February 2013 Resolution Update! (a day late)

Two months ago, I posted my 2013 goals and resolutions. If you don't want to click through and read the whole post again, here is what I posted as my goals:

1. Fit back into a size 8 and be healthy about it.
          a. Work out at least two hours each week
          b. Stop eating so much junk food. Eat fruits and vegetables instead.
2. Pay off the car loan.
          a. Find my cheques
          b. Stay within budget
          c. Track spending and budget
3. Write more
          a. Edit my NaNoWriMo2012 novel to readability and have people read it.
          b. Continue working on the first draft of my other novel
          c. Add new content to this blog and to my Helium.com profile every week.
4. Finish 3 of my university courses
          a. one at a time, starting with Introductory Composition


So, for the update, continue reading:

1. Fit back into a size 8 and be healthy about it.
          a. Work out at least two hours each week

Still haven't lost a pound, but I started getting more active in that at least once a week I go for a ten minute walk, and separately I walk up and down the stairs at work for 5 minutes every now and then. Work in progress.

          b. Stop eating so much junk food. Eat fruits and vegetables instead.

February was a bad month for this, for some reason. I started off well, but as the month continued... donuts and delicious junk food everywhere. March is here now, so it's time to restart.

2. Pay off the car loan.
          a. Find my cheques

Done last month.
          c. Track spending and budget

Did okay for this, but we stayed on track and ended up spending less than usual, so that's nice!

3. Write more

          a. Edit my NaNoWriMo2012 novel to readability and have people read it.

Just don't look at this one...

          b. Continue working on the first draft of my other novel

Ehmmmmm....

          c. Add new content to this blog and to my Helium.com profile every week.

Added one thing to Helium, and a few things to my blog, so at least that's something!

4. Finish 3 of my university courses

          a. one at a time, starting with Introductory Composition

Almost halfway through Introductory Composition. I'm about a full unit behind, but I've been plugging away at it most of the month, and I am hoping to have completed Unit 4 (of 6) by the end of March.

So that's it for now! As I mentioned last month, I have been making bi-weekly videos, so if you want to check out my Youtube channel, click here.

If you have any questions, tips, suggestions, or anything else, share it below! Thanks for your continuing support!

Peace, love, and March on!

Money Stress: Part 2 - Use what you have

Yeah, remember this whole thing? Money stress? Right now, I may not be overly stressed about money personally, but there are always things that I want that I need to save up for. You too?

Maybe you are living paycheck to paycheck, and maybe you aren't. Maybe you are trying to save up for a house, or a vacation, or even just a new computer/music player/phone. If there is ever something that you are trying to accumulate more money for, there is always a way to save up that money.

Not only are there always ways, but there are also almost always ways to change so slightly that you don't sacrifice much in terms of your day-to-day life. Which is really what we're all after, right?

The main things that people, like you and me, tend to hear about when it comes to saving money are the clichés. Bring your coffee, don't buy your coffee. Bring your lunch, don't buy your lunch. And yeah, these tips are effective... but they don't apply to everyone. Each person has their own priorities and preferences for how they live their lives. I love coffee, and am lucky enough to have access to coffee at work, as much as I want, for only 10$ a month. Not everyone has this luxury. Not everyone drinks coffee.

My second big tip (my first can be found here) is to use up what you already have. If you have, like many people, extra food sitting in your freezer that you bought while it was on sale, but it isn't what you usually use... try it! Try something new, find a new recipe, and use it up. Not only do you now have more space for the usual stuff in your freezer, but you also got to try something new, and the food that you used up will not go to waste.

If you already have mascara (that isn't clumpy), why buy a new one just because it's on sale? Use up what you have first, so that less (or ideally, nothing) goes to waste. I don't know about you guys, but I HATE throwing out things I have purchased. Whether it's food, cosmetics, clothing, etc... I just hate throwing it out. Drives me crazy. Because that is, effectively, throwing your hard-earned money in the garbage.

Ew.

Use up what you already have. If you need to organize a bit, do that! It's a great way to spend your time without buying anything (I don't know about you, but I spend money when I'm bored). Then you will be able to see your things more easily, which makes it easier to use them up!

Do you have any tips or tricks for finding ways to stretch your cash? Please share them! I am always looking for new ideas and things to try!

Peace, love, and save your nickels! (Pennies are gone!)

January 2013 Resolution Update!

About a month ago, I posted my 2013 goals and resolutions. If you don't want to click through and read the whole post again, here is what I posted as my goals:

1. Fit back into a size 8 and be healthy about it.
          a. Work out at least two hours each week
          b. Stop eating so much junk food. Eat fruits and vegetables instead.
2. Pay off the car loan.
          a. Find my cheques
          b. Stay within budget
          c. Track spending and budget
3. Write more
          a. Edit my NaNoWriMo2012 novel to readability and have people read it.
          b. Continue working on the first draft of my other novel
          c. Add new content to this blog and to my Helium.com profile every week.
4. Finish 3 of my university courses
          a. one at a time, starting with Introductory Composition

Sidenote: I was asked to update also on a drawing commitment I had made (to my mom). The update is: I can't find the drawing I had made so far, but when I do I will continue with working on it. I have been practicing the tribal part, and may end up just starting over with the outline that I still have. If you want to see what I've done so far, let me know!

So, to update, continue reading:

1. Fit back into a size 8 and be healthy about it.
          a. Work out at least two hours each week

Realistically I've probably only done about an hour each week of real working out. There was a lot going on this month, and I just didn't prioritize it. Now I'm paying for it, as I haven't shrunk at all and I have a wedding to attend this Saturday with nothing to wear.

          b. Stop eating so much junk food. Eat fruits and vegetables instead.

I've done pretty good with this task overall, I feel like I've been eating less junky crap and making a real concerted effort to snack on fresh fruit. I've also increased how much vegetables go on my dinner plate. Now to find a way to add F&V to breakfast...

2. Pay off the car loan.
          a. Find my cheques

Did this! Had to order more, but after I ordered them, I found my old ones. So now I have enough cheques to last me about 20 years...

          b. Stay within budget

Despite January being pretty tight at the beginning (curse you, Christmas!), since both WW and I got 3 paycheques this month, we're WAY ahead. Huzzah!

          c. Track spending and budget

Did this for all of January!

3. Write more
          a. Edit my NaNoWriMo2012 novel to readability and have people read it.

Didn't even touch it. Yes I am shame...

          b. Continue working on the first draft of my other novel

Again, didn't even touch it. I told you it was a rough month!

          c. Add new content to this blog and to my Helium.com profile every week.

Did half of this, I've been updating this blog fairly frequently, so that's exciting! Helium has been neglected this month aside from today, better luck next month! (However, despite barely touching my Helium account [and writing nothing until the last day of the month], I made 1$ in revenue! Woo!)

4. Finish 3 of my university courses
          a. one at a time, starting with Introductory Composition

Working on it, finished Unit 1 and am halfway through the reading for Unit 2. The first assignment for Unit 2 is due Feb 19, so I am on track!

So there you have it! I also made a goal to myself to start making Youtube videos, which I kept secret because I didn't think I'd actually do it, but I have two posted now! If you haven't already, and you want to look at my face click HERE for the first, and HERE for the second!

How has your January gone? Productive? Non-productive? New changes or old habits? Share them here!

Peace, love, and ACHEIVEMENT UNLOCKED!

Money Stress: Step 1 - Save on food

As I said in my previous post, each step is worth itself in weight. So lets get right to it!

If you're reading this, maybe you think that you can improve your financial situation with some easy changes. And it's completely true, you can. Please keep in mind that what works for me and my family may not work for you. Try things, see how they work, and adapt for your own personal lifestyle.

Each tip will consist of a general tip followed by some of the changes I will be (or have been) doing to institute this change. You can use these as starter ideas, or you can use them to brainstorm your own solutions. I won't be insulted if you completely ignore any of the tips, I am just putting them out there in hopes that it helps at least one person feel less stress about their finances.

On to step one.

Step 1:
Cook at home using fresh ingredients.

We always have frozen oven meals in the freezer just in case. With WonderWife working 10 hour days and me with my variable moods (and therefore variable energy), it's just safer to have food that can just be thrown in the oven for those really bad days where I don't want to do anything. Unfortunately, they can be quite pricy. Even if you get a 1-pound bag of frozen vegetables for 2$, you're still paying more than you would for fresh vegetables.

I am dedicating it to myself now that I will start to make my own handy helpers for the freezer with what foods I currently have. Then I will move upwards to making full out freezer meals. But small steps...

Tonight I am going to grate up some of the carrots we have in the fridge along with the cauliflower and mix them together in a container to throw in the freezer. This will be an easy to use addition to any meal I throw together, easy way to add more fresh foods to our diet (which is quite fresh already, but no such thing as too much), and save money. Not to mention that carrots and cauliflower are relatively easy on the taste buds, particularly when cooked, so they will blend in nicely with many foods and not overpower.

Next, I am going to thaw out some of the bricks of cheese we have in the freezer and shred them, and refreeze them for easy to use shredded cheese. That will make adding cheese to any meal a snap, and save me time while I'm trying to throw together a meal at 6pm.

Having fresh vegetables on hand is all well and good, but it is important to use them before they go bad. Otherwise you are basically throwing away your money.

Having pre-cooked or semi-cooked meat in the freezer is a goal for me, having premade mixes in the freezer which simply need to be thrown onto a frying pan is another. There are so many possibilities in the realm of precooked and ready-to-eat foods that it is almost impossible to figure out where to start!


So that's my step one. Have you had any successes with doing prep-work ahead of time? Do you have any tips or tricks for throwing together a healthy, homemade meal in less time? I would love to hear them, as time is a valuable asset and I am going to strive to conserve more of it!

Thanks for reading, let me know what you think!

Peace, love, and munch away!

Money Stress! How to cope...

The January stress of finances has struck me full swing. It is official, I am stressing out.

Despite the fact that we will have a comfortable cushion in the bank, I am upset because it is below what I consider "safe" and we aren't getting paid for another week and a half. There are still bills to pay. Which means that it will be going even further below safe into barely-safe territory.

I have restarted budgeting, but with Christmas and my birthday and a close uncle's birthday happening, we are using up more of our "comfort" cash than we have in many months.

This leads me to stress, which leads me to flustering, which leads me to being completely useless at everything.

HOWEVER

I will not be bogged down in this downward spiral of thinking. We are getting paid in a week and a half. The bills can wait until then, honestly. They haven't even come in yet, I just know they're coming.

I will take steps to lower our costs starting now. I have already started. I will be making some posts on what I am going to do to take charge of our finances and save money. No longer will I be controlled, I will do the controlling. Nothing is impossible, it only takes varying amounts of effort.

Therefore I will be making a plan. A plan of attack, a plan of action. With various steps of varying importance and effect. But each step is a step in and of itself and is deserving of its own praise. Regardless of how large the reward is, as long as it produces reward it is worthy.

Do you get stressed about money? Does it feel like your bank account and living conditions control you? You can change it! Come along with me and experience what a refreshing feeling it is to know that you are financially secure.

Step one, coming up next...

Peace, love, and save money!

The Importance of Setting Goals and... my 2013 resolutions!

New Year's resolutions are known far and wide as "goals for the first week of January" which then get thrown out the window.

Setting goals for yourself is a very important part of productive and satisfying living, yet countless people set goals for themselves that they never actually acheive, or they give up after a very brief time.

Why is that? First and most important reason: You set your goals too high, too hard, or too little gratification.

Humans as a whole love instant gratification. Being able to feel at least a piece of success NOW is essential to our wanting to continue working towards that goal. By setting a goal that has no short-term or instant gratification, you are setting yourself up to give up on yourself.

How do we avoid that?

Set smaller goals. Be realistic.

If your goal is to get healthy, quantify that. Do you want to (eventually) lose 5, 10, 15 pounds? Or is it that you want to fit into a size 8, 10, 14? Or maybe even be able to do 50 sit ups, pushups, squats, etc in a row?

Set a big goal, such as: By December 31, 2013, I want to lose 20 pounds and/or fit into a size 10, and/or be able to do 100 pushups in a row.

Then, set smaller, monthly goals. Such as: I want to lose 3 pounds in January.

Then think about what you have to do to acheive the smaller goal. If monthly goals are still too big for you, or you want something a little closer, think instead of time-based goals.

Example: I want to exercise for one hour each week (great starting point for the inactive person).

Then, each day that you do even five minutes of exercise, track it. By the end of the week, you add it all up. Each week you set a new goal. Maybe it'll be the same goal repeated, maybe you'll up the ante a bit. But don't overreach yourself.

You are worth the effort it takes to acheive your goals.

With all of that out of the way, here are my goals for 2013:

1. Fit back into a size 8 and be healthy about it.
          a. Work out at least two hours each week
          b. Stop eating so much junk food. Eat fruits and vegetables instead.
2. Pay off the car loan.
          a. Find my cheques
          b. Stay within budget
          c. Track spending and budget
3. Write more
          a. Edit my NaNoWriMo2012 novel to readability and have people read it.
          b. Continue working on the first draft of my other novel
          c. Add new content to this blog and to my Helium.com profile every week.
4. Finish 3 of my university courses
          a. one at a time, starting with Introductory Composition


That's all for now, folks! If you have any tips or tricks to making and sticking with goals, share them below! Also, if you have made any resolutions this year, share them and join the conversation.

Be honest with yourself, and believe in yourself.

Peace, love, and everlasting happiness.

Monthly Budget Breakdown: June 2012

Budgeting for dummies... or something. Since I started keeping track of money (again) in June, I figured maybe I could do an update of sorts too. Keep things interesting. Everyone has money (or doesn't...), and everyone needs to use it to buy stuff they want.


Learning how to spend it smart is one of the best things that my mom ever taught me. It comes to my attention now and then that the general public has no idea how to determine the cost by weight/mass of an item in a store. They also tend to have no clue how to tell if something is a good price or not (hint: if the "sale" is 20 cents off... it's just publicity).


So, I'm going to update my monthly budget here.


June's budget was the following:


Rent: 1110.41
Rogers/Hydro/Telus: 131.08 (had to pay 2 months worth of Telus since I neglected to pay for it last month... thankfully I just pay my dad since the account is in his name and the payments are automatic)
Car payments: 212.62
Various insurance: 160.51 (car and life)
Daycare: 221.34
TFSA Savings: 200 (ING is great for keeping money out of sight and safe)
Entertainment: 30.53 (netflix and zip memberships... we don't have cable)
Groceries: 420.20 (was aiming for less than 400$ so I've got to get that under control)
Dining out: 294.86 (family came into town, so we happily took them out on our dime :) other than that, we spent less than 150$ on restaurant food)
Gas: 77.85 (way less than I thought it would be! maybe our car is more efficient than I thought!)
Smokes: 44.43 (I always budget 60, just in case)
Psych: 850 (some will be reimbursed, and switched providers as well to one less expensive)
Dental: 60
Car (other): 53.65
Other: 55.51


Total expenses: 4062.99


Income:
Salaries: 4648.87
Babysitting: 95
Total: 4743.87


Difference: 680.88




Now, you may be wondering why I wouldn't put that difference in a savings account or use it to pay off the car loan. For now, since my job situation is less than secure, we are working on increasing the amount we have in our general use account. Until we know if I will have a job in October, any difference in income versus expenses is going to be kept aside and not invested. That way, we will have a buffer of cash (kind of like an emergency fund) in the off-chance that I won't be able to find a job for a month or two. That way all of our expenses will still be covered, and we will not go into debt.

The number one way I save money in a month is by controlling grocery spending and not eating out. I know that sounds like two separate ways, but they are intrinsically connected. I always make sure I have a lot of cheap food in the house from groceries to minimize how often we resort to going to restaurants for eating. By cheap, I mean quality but inexpensive. Very few of the items in my pantry/fridge/freezer are no name or store brand. We are almost always able to get the name brands because we wait for them to be cheaper than e store brands. No crappy toilet paper (tehe... pun intended) in our home, and no off-brand ketchup to ruin sandwiches.

Once the job situation is sorted out, the extra float money in waiting will be applied to the car loan as a lump sum. Hopefully we'll be able to drop a few grand onto the balance, shortening our financing term a year or two. We shall see.

All it takes is patience and good money management. And of course, a wife (WonderWife, even) to keep her manic wife from spending all their money on fabric and beads. *grin*

Goal for next month (July): bring total expenses down unter 3500. Bring it on.

Got budgeting plans or ideas? Helpful hints or concerns with money? Share them here, bring finances out of the dark and into the light. Help can only be found when people know that it is needed.

Changes

Turns out that 2012 will be the year for big changes in my life and the life of my immediate family!

I recently found out that my job would not be extended as of September 21st. So as of then, I will no longer be working for Corporate Canada. What a relief it is, to be honest. I'm sure that a few people in my life will be upset that I'm "giving up an awesome job and chance at a secure future" but honestly, I'm tired of the bureaucratic bullsh*t.

This will give me a chance to follow my dream of being a writer, actually set myself out there and maybe even get published in print. As a novelist, or an opinionist, maybe both. Being able to relax and spend time focusing on myself and what I want to do will be a nice change.

The only issue comes from the inherent lack of immediate revenue that comes from starting to be self-employed. There will be a huge loss of income, which I'm hoping to start boosting starting now. Thankfully I have a few months to get myself on track so that at the very least the bills and necessities will be covered as of October.

Number one thing we (me and WonderWife) are working on is building up a huge emergency fund. That way, if the income isn't up where we need it we have some money to fall back on. This is (surprisingly) turning out to be more challenging than I thought it would be, but I'm also waiting on some insurance refunds to come in. Once those go into the account, it should definitely help.

Another big change that I'm going through is painting. I am actually putting paintbrush to canvas and doing some art. I may consider selling some of it, if I think there's any interest, but for now it's mostly therapeutic. Deciding (thanks to WW and my therapist) that the final product doesn't have to be perfect, and to put the effort into the process, has set me free of a few personally imposed limits and allowed me to just try. (photo of one painting to come, when I'm at my home computer)

I would really like to get my own domain name at some point to expand on this site, but for now it is far too much complication for the limited access to the internet that I get, so it is put on the backburner for now.

How do you cope with huge changes in your life? Have you ever experienced job loss, if so, what did you do with the opportunity?

Cheap Cooking: Tomato Pork Penne dish

I have this odd obsession with getting my groceries for really cheap. Some people look at me odd when I tell them that I won't pay over $4.50 for a brick of cheese, or more than $2 for a loaf of bread (I get the good stuff, for the record). I think that it pays off, for me. Especially since I have financially based goals, and I would like to acheive them before I need a walker.

So for dinner last night, I made a dish that was probably one of my cheapest ever. Mind you, it is also the first time that I wrote down what I paid for each item I used, so time will tell. I plan on keeping approximate track of a lot of the meals I make, mostly out of curiosity.

With no further ado, I present: my dinner from last night

Ingredients:

1 box Catelli Smart penne (1.49$)
1 can Aylmer Accents tomatoes (0.49$)
2 celery stalks (whole thing was 1.27$, so approx. 0.20$)
1 red bell pepper (1.99$/lb, approx 1$)
2 carrots (approx 0.50$)
7 thin boneless pork chops (2.22$ - had a 50% off sticker... my favourite!)
salt/pepper/crushed chilis/sage to taste (equiv approx 0.05$)
125g shredded marble cheese (1$)

Total cost for entire meal: 6.95$

It made 5 servings (so two bag lunches for me, leading to further savings!) making each serving cost: $1.39.

You can't buy a burger for that cheap and expect to be full, so I'd say I'm pretty happy! I'm sure I will be able to work towards making meals for less than 1$ per serving, but 1.39$ is nothing to sneeze at.

Not to mention that these are MY serving sizes. Actual "servings" according to weight and whatnot is probably closer to 8, which would make each "serving" 0.87$ each. That's pretty fantastic.

What are you cooking for dinner tonight? Do you keep track of how much you spend on everything? Do your serving sizes and the "recommended serving sizes" match up?

Five of My Favourite Ways to Save Cash!

Time for a small confession (that may not be so small, or secret...).

I really, really, really hate working in an office. I mean really. Like how much I hate Barney, that's how much I hate working in an office. So my intention in life, and in my everyday experiences, is to work towards a time where I no longer have to work for "The Man" (or "The Woman" either way, they suck.)

Saving my cold, hard-earned cash is important to me. I like to have the freedom to be able to spend as much money as I want every now and then, and that means small sacrifices for the greater good (of my sanity).

1. Starbucks does make some fantastic espresso beverages... but their regular coffee is just as good. Especially now that they have the blonde roast. Experienced and haughty coffee drinkers be damned, I'll take my more caffeinated, lighter tasting coffee over the bold, chewy coffee any day.

Even then, I drink my Starbucks coffee only once (maybe twice) a week. Otherwise, I make a cup at home, and I have my beautiful French Press (or Bodum... not sure if there's a difference) at work for those caffeine jitters that just won't quit. Mmmm... coffee.

2. Secondhand shopping. No big deal! Thrift stores are my favourite place to pick up lost treasures. From clothes to yarn and knitting needles to toys (for Lil Munchkin) and beyond. You never know what you'll find, and sometimes it is NOICE stuff! I've found Danier leather jackets, brand new Suzy Shier tops, and so, so much more.

3. Keep up with the newest deals on a forum (my drug of choice is Smart Canucks for all my deal-tracking and searching needs). First of all, the weekly grocery flyers are posted at least a day before the sales start. Second, there are new deals and freebies and samples posted daily. Third, it's a great community that really pulls together and helps each other.

4. Reusable stuff. Plastic/styrofoam plates/cups? Not in my house (or apartment... whatever). The closest to disposable housewares we have are some plastic cups and utensils that are washed and reused. Some of the plastic utensils are from fast food joints, we just bring them home. Lil Munchkin uses them in her lunch, so if she loses it, no big deal.

Paper towels? Only for nasty messes. Swiffer? No thanks, I'll use my pouffy duster, and a broom. Works like a charm, easy and fun, no garbage. Not to mention way less money spent on stuff that is destined for the trash (literally).

5. Fixing things myself (or the WonderWife does it...). When things break, most people just go out and buy a new one. Ripped seam in your pants/shirt? Chuck it, buy new. Not in my home.

Clothing repairs, fixture repairs (whatever is not covered by the lease), making do. WonderWife and I make a good duo when it comes to making repairs and temporary fixes. She will bust out her toolkit and fix anything, or just fiddle with it until it cooperates (stupid DVD player...). I will sew/knit/crochet/tape clothing back into a wearable state. When WW got a rip in her new work jacket (cursed hard work, why must you wear holes in her clothes...) I cut out a patch from old jeans and sewed it on. It's not pretty, but it works. Dog chewed up my winter hat (known in Canada as a toque), I crocheted a new one. (pic to come)

So there you have it. My current five favourite ways to save money. I have way more ideas, tips, tricks, and psychotic trips, but those can wait for another day. For now, I will keep on trucking. Working my way toward no-longer-needing-a-job-dom, one penny at a time.

Feel free to share your favourite money saving tips, no matter how crazy or normal they may be. You never know who will be inspired.

Can Frugal Fashion be eco-Friendly?

Women across the world want to look good. I’m no exception. Granted that my sense of style may be different from the average Canadian, but who’s to judge? Everyone wants to look and feel good when they go through their days, and everyone is going to have a different sense of what looks good. Here are a few ways to stay stylish, save the world, and look good doing it.

~Shop Vintage~

Checking out second hand stores is becoming the new ‘it’ thing. Not only do you find unique items that may be completely sold out or not made anywhere anymore, but you can also find some incredible deals, like vintage tops for less than 5$! I've been pretty lucky on this front, finding a multitude of nice looking, unique, and good quality clothing items for less thank 80% retail value. Nothing like saving money on beautiful clothing!

~Watch for Sales~

Almost every retail store has sales and clearance racks at varying times throughout the year. Most stores with clearance racks almost always have at least a few items on them, so sneak a peak and see if you can find something that suits your style. Many stores will have occasional promotions as well to get you through the doors, and often you can couple the clearance items with these promotions and score pretty huge.

~Shop Off-Season~

If you're in the market for a new winter jacket, buy it at the end of February. If you're aching for a new bathing suit, start shopping in the early fall. The reason for this? Simple, stores want to get rid of their excess off-season items to make room for the new stuff. So to get their goods out the door, they put their items on super clearance. Sometimes you can score brand new items for thrift store prices just by watching at the end of the season. Sure, you'll have to stash it for a few months, but you have just saved yourself a nice big chunk of change.

It's also important to remember that stores will begin increasing their prices through late November and into December as preparation for Christmas shopping, so when you see "Christmas special price!" chances are, it's the pre-inflated price, it just looks like less now since they racked the cost up so much. It is a good business idea, but it is definitely something to watch for as a consumer so that you don't get taken for a ride.

The big red/yellow/whatever colour SALE signs draw me in like flies to honey, but once you're able to determine what you think is a good price for an item and the different ways that stores will try to get you to buy more, it's easier to walk away with empty arms if you don't find what you like.

There's nothing like the high you get from paying next to nothing for bags full of gorgeous clothing. If you're extra crafty (which I am not, yet) then you can even find bolts of fabric at your local thrift store and make your own spunky clothes out of that, saving yourself even more money than making your own clothes saves in the first place! Whoa!

Peace and love,

Laura

My Awesome Introduction

My name is Laura, and I love to learn about pretty much everything. My current interests including: Saving the environment, saving money, being peaceful and relaxed, being healthy, and building a loving and compassionate family.

About the Planet

I love all things green and environmental, and have heard about some pretty extreme (to some people) ideas and didn't cringe. There are all types of people and interests, not to mention comfort levels. I do not judge others who have made educated decisions for themselves.

About money

Regarding money and finances, I am always open and honest about where I am in life, and I have no shame about it. Everyone has and uses money, a lot of people are in debt or owing, and everyone deserves the chance to discuss their situation to see if someone else might have some insight. In light of this, I will be completely open and honest regarding all of my money saving / debt repayment endeavours in the hopes that someone will learn something that will make their life a little bit easier.

About peace and relaxation

Stress is one of the number one life-killers out there. Whether it actually causes the end of a life, or just the semblance of it, is completely individual. However, releasing stress and letting go are the easiest ways to feel better about yourself, your life, and what you can do with yourself.

My favourite way to release stress is through deep, healing breathing, as well as the practice of yoga. Personally, I very much enjoy Hatha yoga, but am always willing to expand into new variations and styles. Any type of physical exercise will help relieve the sensation of stress, as long as you enjoy doing it.

About health

Healthy living and practices help provide the energy (both physical and spiritual) to go on with your daily life. Despite the fact that I thoroughly love my bready carbs, I know that there is significantly more importance in fresh fruits and vegetables.

It's also important to note the importance of certain types of "diet" for people with different needs. There are some people who thrive on vegetarian/vegan diets, and others who thrive on paleolithic diets. There are important aspects to each of these main diets, and many others (including the Mediterranean and European diets) that it is important to remember that what your specific dietary needs are will be invariably different from mine, or anyone elses.

About compassionate and peaceful parenting

I have a 7 year old daughter, and a 25 year old wife. I am 25 years old myself. My family is mostly comprised of care and compassion, and occasionally we butt heads. It's important to remember that whether you are speaking to children, or to other adults, we all like to be treated fairly, with respect, and with compassion.

It is impossible to know, without asking, whether my daughter has had a bad day at school/daycare and how it affected her, just as it is impossible to know, without asking, if my wife had some harsh words spewed at her at work. The things we don't know can make a huge difference, and it is important to have a peaceful demeanor and outlook to be able to tackle these daily upsets and make them into positive, or at least learning, moments.

That being said, the above mentioned subjects are just a few of the main topics I will be sharing. I hope that this page is a source of inspiration or positivity in your life, and I believe that open questions from any interested party will help provide with more in-depth discussion on any topic.

Send me a note or an email if you would like to ask anything, or if you have any suggestions, using the Contact Me tab at the top of this page.

Peace and contentment to you all,

Laura