tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4241629099065439512024-03-13T20:28:09.507-07:00Budget Student Ideas to help you attend post-secondary education with the lowest possible cost. The goal is to limit or eliminate your debt during your studies, so that you can enjoy your university or college years, and not worry about the debt you are building and how you will repay it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-8732573825981117842015-06-29T21:42:00.002-07:002015-06-29T21:42:46.528-07:00Fresh Drinks to Refresh You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer is a
killer for my convenience food budget – by this I mean that when I’m outside
and sweating in the too heat, or in my car with NO AC… the ads for ice
cappuccino, frozen drinks and the like are very appealing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since many drive-through outlets have
sales, I can most often get a drink for about $2.00 + tax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However…</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This does
add up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In summer, my desire for these
drinks is at least daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m at
home, I’m 3 minutes away from the Canadian Icon of coffees, and if out in my
car or on my bike, the main road I live on has at least 5 places I can stop at
between home and my work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Temptations
are everywhere!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because I
am frugal (and honestly, a bit lazy – why leave my sunshine at home and my
bikini to get a cold drink?), I have worked in my kitchen to make my own
versions of frozen drinks at a fraction of the cost, and no mystery
ingredients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ice Capp:</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- about 1
cup of cold coffee (left over from the last pot and refrigerated)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- about ¾ cup
of milk (we use skim or 1%)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- about 2
Tbsp granulated sugar, powered sugar or chocolate syrup.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 4 ice
cubes</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- BulletTM
or extra strong blender</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found
that my BulletTM doesn’t break ice cubes as easily as I expected so it’s better
if I break the ice cubes in chunks first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To do this, I put the ice cubes in a plastic bag, place the sealed bag
on a cutting board, and then hit it with either the edge of a can, the handle of
a knife, or a hammer.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After that,
put all the ingredients in the blender and blend away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to drink mine in a thermal mug (like
the one I use for tea in winter) with a straw coming out through the drinking
hole of the lid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheers!!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are
craving a healthier and less caffeinated drink, a fruit smoothie is probably a
better option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, know that
commercial fruit smoothie has a lot of added sugar to give it the strong taste
it shows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here we can make it a tad
healthier.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fruit
smoothie:</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- about 1.5
cups soft fruit in chunks (apples are not good; almost everything else works)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- about 0.5
(1/2) cup orange juice (I find orange juice has a stronger taste than OJ)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- ½ cup (or
an individual container) of flavoured yogurts (so that it’s sweetened).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- 4 ice
cubes (optional)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- BulletTM
or extra strong blender</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read above
for advice about ice cubes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ice
cubes here are optional and depend in part on how thick your smoothie is
without the ice and how thick you like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Basically, put all ingredients together EXCEPT the ice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blend away and check for consistency.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add ice if needed and blend again.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cin-cin!</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-33448961159989529542015-06-13T17:31:00.001-07:002015-06-13T17:31:37.743-07:00The Price of Buying Cheap Stuff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stopped at a dollar store yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I needed some clipboards and some core foam boards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each item was around $1 and I figured it was
an amazing deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except that…</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I needed to decorate the clipboards with scrapbooking paper (which I had
purchased previously).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I peeled off the
protective plastic wrap to discover that one of the clips was loose from its
board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, I had purchased extra
clipboards for a later project so I could use some of the extra clipboards for
this weekend’s project, return the defective one later, and still have my
decorated clipboards ready for Monday.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The foam core boards were something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are normally about $7 at the craft
store, so having them for less than $2 was a bargain; or so I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I starting cutting them with an sharp work
knife (I needed to make 6 squares out of each board), the black covering was
ungluing itself from the foam AND the foam was breaking instead of
cutting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My squares looked awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what did I learn from this? Well, cheap is often a synonym of poor
quality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not always, especially if you
find something on sale, but too often I’m disappointed in the poor quality of
items I buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of my clipboards are
fine – they are wooden clipboard with a metal clip which is quite robust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And knowing I was on a time crunch, I made
sure I had a couple of extra ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
even if I decided to throw out the defective board, my average cost per
clipboard is very low.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what about my frustration level at using poor quality items? What
about the angst at trying to solve a problem that should not have been there?
What about my panic when looking at my foam squares that are not so good
looking and needed in 2 hours?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is
worth it? Possibly not…</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-10493226539184526052015-06-04T18:16:00.000-07:002015-06-04T18:16:27.458-07:00Do You Need to Spend Money to Save Money?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’ve
heard people say that you need money to invest in order to make money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t argue about that one – I’m not a
great investor of stock and bonds (and I should be).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I know that sometimes you need to
spend some money in order to save some as well (save MORE than what you
spend!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example…</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.
Buying a few KITCHEN APPLIANCES to save on eating out or convenience foods: a
blender will do wonders for you if you like mixed drinks; a coffee maker or a
French press will help you drink good coffee at home and not go to a coffee
shop; a wok will permit you to make delicious stir-fries at home; etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You get the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course these appliances can be received
for birthdays and celebrations, but do not put on hold buying a $12 frying pan
for your omelets if that means you will eat in for weekend brunch.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.
Buying a BICYCLE to save on transportation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is very important if your bus pass does not cover transportation in
the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But more than that, a
bicycle can make it more convenient for you to get around AND it provides
exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, bicycles come in a
wide price range: from just above $100 at your favorite Canadian T*** store to
thousands of dollars for a 20 lbs road bike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, to be useful, the cheap model works very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A used one is an even better deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same vein, investing in WARM WINTER
CLOTHES means you will not mind as much walking outside in winter and will skip
using a taxi.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.
You’ll need a few BUSINESS pieces of CLOTHING in order to interview for jobs
and to work (unless there is a mandatory uniform).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, clean pants (I like navy or
black)and a couple of button down shirts are not expensive and can be purchased
in good shape, at a used clothing store (Value Village has lots).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.
Purchasing a SHOPPING CADDY can mean not having to take a taxi when you come
back from grocery shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This depends
entirely on where your closest or discount grocery store is, but when I was a
graduate student, the bus did not drop me off close enough to home for me to
easily carry my grocery bags home every week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having a shopping caddy meant I could avoid taking a taxi after a
particularly successful shopping trip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
large back pack is very convenient too, but often more expensive (although it
looks much cooler than the shopping caddy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The shopping caddy is also very useful when using a laundromat.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
general, buying certain items in order to save money (in the long run) makes sense
– however, you can see that the items I’m suggesting are not all that exciting
to buy!</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-75955864332829070212015-05-19T14:33:00.000-07:002015-05-19T14:33:11.631-07:00My Saving Obsession that Saves Me Money<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have this
one obsession with water: I like to save it and not waste any of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all started when I wanted to wash dishes
and it took FOREVER for the water from the kitchen tap water to warm up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This happened every time I wanted hot water
from the tap and I soon discovered that it’s because of the pipe length between
the water heater and the kitchen is very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I could not let all the cold water go to waste so I started collecting
it in pitchers in the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
obsession was born.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do not
skip washing in order to save water, and I do laundry as much as other
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I ALWAYS turn off the
faucet while brushing my teeth or washing my face and I use the water from my
pitchers in the kitchen to fill the kettle, boil noodles or rice, and drink
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also wait until there are
enough dirty dishes to be ‘worth’ washing them and I use dirty dish water to
water my plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside, I collect
rainwater to water my tomato plants and I drive my car on the lawn before
washing it so the water used also waters my grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I run the dishwasher on the shortest cycle
will get my dishes clean.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My
husband’s saving obsession is turning off lights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I leave a room, he asks me to turn
off the light (even if in my head, I know I’ll be back within 5 minutes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I don’t like a house that is dark, I
tend to keep a few lights on around the house, especially in winter.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Another of
my obsession is to use natural light in winter; first thing in the morning, I
open all the curtains and blinds in the house to let the heat and light from
the sun come in. As soon as the sun sets, I cover all the windows so that we do
not lose any heat through them (we have very large windows).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may not
have an obsession yet; however, it`s relatively easy to find one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick just one thing that you can focus on:
electricity, heat, water, paying fees to exercise, wasted food, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pick any one thing where you can reduce your
consumption, and go all out!</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-89600377870004468002015-05-10T16:00:00.000-07:002015-05-10T16:00:01.799-07:00The Case FOR Summer Courses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is
taking a summer course a good idea? In most cases, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though you’d like to take a break, and
yes, a very well deserved break, taking a summer course (or 2) is a good
idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is why.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- A
summer course or two will let you catch up on dropped or failed courses, or let
you get ahead</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are behind in your program,
summer courses are fantastic opportunities to catch up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may not be able to take the specific
course you are lacking, but taking another course in your program is also
useful because it ‘frees up’ a spot for a class in your upcoming year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if you failed History of China 101 and
it’s not available as a summer course, taking a geography class you will need
this coming semester will give you the schedule space to take History of China
101.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alternatively, if you are missing
an elective, you can get it ‘out of the way’ in the summer a course that is
offered; it may not be your first choice for elective, but if you do not have a
strong preference, pick a course that is offered and complete it.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are not behind at all, but
have found taking a full load hectic (and it is), taking a summer course will
give you a lighter load in the upcoming year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Taking two courses during the summer will give you a lighter load for
both semesters. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Summer
courses let you concentrate on one course at a time</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Some courses are harder than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A summer course lets you concentrate on one course at a time, even if
you are working during the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A job
is very different than taking a course in terms of mental worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are taking a summer course, you can
concentrate on the one topic, one set of assignments, one grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The advantage of NOT juggling many
assignments and deadlines can be the difference between an ok grade and a grade
you are happy with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find that a
humanities course is a course I can think about while doing menial tasks (mow
the lawn, do the dishes) and that thinking time gives me a chance to mentally
prepare to write an essay for an assignment – basically, I did part of my
assignments while working on something else and then sat down to do the writing
part of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not do that at all
with science classes; most of them required sitting down with problems and
equations, not thinking time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- A
summer course may let you graduate early</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you take two courses every summer (assuming three in-between year
summers), you’ll have a total of 6 courses completed before your last
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If all of these are courses
requested for your program, this could mean graduating in January instead of
May – a semester earlier than everyone in your program!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the tuition saved is almost
inexistent (you’ll have to pay for the summer courses), graduating early means
that you can start working full-time a semester early, move back home (for a
few months) to save on rent, and get a head start on job-hunting (you get ahead
of the competition by being available to be hired a few months before everyone
else). </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Summer
courses are not fun; you’d probably rather work during the day and party with
friends at night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, unless you
are working two full-time jobs (one during the day and an evening/weekend one),
there is time to take a course, work, AND party a couple of nights a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-2219088519666177052015-05-03T14:54:00.001-07:002015-05-03T14:54:25.173-07:00Cheap and Free Activities that Improve your Mental Health.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking care
of your mental health, your emotional self, can be difficult, especially in
your first year away from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You miss
home and your parents (even if it’s hard to admit). The lifestyle is different
away from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The studying is much
harder than you expected or have ever experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The level of stress is high, and your parents
aren’t in the kitchen, ready to listen to your concerns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you do?</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luckily,
most colleges and universities have free help for young people: counselling,
health care providers, nurses and physicians ready to listen to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what if simply need a few outlets or
escapes from all the noise and the stress?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A Caribbean vacation during Reading Week would be great, but unlikely to
ease the financial stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ditto for the
posh yoga studios or the personal trainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here are a few budget-friendly ideas to find mental peace and feeling
zen.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seek
Nature</span></span></u></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Studies
have shown that spending time surrounded by nature boosts both mood and
self-esteem; exercise surrounded by nature has even more effects and the
effects are even more powerful if there is water (a stream, a pond, a lake) in
the environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most campus have a few
green spots, even downtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you feel
that you need to study 24/7, try studying outside when the weather permits it,
or make your walk to your building via a wooded area.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold a
Baby or a Pet</span></span></u></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Not that a
baby or a pet are equivalent (I do not want to insult any parent here), but the
effect of holding a young or vulnerable life in our hands puts us as peace and
reminds us of what is important in the grand picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Offer to babysit late at night – the baby
will most likely sleep a lot, but you’ll get to hold him or her a little
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Offer to pet sit or just take a dog
out for a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t know anyone
with a pet? go to a dog park and ask owners if it’s ok to play with their
dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Play
Music</span></span></u></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you play
a musical instrument, make time every week (or every day) to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be a favorite piece, or a new one you
want to work on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing progress on a
new project may lift your spirits when everything else seems to be stalled.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exercise</span></span></u></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">You
physician will tell you, Public Health Centers will tell you, exercise keeps
you healthy physically and mentally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
it doesn’t have to cost a penny!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
don’t enjoy the free access to sports facilities where you are, go for a walk,
a run outside, work on push-ups or sit-ups, start cycling to school instead of
taking the bus, or do yoga with a YouTube video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Renew
with your Church, Synagogue, Mosque or Temple</span></span></u></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You don’t
need to be very religious to enjoy a service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe you grew up going to a weekly religious event ; maybe you’d like
to explore your cultural beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try it
a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything, you may feel
the peace and the serenity you are looking for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, you may find a home away from home, and the strength to rely on
a higher power in tough times.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meditate</span></span></u></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning to
meditate isn’t hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is difficult
is to keep the practice going on a regular basis and the discipline to meditate
even when we feel to hurried to find the time to meditate, even though it’s
when we are rushed that we need meditation the most.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Garden</span></span></u></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never
liked gardening; as a child, I did not even play in the sand!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, buying a few plants and taking care
of them has brought me a few bits of inner peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repotting a plant from a small to a larger
pot, cleaning up the dead leaves, observing the new leaves and maybe a few
flowers open is magical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Spring,
I buy a few potted herbs to grow and use over the summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use to have a ‘black’ thumb and now, it’s
just dark green… I guess anyone can learn!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you see,
there are many ways to improve your mental health for little or no money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As students, we often do not see mental
health (or decreasing our stress level) as a priority; however, I have seen
many students ‘crash’ as they are too stressed, too tired, too bothered by
little things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It IS important to take a
few moments once a while to decompress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You CAN do it without it impacting your budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on a purely financial aspect, feeling
blue all the time is not efficient will demotivate you to study, and make you more
at risk for failing a class or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, mental distress CAN hurt you financially.</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-51286408110940423092015-04-19T22:23:00.004-07:002015-04-19T22:23:56.612-07:00Buying books vs. borrowing from the library<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have an acquaintance who swears that a book worth reading is a book
worth buying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he told me this, I
pondered about it for a while, and then decided against it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many books I have started reading I did not
like so I never finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other books I
enjoyed, but would not read again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
the percentage of books that I ‘need’ to have on hand, at home, is not that
high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of these, some are so popular
that I’ll be able to find them in the library for years to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All and all, the number of books I want to
own is pretty low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people like to
own books, have them in their house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s why.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. For me, reading a book is an experience, just like visiting a museum
or seeing a movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s unlikely I will
do it again and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Buying a book is expensive and I can read it for free if I borrow
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a large pool – I can buy one or
get a membership at a local one.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Books clutter my house; yes, they are nice and I do have all my
favorites (including some that are out of print and would be too hard to find
in a library); but extra books make it harder to clean, collect dust (I hate
dusting) and I need to pack them and move them when I move (which I did quite a
bit as a student).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. The environment does better if fewer copies of paper books are
printed and sold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Readership is
important, but libraries are good customers of authors.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. If I buy a book, it’s often second-hand; much cheaper and because it’s
been previously owned/loved/read, I’m actually helping the environment by
promoting the second-hand goods market.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. After reading a book that I own (purchased most likely used), if
nobody in my family wants to read it and I’m not likely to read it again, I
give it away or sell it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way, I
send it back to make more happy readers while again encouraging the second-hand
goods market.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. When I use my public library, I’m sending a very strong message to my
province to continue funding public libraries because it is a valuable service;
this means that the more people use libraries, the better services are offered
in libraries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Public libraries are
essential to many school children whose families cannot afford all the books
they need or want to read.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 4.5pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For all these reasons, I read a lot but choose NOT to own many books.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-29295727614732458922015-04-12T18:27:00.000-07:002015-04-12T18:27:02.989-07:00Have a Plan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a good idea to have a
plan of what you will do after university or college before you go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that this plan is set in stone, but going
to university to ‘hang out’ is an expensive way to hang out – you can hang out
working as a store clerk while making and saving money.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deciding to pursue a degree in
a certain department because you like the subject is nice, but it may not get
you to where you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dragon’s Den’s
Kevin O’Leary explains in his book ‘Men, Women, and Money’ that there is a
passion, and a money-making career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can decide that you want to be a visual artist and paint beautiful landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a very fulfilling occupation and you
will most likely be very happy doing this for hours a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this is unlikely to pay the bills,
at least at the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, training
for a job, to be employable, is a better financial investment in your
education; painting is a fantastic side-occupation and you may want to train
for a job that frees you in the evenings and weekends so you can paint, or that
is flexible enough that you can eventually work part-time and pursue your love
of painting more intently if you have the means.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, in investing thousands of
dollars in education should pay off at the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Studying marketing and finances so you can work in a bank is a good
plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Studying biology because you like
animals… not so good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very
important to research what type of paying job (or business you can start) you
would like to have, and work backwards from there: you want to work at an
animal hospital? Animal Technicians, Receptionists, and Veterinarians are all
work there and require specific training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You want to cuddle animals and play with them? Look into animal training
and animal grooming; horseback riding instructor could also be a possibility.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is an excellent
USA-sponsored site that helps you determine what your interests are, as well as
defining your skills: </span></span><a href="http://www.careeronestop.org/"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.careeronestop.org/</span></span></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
there fill out free questionnaires to determine what sort you career you may
want to launch yourself into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some
people, it’s difficult to choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
others, the interests are well –defined and they know what type of work they
want to do.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some careers require a plan
‘B’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the plan where if plan ‘A’
does not turn out as successful as planned (or completely fails), there is an
alternative route to follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, deciding to obtain an undergraduate in biochemistry and then go to
medical school to become a cardiac surgeon is a fantastic plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, not all students who apply to
medical school get an offer to join.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
this case, a plan B could be: </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Start a Master’s degree in
biochemistry and continue applying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
the Master’s is completed before acceptance into Medical School, abandon
Medical School and apply to Nursing School.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- At the same time as applying
to Medical School, apply to Optometry, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy and Dentistry
and choose an alternate career based on which program has accepted me.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Start a Master’s degree in
biochemistry and continue applying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
the Master’s is completed before acceptance into Medical School, start and
complete a PhD in biochemistry with the goal of a career in medical-type
research.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, as your studies
progress, you may change your course; maybe biochemistry and medical school are
not so attractive anymore so you are thinking of history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s great – better change now thank to
complete a degree you don’t like and have to restart another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what is your plan with this history
degree? History is fantastic to study, but not so good at finding you a
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to be a history teacher? A
tour guide for a city? An educator at a museum? All three options would be
fantastic to use your history degree; however, becoming a teacher requires an
education degree (and this would be preferred for an educator at a museum too)
and a tour guide would do best knowing multiple languages.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So work backwards from your
dream job – you’ll get head faster I your career.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-21548693047515130452015-04-06T08:12:00.002-07:002015-04-06T08:12:28.699-07:00Get It for Free<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I
wanted to furnish my first apartment, as a university student, I did not have a
lot of money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother had given me her
(very) old kitchen table and chairs (oh, the feel of plastic cushions under my
legs in the summer!), and two very old and low-to-the-ground chairs from a
seldom-used office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a few plates,
a microwave that weighed almost as much as the fridge and had only one power
setting, and the dresser from my bedroom; luckily, I was not moving very far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did want, however, a few more pieces to
contain our ‘stuff’; a desk, a bookcase, an office chair, etc. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today’s
student has a lot more choices as to where to acquire a few objects to make
life more enjoyable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just had a look
at Kijiji tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the FREE section,
there was a working television offered (not flat screen, but if it works, who
cares?), an entertainment center, a couple of couches in decent condition, arm
chairs, a couple of beds, a computer desk, two pianos (!), all free for the
taking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all cases but one, the
‘buyer’ has to pick up the furniture, which of course is difficult for a
student without a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, for the
price of renting a van for a few hours, you can pick up all of these if you
plan it well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same spirit, you can easily give away
your old furniture if/when you move away from your college town.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another,
more exclusive, group that exchanges items for free is Freecycle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Freecycle is a Yahoo group so you have to ask
to become a member and the main rule of posting on their site is that
everything you offer has to be free – completely free, no trades, no exchange,
no conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have given many
items<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>via Freecycle, but have also
received many, many items, such as downhill skis and boots, plants, clothing
for myself, an electric kettle, unopened milk (someone had an extra litre from
a visitor who drank different fat % milk), and bedsheets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my area last night, there were offers for
a free single bed (complete with mattress and bedframe), a TV, empty wine
bottles (if you make your own wine), a blue vase, and hot chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can choose to receive new posting in your
email, or check their website throughout the week.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">With
different methods, such as looking online, checking paper ads on bulletin
boards, and driving through the student area right after final exam time in the
spring, you should be able to find several free items.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The savings will be more if you get an
expensive item for free (assuming you were going to buy it otherwise) like a
dresser or a coffee maker. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But even
little freebies can be welcome if you do not have to travel too far to obtain
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have received clothing via
Freecycle (for myself and more recently, my children), a curtain rod (perfect
size too!), some books, and some plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discovered
Freecycle after my home was well-furnished; I still donate quite a bit of stuff
through it and through Kijiji though, specifying that picking up the item(s) is
necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just
remember that if you can be a bit patient, you may be able to obtain many of
your wish-list items for free.</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-72561106920214721732015-03-28T20:35:00.003-07:002015-03-28T20:35:46.292-07:00Are Your Bad Habits Wrecking Your Budget?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At some
point, I had two part-time jobs, one in the morning and a different one in the
afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With about 45 minutes between
the two and a short commute, I would often stop at a fast-food joint during my
break.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This (bad) habit not only was not
bad for my health, but it also did serious damage to my weekly budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like mine, there are many bad habits that may
seem small at first glance, but can accumulate large holes in a tight budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some examples:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Coffee:
even a cheap coffee at Tim Horton’s is at least $1.60 each time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At only three times a week, it’s already
almost $5/week…. how much would that be at home? less than 50 cents per week.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Going
over on your cell phone plan limit: it often seems like answering a call or
making one is a necessity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, many
of the calls we make are either non-urgent, or non-important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just today, I texted a friend to know if she
wanted a shirt I had received but was in a color I didn’t like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could have called her from my home line (we
have one); I could have emailed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Certainly, her answer was not urgent – I was not in a rush to get rid of
the shirt, and my friend was not in dire need of an extra shirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your cell plan basic, and use free
communication methods for anything that is not urgent.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Snacks:
you are hungry going to class but you are late so you don’t make breakfast and
buy a pastry first chance you get; or you didn’t think you’d stay on campus
this late, and didn’t pack enough food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Buying instant snacks can be expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The solution is to plan better, and to have emergency snacks in your
bag: granola bars; an apple; fish crackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even stopping at the grocery store to pick up a bag of mini-carrots,
crackers and cheese will be cheaper to a meal on campus AND will provide more than
one meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same is true of your water
bottle or your coffee mug; if you leave your drinking container at home, having
a drink of water next to you will cost you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make sure a water bottle is part of your normal pack at school or
wherever you go.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Forgetting
your bus pass: if you use the bus to commute but keep forgetting your bus pass,
or you leave your bus pass (or student card if that is your bus pass) at home
thinking you won’t need it, you are most likely going to have to pay for the
bus if there is a change of plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tie
your bus pass to your keys or to your cell phone so you always have it with
you.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Chucking
tubes and bottles before they are completely empty: yes, it’s a hassle to get
the last drops of shampoo out of the bottle, but if you take the time (add
water, shake a lot, and use) for every bottle of every product you use, you
will save the equivalent of a full bottle each year or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This goes for most beauty products (yes, that
last bit of toothpaste too), most soaps (including dish detergent), and the
last crumbs of cookies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cut in half
the tubes of hand lotion and find that there’s a full 3-8 applications left in
the tube, holding on to the sides (you can close the tube once it’s cut by inserting
one half into the other half).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
most likely use the disposable razor one or two more times before throwing it
out.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Returning
your library books late: I am guilty of this, especially that once in a while,
I misplace a library book so even though I’m not forgetting to return it, I
can’t return it on time since I can’t find it in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m trying to find a system that works well
for our family, such as having a bag where all books go as soon as we are done
reading them, but it’s a struggle (however, I know my library fees are lower
than the cost of the all the books we get to read for free so I’m in the
clear).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I often spend $20+/year on
library late fees.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course I
could go on and on about habits and how they cost us extra money but you get
the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once way to identify these bad
financial habits is to track ALL spending for a week (just write it down in
your daily planner) and review what can be eliminated or at least reduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve made rules with myself: I do not go to
fast-food outlets alone (only with a friend, and then it’s an ‘outing’ that I
appreciate); I keep snacks in my desk at work so I never have to go out for a
snack; etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Find your own bad habits and
fix them.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-77547445891517386002015-03-20T17:45:00.000-07:002015-03-20T17:45:09.834-07:00Buying Clothes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s say you need to buy some
clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spending little is the goal
here, although making sure the clothes is useful is also very important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spending a few tens of dollars extra is worth
it if it means having a warm winter jacket that will be comfortable for you
during the coldest months.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, before you run to the mall,
ask yourself if you can buy the item in reasonable shape at a second-hand
store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many used clothing
stores in most towns and cities; between the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Value
Village and a few more upscale stores, you should have plenty to choose from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are hesitating about buying something
someone has worn before, remember that clothing in a ‘regular’ store has
probably been tried on (so worn for a few minutes) by a few people too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My friends and I used to visit Goodwill
stores in different towns we’d visit; it was always a challenge to make a big
‘find’: a vintage dress, an amazing deal on a winter jacket, a silk T-shirt
that feels like a dream.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a clothing philosophy: only
buy clothing that is easy to care for; no dry-cleaning, no hand washing (except
for pantyhose – see below), no ironing (I hate ironing).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, spend more for items you will wear a
lot, less for items that will only last a season because of the style, or
because it’s for a special event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
cheaper formal dress makes sense since it only needs to last one evening; a
sweatshirt may be worn 3-4 times/week, so buy one that washes well or it will
not last more than a few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
works as well for shoes: splurge on good quality running shoes if you run, but
not on a dressy pair of pumps for one night.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When buying expensive items, we buy
neutral color and cut: jeans, dressed pants, dressed shirts, jackets and coats will
‘last longer’ if classic cuts are purchased because they will survive trends,
but also we won’t get tired of them as easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I recently bought a down jacket for the cold and although the light
blues seem attractive, I choose a navy one because it will not show stains as
easily and I can match it with a multitude of different scarves and hats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, when buying a more expensive item
that is not immediately needed (if your boots are not leaking water), look for
sales and plan for annual sales: most items are severely discounted at the end
of the season – bathing suits are cheap to buy when autumn clothing comes out;
winter coats after Christmas.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Panty-hose are very fragile so they
don’t last very long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found that
buying larger sizes means I need to stretch them less, and therefore they don’t
rip as fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a size small, but buy
size large for panty-hose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The same can
be done with thick tights; although just one size larger is enough (otherwise
they look too large): buy medium if you would wear small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found out the hard way that ‘non-run’
panty-hose are just that: they won’t run if there is a rip, but you can still
rip them if you have nails and are careless when putting them on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course once you have panty-hose, washing
them by hand is more gentle on them, as well as putting lotion on your hands
before putting the hose on (dry hands can be rough on fragile thread).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if all these ideas didn’t work well and
you have a few pairs of ripped ones, they work wonders under a pair of pants
for extra warmth in winter (and nobody seems them!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this seems like a lot of work, you can
simply save dresses for weather when you can go barefoot!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, remember that being a poor
starting student is temporary, and so is the casual clothing style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy both!</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-72809120799782687322015-03-08T08:37:00.003-07:002015-03-08T08:37:51.064-07:00Jobs That Will Help You Get Your Dream Job<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m going here on the
assumption that your dream job is why you are in school now; if I’m wrong,
either I’ve missed something (please enlighten me!) or you are studying in the
wrong program.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Working as an ASSISTANT to
your dream job is a great training ‘program’ in which you get paid, earn
experience, and test out whether this is really what you want to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The experience is what is getting you a step
closer to your dream job, so get a reference letter before you leave (or right
after).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you can work as a RESEARCH
ASSISTANT for a professor who teaches a class that is very important to your
degree, you are receiving acknowledgement (for you and whoever will read your
resume later on) from an expert in the field that you are so good in this area
that you are wanted for work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Approach
professors in the winter term (yes, now) for a summer position; it may also
lead to part-time work comes the fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a similar fashion, there exist many student-work programs where the
university-bursary program funds part of your salary and a professor or
research lab funds the rest of your salary; this works well because the lab is
more likely to hire you since they get you at a discounted salary and you get
to work in a field you like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of
these are part-time during the school year.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work at almost any job in the INDUSTRY
you are interested in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example,
after your first year of engineering, you are not likely to be hired to work in
an engineering firm as a designer; however, can you replace clerks going on
vacation during the summer? This will get you a foot in the door, prove to the
employer that you are willing to work your way up (and are not so full of
yourself that you only want a top job), and make a summer job a great learning
experience as how other parts of the industry you will most likely work one day
function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are pre-vet (doing the
mandatory undergrad before going to vet school), working at a pet shop, at a
dog grooming salon (even if you want to specialize in large animals), or a
kennel is a proof to future employers (and vet school) that you are committed
and focussed on this goal.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work in an industry connected
to your MAIN FIELD of study. If you want to do math research, working in an
accounting firm is not where you want to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, it’s related and that gives you two advantages: 1. maybe you’ll
find accounting a lot of fun and if you decide not to complete a PhD, you may
decide to retrain as an accountant and 2. it shows that you can work in the
general field of math.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same deal if you
work at a science day camp: 1. you may find that teaching science (and math) is
fun and you could decide on a change of career and 2. you show that you can
explore and teach (and therefore train another) in the general field of math
and sciences.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are studying anything
related to business, working in retail will teach you a lot and look great on
your resume; moreover, these jobs are the easiest to get as a student AND you
can work part-time during the school year as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister worked for a few years in a chain
restaurant, moving from cashier to manager of the employees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She learned to work as part of a team, to
budget, and to lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After her degree in
marketing and business, she started working at a bank and quickly moved up to
manager, surely thanks to her great previous experience. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many coop programs are
designed that way: you work some terms and study others, but at the end of your
degree, you already have experience in your field and fantastic connections to a
few companies who may choose to hire you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In teachers college, the practicums are included in the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if you are doing a degree
beforehand, working at camps or before and after-school care will earn you ‘bonus
points’ on your application.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well,
good references from your practicum mentors will help you get the job you want.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While every job opportunity is
not the most financially-wise, it ‘pays’ to look beyond the salary.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-713296421989015372015-03-01T10:03:00.000-08:002015-03-01T10:03:18.644-08:00Using Leftover Food<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Left-over
foods that you would normally throw out are like free food if you can
re-purpose them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are two examples
from my own kitchen. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Broccoli Stem Soup</span></span></u></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">I don’t really like eating the stems of the broccoli;
when I cook broccoli, I just like to eat the smaller ‘twigs’ and the florets of
the broccoli. The large ‘trunks’ of the broccoli can be tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I found a way to use them that is
delicious: broccoli stem soup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">First, ‘peel’ the broccoli stems to remove the tough
outer skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chop the peeled stems in
small pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heat up approximately 3-4
cups of water in a pot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before it starts
boiling, add a pouch or cube of chicken or vegetable broth concentrate. Add the
broccoli pieces and let simmer until the broccoli is soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the pot off the heat and, using a stick
blender, puree the broccoli and broth together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Put back on the heat and add roughly 1-1.5 cup grated cheddar cheese
(any kind you like; you could probably use Cheez Whiz if you wanted).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let the cheese melt, stir well, taste and
adjust seasoning (salt and pepper to taste).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Et voilà, great homemade soup!!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><u>Crumb Muffins</u></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">This is a great recipe that uses cereal, cracker and
cookie crumbs, or any combination of these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Whenever you have a few bits of cereal at the bottom of the box or bag
(you know when the cereal becomes like a ‘powder’ at the end) or cookie or
cracker crumbs, pour them inside a plastic jar or container and seal it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When all the crumbs together reach 1 cup, you
are ready to make muffins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do NOT use
bread crumbs, cake crumbs, or anything soft or moist crumbs (I tried, it
doesn’t work).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #134f5c;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 166;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">First, soak the 1 cup of crumbs in 1 cup of milk,
until the crumbs are soft and have absorbed the greater part of the milk (15 +
min; you can do this in the fridge and leave for the day).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add 1 cup of flour, ¼- ½ cup of sugar ( ¼ if
using cereal or cookies; ½ if mostly crackers), 1 egg, ¼ cup vegetable oil, and
2 tsp baking powder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, add some
‘bits’: ½ cup chocolate chips, ½ cup raisins, or ½ cup of nuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also add a flavour: 1 tsp vanilla or ½ tsp
cinnamon, or 1 tbsp coffee syrup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grease
a 12-cup muffin mold (or use paper cups in the muffin pan) and fill to 2/3 each
muffin holder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bake at 375<sup>0</sup>F
for 20-25 min.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove from the oven and
let cool 10 min before removing from the muffin pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These can be very healthy if you use healthy cereal crumbs for your base
and they freeze well.</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-9894842539197418012015-02-23T16:29:00.001-08:002015-02-23T16:29:13.828-08:00Shopping Is NOT a Hobby<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Got a
bad grade on an assignment? buy a CD to feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get a good grade on a lab report? treat
yourself to a new sweater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having a bad
day? a designer coffee will fix everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Is that
how you behave? No wonder your finances deserve a D.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shopping is NOT a hobby, nor is it ‘therapy’
(the myth of ‘retail therapy’ is just that, a myth).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shopping, when you live on a tight budget,
should be only done when items are needed (and the fewer the trips, the more
you will save on time; the fewer the trips, the fewer the number of temptations
for buying things outside your budget). </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d;">If you
feel good, find a fun and cheap way to celebrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one thing, you already feel good, so you
don’t need anything else to make you feel good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So enjoy a good book and a break from studying.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d;">If you
feel bad, let’s look at the cause and, independently, how to feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not talking about curing clinical
depression – that needs much more than a good coffee, or a pep talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depression is a disease, NOT a state of mind
that people need to snap out of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, if you feel blue, a bit melancholic, it isn’t spending that
will make you feel better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are
several studies that have shown that activities that make us feel valuable are
one of the most effective ways to feel good and happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember, as a grad student, feeling lonely
when my boyfriend had to work for weeks at a time at a project out of town,
including weekends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I found some
volunteer work to do, and at the end of my shift, I felt I had made a (small)
difference in the world and I went home happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d;">Find
your happiness outside the mall.</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-74147446420351717812015-02-16T18:23:00.003-08:002015-02-16T18:23:58.453-08:00Don’t Buy anything Beyond the Minimum – The STRICT Minimum!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">Saving money is easier when
you don’t buy anything… Of course this is almost impossible because you’ll need
at least a pencil and paper, some food, shelter, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what is the strict minimum?</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">A place on which to
sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does NOT need to be a bed,
unless you already own one that you can easily (cheaply) move to your
university home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think outside the
box!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you sleep well when you go
camping, perhaps a camping mat with some linens on top would work well for you;
I sleep extremely well on my couch and if it were easier to move that, I’d take
it as my ‘bed’; how about a mattress on the floor? an inflatable mattress? a
futon? a hide-a-bed? a twin or double bed may be the conventional place to
sleep, but it’s not the only one there is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A sleeping bag as bedding works IF you can wash it once a while, especially
after an illness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can’t easily
wash and dry it, a sleeping bag liner may work, or buy two sheets (one for
under your body and one on top) and use the sleeping bag as a comforter.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">A place to hold your clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This does not mean you need a dresser or a
closet (not all houses have closets – older ones often do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know a foreign student on a budget who used
free cardboard boxes in her room to store her clothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t look very attractive, but it worked
and she did not need to try selling furniture when she moved back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try boxes; plastic bins (transparent ones are
practical); putting ALL your clothes in your closet, if you have one (my nephew
does this – he has some cubbies for socks and underwear); hooks on the wall for
some clothes (coats, jackets, towels, jeans, etc.).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">A place to hold your other
‘stuff’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What other stuff? school stuff
and toiletries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, the same
arrangement as your clothes can be used: cardboard boxes, bins, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, books can be placed neatly in a pile
on the floor, pens and pencils can be stored in smaller empty boxes (think of
cracker or tissue boxes) or empty cans (or frozen juice concentrate) or mugs.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">A place to study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter and niece both like to study in
their bed; the spread out their books, their laptop and their notes around
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither of them needs a
desk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I work better with a flat surface
in front of me and I don’t like having my computer on my lap unless I’m writing
from memory only – and not with a book next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the kitchen table works for me, as
well as my coffee table – a desk is NOT a requirement. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want a flat surface, look for a table,
a shelf you can mount on a wall, or one you can anchor in a corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">The Internet. Nowadays, it’s
difficult to pursue a degree without the use of the Internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, having access to the internet does
NOT mean that you need it where you live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The school where you study most likely has wifi available to all
students registered with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
means that as long as you are on campus, you have free internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are on a budget, plan on working in
the library instead of at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well,
many small restaurants have free wifi: McDonald’s, Tim Horton’s, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the price of a coffee, you can use the
internet after the library has closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Assuming that you only need to work very late once or twice a month
(with internet access – you can do lots of studying without it!), that’s about
$3/month, much cheaper than paying for home internet.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">Textbooks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, you need access to textbooks – but
access does not mean you need to own the textbooks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many schools have most textbooks on reserve
at the library or older editions (perfectly good for studying) on their
shelves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Textbooks are often $100+ each,
so the inconvenience of going to the library to study may well be worth $500
per semester (5 courses).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other options
for textbooks: buy a used one – even a previous edition if the professor okays
it; buy it with a friend and alternate who takes it home at night (or alternate
with a housemate taking the same course – if you are in residence, this is even
easier!). You can now rent textbooks (google it online) or find some textbooks
online.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a similar textbook
(same topic), as the professor if it’s ok to study from it instead of the
recommended textbook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have once used a
free copy of the previous edition of the required textbook and simply made
photocopies of the assigned problem set (that was the main difference between
the different editions).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">Food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course you need food – many of my other
articles are about finding cheap food so I won’t dwell on this now.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">Shelter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously you cannot live in the streets
while going to school (or at any moment in your life!); it’s not safe and is
very unhealthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, if you cannot
live at home or with a relative, having your own bedroom in a student house or
living in residence are not your only options.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Look for a shared room – if students can manage in a shared room in residence,
surely that can be done in a house or an apartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look for a room at someone’s house (not a
student house); since you are not sharing equally the entire cost of the house,
the rent is often cheaper (you may not have access to much more than the kitchen,
the bathroom and your room, not the entire house).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of unusual spaces in houses: can you
partition the living room and use part of it for a discounted rate? Can you use
a winterized porch in someone’s house (if there is another outside door) or
part of an unused basement? If you have access to an RV, would the rent in an
RV park be cheaper than renting a room somewhere (assuming you live in a
somewhat sunny area – Vancouver?)? You can also housesit for a family who is
going out of town for a while, but unless you have a stream of housesitting
jobs, this won’t work even for a semester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, it may for a summer semester, or it can help you offset your
travelling costs for a few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
are doing a co-op program and need to move to another city to work, look for
the alternate shelter as well, AND try to sublet your room while you are gone
from campus.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">Clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You obviously cannot attend classes naked,
but you did not start the school year naked either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use your old clothes and only purchase items
that are needed because without them you 1. are too cold (such as winter boots)
or 2. you cannot get part-time employment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will write about getting dressed for a job interview at the end of
your degree in another article.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you
need clothes to keep you warm, ask around first – most people I know own extra
hats, mittens, even winter coats that they do not wear often or at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter coats are expensive items so try to
get one for free if possible (it’s harder with boots because of the different
sizes).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you are down to fewer
than 5-6 pairs of socks (same for undies), you don’t need to purchase
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three pairs of jeans and 4-5 tops
should work for most of the school year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You are not in school to be a fashion plate but to study.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">A phone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you live at home and can use the home
phone, you’ll need a phone to communicate with classmates and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get the cheapest plan, even if you can only
text.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s often enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can use Skype on your computer, for free,
for phone calls.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">A computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you are learning skills that are very
hands-on, like woodworking, most likely you will be required to have full
access to a computer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can use the
family computer at home, perfect!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
most people need a laptop computer to work on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Find a good deal well before you start university (otherwise you may be
rushed to buy one and will end up buying something more expensive).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, unless you need specific software for
your course (engineering studies often require these), a text editing software,
slide show, spreadsheet and internet browsing may be all you need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t go overboard with the fastest PC around
and consider using your older sister’s discard.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">Transportation to school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you live close to campus, walking will be
fine; as well, many university fees include a bus-pass so you should be able to
commute for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are too far to
walk and the bus isn’t free, consider a cheap bicycle (or a hand-me-down one);
once purchased, they are free to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make sure to dress appropriately when it’s cold (ski goggles keep me
from crying when the wind is strong).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you have the choice between a long commute and moving to campus (or close to),
look at the costs: I choose to live at home, in the far suburbs of Montreal
when I attended McGill, because a used car was much cheaper than renting
downtown Montreal, and even if I had some ‘wasted’ time in my commute, I did
not need to work part-time during the school year because I lived at home and
ate there too (my parents did not charge me rent nor food money).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made enough money during the summer to
cover all my costs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are living
away from home to attend school, travelling back home once or twice a year is
almost a necessity (I say ‘almost’ because you can survive without in most
cases); minimize the cost by sharing a car ride with someone else, or flying
when the prices are low (and not checking luggage).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Transportation can be very expensive and you
need to add this to your budget BEFORE moving far away from home to study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another option is to limit drastically your
visits home; international graduate students, on a very low income, often do
not go come every year.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">Communication with
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s very depressing, literally,
not to have any contact with your family if you do not live at home (if you
live at home, I’m assuming you speak to them for free!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cell phone is ok, but plans are not
cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free ways to chat are great: use
Skype or Facebook messenger, or use your email.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Pen and paper letters are fantastic too – when I lived in Poland for 18
months, my mom and I wrote letters to each other, 2-3 per month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have copies of them and enjoy
re-reading them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A letter within Canada
costs less than a dollar to mail.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Calibri;">We sometimes have to rethink
what the bare essentials are – and start there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Start from the ground up to decide what to spend money on, not from what
you enjoy living at home and trying to cut down.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-81676673456880581532015-02-08T17:26:00.001-08:002015-02-08T17:26:16.610-08:00A Frugal Reading Week<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remember one prof in
university who gave a midterm exam just after Reading week (or February break);
the students complained bitterly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
reply? it’s called ‘READING week’, not ‘vacation-in-the-sun’ week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go and read!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok, he was not the most fun or
loved professor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Reading week
was designed (or so says the urban legend) to decrease depression rates in
university students in the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Students are stressed, there is not much light outdoors, and depression
rates sore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bring on Reading week, some
students go home, some rest, some go on vacation, some catch up on assignment
and studying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are one of the
lucky ones who do not need to study too much, you are probably looking for a
nice but budget-wise vacation.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Prices for sunny destinations
and even ski resorts go up during Reading week, just like they do during March
break, Christmas vacations and Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The tourist industry is very well aware that students want a good party
during Reading week and that many professors go golfing during that time too.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, there are still some
frugal options for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. Stay put, but pretend you
are a TOURIST in your city and visit all the good sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The large expenses of traveling and lodging
are non-existent, your bus pass probably gets you everywhere you want to go, so
besides attraction entry fees and a few restaurants, you can pretend to be a
tourist for very little money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
do something similar in your home town if you don’t live at home, with the
added cost of going home for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also enjoy cheaper activities since you do not have the constraints of
schedule classes: matinee movies (cheaper), cheap meals at the pub one night,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure to carry your student
card everywhere, it may allow you to get discount prices.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. Go VISIT A FRIEND who studies
somewhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a friend who did
an MBA at Harvard and to this day, it’s the only time I’ve been to Boston.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I had a great time visiting with
her, saw some stuff on my own for a couple of days (our reading weeks did not
match) and had dinner with her in the evenings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can do the same with a friend at a different university, enjoying
the free lodging and great company.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. Dive head first into your
favorite PAST TIME; you know, the one you never have enough time for? You now have
a week where there are no classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even
if you need to do some studying, plan a couple of blocks for 2+ hours to devote
to crafting, video games, or cross-country skiing.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4. Enjoy the OUTDOORS! Unless
you are in British Columbia, winter is cold this year, so embrace it! Get used
skates and learn to skate. Borrow cross-country skis and go for a ‘walk’ on the
snowy sidewalks or in a nearby nature area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Go sledding with friends and enjoy hot chocolate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One cannot be totally miserable playing
outside even in the cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just make sure
to use the ‘onion’ method: lots of layers of clothing, and make sure to cover
all exposed skin.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5. Finally, just TAKE A BREAK
and relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read a book that is not a
textbook but that you want to read just for fun. Go for a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start exercising, just like you wanted to do
back in early January. Bake a cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Watch 3 movies in a row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meditate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take care of you.</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-31689293873624379722015-01-25T17:17:00.001-08:002015-01-25T17:17:28.161-08:00Odd Jobs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Odd jobs are the type of jobs
that may really help you with your budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why? They are NOT regular, so you can’t count of them very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, they are more flexible, can work
around YOUR schedule, and pay more per hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You also avoid paying into unemployment insurance, union, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You still have to pay income tax on the
income, but your income is most likely low enough that you won’t pay any income
tax anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few odd jobs you
may like, as well as their pros and cons.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lessons & Tutoring</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: giving private lessons (in music, for example) and
tutoring (to high school students or other university students) often pays
$20+/hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s because it’s a
‘qualified’ job that not anyone can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I cannot teach piano because my level is roughly 3<sup>rd</sup> year of
the Royal Conservatory, which is very low.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, if you play an instrument well, you can often give private
lessons in your or your students’ home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Parents often look for young, enthusiastic teachers for their children
so that the children enjoy learning music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Music lessons are paid more per hour than tutoring because you are not
simply helping someone with a specific problem and specific questions about a
subject, but creating a program for a student (even if you are using a
commercial methods found in books).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
decide how fast to move the student along, choose fun activities, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As long as you are majoring in something
taught in high school or elementary school (and you have a fun and kid-loving personality),
you can tutor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are an upper-year
student, you can most likely tutor students taking a course you aced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, if you speak a language other than
English, you can most likely tutor that language to students (although, ok, a
French tutor at the Université de Montréal may not get you many clients).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advertise on the internet (Kijiji, Craigslist,
Facebook, etc.) and make a few posters for poster boards on campus or in
different schools, YMCA, and public libraries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Babysitting</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: even if most post-secondary students like to think
that they have left the days of underpaid babysitting behind, childminding is a
great way to increase your budget with little effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rates for babysitting change considerably
throughout the country and vary from under the minimum wage to $15-20/hr.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Advertising for babysittig is easy (Kijiji,
posters) and similar to lessons and tutoring, but remember that you need to
target the parents, not the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Public libraries, grocery stores, children clothing stores and the like
are good places to advertise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beauty
of babysitting is that you can refuse a ‘gig’ if you had plans you don’t want
to change (you need some availability though, otherwise the parents will know
you are typically too busy to work) and the later you work, the easier the job
is because the children will be asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you can find a regular babysitting job, such as every night after 5pm
(assuming you have not late classes), regular money will be coming your way.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Housesitting</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: if you are a responsible student who gets to know
professors well, housitting may be in your future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t the best paid job, but in fact, it’s
not much of a job: simply staying at someone else’s house while they are away
and feeding a pet or two (people without pets tend to leave their home empty
when they travel).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, on top of
some low pay, you get to enjoy living in a nice place for a few nights.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Petsitting</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: similar to housesitting, pet sitting involves taking
care of the pets by visiting them in their home, but not living there – better to
convince the owner that staying at their home will increase the company for the
pets and that they will be happier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
that’s a no-go, insure that you are paid well to make up for the transportation
time of going there on a regular basis.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Laundry</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: I have a friend who every weekend, went to a senior
living complex and did the laundry of a few tenants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She picked up the laundry of one, started his
wash, collected from the next client, started hers, etc, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a few hours, all the laundry was done,
she had had time to study, do her own laundry, and make money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is possible if the laundry facilities
are on-site, which they typically are for senior living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have to cancel on your laundry ‘day’,
try to make it up on another day so that your clients know you are reliable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you get too many clients, ask a friend to
join you.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cleaning</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: Commercial and residential cleaning can be done on
the weekend, evenings or half-day when you do not have classes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One cleaning a week can earn you up to
$75-100 for about 3-4 hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband
pays $125 a week for his commercial cleaning – it takes one person about 3-4
hours to do the job, and it’s done Friday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because it’s commercial, the cleaner does not
have to deal with anything personal or clean a shower!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Salesperson</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: If you are studying marketing, an Avon type job may
be a good fit for you; you visit people outside of regular hours and keep the
profits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Avon (makeup) is not the only
company with which you can start: there are cooking accessories; health and
nutrition supplements; plastic containers; candles; etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, they are mostly aimed at women 25+, but
this is where your marketing skills are needed!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Website design</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: as you can see, I was too frugal to hire someone to
design a website for me, BUT, if you are handy with webpage design, you can be
hired to design websites for small businesses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These can most likely be worked on in your free time, with a few meetings
with the client during regular business hours.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Car driving</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">: if you have a car and are driving somewhere far for
the weekend or reading week, advertise it – you can offer someone a ride for a
price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, I once drove to
Boston from Southern Ontario for a few days during reading week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I advertise the ride for $80 each way (it’s a
good 7 hrs drive) and told my passenger that at the border crossing, they had
to get out of the car with their suitcase and walk across (in case they had
drugs in their suitcase, I did not want to be charged as an accomplice).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had two passengers each way (the same) and
offered them a deal of $150 for the return trip and made $300 on a trip I was
already making.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is just a very small
sample of odd jobs you can find around your schedule and city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are not steady streams of income, but
if you find that a part-time job is too much, or that you want to find
additional funds to a part-time job, these can be very useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please comment with additional ideas!</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-40211979576567165392015-01-17T17:56:00.003-08:002015-01-17T17:56:43.405-08:00Save $5 from Your Food Budget <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Food is one category of spending where you have some wiggle room –
tuition fees are fixed, and so is rent (once you sign onto a lease).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However food is pretty flexible: eat at home
and spend little or eat out and spend lots.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For people with very tight budgets, one concern is how to buy multiple
of on-sale items if there is only enough money for this week’s groceries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The trick is to spend $5 less than your
weekly budget (so if your weekly budget is $50, only spend $45); this extra $5
is to be used when there is a great sale of something that 1. you use and 2.
you can store and won’t go bad quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, if you eat cereal for breakfast most mornings, buy a box or
two when the type you like goes on sale, whether you have some left or not; chances
are they won’t be on sale when you NEED some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The same goes for most of your ‘staples’: cereal, rice, oatmeal, cans
(soup, tuna, spaghetti sauce, fruit), salsa, pasta, granola bars, cake mixes,
cookies, shampoo and toothpaste, toilet paper, tissues and other bathroom
products, women’s sanitary products, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most produce are fantastic buys
when they are low-prices, but you cannot store too much of them because they
will not keep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meats can be purchased
when on sale and frozen, but you need to eat them within 6 months or so, so
buying 30 lbs of ground beef and completely filling up the freezer is typically
not a good option.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without that extra $5 saved for on-sale items, it’s difficult to take
advantage of the sales because you can only buy for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This happens often to people on a very tight
budget: they cannot take advantage of sales because then it means not eating
vegetables in order to stock pile toilet paper.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my family, there are some food items we ALWAYS buy on sale: we stock
pile when they are on sale, and we never have to go without: peanut butter;
butter (we freeze it); cereal (there is always one type on sale so we never run
out); shampoo and conditioner; soap; soft drinks; pasta sauce; salsa; and
English muffins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s easier for us
because we are not on a tight budget; we can afford to spend an extra $10 in
order to stockpile when items are on sale.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So save the $5/week; and save in the long run!</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-89589414125739014312015-01-06T18:50:00.001-08:002015-01-06T18:50:20.883-08:00Free Stuff<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #595959; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is not a lot of stuff you can get for free these days – and when
there are, they are worth their price… almost nothing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I have found a few things that are
free and worth keeping.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- the plastic basket from berries: those small green cube-shaped baskets
are perfect little colanders; I have two in my kitchen drawer and I use them
3-4 times a week when I need to rinse berries, veggies, or a small amount of
pasta.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- rags: really who wants to buy rags to clean? not me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use my (and my family’s) T-shirts that are
about to be discarded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cut them in
pieces and use them to clean the bathroom, toilets, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they are very dirty after, I throw them
out!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- bottles: I often need a plastic bottle for taking juice or salad
dressing with my lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Used plastic
bottles that contained water or juice before are food-safe and if they were
washed, good to use again – and most likely, they do not leak!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do NOT heat them up though, the plastic is
most likely not stable enough not to leach into your food.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- small brushes to clean around the sink, toilet, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, your old toothbrush is perfect for the
job, AFTER it has given its life for your teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not throw it out: rather, give it a good
clean (you can disinfect it with rubbing alcohol and letting it dry after), and
it’s perfect for lots of small cleaning jobs, including cleaning your suede
shoes, boots, or bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just label it so
you do not mix it up with the brush for your teeth!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- condoms: these may not be the brand name you like best, but most
student health centers offer free condoms, no questions asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do not like the ones they offer, take
a few anyway and store them away in case of ‘emergency’ – when you run out of your
usual ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And remember, they prevent
unplanned pregnancies AND sexually transmitted diseases.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- food containers (for freezing, storing or lunches): once you have
purchased margarine, yogurt, pasta sauce, peanut butter and jam a couple of
times (and used them up), you have plastic and glass containers that you can
use for storage and lunches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like to
use glass ones (such as the ones from spaghetti sauce) for storing dried fruit
from the bulk food store (where most food comes in bags), plastic ones for
freezing left-overs and for lunches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yes, you may find that a square plastic container works better for a
sandwich, but overall, your containers should be free (cream cheese containers
are great for snacks).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- counselling: whereas the rest of the population has to pay to consult
with psychologists and career advisers, for students they are free at your
college or university – use them!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
only can they guide you with your feelings, anxiety, obsessions and choices of
career, they specialize in your age group and stage of life (others outside
education institutions can specialize in anything from depression in the
elderly to toddlers with excessive aggression).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- public transportation: many universities and colleges have built-in
bus passes – if you have one of these mandatory bus passes, use it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visit your town, go further to get a
discount, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- banking: yes, most banks charge fees to hold on to your money and give
you the service of debit and online banking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, as a student, you should not pay any of these!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the large banks in Canada offer free
student bank accounts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, there is a
limit on the free services they include, but since you are not running a
business, your number of monthly transactions is limited and therefore a free
student account should be perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your
bank does not offer this? Change banks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no fee to closing or opening a chequing account so move.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So
although not many things in life are free, a few are!</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-62132393180999455872014-12-31T14:08:00.001-08:002014-12-31T14:08:14.609-08:00Wrapping Paper<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although
I am frugal to the core, it’s the environment that prevents me from buying
wrapping paper for presents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just had
a celebration with my family and while my dad was putting away used wrapping
paper for the garbage, I was grabbing the largest pieces to reuse at a later
date.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
truth is, wrapping paper has too much ink to be recycled – if you check your
city’s guidelines for paper recycling, chances are there is a notice to NOT put
wrapping paper in your recycling bin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
it is produced by factories, producing pollution in its production, then
shipped to the stores (again, producing pollution in its transportation), and
then it ends up in the garbage because it cannot be recycled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, you can say that many products create as
much pollution in their making and transportation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However…</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We buy wrapping
so that it can be ripped and thrown out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no other reason to buy wrapping paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well, most of us (c’mon, be honest), wrap
presents HOURS before they are opened, not days or weeks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So all this pollution for a few hours of
looking at boxes that look pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really?
is this reasonable?</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have,
for the past few years, refused to buy wrapping paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a matter of principle and what I am
doing instead is not pollution-free, but it’s a step in the right direction.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what
do I do instead? A variety of things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Read on.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- I use
colorful paper we already have at home: catalogues are great – glossy,
colorful, and they end up in the recycling bin at the end anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try to match the catalogue with the
recipient (my youngest daughter gets pages of the American Girl Doll
catalogue).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it environmentally
perfect? No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should not be getting
these catalogues in the first place but look up what I want on the internet
instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But assuming that we do receive
the catalogues, it’s good.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- I use
newspaper pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ARE boring, but I
tie a colorful piece of yarn (from my knitting projects) so it’s not so
bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The newspaper hides the content of
the gift, which is the most important role of wrapping paper.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- I use
packing paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the paper that
comes in boxes when we mail-order something (like from Amazon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The paper is plain, of boring color (beige,
white, grey, brown) but it’s not printed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I flatten the paper with my hands, cut to size and wrap the
present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I use markers to write
celebration messages, the recipient’s name, etc. all over the paper.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- I
reuse gift bags and wrapping paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
keep gift bags and large pieces of wrapping paper that I receive and re-use
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am careful when opening presents
to preserve the wrapping paper and I am also careful with the tissue paper used
in gift bags so I can re-use it.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Finally,
I’m very creative; I use colorful boxes such as paper tissue boxes (so I only
have to cover the opening); I use used mylar balloons that I cut to use a
wrapping paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use remnants of fabric
that I have around the house (ok, this only work if you sew).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brown paper lunch bags are great – they are
very cheap, they are not only recyclable but also compostable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snail mail envelopes – large ones, used, can
be decorated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plastic shopping bags,
from stores: if it’s a ‘status store’, like Aeropostale, I love using these
bags for nieces and nephews; as well, Target store bags are white and red, very
Christmas-y.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also use old posters and
old calendars with pretty photos.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, next
time you need to wrap a gift, think twice: about the environment, and about
your wallet!</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-4262943495453831342014-12-22T21:18:00.000-08:002014-12-22T21:29:27.074-08:00Be Inspired<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #595959; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Making saving money a game is what works for me – I use it as a
challenge!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can I make dinner without
buying anything for the next three days, using only what I already have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I repair my clothes this weekend so I
don’t need another pair of jeans?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I
have fun Friday night without opening my wallet? These are all challenges for me.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do, however, have many friends for whom being frugal is not a primary concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one thing, we do not discuss much our
finances with one another; as well, it is very possible that they their budget
is very different than mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also have
friends with whom I have very honest and forthcoming about my frugality and we
share tips often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when I need a
little inspiration, I often look online for articles, blogs, and videos of VERY
frugal people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also read books about
budgeting and how to make ends meet.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One series that I have enjoyed on YouTube is Extreme Cheapskates (we do
not have TLC at home); some of the extent to which some of the cheapskates go
to in order to save a few pennies is WAY more than I would do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it’s fun to debate internally
whether or not I would use their tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another show, shown only on the Internet, is Cheapsters, where frugal
contestants compete in challenges to be the winner of the cheapsters and a
prize of $10 000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first season has
challenges such as making a very cheap but tasty meal; decorating an office
with items from the dollar store; dressing for a formal event at a second-hand
store, and the likes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the
second season is not as good; the challenges are a bit silly, such as finding
quarters in a room with many sofas and racing to get coupons. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Books that I like to read come mostly from the library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, I just finished reading </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themeshade: 191;">The Cold Hard Truth about Men,
Women & Money by Kevin O’Leary</span></i><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #595959; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">; <span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">yes, Kevin, the ‘mean’ guy on
Dragon’s Den (CBC television).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr.
O’Leary has a fantastic chapter about the investment of your post-secondary
education and whether the investment is worth it or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I do not agree with all his advice
(he barely considers living at home but discourages you from seeking a degree
which will not land you a job), he also has good advice, such as working
part-time even if it means not graduating as fast, if that means not graduating
in debt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A very good read.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Arial;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #595959; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=budgstud-20&o=15&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B008ED5EMY" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>" target="_blank"><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=budgstud-20&o=15&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B008ED5EMY" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></a></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-361954684924891052014-12-14T12:42:00.001-08:002014-12-14T12:42:07.293-08:00Healthy and Hearty Breakfasts the Frugal Way<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #595959; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s very tempting to eat out for breakfast when you are in a rush
because of an early class (or a late night studying) and you are famished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, breakfast food is cheap and it
breaks my heart to spend $7+ for breakfast when you should be able to make it
at home – fast – for a few pennies (or nickels now that we are doing away with
pennies).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are a few ideas.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Oatmeal</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">: I’m all for instant oatmeal because it’s fast; however, it’s high in
sugar and not so healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you use
only half a package of instant oatmeal (the flavoured type), add the same
amount of plain quick cook oatmeal, milk (not water) and you microwave it, it’s
much healthier.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Eggs</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">: eggs a fantastic source of cheap protein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, cooking them in the morning is tough
since it makes a mess in the pan and it takes time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another option is to cook ahead of time your
eggs when you do have time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My favorite
recipe is ‘egg in a hole’; you make a hole in a slice of bread (eat the small
piece of bread); prepare a pan like you would for cooking eggs (melt butter, etc.);
place the piece of bread in the pan and add the eggs (with intact yolk, or scrambled)
by pouring it over the hole (yes, part of the egg will leak under the bread,
but a large amount will cook in the hole, in the bread and around the bread).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can batch cook these, especially if you
scramble the eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The advantage of this
dish is that your bread is cooked with the egg – easily reheated in the
microwave on a rush morning.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Pancakes</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">: I love pancakes, and I’m often too lazy to make them from
scratch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I buy the complete mix (to
which you only add water – no eggs, no milk) which is cheaper by portion since
you only add water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make my pancakes
healthier, I add a bit of plain oatmeal (regular or instant – whatever I have)
and some wheat bran (which I use in other recipes so it’s on hand as
well).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I want more crepes than
pancakes, I add more water to make the batter thinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easily cooked in batches, I save the
leftovers in a container in the fridge and microwave in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Real maple syrup is expensive on a student
budget; if you can’t handle the fake stuff, go with jam, PB or chocolate sauce
instead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are having crepes,
savory topping are great too: grated cheese, ham, etc.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">If you have more time and love to cook</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">: of course, if
you have time to spare once a while, you can prepare breakfast burritos, egg
XXmuffins, etc. to freeze and reheat later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Frittatas and quiches are also great breakfast food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you enjoy baking, even if it’s only the
cake mixes, you can whip a batch of oatmeal or bran muffins (from a mix) and
either offer some to your friends or freeze in groups of what you would eat in
a day (for me it’s two: one for breakfast, one as a snack).</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Leftovers</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">: we often think of breakfast foods as toasts or other starches, eggs,
and perhaps cheese and ham.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, any
food you enjoy in the morning is breakfast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cold pizza, left-over pasta, anything goes!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">Continental breakfast</span></u><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;">: if you are typically in a real rush and can’t be
bothered to cook ahead of time, there is always continental breakfast: stock
the fridge with small yogurts and partition dry cereal in small bags.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the morning, grab a banana, a yogurt and
cereal – a complete breakfast!! </span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: #595959; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-themetint: 166;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bon appetit!</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-45721556184668517402014-12-08T18:52:00.002-08:002014-12-08T18:52:38.876-08:00Things to do Between Semesters that Will Save You Money in the Long Run<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
winter holidays, or Christmas break for many, is a welcome rest for most students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you will head home for a week or two,
some will enjoy some leisure time, and some will work for pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have a post about working from 2013 you can
view here: </span><a href="http://thebudgetstudent.blogspot.ca/2013/12/making-money-at-christmas-time.html"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://thebudgetstudent.blogspot.ca/2013/12/making-money-at-christmas-time.html</span></a><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For most students, there is at least some leisure time involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This leisure time can be used for rest and
fun, but some can be used to learn skills that will save you money as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some skills that you can
learn during the upcoming break (or any break – summer is a great time to learn
these too!):</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Learning
to cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cooking is a skill that, if you
enjoy it, can become a hobby AND save you money since you will be able to eat
healthy (get sick less often); eat cheaper than with frozen food; and avoid
restaurants if the food you cook is good. If you live in residence now and will
be moving to shared accommodation for the next school year, this is an
essential skill!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Learning
to use tax software.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning to do your
own income tax will save you money for years to come – I’ve had accountants do
my income tax and make mistakes that either I or Revenue Canada spotted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Starting to do your own income tax now is a
good idea because you most likely do not have a lot to report: income is
minimal, and you main deduction is your tuition fees and book credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tax software that your parents use typically
give a family enough licence to include your income tax report at no extra
cost.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.
Scrounging what you need from your parents’ house: ok, not a skill in itself,
this is a good time, if you are going home, to look through your parents’
closet, garage, and linen closet to find things that you need or want and that
they do not use much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can include a
table top fan for when it’s too hot, extra blankets for the cold season, towels
and other bathroom items, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make a
list of what you could use before you head home, just in case your parents have
extra of these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you are home, take
note of items in your parents’ home that could make your life easier and then
ask!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.
Buying in bulk: again, although this is not a skill, this is something worth
doing while you are at home with a larger group of people than just yourself:
maybe a 6 pack of toothpaste is not what you’d like to buy for yourself, but if
your dad buys it, you can pay for your share (1 or 2 tubes) at a discounted
price; hey, maybe he’ll just GIVE you the toothpaste!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Learning
your favorite recipes from your parents’ repertoire – yes, this is very much
like skill no. 1 (learning to cook) but it’s actually a tad different: if you
learn the few recipes that remind you of home, you may be less homesick and
enjoy that great taste too.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6.
Selling your textbooks (and/or other study equipment such as a lab coat): if
there is a course you just finished and is not a prerequisite for another one,
or a book you will not refer to later on, sell it now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next year, there may be a new edition
required for the course you took so selling a textbook fast is very
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Put up ads in social media,
where you are now AND where you go to school, and prepare a few posters to post
once you are back at school so that the posters are up as soon as you get back
to campus.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Start
studying the courses for the next semester.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ok, this will not directly make you money, but if you can be ahead of
the lectures, you will be less stressed during the semester, can avoid hiring a
tutor, and overall do better next semester.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8.
Repair your clothes; a holiday break is a good time to make your clothes
looking good again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repair what has been
slightly torn, add buttons, fix hems or shorten what is too long, add patches
to torn knees and elbows (elbow patches are in right now) and use a small razor
to get rid of piling on sweaters.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Scout
for a new part-time job for the next term: look online to see what is
available; advertise on social media so that a friend of a friend may hear that
you are looking for work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prepare a few
resumes, one for each type of job you are considering applying for: food
services; retail (non-food); tutoring; etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Prepare a few posters for tutoring around campus and close to high
schools close to campus – list hourly cost, location (library, etc.), subjects
and specific classes – don’t forget credentials such as an A or B+ in a course,
or upper year status if relevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can play an instrument? Prepare a flyer for private lessons – even only two
lessons a week can easily give you $40-$50 per week (and that’s your
groceries!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unless you live in
Vancouver or Victoria, shoveling snow for neighbours can be a good way to earn
some cash: prepare a flyer and make copies so that you are ready to drop them
off in mailboxes as soon as you can in January.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10.
Scout for a summer job, especially if you are planning on being at home for the
summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look around; find how to apply
for jobs NOW, so you waste no time in March applying for jobs starting early
May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about the type of industry
you’d like to work in, but also the type of job that will help you find
permanent employment after you graduate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Decide if you’d like to work at the university and if it’d be a good
idea to start in January (part-time) to secure a summer job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Check deadlines for bursary-based positions
and check for jobs at your parents’ firms (they often favour children of
employees).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, check for specific
chain companies (retail; food industry) since they often have a centralized
application process.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">11.
Learn a new skill that can lead to new employment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, take a bartending course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t need to drink or enjoy drinking to
take the course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But students who have
this course are not common, so working around campus at a student bar will be
much easier with the course</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #7F7F7F; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background1; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another course may be First Aid
and CPR (needed for many jobs where you are responsible for people, including
babysitting and working in a day camp); lifeguard (if you already have some
high levels of swimming certificates); gymnastics coaching<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or other coaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course these courses may not all be
available over the holidays, but you can line one up for when school starts
again, when it’s not as busy as during mid-term exams or final exams, or even
for right after final exams or during reading week (February break).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And finally, a skill does not have to be
learnt with a course; you can learn to repair bicycles in your garage – this
may lead to a job at a bicycle shop in the near future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">12. Get
a haircut!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have a friend at home,
or a parent or relative who would like to cut your hair for free, this is a
great time to do so – lots of free time and it’s free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, ask for tips about how to
give yourself a trim (especially for bangs), and get a haircut that does not
need a lot of maintenance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. Get
your driver’s license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This may be a
good time to make an appointment and finally get your driving test done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While having a driver’s licence is not
money-saving per say, it is something to get off your list of ‘to-dos’ AND you
may need a car at your first full-time job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s kind of hard to test-drive used cars if you can’t drive.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14.
Start a new and CHEAP hobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a
great time to learn a cheap hobby and luckily for you, basic crafts are back in
style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, do not start investing lots
of money and time in expensive scrapbooking!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, knitting (especially with small needles and fine yarn) takes a
long time and is not expensive (see if you can get free needles from a
relative); same for crochet and embroidery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finding a cheap hobby will fill up your leisure time without spending
lots of money at the mall or at bars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Other good options are writing a blog (blog pages can easily be found
for free); learning to cook (don’t try filet mignon; pasta is great!); upcycling
clothing and furniture (the basic materials are free), running, cross-country
skiing, bicycling (on your high school bicycle!), or drawing.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So
whether you will be making money during the winter break, you also have options
that can save you or make you money during the following semester as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the meantime though, study well and show
your knowledge during your final exams.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-38502274107008314932014-11-30T19:36:00.000-08:002014-11-30T19:36:09.518-08:00Cheap and Healthy Snacks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people spend wayyyyyy too much money on snacking, including coffee
and a pastry from the coffee shop, the snack from the machine around 4pm when
you are heading home or to another class, the mid-morning snack you purchase
because you skipped breakfast (wanted to make an early class).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These add up quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is a list of instant snacks that are
healthy and, if purchased at the grocery store, are pretty reasonable in
cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure to leave one or two in
your school bag to make sure you have an emergency snack at school at all time.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- an apple, an orange, a banana: easy to eat, fat-free, and always
healthy</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- raw carrots (buy ready to eat bags and divide in small bags, ready to
grab from the fridge); English cucumber slices (no peeling necessary, just wash
and slice); raw sweet peppers; celery (for a crunchy and low-calorie snack if
you eat because of nerves)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- canned fruit in juice: open and partitioned in smaller containers</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- high fiber, low-sugar granola bars – buy in boxes at the grocery store
(much cheaper than by the unit)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- hard-boiled eggs: cook 2-3 at once and store in their shell, in the
fridge (don’t forget to label them)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- nuts – full of protein! be considerate and ask your class neighbours
before opening your snack – they could be allergic.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- raisins and other dried fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even in small, individual serving size boxes (instead of buying them in
bulk), they are cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Large bags of
trail mix at the grocery stores are affordable – just remember that a portion
is actually quite small since they are full of protein (and some fat) and fruit
(and sugar).</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- dry cereal: granola cereal, or larger piece cereal (such as square
piece cereal) are easy to put in a small bag or a container; they are typically
low(ish) in fat, low in sugar (don’t buy the multi-colored ones!), and full of
added vitamins and mineral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much
healthier than chips or chocolate.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- store bought muffins and cookies: if you have a sweet tooth, these are
as healthy and much cheaper than the ones purchased at café and restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also often in much smaller servings
(but the financial savings are per gram), keeping your waistline trim as well.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even buying single-serve bags of snacks from the grocery store, although
not completely frugal, is cheaper than buying from a café, a cafeteria or a
machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cheaper option would be to
buy a large box of the snack and partition it at home.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Businesses prey on the busy student; don’t be a fool – bring your own
food, and stash a couple of emergency snacks in your backpack.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-424162909906543951.post-9824121052316033312014-11-22T12:44:00.003-08:002014-11-22T12:44:55.782-08:00Going AWAY to post-secondary school is a privilege, not a right.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In many
middle-class families, there is an assumption that puts us on a dangerous
financial path: going away to college or university is the logical step after
high school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is often seen as a
‘right’, rather than a privilege, in certain circles, and you may feel like an
outsider if you cannot afford it or if you choose to live at home for your
studies.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please
do not feel bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In large parts of
Canada, the norm is to live at home during college and university.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Québec, for example, the culture is that
as long as you can, you live at home during your studies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember my mother saying: ‘there are four
universities in Montreal: choose one!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We did not even live on the island of Montreal, but in the suburb, and
my commute while going to McGill WAS long: 30 min by car (if no traffic) to
reach the island of Montreal, and then 45 min by subway to reach campus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twice a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Five days a week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For three
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I survived!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not have to worry about meals much (Mom
was happy to cook dinner for the two of us), laundry was in-house, the house
was warm and I didn’t have bills to pay except for tuition, books, and my own
expenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could commute with my mom
who went to Mtl every day for work – she would drop me off on her way to work –
and later I purchased an inexpensive car and had to pay for gas, maintenance,
insurance and the like, but it gave me much more freedom than commuting with
Mom.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">In many
other Canadian cities and cultures, going ‘away’ to post-secondary education is
rare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In many families where children
live at home until they marry, children also attend college and university
locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like my attitude in
Montreal was, many people feel that learning to live on your own is something
you do when you can afford to do it on your own; i.e., without your family’s
financial support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I moved away for my
master’s degree, for which I had financial support from the university, as a
research assistant (RA) and a teaching assistant (TA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the university experience while
living at home is different from that of students living on campus (or at least
away from mom and dad), it is DIFFERENT, not better or worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN-CA" style="color: grey; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-themecolor: background1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every
college/university experience is valuable and can be wonderful; moving away
from home is just a very optional and small part of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy YOUR experience, wherever you live.</span></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0