Canadian Finance Blog

Posted: 05 Feb 2012 02:00 AM PST

Budgeting

N.W. Journey at Net Worth Journey presents Stay Within the Boundaries, saying “Learn how staying in the boundaries reaps massive rewards.”

Craig Ford at Christian Debt Coach presents Little Changes Make Big Differences: $100 Spending Cut Challenge, saying “Cutting a $100 spending per month can make a big difference.”

Glen at Parenting Family Money presents 5 Kids Expenses to Budget For – Apart from College , saying “There are other expenses for kids-not on the magnitude of college-that are also worthy of budgets all there own. Make sure you budget for these kids expenses!”

Business

Small Business Resource at Small Business Resource presents Top Tips For Small Businesses To Survive The Recession, saying “Here are some tips for small businesses to survive the recession …. courtesy of the everywoman network!”

Eddie at Finance Fox presents Airline’s Charge to Check Bags = One Big Cash Grab, saying “Despite a pretty smooth trip overall, I had the pleasure of paying $25 to check my bag. Three different airports, three different starting points and that’s $75 less I had in my wallet.”

Career

Linsey at 1099 Mom presents 3 Common Selling Strategies for Your Small Business (and Which One Actually Works), saying “Everyone knows that a thriving business needs customers; finding them, however, is usually much easier than getting them to buy. Recently, I’ve noticed a wide range of methods for obtaining new business in a variety of fields. In freelancing, blogging, and social media, specifically, I’ve seen the greatest range of tactics. They go something like this:”

Chris at Experiglot presents Attitude and Sales, saying “Could you make it in sales?”

SB at One Cent at a Time presents How to Deal With Difficult Clients and Customers, saying “In our day to day work, we often come across difficult clients or customers. We ought to have tricks to handle them in certain way so that at the end mutual ego and sanctity is maintained.”

Debt and Credit

Jason at Live Real, Now presents Can Bad Credit Cost You Your Job?, saying “Many companies feel that your credit report gives them a sneak peak at your true character. Having a good credit history indicates that you are a responsible person with excellent character. Having a bad credit history means that you are an unreliable person of poor character. True or not and fairly or not, this is the current belief running throughout company hiring departments.”

Mike at Rewards Cards Canada presents PC MasterCard Review, saying “If you bank at PC Financial and shop regularly at Loblaws or Superstore, it makes sense to use the PC MasterCard to earn even more PC Points.”

Lisa at Thriftability presents Living Life on a Debit Card, saying “If you don't qualify for a credit card for whatever reason—no history, troubled employment situation, self-employed without significant financial backing, poor credit score, etc.—there is still hope for retaining the convenience of plastic without all the added negatives that come with using credit cards. The answer? Debit cards, of course.”

Dr. Jason Cabler at Celebrating Financial Freedom presents Winning Without a Credit Score, saying “A story about my friends mom “Marge” who got turned down for a credit card because she has no credit score, and how that means she’s been winning with money for over 40 years.”

Economy

Boomer at Boomer & Echo presents Is Our Old Age Security Program Sustainable?, saying “It appears the government is planning to gradually change the Old Age Security program so that the age of eligibility is raised to 67 from age 65.”

Frugality

Young at Young and Thrifty presents Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel Book Review and Giveaway, saying “Secrets of a Stingy Scoundrel is written by Phil Vallarreal. If you don't know who he is, I have to be honest with you, you've been living under some sort of rock because he's one of the writers/ contributors to the Consumerist. Basically, the book give 100 dirty little money-grubbing secrets that will help you save money.”

Sandy at Yes, I am Cheap presents Get Out of Debt in 2012: How Much Do You Owe?, saying “The money that you earn must be greater than or equal to the money that you spend. Most of us tend to be okay with the left side of the equation; it's the right side that's the problem. I know that many of you will probably disagree with me and say that you're just not making enough money, but trust me, that's usually not the case.”

KT at Personal Finance Journey presents How to Host a Superbowl Party on the Cheap, saying “The Super Bowl is just around the corner and if your house is about be invaded by party-goers, you might be worried about what hosting a huge party is going to cost you. Potlucks and BYOB are always a good way to host a party on the cheap!”

Miss T. at Prairie Eco Thrifter presents How to Shop for Furniture at Thrift Stores, saying “If you are looking for ways to cut costs in your household, you should take the time to check out some of the thrift stores in your area.”

James Petzke at James Petzke: Graduating with a Surplus presents Choosing a School that Makes Financial Sense, saying “Choosing what school to go to can be difficult. This post breaks down how exactly the financial element of this important decision comes into play.”

D.J. at The Family Wallet presents Money Saving Tips for Buying Video Games, saying “We simply can't afford to buy our kids a new $50 or $60 video game every time a new one is released. Here are the money saving tips we use to reduce our costs:”

Marie at Money Spending Mommy presents Money Saving Tips for New Parents, saying “Here are the top five money saving tips for new parents to help ease the cost.”

Cash Flow Mantra at Cash Flow Mantra presents Getting More Miles Out of the Old Van, saying “My 2004 Pontiac Montana just clicked over 167,000 miles, and I couldn't be more excited. It is my goal to get up to 200,000 with it. “

Jeffrey at Saving Advice presents Use Less and Sve Money! 25 Things You Can Cut Your Use in Half, saying “No matter what the cause, becoming aware that you may be needlessly wasting money by using too much gives you the opportunity to examine the way you currently use things and see if you can get the results you want without using quite so much.”

Sustainable PF at Sustainable Personal Finance presents Why Use Cloth Diapers?, saying “What follows are my thoughts on why cloth is more sustainable, not only for the planet but also for your pocketbook – the reasons why we use cloth diapers.”

Pam Whitlock at The MoneyTrail Blog presents 20 Inexpensive Indoor Activities for Kids and Teens, saying “How many days of winter can your kids handle before you hear those dreaded words, "I'm bored"? Here are 20 cheap, indoor family activities to get you through the darkest of winter days.”

SavingMentor at HowToSaveMoney.ca presents Calling Retentions Can Really Slash Your Bills, saying “The big secret here is that you don't have to wait until you are unhappy with your service or you want to cancel before you call retentions! They are overcharging you now, so why wait?! “

Green Panda at Green Panda Treehouse presents Biggest Money Wasters in Your 20s, saying “How you’re blowing money in your 20s.”

Brian at Wallet Watcher presents Saving on Energy Costs: Insulation, saying “If you aren't up-to-date with insulation in your home, you might be wasting plenty of money on energy. Take some of the following tips in stride – there is a lot of information that simply can't be covered presently.”

Sabrina at Frugal Living presents Money Saving Clubs: To Join or Not to Join?, saying “"To join, or not to join?" That certainly is the question when it comes to saving money. Every company would have us believe that by applying for their credit card, joining their rewards program or becoming a member of their club we will save more than we ever dreamed possible. But while that idea may seem too good to be true, there is some truth to it: we may sometimes save money by jumping on the bandwagon. So the question you really need to ask yourself is this: is it worth it to me?”

Melissa at Fiscal Phoenix presents Do You Really Want a Typical Valentine’s Day?, saying “Showing your love on Valentine's Day doesn't have to be through the gifts that companies and marketers make you feel you have to buy. Instead of using your hard-earned money on consumables that will be gone in just a few days, choose a different activity that will help you create a memory.”

Investing

W at Off-Road Finance presents Adjusting To Market Volatility, saying “This article looks at what market volatility is, how it's measured, and how it impacts you as an investor or trader.”

Hank at Money Q&A presents The Beginner’s Guide – How To Find A Mutual Fund, saying “There are tens of thousands of mutual funds out there for investors to choose from. It is very intimidating for new beginner investors to learn how to find a mutual fund.”

LaTisha at Financial Success for Young Adults presents How You Can Build Wealth, saying “Building wealth takes time and knowledge. There is no get rich quick method. There are a few ways to begin building wealth. Passive income is the key.”

Corey at 20s Finances presents Passive Income Done Right, saying “Do you often think about how you could create a passive income? Maybe you’re just itching to get out of your job and would love to create a real estate empire, or perhaps a franchise that is run completely by someone other than you. These dreams are all well and good, but you must first have your finances in order before you can pursue opportunities such as these…”

YFS at Your Finances Simplified presents 10 Easy Tips for Saving Money on Car Insurance, saying “Everyone has to have car insurance, but it can be a pain to find something that works for you and that you can afford. If you are tight on funds, or if you simply want to save some money, here are ten easy tips for saving money on your car insurance.”

MR at Money Reasons presents Why Taxing Dividend Income Hurts The Elderly, saying “Taxing dividends at a higher percentage hurts the elderly and the young.”

Money Cone at Money Cone presents A Review of OptionHouse’s iPhone App, saying “Despite a few quirks, I'm impressed with the App! This is by far the best trading App I've come across! The feature list is just right and not overwhelming. Though I don't like the dark background, the screen doesn't look too cluttered. A couple of features I would've expected in a trading app but missing in OptionsHouse's App:”

Kanwal Sarai at Simply Investing presents My Best Investment Yet, saying “275.97% return since I first purchased shares in TransCanada Corporation (TRP) in 2000. “

Matt at RamblingFever Money presents Keeping a Mortgage for Greater Investment Gain, saying “The 15 vs 30 year mortgage debate. I ran some numbers and was shocked to find out that it might actually make mathematical sense to stick with the 30-year. Is this the best choice though as it pertains to your “personal” finances?”

Mich at Oil and Gas ETFs presents Learning How to Invest in Oil to Maximize Profits and Minimize Risks, saying “Let's face it, the era for cheap oil is behind us, oil has become more expensive to find and to extract from the ground which requires sustained high oil prices to ensure future supply. A look at ways to invest in oil.”

Lazy Man at Lazy Man and Money presents Are Target Date Mutual Funds Right for You, saying “An article from my friend, Jeff Rose caught my attention recently: Why I Hate Target Date Mutual Funds and You Should, Too. The title caught my attention – hate is a strong word that I haven’t seen Rose use too often.”

Martin at Studenomics presents Should You Invest in the Stock Market in Your 20s?, saying “Should 20-somethings be involved in the stock market?”

Div Guy at The Dividend Guy Blog presents Dividend Bubble? Think Again!, saying “What does the future for dividends hold?”

IS at Intelligent Speculator presents Dividend Investing Will Make You Rich, saying “Are you still waiting to get into the dividend game?”

Marissa at Thirty Six Months presents Learning to Invest, saying “Here is a great break down of researching stocks the smart way.”

Lifestyle

Jon the Saver at Free Money Wisdom presents Why a Young Conservative Supports Ron Paul, saying “I am guided by my principles, not people. Should Ron Paul one day forsake them, I will no longer support him. I don't agree with him on everything, including some of his foreign policy. But I know that under his presidency, my freedoms would be protected, and I would rather be free than safe from harm. Ultimately, this is why young conservatives like myself support him.”

Peter at Bible Money Matters presents 8 Important Bible Versus about Money for Christians, saying “Today I want to give 8 of my favorite bible verses about money, and talk about why I think they're important for all Christians to know and understand.”

Craig Ford at Money Help For Christians presents When a Pumpkin Is More Valuable than a $1,000, saying “When a Pumpkin is More Valuable Than $1,000″

Glen Craig at Free From Broke presents Don't Underestimate the Cost of Living When Deciding Where to Live , saying “There are a lot of factors that can go into deciding where to live, but one many underestimate is the cost of living where you want to live.”

Phil at PT Money presents 31 Days to Financial Improvement, saying “The culmination of a month-long series aimed at helping readers make incremental improvements that will positively affect their financial situations.”

Suba at Wealth Informatics presents Stay at home or to work : What is the financial & professional price?, saying “Stay at home or to work : This is not a post to convince anyone that they should stay at home or that they should be a working parent. Rather this post is a thinking process on what changes financially/professionally so that we can better prepare for it (as much as possible).”

Real Estate

Shaun at Smart Family Finance presents Mistakes Young Families Make When Financing Their First Home, saying “Money mistakes made by young, educated and affluent families were a direct cause of our current economic turmoil. If families fail to learn from those home buying mistakes, we are doomed to repeat the consequences.”

krantcents at KrantCents presents Protecting your home when on holiday: top tips, saying “Whatever kind of neighbourhood you live in, you will want to protect your home while you are away from it. Should you be embarking on a big holiday in the coming weeks and months and you find yourself away from the house for two weeks or more, there are a number of things you can”

Suba at Broke Professionals presents Simple Home Maintenance Anyone Can Do, saying “If you own a home, you can save time and money by learning to do some common and simple home maintenance. The time you save is the time needed to locate a repair person, wait for them to arrive and do the task. The money you save is their labor charge.”

Little House at Little House in the Valley presents I Know I Should Buy but I Am Not, saying “I knew I had to do three things before I buy a home: improve my credit, pay down my debt, and save for a down payment. I've completed two of these three things with the last one being a bit more challenging for me”

Martin at Passive Income Now presents Why Does Everyone Want to Buy a Home Instead of Renting?, saying “Is it better to buy or rent?”

Retirement

Amanda L Grossman at Frugal Confessions presents Double Tax Benefits for Mid to Low Income Households Who Contribute to Retirement Accounts, saying “When you think about retirement, are you stuck in disillusionment somewhere between your dreams and the reality of an empty retirement account? “

PITR at Passive Income To Retire presents Early Retirement, saying “In preparation for early retirement, what are you doing? Find out what I am doing to prepare for early retirement.”

A Blinkin at Funancials presents Are You A Mental Accountant? Grand Finale, saying “Remember when Jeff Foxworthy came out with his unforgettable series, ‘You Might Be A Redneck?’ It was a huge hit that led to book deals, TV shows, and enough riches to fund every redneck’s retirement. Read my take on being a mental accountant with a Jeff Foxworthy spin.”

Todd R. Tresidder at Financial Mentor presents Are Safe Withdrawal Rates Really Safe?, saying “An exhaustive analysis that finally puts to rest the safe withdrawal rate debate. The 4% rule is dead so learn the alternative solutions so you can safeguard your wealth in retirement.”

The Passive Income Earner at The Passive Income Earner presents How To Maximize Your RRSP, saying “Do you really know how to maximize your RRSP? Have a look to see how you can grow your nest egg even bigger.”

Saving

Teacher Man at My University Money presents More Rewarding: Earning vs Saving, saying “Us personal finance nerds seem to have an ongoing debate raging (ok, maybe a slightly aggressive term) concerning who is cooler, the guys/gals that save more, or the guys/gals that earn more. Clearly the coolest peeps are the ones that save as much as possible and instead of wasting valuable time partaking in a fairly mundane exchange of stale views, earn more than the rest of us as well…”

Marie at Family Money Values at Family Money Values presents Five Fabulous Financial Moves, saying “Life is full of decisions. As you come to them – you make them, the best you can, with what you know and have at the time. Some of them turn out to be gems, others are more like dog poop. Looking back over my adult life from the ripe old age of 63, highlighted some of my and my spouses finest financial moments in bold relief. Some other day, we’ll talk about the dog poop side of things!”

Mike at The Financial Blogger presents How-to Overcome The Fear of Getting Rich Slowly, saying “How you can make money over time.”

Ken Faulkenberry at AAAMP Blog presents Emergency Money Fund: Building Savings in a Low Interest Rate Environment, saying “Having adequate emergency money is the foundation of a solid financial plan. Here is one way to build an emergency savings fund.”

Taxes

Jeffrey at Money Spruce presents 37 Must-Read Posts for Tax Savings, saying “A collection of the best tax tips posts that cover a wide range of tax topics, including deductions, tips for filing, and working with an accountant.”

Andy at My Retirement Blog presents 2012 IRA Contribution Limits, saying “Curious what the 2012 IRA Contributions Limits are?”

Kyle at The Penny Hoarder presents How to Make Money Buying Virtual Real Estate, saying “Real estate is such a valuable investment, you no longer need it to be real to make money. Learn how real-life virtual real estate entrepreneurs have made millions.”

Other

Aloysa at My Broken Coin presents How ‘Do Not Need’ Lists Can Save You A Buck, saying “I am on a three month no-buy resolution. I figured it is a good prelude to start implementing my next resolution – de-cluttering. Where do you usually start? I, of course, started with my favorite place which happens to be you guessed it, right! my closet.”

Daniel at Sweating the Big Stuff presents Paypal Income Reporting Requirements for Bloggers, saying “The IRS required PayPal to issue Form 1099-K to those making over $20,000 a year on PayPal. Since it was so confusing, the IRS did something smart.”

Don at MoneySmartGuides presents What to Look for in Mutual Funds – Part 1, saying “This is my first part of a two part series on what to look for in Mutual Funds.”

Darwin at Darwin’s Money presents Confidence is Great, Right? Nope, It’ll Wreck Your Life, saying “We’re all taught to be confident from childhood. You know, those confidence boosters like getting a trophy no matter where you placed, parents telling you that you can do anything in life and so on. On some level, having confidence in yourself and what you can achieve does allow you to think big, stretch your your limits and achieve great things.”

Hank at Money Q&A presents How To Raise The Next Millionaire Entrepreneur, saying “Giving them a solid foundation to launch their creative ideas will help them achieve a financial freedom. A true millionaire entrepreneur knows that they can’t wait for opportunities to find them.”

Mich at Beating The Index presents Investing in Canadian Well Completion & Drilling Companies, saying “The oilfield services industry provides investors with exposure to the oil and gas commodity sector minus the inherent risks associated with exploration and development drilling.”

FG at Financial God presents Is Canada Immune to a Financial Blowup?, saying “My Own Advisor recently wrote about the heavy austerity in Greece, and thanks his lucky stars that things are nowhere near this bad in Canada. I agree that those in Canada are very lucky that the country has weathered the financial storm in relatively good shape, and not only that but the Canadian government has wasted less of the people’s wealth on ‘stimulus’.”

Jen at Master the Art of Saving presents My Biggest Financial Fear, saying “Sometimes fear can motivate us and other times, it can paralyze us or dictate our decisions. I have plenty of fears, and I’m not afraid to admit it. Of all…..”

Erika at Newlyweds on a Budget presents How do you talk about money with your husband?, saying “Who manages the finances in your relationship? And how do you decide how to spend your money?”

John at Married with Debt presents Frugal Living is All About Creating the Debt Free Magic in Your Life, saying “This site is about helping people, both financially and in all aspects of their lives. Because I want this site to be a community, you will see from time to time, guest posts from readers and fellow financial bloggers. “

Jester at The Ultimate Juggle presents Unexpected Crisis, saying “Find out how I managed to take care of a lot of things in a short amount of time.”

101 Centavos at 101 Centavos presents Redneck Dividends, saying “As I was editing the notorious 101 Centavos Dividend Portfolio that is featured on this site, it occurred to me that some of the dividend picks shared …”

Kevin at Thousandaire presents Cheap Things That Make Life Easier, saying “Sometimes people get so caught up in the idea of saving money that they won’t use their hard earned cash to buy something that would improve their quality of life. What the heck are you working for if you can’t buy yourself something that will make you happier? “

Wayne at Young Family Finance presents Cheap Romantic Dates, saying “Cheap romantic dates are great on the budget and relationship. Find creative ideas here.”

Corey at Steadfast Finances presents Fake Prosperity: U.S. National Debt Growth vs. GDP Growth, saying “If you’re a member of Gen X and Gen Y, this is probably the scariest chart you will see in in the Economy, and possibly, right up to the time you’re old and gray.”

Dr Dean at The Millionaire Nurse Blog presents Disabiliy: Nothing to Quack About, saying “You owe it to your family to make prudent plans to protect them in the event you are injured and can't work. Read all about why you need disability insurance and what to look for in your coverage.”

Canadian Finance Carnival #74 originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on February 5, 2012.