Give Me Back My Five Bucks

Last week a friend and I were talking over coffee. She said that she didn’t know how I could live on a budget, or afford to do all of the things that I do – like go skiing, play team sports, travel, buy concert tickets, and even save for retirement. She said that the few times she tried budgeting, she felt deprived and irritated, so she stopped (a feeling I could absolutely relate to). I told her that the only reason I can afford to do anything is because of budgeting. Some people are just good with their money. They … Continue reading →

Another weekly installment of Sunday love. :) Moneyville editor Adam Mayers on funeral costs I love this video interview of Adam on Breakfast Television earlier this week. I’ve never thought about the cost of my own funeral, but it definitely makes sense to plan ahead by saving and know exactly how you want to leave this world. Also, because I’ve been recently introduced to Toastmasters, I noted how confident and poised he was throughout the interview – no filler words either! First Annual Financial Blogger Conference A few days ago, I plugged this conference and asked who was going. Well, … Continue reading →

So back in December, I booked my accommodation in NYC for my friend and I. It’s for a highly rated apartment that we found on VRBO.com. It came out to $925 ($185/night x 5 nights), or $462.50 per person. Well, I just got word that another two people are coming as well, flights booked. :) Because that $185/night rate was for 2 people, the cost per night to go from 2 to 4 people will now be $250/night. But, that also means our cost per person goes down to $312.50 per person for 5 nights. AWESOME! Especially considering I had … Continue reading →

With the economic climate forcing everyone to tighten their purse strings, it can be hard to find the extra cash at the end of the month for the little luxuries that make it all worthwhile. But there are ways, even on the tightest of budgets, to free up a little extra so that you can treat yourself to an occasional luxury, be it a little shopping spree, a weekend away, or a meal out at your favourite restaurant. Over the last 10 to 15 years, more and more retailers have promoted their services online and one way of grabbing the … Continue reading →

Okay, so who has heard of the First Annual Financial Blogger Conference being held in Chicago this year? I just heard about it a few weeks ago on Twitter. With so many other blogger conferences happening, I’m surprised a financial conference has taken this long to take shape! The agenda looks pretty decent, but I’d be interested in seeing who the speakers will be. Part of me really wants to consider going, but another part of me is dealing with the cost associated with a trip like this. Ballpark cost for me is probably going to be about $1,000, including … Continue reading →