Saving Money

Meat and produce take up a big chunk of our grocery bill. According to Statistics Canada, Canadians spend nearly 20 percent of their food budget on red meat and chicken. Fruits and vegetables take up almost 24 percent of the grocery list. Here’s how to save money on meat and produce: Cut down on meat…

How do you disrupt a mature, billion-dollar mattress industry? Take the mattress out of the store, put it online, and deliver it right to your door with a money-back guarantee. That’s exactly how a growing number of online direct-to-consumer start-ups led by Endy Sleep and Casper have begun to nibble away market share from traditional…

One of the reasons why our grocery bills are getting higher is our increasing reliance on convenience and pre-packaged foods. Yes, I get that they can be, well, convenient when we’re busy but let’s face it, we get lazy and unprepared and often they’re the first things we throw in the cart. The problem with…

Let’s face it. Food prices are increasing every year, and this has become a significant expense for most households. I’m sure that my husband and I spend at least as much now as a couple as we did when we had teenage sons regularly clearing out the fridge. According to the annual Canada’s Food Price…

A Tax Free Savings Account is an excellent savings vehicle. You can now qualify for up to $57,500 in TFSA contribution room (2018), making it more worthwhile to consider using it for a long-term investment strategy. Financial institutions still promote TFSAs as strictly for savings. There’s nothing wrong with that, although if you have only…

My mom phoned me in a big panic the other day because she lost her eyeglasses. After ransacking her apartment and questioning her with the same thoroughness of a homicide cop interrogating a suspect, we ended up going to her optometrist (with IRIS) for replacements. The glasses specialist mentioned that CARP members have a $150…

According to Environment Canada, our coldest months are generally December, January and February, in various orders. Likely one of the biggest home expenses is heating your home in the winter. Now is the time of year to be thinking about your heating and energy costs. An energy efficient furnace will lower your costs, and adding…

Buying used items can be one of the biggest ways to save money. A report by Kijiji states that the average Canadian family of four saves about $1,150 each year buying second-hand items. If you want to try your hand at golf, or need a bicycle, exercise equipment, or a TV stand, why not look…

Running a household can be expensive. Big savings on things like mortgage rates and large purchases are worth more dollar wise, but you can also save by cutting back on smaller stuff. A lot of what we do are just habits. With just a little thought you can easily minimize costs. Here are some real…