2013 is almost here and it is time to think about your finances for the new year and how to ensure they are in their best shape ever. With these simple steps and checklist, you can make it your best year ever. Most of these are things we have talked about extensively in the past,…
Author: budgetsense
How to support your local economy this Christmas season? Buy the right type of gift cards
A lot of us prefer to buy-and receive-gift cards this Christmas season than real gifts. They are good for a variety of reasons. They save time, give the receiver the option to spend it on things they like and more. But when buying a gift card for friends and family this Christmas season, or for…
Did Jesus intend to bankrupt families? How to save money this Christmas
Don’t be surprised if the word ‘Christmas’ gets replaced with the word ‘Commercialism’ in the near future, because that is what it has unfortunately turned into. People feel so much financial stress and anxiety around Christmas time, trying to come up with money and gift ideas to buy for their close friends and family. And…
Auto Insurance Saving Tips and Strategies
Car insurance is a necessary expense, yet many people lack the coverage they need in an effort to get the cheapest rate. While the monthly premiums may be lower, the amount of coverage this allows in the event of an accident is limited. However, the quality of a policy does not have to be compromised…
Our new family motto: “Work.Save.Play”
As a newly wed couple, me and the wife had to sit down (literally) and discuss a new family budget together. Each had a budget already, but now that we are married, it was time to coordinate and combine it into one. But being from two different schools of thought on budgeting and how to…
How to Find the Best Deals For Computers
People often wonder how to find the best deals for computers like Dell. It’s tricky, especially when there are so many different brands, uses, speeds etc. Decide what you need in a computer When you’re looking for a computer, the best thing you can do is to do a quick search on the Internet. Look for…
Why it makes sense for me to buy a new car
It is time to replace my aging 2006 Chevy Equinox, as it quickly approaches 300K in mileage! I have done my research and narrowed it down to just two models (both are crossovers). And between these two, there is very little difference except for gas mileage. One of them has superior gas mileage, and with…
There is a new war in Canada: “The War on Gouging”
Canadians have often been known for being polite, soft, apologetic, charitable and generally friendly. But could these nice attributes be the very reason why Canadians are also such sloppy and not very wise consumers? Unlike their neighbors to the south, they let retailers and companies gouge and walk all over them, and not say or…
Impulse Buying is Killing Canadians’ Budgets: how and what to do about it?
I have talked and warned about ‘impulse buying’ in the past and recent bank polls re-affirmed and legitimized my warnings and fear: impulse buying is indeed killing the budgets of Canadians. According to a BMO poll, Canadians spend an average of $3720 on impulse purchases, which include clothing, shoes, electronics and even food (possibly leading…
From Wedding to Honeymoon: The Importance of Budgeting and Saving for Life’s Special Moments
It has been some time since I last wrote anything here and that is due to big changes that happened in my life recently : I am now a married man! My wedding was in mid August and that was followed by an exciting and lovely honeymoon in Europe, which included 4 day stay in…