in the evenings when I am home with the kids). We have savings, an emergency fund and with the extra PT employment we are able to make it through – thanks to your information from many different sources – TV, Blog, books, etc.

Please know how important and valuable you are to those that are smart enough to take your information and use it wisely

But if I had to choose a Blog entry – I have agree the This and That postings are one of my many favourites