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| Photo courtesy of www.freephotosbank.com |
Here I've compiled a list of sites that have some viable information worth looking at. There are many sites with cost saving tips for low-income earners but most of them have the same regurgitated information that are although relevant but, as I stated above, we already do. So, though it's a short list, I've sifted through them best I can to save you the trouble and tried to include a detailed review where possible.
Living the Low-Income Life (and doing it well)
Hands down the most informative blog I've ever seen. Shannon, the author provides so many ideas, tips and useful information in her blog it's near impossible to sum them up. From business ideas, to energy saving tips, to frugality she's got it all. Why is it relevant information? Because she's one of us. She's had to live this way out of necessity and has chosen to share her ideas, which sometimes translate into life experiences, to help ANYONE living this way, be it out of need or want. Definitely worth an in-depth look.
Tax Credit Calculator
Not an information on money saving tips but a calculator for Ontario Citizens to determine different tax credits they could be eligible for, some I didn't know existed.
Low Cost Dental Care plus added saving tips/coupons/programs and more
Here Frugal Shopper Canada has compiled a list of colleges and services that offer low cost dental care. I've used the college program myself for my children. I got their 6 month cleanings/checkup done for a mere $10, compare at $80 - $130 at a dentists office! They give you a report, do the exam and fluoride treatment and x-rays, if needed and suggest preventative measures, if needed. Way more bang for your buck, the students get the benefit of experience and are supervised by professionals, and you in turn get low-cost quality dental care. This website has sorted and categorized the institutions by Province and City.
Note: Frugal Shopper Canada has a comprehensive list of ways to save money beyond dental care, well worth a look!
Grocery Alerts.ca
The ultimate coupon/flyer guide for Canadians! With daily posts, printable coupons and great advice on how to start using coupons and accessing them to save you money at the till.
FoodShare
This is a wonderful program, I've used it myself. The link I've posted for this is the Ontario contact page in order to contact the people that organize it in Ontario cities. The Canadian list can be found here. For between $13 to $34 (depending on type of box or basket) you get it stuffed with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables for much less than you'd pay at the grocery store. Also, they use local produce as often as the season allows.
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| Photo courtesy of www.freephotosbank.com |
Here are some tips that have helped me along the way. I'll try my best not to regurgitate the usual "make a budget" drivel we hear every day.
1. Be Thrifty - Make use of your local thrift stores. Especially for kids. Kids grow out of clothes so quickly and even the big box stores are charging at least $20 + for a pair of pants that they'll out-grow in 6 months. I once got a Ski-Doo brand snowsuit in great condition for my son for $15! Compared to the $80 they wanted at the department stores for a less durable, generic suit that would've worn out within a month, I really stole the thing! Also, most thrift stores use the money made on clothing and furniture sales towards some form of charity so not only are you saving money, but you are helping a worthy cause.
Here are some of my favorites:
ValueVillage (charity - Canadian Diabetes Association) sells tons of quality clothing items and some gently used (good for work clothes if you work outdoors), also have housewares, toys, jewelry, books and furniture. Fabulous Halloween store!!
Salvation Army(be sure to click the first drop down menu and select thrift store first) (charity - Salvation Army hee hee) sells clothing, houseware and furniture.
Re-Store (charity - Habitat for Humanity) sells building supplies (doors, windows, material, appliances etc.) new, gently used or bought and returned.
And here are others, I haven't tried these ones.
Canadian Thrift Stores (charity - Ronald McDonald House)-only locations in Toronto at present time clothing, housewares, and jewelry.
Goodwill ( An agency that helps people with barriers prepare for and find job placement) sells clothing, housewares, furniture, jewelry etc. You can also shop online at their online store.
Thrift Store (charity MCC - disaster relief, sustainable community development and justice and peace-building.)
Bibles for Missions Thrift Stores (charity - a non-denominational, religious driven charity looking to connect and spread the word of God) sells, though their website doesn't clearly iterate what they sell specifically clothing and accessories is implied.
2. Meal Plan - It works, Believe me, The hard part - sticking to it. Work out a meal plan first by evaluating what you have at home and second by using the weekly flyer from the store you'll be going to, Here are some free templates here Template #1, Template #2, Template #3. Figure out what you already have to make these meals at home and what you need to purchase. Try to write down your foods in the order that you'll see them in the store. This not only saves time but helps curb the urge to ogle "other" items of interest that aren't on your list. DO NOT under ANY circumstances, deviate from your list. This is the most crucial step. Yes of course you've found a great deal, but remember, they WILL go on sale again (this is also why you use the stores flyer when creating your plan ;)
3. Accept Help - this is one of the hardest things to do (for us too). Pride plays a huge factor in the acceptance of help. Sometimes, though, you just have to ask for it or accept it. Nine times out of ten the person(s) offering you help or the ones you are asking have been in the same situation as you before and completely understand how hard it is for you to accept their generosity. You may be thinking "but I have NO WAY to pay them back", well this may be true from a financial perspective but it's amazing how far some physical labor can go. These kind of re-payments can sometimes be more valuable than a monetary re-payment. If it really means that much to you, slide away a little change every week and pay them back when you accrue enough, it may take a while but you will eventually gather enough to pay them back.
4. Don't Overspend - I know this is one of those things that go without saying but what I mean is, just because it's on sale DOES NOT indicate the necessity of purchase. Sure, it's a screaming good deal, BUT unless you've allotted for an "incidental" section in your budget you just took money literally right out of your mouth. So now, you and your family are hungry and now have a lot of something you may or may not really even use.
5. Use Cash - Many financial advisers and save money gurus tout that you should use credit/debit cards with reward points and whatnot. That may well work for some people but many credit card interest rates sky rocket the minute you miss a payment and only grocery store cards actually have a points system that you can really benefit from. Having said that, the only grocery stores that offer such a point system aren't ones the best of us can afford to shop in. When you use cash you 1. save on debit fees 2. pay NO interest and 3. Can actually SEE the money you are spending. It can really hit home sometimes, when you've laid out three 20's and you're still counting, just how much you're going to spend.
6. Limit or Get Rid of Extra Expenses - eliminating monthly bills you don't really need can save sometimes hundreds of dollars a month
Phones - do you really NEED a landline AND two cellphones? Probably not. Really have to have that "home phone"? If you have high-speed internet, consider MagicJack. I dropped my landline and went to ;cellphones and MagicJack and am saving $65 a month. They now have one that doesn't require the need to be plugged into the computer called MagicJack Plus. Shop around when looking for a cellphone provider, some have better plans for less money for your needs. Are you paying for services you don't use?
T.V. - I recently ditched my satellite completely and work off a combination of "rabbit ears", Netflix, and internet T.V (caution: be sure your internet package is UNLIMITED before you pursue this avenue). I am now not paying over $70 for a bunch of channels I didn't really watch anyway. I still get my local news (rabbit ears) kids T.V.(TVO(rabbit ears) and Netflix) and my favorite shows (all 3)
Movies - Netflix has really been ramping up their library. In the past 6 months they have added a lot of titles and are becoming more current (although I do like that there are a lot of "oldies but goodies" on it too. Your local library usually has an array of movies you can watch for free.
Internet - shop around, local companies usually offer better deals than the major ones. I'm now paying the exact same for unlimited high speed as I was for dial-up :S
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Having fun on a tight budget can be challenging, (especially if you have kids). There are resources out there, sometimes you just have to know where to look.
1. Local Parks/Beaches - it's blatant, I know, and do apologize, but this is something that's saved us on some hot summer days, from downright meltdowns from antsy kids who are sick of the scenery at home. Going to the park or beach doesn't have to be just about the kids. Best part, IT"S FREE!
Pack a lunch, think that this has to be a big ordeal? Think again! Here's some inexpensive recipes that take less than 15 min to prepare that are picnic friendly. All are from my most favorite recipe site Food.com. They have a great "sifter" here to help you find exactly what you're looking for....
Sandwiches
Salads
Snacks
Desserts
Drinks
...or it could be as simple as cheese and crackers, pepperettes, chips, granola bars/cookies for dessert and juice-boxes and bottled water to drink Some parks even have charcoal BBQ's to cook on if you want! Burgers anyone?
Spend a few hours there. The kids get some much needed "new scenery" and get to burn off some steam and parents can relax in the shade or join in the fun with the kids! Active family? Take a Frisbee, volleyball, baseball and gloves, beach ball or even a board game if it's not too windy. Crafty/art inclined family? Pack up the paints, markers, crayons and some drawing pads (dollar stores are great for these essentials!) and have some down time painting/drawing the landscape/nature around you! Some dollar stores even sell the bigger banner-style paper and you can all make a banner keepsake of your day! Finger paints are especially great for at the beach, no worries about getting paint everywhere when there's a giant "bathtub" right in front of you! Leisure family? Board games, books, knitting, magazines, whatever helps you relax.
Keeping a reusable bag filled with your favorite "park" items makes going there a lot easier. Put your activity items (games, towels, sunscreen, books, art supplies) and non-perishables in the bag so all you have to do is grab it, some cold drinks and go!
Local Events - check your local library and town website for events that are happening. Most have weekly, FREE events for the kids (and kids at heart). Such as car shows (even the kids like these,...really), organized park events, libraries often have craft/story times or special guests. In the winter, some parks put in a free rink. Keep a keen eye out when a holiday is approaching, the free activities tend to increase dramatically. Even on holidays like Valentine's Day and Family Day.
Night in -1. Plan a movie night in. Grab some munchies (popcorn, chips, candy and pop OR the healthy alternatives). You can even get plastic popcorn holders group/personal that look like the movie theater ones! You can also get reusable drink containers with straws that look like take out soda containers although they're a little expensive, but they are reusable. Here are a two that about the same price range Cup #1, Cup #2, Grab a couple movies from the local library, re-watch a favorite you own, pick one on Netflix (if this is an option) or treat yourself to a rental (yes, IT IS OK to TREAT YOURSELF once in a while) Turn the phones off and the lights for a relaxing night in.
2. Have a romantic night for two....at home. Appeal to family or ask friends with kids in return for the same favor to take the kids for the night. Buy a couple boxes of appetizers and a bottle of sparkling wine and enjoy each other for the night. You can also make your own appetizers or even a romantic meal for very little and cook it together. Here's some recipe ideas: Appetizers and Meals. A bonding experience indeed. We've also just waited until the kids go to bed for the night and done all of the above. It's a great re-connecting experience that all couples need
Learn something new - with the world at your fingertips there is no reason to not learn something new. who knows, you might like it AND you might find a new skill!
Here's some ideas (certainly a very SHORT list compared to what's out there but this should get you started) There's also some fun stuff here.
- Painting - a great way to express yourself and relax and create some VERY personal home decor! There's a great article here - Painting Art Tips - for the beginner artist by K.Samuel-Stevens about how to start your first painting. My tips, yes I paint, if painting on canvas, apply Gesso first and once your work is dry, finish it with an acrylic varnish.
- Scrapbooking - although it can be it doesn't have to be. Spend some time and organize the 100's if not 1000's of pictures on your computer (yeah, you know you have them :p) Pick a category like Summer Fun or child's name here: From Birth to Present or even just 2010, Upload them to your local Pharmacy and get them printed for as little as 19 cents/4x7 print. You don't need all the fancy stuff that the specialty stores have, a glue-stick and dollar store scrapbook will get you started, also have a look at the dollar store for things like ribbon, buttons, string things to dress up your photos. Some markers and pens and away you go! Here's an idea place to help get you started Scrapbooking Gems here's another Free Digital Scrapbooking - digital is a cheap way to brighten up with alphabets, tages and layouts. These guys have a huge selection and most of it is free, just download and print!
- Vegetable Container Gardening - can be very rewarding and relaxing. For those on a low-budget,time is something we have a lot of, container gardening is the perfect answer to that. You can pick up a pack of seeds for a buck and a half, good soil 5 bags for $10 sometimes and container, well you can use just about anything. This website has some great ideas and useful information to get you started Container-Garderning-For-Food
- New Language - it can be a lot of fun and sometimes quite amusing to try a new language on! You never know when it may come in handy. Two spots to start are Polyglot and Learn a Language
- Feng-Shui - learn about it and how to apply it to your desk, room or entire house. Who knows, you might just get some good fortune from it (or at the very least de-clutter your house). Great information at Feng Shui Inspired, - lots of information from basics, history to application. Other good places with information on the bag'ua map and each areas attributes are at Circle of Light and Feng Shui and Beyond
Travel Within - You don't have to go far to "get away" even for a day (or camp one night for a real adventure!) Travel to the bigger cities in you area. Do some in-depth research on the free activities (the bigger the city, the more activities ;) ) available during the day(s) you plan to go. From free zoo's and museums to festivals, fairs, farms and events, there'll be plenty to do, I'm sure, to keep you busy for a day (or two) Don't forget to pack lots of drinks, snacks and lunch for the trip. Check with the grocery stores before you try the fast food chains. Most grocery stores (especially in bigger cities) prepare lunch and dinner items for a fraction of the cost to attending a restaurant. For instance, you can get a full roasted chicken with fries, gravy, and a couple of salads for under $20, serves 4-5....compare at $13-$15 per person (that's not including tax and gratuity) for a similar meal at a restaurant. For a family of 4 that's a savings of about $40!! The items at the store are usually prepared fresh too with more wholesome ingredients.
There are many other good sites out there, I'm sure, and if I've missed any, feel free to let me know. The truth is, the help and tools ARE out there but they aren't going to fall in our laps. We have to actively seek them out and apply them, be creative and try our very best to remain optimistic
. There are many other "little" things I do or have done to squeak by on an even squeakier budget and could go on for days but for now, I will not. All in all I hope this information is of some help. Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions and tips of your own. I'd be more than happy to include them as they apply.
Thank you for reading! :)
Sincerely,
The Cleaner
References & Link Credits to:
Circle of Light - http://www.circle-of-light.com/ for information on Feng Shui and bag'ua maps
Feng Shui and Beyond - http://www.feng-shui-and-beyond.com for information on Feng Shui and bag'ua maps
Feng Shui Inspired - http://www.fengshuiinspired.com/ for information on Feng Shui and bag'ua maps
Learn a Language - http://www.learnalanguage.com for lessons to learn new languages
Polygot - http://www.internetpolyglot.com/ for lessons to learn new languages
Container Gardening for Food - http://www.container-gardening-for-food.com/ for great and easy container gardening tips
Free Digital Scrapbooking - http://freedigitalscrapbooking.com/ for free digital scrapbooking resources
Scrapbooking Gems - http://www.scrapbookinggems.com/ for free digital scrapbooking resources
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/ for their definition of acrylic varnish
K.Samuel-Stevens - http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/K.Samuel-Stevens for her article Painting Art Tips - for the beginner artist on Squidoo http://www.squidoo.com/
Boredom Relief - http://www.blifaloo.com/ for there interesting ideas on how to learn new things
Food.com - http://www.food.com/ for their plethora of recipes by awesome members
Netflix - https://signup.netflix.com/home?country=3&rdirfdc=true for information on to get instant movies at a great price with their service
Magicjack - http://www.magicjack.com/plus-v05/ for information on how to make affordable phone calls with their service
Valu Village - http://www.valuevillage.com/ - information on their thrift stores
Goodwill - http://www.goodwill.org/ - information on their thrift stores
MCC Canada - http://canada.mcc.org/- information on their thrift stores
Habitat for Humanity - http://www.habitat.ca - information on their thrift stores
Salvation Army - http://www.salvationarmy.ca - information on their thrift stores
Bibles for Missions Thrift Stores - http://www.bfmthriftstores.ca - information on their thrift stores
Canadian Thrift Stores - http://canadianthriftstores.com - information on their thrift stores
Food Share - http://www.foodshare.net - information regarding their program
Grocery Alerts.ca - http://www.groceryalerts.ca - information regarding their website
Frugal Shopper Canada - http://www.frugalshopper.ca - information on low cost dental care and money saving ideas
Government of Ontario - http://www.ontario.ca - for the handy tax credit calculator
Shannon Buck - Living the Low-Income Life - http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com/ - for her wonderful and informative blog on low-income living and frugality
Free Photos Bank - http://www.freephotosbank - for the use of their photos in this blog
Dictionary.co - http://dictionary.reference.com/ for their definition of Gesso
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