Posts Tagged: Saving

3 ways to save money — without cutting coupons

I’m not a coupon cutter — and probably will never be one. My wife, Yael, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She always knows where to save 0.50¢ on English Cucumbers and a buck off a box of Cheerios. Yael is what I call a “micro-saver.” Don’t get me wrong; I think coupons and price matching are fantastic....

Budgeting and forecasting: How to get on track and reach your financial destination

When it comes to finances, it’s easy to feel lost. We all know we need some kind of budget, but we aren’t always sure where to begin. Many people start by categorizing their expenses in a spreadsheet or computer program (like Mint.com or Quicken), hoping to figure out where they’re going wrong. The problem is, simply organizing/plugging in numbers won’t...

Retirement Savings: On your shoulders

My grandparents had great pensions, and my parents have OK pension plans. Me though? I have none. The most I’ve been offered by any employer, is a group RRSP. It used to be commonplace for employers to guarantee their employees a specific pension payout for remaining loyally employed with the company. However, in recent years, a lot of employers have...

Tax refund madness

The urge is typical. You’ve completed your tax return, happily confirming your hope the government owes you a refund. Before you’ve even received your refund in that recognizable brown envelope, it’s likely you’ve already earmarked that money for goodies you want, but haven’t had the chunk of cash to pay for. In the back of your mind though, you know...

Needs and Wants: The Difference

For some people, it can be incredibly difficult to discern the difference between what they want and what they need. Here is just one practical example: Let’s say someone goes to a mall to replace a broken dish. Walking through the mall, they see a shirt in the window that would go perfectly with one of their outfits. (People generally...

Savers versus Spenders: A Matter of Perspective

Why are some of us natural savers, while others are spenders? In a way, it’s a matter of perspective. The main difference is that savers take in the big picture, while spenders only see things as they are, or as they appear to be at that moment in time. We say savers tend to have an Encompassing Perception, where spenders...

Adult Children and Money: Not Too Old to Learn New Tricks

It feels rewarding to help your children. When your adult children ask for help, they can, no doubt, be difficult to refuse. It might seem natural that you would or should help them reach certain financial goals, but when they approach you for money, you need to be careful. Obviously, every child and every situation is different: When your normally...

This Thing Called Normal

I was told recently about a successful lawyer who wanted to write a book called Broke on Any Budget. He selected this title because, he was broke as a law student; broke as a junior lawyer, and even after he made partner in his law firm, he was still broke. As our careers advance, so does our income. Sadly, we...