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Gift Giving and other Gluttonies
May 23, 201210 Comments
This summer is a unique one for me and the husband. Last summer we were just starting the budgeting, so we were keen on saving money and talking about our future financial plans. The summer before that we were working and saving like mad for our fall wedding. But none of that this summer—this summer [...]
Friendship
May 22, 201213 Comments
I’ve been friends with Gail for over twenty years. So this blog opportunity is nepotism big time. We met in Toronto when Gail was a consultant and I worked at a bank. Years later she told me her initial impression was that I was cold. Little did she know how much she would warm up [...]
(Not so) Extreme Price Matching!
May 21, 201211 Comments
I can’t watch the Extreme Couponing television show anymore. For one, it drives me absolutely bonkers that the “stars” of the show think nothing of clearing the shelves and back rooms of every single item, leaving zip, zero and nada for the next person who comes along (probably just searching for a couple of deodorants, not a [...]
Staple Meals
May 19, 201231 Comments
Six months ago we moved into our new house. In preparation, we created a budget with our best estimates of what owning a house was going to cost. Recently, I decided to update that budget with some real numbers to ensure we were doing A-OK. As I went through the last 6 months and added [...]
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
May 18, 20123 Comments
Last year sometime I watched a movie on TV called Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. (I think it’s also called Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris. It has Angela Lansbury in it, if you want to look it up.) Set in the 1950s or so, Mrs. Harris (Angela Lansbury) is a cleaning woman for a rich [...]
Under Pressure
May 17, 20123 Comments
I promised my friend I would lead today’s post with his comment to Gail: Please fix Toronto’s budget because our mayor isn’t so good with things like math. I can’t say I haven’t thought the same thing a few times in my head! On to Thursday business: As adults we’re still subjected to peer [...]
Falling off the Bandwagon
May 16, 201215 Comments
I eluded to the fact that I had some ‘fessing up to do. And I plan on delivering, because way back in January I told you that we would have our ups—and, of course, our downs. Hubby and I have been living *gasp* outside our budget now for a number of weeks. Not because we [...]
Hic sunt Dracones
May 15, 20125 Comments
When I auditioned to write for this blog I thought I had a reasonably steady job. When it was confirmed that I would be writing this blog, I had been told that my job was coming to an end. When I started writing this blog I was starting a brand new job. And, the good [...]
What happened to “No”?
May 14, 20125 Comments
Kids say the darndest things. The “little dude” added a few extra grey hairs to my head with our recent conversation: “Mommy, can I go to the hospital and have a blood test done?” Me (holding back tears): “Of course not, you are healthy, you don’t need a blood test.” Little dude starts to whine: [...]
Debt is Not the Problem
May 12, 20127 Comments
That’s right. You heard me. The reason you are reading this blog, the reason you watch Till Debt Do Us Part and Princess, the reason you search this website, is not because of your debt. Debt is not the problem. Time and time again, I hear people say to me, “These interest rates are killing [...]
Snowflakes
May 11, 20124 Comments
As I’ve been learning about personal finance these last few years, I’ve come across the idea of snowflaking. I think it comes from Dave Ramsey’s method, though as I’ve never actually read his books I’m not sure. (I came across Gail first and found her way worked for me!) I think he’s the one who [...]
You Fancy, Huh?
May 10, 20126 Comments
I’m a lady who enjoys lady things: lace gloves at tea time, snow-white kittens, frolicking in a field of tulips and GETTING FREE THINGS! Let me explain: I was invited to an event on last night at an upscale menswear store. They’ve called it a “Scotch and Social” event where guests will taste test various [...]
Creatures of Habit
May 9, 20126 Comments
Hello financial friends! I came to quite the realization in the last few weeks and I feel like it’s something to share. So the winter 2012 semester ended for me near the end of April. Exams and final term papers were in and I had something like two whole weeks to relax before jumping right [...]
Once, that was me
May 8, 20123 Comments
I’ve had two encounters with young men lately that have made me feel a little more optimistic about the world, and a little more confident about my place in it. My church, like many downtown churches, is land rich and, increasingly, congregation poor. The demographic the church once served effectively doesn’t exist in the neighbourhood [...]
