A while ago, I was reading Brip Blap's post on being a stay-at-home parent and was struck with a thought that has been in the back of my mind for a while now - would I be a stay-at-home parent? I have always said that I would probably go stir-crazy if I had to spend more than a week at home, but every person I have spoken to who has been in the situation says that the time flies by and you are certainly anything but bored. Between coworkers, friends and family who are stay-at-home parents or have a stay-at-home spouse, I've managed to compile a list of things I consider to be pros and cons; things that would influence my decision on whether the boyfriend or I would ever consider staying at home with a young child:

Pros:

• Decreased child-care costs
• Potential for increased bond between parent and child
• Potential for increased efficiency within the home (cleaning, cooking, shopping, balancing books, etc)
  

Cons:

• One primary income unless you look for alternative streams
  
• Potential for less social interaction unless you actively seek it
• Potential for uneven division of work
  

What some people may find unusual is that I am not looking at a stay-at-home parent situation from my perspective - I am looking at it from my boyfriend's. While he is a chronic workaholic, his position is somewhat more flexible and there are great benefits to keeping me at work. However, he will soon be working in a position that requires constant work (as is the case with business ownership) and my current position offers an additional top-up amount to our federal parental benefit for the first year of leave. In addition, my potential to generate revenue from alternative streams that require minimum "work" makes me an ideal candidate to stay-at-home.

Money aside, work aside, career aside - choosing to be a stay-at-home parent is a life decision, not one based primarily on income. Choosing to be a stay-at-home parent also has social implications and many people very strongly about it. While my "pros" list a strong bond between parent and child, it is entirely possible to have an equally strong bond with a parent who does work. The subject is tricky, and entirely personal.

That said, I believe there are a few things that everyone needs to take into account when deciding whether or not he or she wants to be a stay-at-home parent:

1. Money - we would be lying if we said this wasn't an issue; it is for almost everyone. Choosing to stay at home with your children almost always means a decrease in income, which means you must look for alternate ways to maintain your standard of living. Will you rely on savings? Will you work from home? Can you draw from alternate streams of revenue?
   
   
2. Personal Life - we would also be lying if we said this wasn't an issue. Devoting a large, significant portion of your time to one person or one situation can be overwhelming and stressful. Also, it can cause some resentment if you are unprepared for how you will cope with this change. How will you maintain yourself outside of this new situation - as a partner, a friend and as a family member?
   
   
3. Home Life - choosing to stay at home can cause a major change in your home life, especially if you have additional children and/or a spouse. Be sure to discuss chore division, family responsibilities and duties. Have these outlined prior to the arrival of your new child will potentially make things a bit more organized in a hectic environment.
   
   
4. Goals and Plans - what is your intention of staying at home? do you hope to save on childcare costs, home-school your child, or focus on bonding your family? How long do you intend to stay home? Ask these questions of yourself and your family - it is important to know why you take action so that you can follow through on your choices and keep track of your and your family's long-term objectives.

So, now I'll turn it over to you - what are your thoughts on being a stay-at-home parent? What are the pros and cons, and would you ever choose to do it?

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
6 Habits of Successfully Frugal People
Dealing with Difficult People
6 Country Philosophies for a City Lifestyle
TV-Free Living for Your Kids
Minimize Your Wardrobe, Save Your Sanity

We all have things we hope to achieve - a better salary, a smaller waistline, a healthier marriage. Each of us set out in life hoping for the best and doing what we feel is required of us in order to achieve these things; far too often, we reach a breaking point where our goals and desires stretch just beyond our reach and we begin to lose our motivation to keep going.

For most, life is about hard work and taking personal responsibility for your actions and desires. Although some of us can continue down our life path with a strong dedication to our purpose and goals, most of us need a little extra motivation to add positive change to our life. Even for those of us who are driven and dedicated in our daily lives, a little added motivation never hurt - in fact, it can help push you to new levels of greatness.

The question remains - how do you motivate yourself to become motivated?

1. Fluff Your Feathers - A little boasting can go a long way when it comes to motivating change in your life. Share your accomplishments with someone who will be supportive and positive about your goals. Not only will you be able to verbalize your progress, but you now have a point of accountability with another person - you can now share your future progress with him or her, as well as any setbacks you may encounter.
   
   
2. Hide Your Head in the Sand - Sometimes, the best way to motivate is to become completely unmotivated for one day. A lot of us put extreme amounts of pressure on ourselves in order to achieve the very best, and this can lead to a lot of disappointment and a lot of stress. Spend a day relaxing, without any pressure to perform and achieve. You just might find some renewed energy for the next day!
   
   
3. Head to the Watering Hole - Go visit some friends and bounce your ideas off of them. As the old saying goes, "two heads are better than one" - having some additional insight and a fresh perspective might bring some added motivation to your life. If you've been spinning your wheels on a particular issue, your friends may have a new way of looking at things.
   
   
4. Roar! - Sometimes, you just need to let it all out. Take this opportunity to express yourself in any way possible - go for a run, dance furiously, bake tonnes and tonnes of cookies (and ship them to me), practice a little primal scream. Whatever you do, get as much blood flowing as possible - this added burst of energy will help jump-start your body and mind.
   
   
5. Track Your Prey - keep your goals (the prey) in your vision as you begin to approach them. Analyze them, watch how they unfold; in viewing your goal as an active entity, you will be more likely to keep it at the forefront of your mind and think of ways to approach it quickly and effectively. Practice mindfulness of your goals for a few minutes each day, or keep a journal log to track your progress.

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
6 Country Philosophies for a City Lifestyle
5 Essential Tools for an Efficient Day
Learning to Let Go
6 Habits of Successfully Frugal People
Dealing with Difficult People

Imagine a beautiful, empty mall (and an equally beautiful, full wallet) - a perfect environment for a day of shopping. You would be hard pressed to find this scene during one of the busiest holidays of the year. Welcome to the world of Christmas shopping, and if you're one of many who did not cross everything off your list well before the snow hit the ground, you're in for a treat.

Battling the mall at Christmastime can be draining - physically, emotionally, and financially. Unfortunately for most, it is also an inevitable trip that you will need to make. As a consumer and a former mall employee, I have been on both sides of battle and can say that the easiest way to survive the mall mauling is to avoid it entirely. Short of that, a solid head and a plan to go in and out as quickly as possible is your next best defense.

• Prepare Yourself Mentally - the first step to surviving Christmas shopping is to be honest, upfront and aware of what you're getting into. Don't expect to find a good parking space, don't expect the lines to be short and don't expect happy, helpful salespeople. If you go in hoping for the worst, you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find. Don't focus on the negative elements of shopping, just ignore them and focus on the purpose of your trip - to go in, find what you need, and leave as soon as you can.
  
  
• Prepare Yourself Physically - you're going to end up tired and cranky if you don't take care of yourself prior to (and during) your excursion. Eat a solid meal before going and drink plenty of water. Dress in layers if the weather is bad - this will allow you to remain at a comfortable temperature inside and outside of the mall. Bring along a bottle of water and some snacks; a small bag of trail mix or cereal will suffice.
  
  
• Schedule Your Shopping - Instead of rushing out to the mall on the last Saturday before Christmas, look for alternate solutions. As a general rule, weekdays are less busy than weekends and early mornings/late evenings are usually slower than midday. If you can stop off at the mall on a Wednesday evening, it will still be busy - but much less so than on a Sunday afternoon.
  
  
• Arm Yourself - Prepare the tools necessary for a successful trip to the mall: a well-written shopping list (preferably with the names of the stores and the details of the gift included), a map of the mall (if you're unfamiliar), a cell phone (if you're going with others and may get separated from the pack) and a way of telling the time. Knowing where you're going, what you're going for and how long you need to be gone are key elements in making it through the day with few upsets.
  
  
• Give Up - My personal favorite option; avoid the mall and think of some alternative gift ideas - many websites allow you to order products online, and you may or may not be able to have the products shipped overnight or express courier. Make gifts yourself, or give a gift certificate to a favorite store or restaurant. If you're caught last minute and cannot bear the thought of the mall, there's always the traditional gift of cold, hard cash to warm a person's heart.

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
Christmas Gifts Under $30
How to Have a Productive Holiday Season
Eliminating Financial and Physical Clutter
6 Country Philosophies for a City Lifestyle
TV-Free Living for Your Kids

I've had the opportunity to post about my Spending Map, my Financial Picture and How I Spend My Money in the past, all three of which have brought to life my obsession with buying junk. I come from a long line of hoarders and "sentimental purchase" owners; in fact, as my parents are in the process of selling their home, my father has brought me box after box of old report cards, toys, pictures and other meaningful but ultimately cluttering items. My father was a collector (McDonald's toys, hockey cards), my mother was a collector (pig figurines - don't ask), and I am in turn also a rabid collector (I had 84 Ninja Turtle action figures as a little girl, replaced by a similar number of Barbie dolls, followed by a Beanie Baby collection that would make your head spin, and we can't forget my Extreme Star Wars Obsession phase).

My boyfriend, on the other hand, does not collect or save anything unless he absolutely has to. When we moved in together, I had boxes of magazines, garbage bags of clothes and piles of burned CDs. He had a DVD/VHS collection, a comic collection, and that was about it. We have since thrown away the magazines (and goodbye to you, my darlings), donated most of the clothes, turfed the CDs and sold the comic books. It's been hard, but I'm slowly learning that it is OK to not keep everything you have ever touched in your life. Hard, but ultimately quite liberating.

Here is a short list of things I used to keep, that I have since given to a better place - be it the garbage can or a reputable charity (or a family member who enjoys being cluttered):

• Makeup that I don't actually wear and was flattering about 10 hair colours ago
  
• Clothes that don't fit, have never fit, and likely will never fit
• CD-Rs of burned video, image or sound clips that I have uploaded on my computer
• Empty perfume bottles
• Every gift or trinket I have ever been given, even if it was from the Dollar Store
• Every magazine I have purchased, in hopes of getting the most value from its purchase price (I can tell you comfortably that the value of a magazine does not appreciate with age).
• Completely random office supplies I have picked up in my travels
• Duplicates of poorly-lit and blurry photos
• Work papers, from about three jobs ago
  

In addition to freeing my life of daily junk (like the things listed above), we have recently made some changes to declutter our finances in the month of November. Granted, simply purchasing less junk can help to eliminate a lot of purchases that are difficult to track or map, but we have gone a step beyond and looked at our financial picture objectively in order to do the following:

1. We Have Cancelled our Pet Insurance. In the article "Pet Insurance - Is It Worth It?" we decided that it wasn't. It was a difficult decision for us because Murphy's Law dictates that the moment we cancelled our insurance, the dogs would become horribly, horribly ill. Luckily, they didn't, and the realization that we would still need to put the money up-front on our Line of Credit before receiving payments was enough to show us that this insurance wasn't a very solid deal. Our emergency fund/savings is now at $1,000, which means that we can cover small illnesses without worrying too much about the financial end of things.
   
   
2. We Have Frozen our Credit Cards. Unlike a lot of personal finance bloggers, I don't hate the idea of credit cards. Using credit cards responsibly (i.e. paying off you balance immediately) can be beneficial if you take advantage of cash back or reward programs, and it is also useful for tracking your purchases and adding some extra security. This point goes hand-in-hand with the next, as we have chosen to freeze our cards (literally) in order to avoid racking up any extra debt until our line of credit has been paid off. Christmas shopping is done, so there really is no need for any extra spending.
   
   
3. We are Aggressively Paying Down our Debt. We were paying down our debts, of course, but not to the point that I would consider it "aggressive". Now that our emergency fund is at a reasonable level for any potential emergencies, we are rerouting the $500+ we put into it monthly against our line of credit. Also, my public declaration to reduce our debt will serve as a reminder for the importance of paying down our debt, which will eliminate unnecessary interest payments and allow us to spend our earnings on more important things, like saving for the future.

As you can see, there are many ways that we can eliminate unnecessary excess from our life - both in terms of our financial obligations/liabilities and our personal belongings. By minimizing and streamlining our expenses and our purchases, we begin to focus on the quality of the product or service rather than the convenience of a cheaper buy. What are some things that you have eliminated from your life - financially and physically?

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
7 Decorating Tips for an Uncluttered Home
5 Essential Tools for an Efficient Day
Learning to Let Go
Take Control of Your Work Day
Minimize Your Wardrobe, Save Your Sanity

Every day we spend in our workplace, we are faced with requests from coworkers, business contacts and employers - all of whom seem to believe that their request is the most important and the most timely. Sometimes it can be downright impossible to complete your daily responsibilities alongside their added requests, and if you do manage to check off your entire to-do list, you can be dragging through a workday that is much longer than you anticipated.

We've all been there; work overload can be frustrating, stressful and dangerous to your health and the health of your career. It is reasonable to expect a certain amount of disruption in the average work day, but how do we learn to control our surroundings and focus our attention on the task at hand? Increasing your productivity in the workplace is as simple as using a few organizational tips like the ones below:

1. Stop Multitasking - The first step to increasing your productivity is to ignore everything you've heard about the wonders of multitasking. Multitasking is great in a situation where your attention is not fully needed and you can enjoy your time leisurely. When it comes to deadlines, clients or work reviews, you will complete your work quickly and correctly if you focus all of your attention at the task at hand.
   
   
2. Plan Your Attack - Take ten minutes at the beginning of your workday to make your action list. Choose your top three to five actions with the highest priority and commit to those tasks only. It's not unlikely to assume that your day will start with the most energy and you will gradually lose steam, so plan your complicated duties for the earlier part of the day and leave the simpler tasks for the end.
   
   
3. Ignore Distractions - Unless you work in a completely isolated office, you will need to handle some workplace distractions (be it a coworker's birthday party, a client meeting or a supervisor who can't seem to do things by herself). In order to fully commit to your action list, block off some time in your calendar and do not accept any meeting requests or phone calls during this time. Hang a "do not disturb" or "quiet time" sign if necessary, and make your immediate coworkers aware of your new arrangements. If you choose to go this route, be sure to leave a few minutes every day for retrieving voicemail and email messages.
   
   
4. Take a Break - All of the productivity in the world is useless if your brain becomes overloaded. After you have completed every task (or at least three times during your day), get up from your workspace and take a walk. I like to grab a drink refresher and chat with some of my favorite coworkers for 5-10 minutes and then spend the remaining 5-10 minutes checking my email and reading a few RSS feeds, which gives my mind and body a nice rest from its regular routine. Ensuring that you take advantage of some downtime in the workplace will allow you to focus on your action list instead of your blinking email icon.

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
5 Essential Tools for an Efficient Day
6 Country Philosophies for a City Lifestyle
6 Habits of Successfully Frugal People
Dealing with Difficult People
Learning to Let Go

This post would more correctly be titled "Why I don't carry a wallet, purse, clutch, bag or anything other than my keys and my bus tickets on a regular basis", but unfortunately that title is a bit too long.

Gone are the days of pretty statement bags and funky ringtones in my life; they have been replaced by a minimalist, no-nonsense approach to my travel between home and work. I no longer carry anything with me, aside from my keys and occasionally one card (my driver's license and cell phone stay in the car if I am not taking the bus that week).

Up until recently, I used to carry a big, honkin' bag with me everywhere - and in that bag, at least one day's worth of contents. Aside from weekend trips (which happened usually every other weekend) and any day-specific items (shopping sprees, gifts, etc), my bag usually contained the following:

Store Manager: I carried bank statements, piles of debit receipts, rolls of coin, payroll documents, employee files, a work uniform, a lunch, my cell phone, my keys, my day planner, an apron, pens, tax and accounting documentation, wallet, change, etc.

University Student: I carried my lunch, my cell phone, my keys, my day planner, my textbooks, my notepads, pens, highlighters, a magazine, makeup, wallet, change, etc (including seasonal items like a scarf, gloves, hat).

What's worse, I was a university student and a store manager simultaneously. I carried the contents of a bookshelf, dresser and filing cabinet in my day bag, all day and every day.

Since I started my new job and became incredibly forgetful, I have taken a bag to work with me only a handful of times. This system has been incredibly useful for me. Instead of worrying about paperwork, I load it into my Google Documents or email it to myself if I need to work at home. Instead of worrying about my makeup, I leave a small collection at work (gloss, lotion, and that's about it). I carry my cellphone on me only if I am driving my car - which is where it stays during the day. If I need to spend any money, I bring one card with me - and only if I have a pocket.

What has this method done for me?

1. I spend less money - there have been many...many, many times that I have wanted to buy something from the store, or from a helpful coworker, or from the internet, or from yet another helpful coworker, but I have been unable to do so because I don't have any money on me. Leaving my cards at home means I cannot go out for lunch, run to the store, or participate in a coworker's child's chocolate bar fund unless I plan ahead. Planning is the arch nemesis of debt.
   
   
2. I waste less time - texting or answering my cell phone at work is now a thing of the past. If I need to make a pressing call, I am forced to disrupt my day and use my office phone, which is surprising more inconvenient as it doesn't have preprogrammed numbers in it. I also have less distractions when my bag is at home; this allows me to actually focus on my job, which means I am gaining more productive time!
   

I would definitely recommend leaving your bag at home, or even forgetting your wallet on the kitchen counter. Being forced to pre-plan your activities will make you think about where you are spending your money and time, and whether or not these actions are the best for your life.

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
Learning to Let Go
Dealing with Difficult People
5 Essential Tools for an Efficient Day
10 Tips to Improve Your Life in 5 minutes or Less
7 Tips for Successful Money Management

It's amazing how giving something away can actually give you so much in return; the act of giving can boost your spirits and allow you to spend more time and energy on important things in your life. Learning to let go of our worldly restrictions is a practice best associated with Buddhist non-attachment, the idea of a life without suffering in adapting to and embracing our ever-changing world.

Learning to let go is an easy concept, but a very difficult practice. To truly let go of something, we must no longer attach ourselves to its continued existence, merely accepting that we do not need it in order to survive. Unfortunately, our society breeds a life of hoarding and saving, something that is useful for daily activities but can be detrimental if used to acquire unnecessary attachments, feelings or belongings.

The act of "letting go" can be lightening and uplifting, and it may or may not involve physical belongings. Here are some things you can let go of in your everyday life:

• Let Go of Your Money. Money is one of the most difficult things to part with, especially if you struggle to make it in the first place. I do not advocate "giving it away" and not being able to pay your mortgage or save for future goals - this money should be viewed as if it was already spent, albeit in the future. Aside from your goals and dreams and financial obligations, what money do you have laying around? If it isn't necessary to create or maintain your ideal life, what do you need it for? Learn the value of sharing and contributing to another person's life - donate to a charity, buy a gift for a friend or support organizations like Kiva.org, which gives you the opportunity to provide a loan for entrepreneurs in a developing country.
  
  
• Let Go of Negativity. Many of us hold on to negative emotions (anger, sadness, jealousy, worry) longer than we need to. These emotions are caused by something in your life, usually disappointment from unmet expectations. Learn to forgive the people who have harmed you (even yourself) and learn to let the past die; every ounce of energy spent on wasted negative emotions is energy that could be better spent on making your life better. Whether you can do this alone, with a friend or with professional counseling, letting go of negativity will do wonders in lightening your daily load.
  
  
• Let Go of Clutter. Letting go of negativity lightens your emotional space; letting go of physical clutter can lighten the rest of your life. Think of the things you own that you don't need - be it clothing, kitchen gadgets, books you've never read, or gifts you've never used. Think of ways to better use these items; often it means selling or donating them, which will give you a little extra income and provide you with a clean, well-organized living space that is easier to maintain.
  
  
• Let Go of Yourself. Pride can cost us a lot; friendships that never fully develop, issues that are never fully resolved, and a life that is never fully lived because we are too focused on ourselves. Take this opportunity to forget about your worst inhibitions, the ones that stop you from doing what you love or what you feel your purpose in life actually is. If you are working in a bank but think you should be opening your own woodworking studio, follow your passion. If you are a construction worker and want to get your CGA, follow your passion. Think about letting go of that little voice in your head that tells you "well, you oughtn't..." or "what would they think?".

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
6 Habits of Successfully Frugal People
Finding Yourself After Parenthood
7 Decorating Tips for an Uncluttered Home
Minimize Your Wardrobe, Save Your Sanity
5 Essential Tools for an Efficient Day

In our day-to-day activities we often have to deal with people who are rude, mean or downright impossible. Unfortunately, many of these difficult people are our friends, family, coworkers or employers; although life would be a lot easier if we could ignore or avoid difficult situations, sometimes that is just not an option.

Dealing with difficult people can make you angry, frustrated, upset or difficult yourself. The trick to managing your interaction with these people is to be aware of the type of person you are dealing with and the most effective way to get what you want from them - whether it's an answer to a question, some help with a problem, or simply to be left alone.

• Difficult Person Number One - Defensive Diane. Diane is the person in your office who gets her back up, even when you are giving her a compliment. "Diane, you look fantastic in those jeans" is met with "so what, I look like crap every other day?". Dealing with defensive people like Diane is nearly impossible because you can be nice or her or mean to her and get the same reaction; there is no way of knowing how to get on her "good side" (if there even is one).
  
  How do you handle Diane? Unfortunately, most defensive people are impossible to crack; something in their life completely unrelated to you has made them reactive and defensive, and your positive mood can simply be seen as a thinly-veiled insult waiting to happen. The best way to deal with Diane is to make your compliments and requests simple, and above all do not snap or become angry after she becomes defensive. Maintaining your status as a stable and non-reactive force in her life may not get her back down immediately, but will stop her defensiveness from escalating.
  

• Difficult Person Number Two - Grumpy Greg. Greg is always miserable; a simple "how do you do?" is answered with a stream of problems in Greg's life. Not only is Greg generally unhappy, but he isn't going to be satisfied until he ruins your day as well. Dealing with grumpy people like Greg can turn a good day into a bad one in no time; they say "misery loves company", after all.
  
  How do you handle Greg? I have a lot of Gregs in my life, and it has taken a while to realize that you cannot improve their mood. Sometimes the best option is to just cease interactions with the person, but that isn't always possible. Much like dealing with Diane, your best defense is a good offense - maintain your cheery, positive attitude and let his "woe-is-me" attitude roll off your back. Tell Greg how his help with your problem can improve your life and ask if there is anything you can do to return the favour.
  

• Difficult Person Number Three - Moaning Moira. Moira loves to complain and loves to do nothing about it; she gets along well with Greg because they feed off of each others' negativity. Dealing with people like Moira is draining; no matter how many cheery solutions you provide, she always has a reason why things are just impossible.
  
  How do you handle Moira? Although it can cause you to expend more energy than its worth, you might consider giving Moira some advice on how she can go about solving her problem every time she complains. Moira doesn't like the drinks in the vending machine - suggest that she speak to your office manager with her own suggestions. Moaners like the idea of complaining but not the idea of doing something; call their bluff and continue about your day being productive and useful.
  

• Difficult Person Number Four - Dramatic Dave. Dave is incredibly animated, for better or for worse. Unfortunately, you never know what will turn a good mood into a bad mood with him. Difficult people like Dave are hard to manage because they can be "set off" by the smallest things, which often means his coworkers and friends are walking on eggshells around him.
  
  How do you handle Dave? My old boss was 100% a Dave (but I couldn't use his name as it was a little bit too unique for comfort). The best way I found to deal with him was to find a solution to the problem and present it to him afterwards as an FYI - as in, "FYI, this problem happened but I did this and now we don't need to worry about it". Work on framing everything positively and you will have a positive person to work with. Get dramatic, upset or angry yourself and Dave will mirror your mood. Daves feed off of others' energy, so project a little happiness and see what happens!
  

• Difficult Person Number Five - Nasty Natasha. Natasha is just plain mean to you and you have no idea why. She isn't like Dave, who gets upset because of situations, and she isn't like Diane, who seems to have it out for everyone. Natasha has a bone to pick with you, even if you don't know why. Dealing with people like Natasha is difficult, especially if you are unsure as to why you are their latest victim; anything you do could be the reason she doesn't like you.
  
  How do you handle Natasha? Unfortunately, if you don't know what you did you can't possibly solve the problem. Consider sitting down with Natasha and asking her point-blank what her problem is (in a nice way). Let her know how much you like working with her (choke it out, come on now...) and that you want to make sure your working relationship is positive. You may need to enlist the help of others in getting your jobs accomplished if Natasha is just not going to budge. Some people are just plain mean for the sake of being mean.

This is just a brief outline of some of the difficult people you might encounter, not taking into account any emotional issues they may have or any specific problems you might encounter on a daily basis. Are there any people in particular you have a problem dealing with? What do you do to make the day a little brighter?

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
The Importance of Appropriate Workplace Attire
6 Habits of Successfully Frugal People
Take Control of Your Work Day
4 Ways to Work Your Boss
How To Survive a New Job

Like what you've read? Subscribe to liFEEDit!

It sometimes seems as though there is a select group of people who have found the secret to living frugally without having to sacrifice their wants and desires. For most people, frugal living extends to a few tips and tricks they have practiced and with which they have found success. For the select few truly frugal people, they have stopped focusing on the specific tricks of frugal living and have adopted an entirely different mindset.

To be successfully frugal is a lifestyle, not a series of behaviours; in order to become frugal in every aspect of your life, you must become aware of your own habits and how you must adopt them to become more conscientious and more discerning. The habits of successfully frugal people can be summarized as follows:

1. Increase Income. One of the most direct ways to increase the amount of money you have is to simply increase your level of income. This can be done by advancing in your current career, taking on a second job, investing or practicing other methods of money-making (i.e. creating a blog and using it to gain revenue).


2. Decrease Expenses. In addition to increasing your income, you can maximize your finances by eliminating unnecessary expenses - this may include any debts you have or simply realizing that you do not need as much cable television or new cell phones as you once believed.


3. Do-It-Yourself. Most truly frugal people have realized that it is a waste of money to pay someone to do something you know how to do yourself. This includes painting walls in your home, doing your laundry, making your pizza, and a number of other commonly-used products and services that you use for the sake of convenience.


4. Bargain-Hunt. Everyone knows a bargain hunter. The process of hunting for sales and bargains can be addictive, but the payoff can also be substantial. Once you program your thinking to only shop for clearance or sale items, you will same money by looking for the best product at the lowest price.


5. Comparison Shop. Sucessfully frugal people rarely purchase things for the first price presented to them. Whether they haggle or pour over flyers prior to any shopping trips, a frugal buyer will always look for the best deal in order to save a little money.
   


6. Less is More. This is the unspoken mantra of frugality and it applies to all of the above points. Whether you choose to call your lifestyle "frugal" or "minimalist", the concept of having fewer high-quality items instead of many low-quality items is not new. In order to think with a frugal mindset, you must stop the cycle of unnecessary spending and collection.

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
4 Steps in Dealing with Frustration
10 Budget Home Decoration Tips
Pet Insurance - Is It Worth It?
The Cost of Having a Baby
Green Living - Helping the Environment

Like what you've read? Subscribe to liFEEDit!

I feel that frustration is the one of the worst emotions a person can feel - and frustration is usually another word for anger, sadness, jealousy or grief. This is not to discount the full importance of those emotions, but frustration is often a combination of many emotions rolled into one. I hate frustration - when you are experiencing this emotion, you are unable to think clearly. Your blood pressure and stress rises unnecessarily. You begin to feel like you are trapped and are unable to find a solution to your problem.

Frustration stems from being in a situation where we do not know the answer or solution, yet we feel a strong need to resolve the problem. The worst part about being frustrated is that you often make it worse by trying to deal with the original problem; frustration becomes a problem in of itself and must be dealt with separately from the original concern.

How many of us have had a full-blown "freak out" about something, only to find a simple solution once we had calmed down? I have, many times. For example, a few weeks ago I had a very long day and needed to drive my car to pick up my boyfriend at around 11PM. I could not, for the life of me, get my car key to turn in the ignition. I was convinced that the key had somehow "demagnitized" or something, and I sat there for a good 15 minutes sobbing and wrenching the key in the ignition until my hand was chaffed and I had a nasty blister on my turning finger. To make matters worse, I couldn't get ahold of my boyfriend to tell him I was going to be late, the person at his workplace was rude and even transferred me to the wrong line. All I could think about was how I was supposed to be able to push on the brake pedal and the key should turn. It wasn't working and I was getting really upset.

Most of us know, as do I in a normal situation, what to do when this happens. I resigned myself to not being able to pick him up (made worse again by the thought of him having to wait outside and being locked out of his building) and went to sit on the computer to cry. I googled "my stupid car key won't turn in the ignition" and the answer jumped out at me - you turn the wheel. I knew this, and boy did I feel stupid when I realized how simple the solution to my problem actually was. All of the frustration disappeared immediately, replaced by a sense of embarrassment.

Frustration clouds our normal reactions and makes us act without thinking. The easiest way to resolve the situation is to eliminate the frustration, and your solution might be easier than you thought.

1. Remove Yourself From the Situation - The sooner you do this, the less worked up you will become. On the contrary - the longer you stay involved in a situation that is making you frustrated, the more reactive you will be and it will only feed your frustration. Take a walk, go into another room, ask the person on the phone to hold for a moment.
   
   
2. Be Honest About Your Emotions - If you can't leave the situation, make it very clear to whomever you're with (even if you're just talking to yourself) that you are getting frustrated and your frustration is making it hard to think and come up with a solution to the problem. If you are alone, reassure yourself that this is a situation that has gotten out of control and you are looking to control it by being aware of your reaction.
   
   
3. Calm Down - Do whatever you need to do in order to calm down - take deep breaths, meditate, rub your temples, have a piece of chocolate. Your stress levels have been elevated and you need to bring them back down in order to function normally and help diffuse the situation.
   
   
4. Find a Solution - Once you are calm and aware of your frustration, look at the situation from the outside. Is there anything you can see that would immediately solve the problem? Is there a person or resource you can use to help come up with a solution? Have you experienced something similar in your past that might help? One of these three questions will usually help lead to an answer.

Dealing with frustration is all about regaining control over the situation. Some personality types deal better with frustration than others; some can let situations roll of their backs, some get extremely upset over the smallest things. Regardless of how you handle frustrating situations, using the four steps mentioned above will help you - and others around you - deal with these problems quickly and effectively with the least amount of stress.

Previous Posts You Might Enjoy:
Frugal ≠ Cheap - Buying Better Food
5 Essential Tools for an Efficient Day
6 Country Philosophies for a City Lifestyle
10 Tips to Improve Your Life in 5 minutes or Less
Pet Insurance - Is It Worth It?

Like what you've read? Subscribe to liFEEDit!

I grew up in a town with a population of 500 people during tourist season. Moving from a situation like this into the fourth largest city in Canada was daunting, scary, and exhilarating for my 17-year old self. Flash forward one year, my savings were completely depleted and I had a dependency on "stuff" that my "friends" said I "needed". Flash forward four years, my blood pressure was up from the stress of driving in a city of people with no manners and even less consideration for their fellow driver.

Somewhere along the way, I lost a lot of what it meant to be a "rural Canadian" (for those of you who don't live in rural Canada, this means double the stereotype of the kind, modest, meek, somewhat slow Canuck) and I ended up with a tonne of metropolitan ideas and expectations, most of which were making me sick and stressed.

What is it about Country Living that is so relaxing? Why do people move out there, when there are limited resources and 24-hour-things-to-do? What are we missing from our average city day that you can get in the country?

1. Respect Your Fellow Person - In the city, car drivers disrespect bus drivers, bus drivers disrespect cyclists, cyclists disrespect cabbies, and cabbies disrespect everyone (or some other generalization of sorts). Everyone is in a rush to get home/get to work/get to the store/get three car lengths ahead that we forget other human beings are actually around us. In the country, people wave you through intersections (I am reminded of a scene in "Sweet Home Alabama", of all movies, where this especially rings true). People generally don't drive that fast, and so they don't risk the safety of others around them. Solution? Stop making rude gestures. Stop honking your horn (it's only supposed to be used in an emergency). Remember that the voice on the other end of the phone is real person. Use your signal light. Let someone -ahead- of you. Smile at your neighbour. Once you remember that the people around you are as human as you, you will treat them as such and hopefully keep your blood pressure boiling at a minimum.
   
   
2. Stop Rushing Around! - In the city, people place such importance on being the first in line or getting somewhere ASAP. In the country, everything is spread out and requires you to time your journeys accordingly. Stress is lower because you're rarely late and can take the opportunity to really enjoy your drive. Solution? Try to avoid rush-hour traffic by working alternate hours; if you can't, realize that you have no control over other drivers and that you will still get home at a generally reasonable time. Whenever possible, leave early to avoid being late. Without letting it become a distraction, do something fun - turn up the radio, sing along with it, talk to your fellow carpoolers, enjoy looking at the scenery when you're at a stand-still. Take advantage of this opportunity to get the most out of your life.
   
   
3. Shop with the Flyers - In the city, you have a wealth of stores available to you - 24-hour grocers, markets, bodegas, take-out, anything your heart desires. In the country, you usually have one grocery store and a few convenience stores at best. Shopping is limited, so people learn to buy lots of a product when the price is low and avoid higher-cost items until they go on sale. Although it takes a bit of extra planning, this method of shopping keeps costs down and really makes you think about what you're eating. Solution? Read the flyers (we have a great website in Ottawa called Flyertimes), don't shop at 10 different stores to get the best deals (you're still wasting gas and most places will have a comparable sale in the following weeks) - buy from one store and plan your meals around its sales.
   
   
4. Eliminate Easy Food - In the city, there are tonnes of take-out or delivery services for any kind of food you can imagine. In the country, at least where I lived, we had one pizza take-out and a small handful of greasy spoon restaurants. With the exception of the occasional pizza, we rarely ate at a restaurant and spent most of our time preparing, cooking and enjoying home meals. If you plan accordingly, a home meal should be an important time that allows you to connect with your family, while saving the added costs of a delivery or take-out service. Solution? Plan weekly meals. Hold a potluck. Visit a friend for dinner. Have dinner parties. Include your children in your meal preparation.
   
   
5. Pretend Your Cell Phone Doesn't Work - In the city, you can have at least 3 mobile phone services looking to get your business. In the country, my cell phone didn't even work. Kids didn't text in class. People weren't distracted by their phones when driving or (what I consider to be a grievous mistake) at the dinner table. If you wanted to call someone, you waited until you got home or to a payphone. You were not a slave to that little earpiece. Solution? Take your phone. Turn it off. Put it in your glovebox. Use it only in the event of an emergency.
   
   
6. Stop Worrying About Your Appearance - now, I mean this in the most superficial sense. Don't go complete "country" and stop bathing, but stop worrying about what others think about you. You don't "need" a specific brand of shoe, you don't "need" that new Mp3 Player (or Cell phone, see last point). In the city, you are bombarded by media marketing telling you what you want - in the country, trends hit a few months/years after the fact, and you have a bit more leeway in terms of dressing, thinking and acting in a way that is totally "you". Wouldn't that be refreshing? Solution? Do things you want to do. Think before making purchases (why do I want this?). Explore and expand your hobbies and interests.
   

By taking advantage of these philosophies, I have been able to stop and think about why I am getting road rage, why I "need" my venti sugar-free vanilla non-fat extra foamy latte (seriously), why I go to three grocery stores when the same product is available within a block of my house, and why I am so worried about "appearing" professional when I already know I am. Country people may get a bad rap when it comes to being "hip" or "cool", but they definitely know a thing or two about living.

Like what you've read? Subscribe to liFEEDit!

We often focus on the larger tasks in our life, breaking them down into smaller, manageable chunks in order to process them quickly and efficiently. In working through these smaller chunks, we can become overwhelmed with tasks and end up with a less-organized situation than with which we began! While it is important to focus our energy on crucial tasks, sometimes spending as little as five minutes can make our lives easier and help us feel more accomplished and stress-free.

What are some ways you can improve your life in five minutes or less?

1. Listen to Your Favourite Song - especially effective if you're in a slump and need a little energy, listening to an upbeat song can get you back on track and give you a little extra juice to keep going throughout your day.
2. Floss Your Teeth - something as simple as flossing can improve your smile, make your breath fresher, and even help lower the risk for some health issues.
3. Have a Cuppa Joe - for those of you who drink coffee, it will give you an extra perk as well as provide you with some nice health benefits as a side-effect!
4. Update Your Calendar - take advantage of a few minutes of downtime to update your calendar with any crucial events for the upcoming week. Five minutes of review and updates daily can make your life more organized and give you a better picture of what needs to be accomplished.
5. Give or Get a Hug - whether you hug a child, an animal, a friend or even a complete stranger, this contact will send all sorts of feel-good emotions through your system and help you feel better connected to the world.
6. Check your Credit - if you are currently using a credit card, flip it over and call the number on the back. Using telebanking, check your balance amount to ensure that no unauthorized payments have been made in your name, and to remind you of any motivation you have to eliminate outstanding debt!
7. Eat a Piece of Fruit - Whole fruit is much better for you than juice - you get the added fibre, which takes your body longer to digest and gives you a longer energy burst. Grab a apple or an orange (or any easy-to-eat fruit) to keep hunger pangs at bay and energy levels high.
8. Drink a Glass of Water - a lot of us become cranky and tired when we are not properly hydrated. To ensure that you are getting enough water, fill up a glass (add some lemon or cucumber if you'd like) and get sipping!
9. Pick Everything Up Off the Floor - depending on how ambitious you are, this could be one room or several. Dirty clothes, in the hamper. Loose papers, filed away or thrown away. Garbage, well...we know where that should be, and it isn't on your floor.
10. Send an Email - whether you need to get a work email completed or you haven't spoken to a long-distance friend in month, send out a well-planned and complete email. Take your five minutes to focus on strengthening your relationship with another person, even if it is just by email.

Like what you've read? Subscribe to liFEEDit!

One of the most important parts in my life is maintaining a streamlined, efficient day that allows me to focus on more important things (my family, advancing my career, making a beautiful home, etc).

We have to handle a lot in our day-to-day lives...family responsibilities, work responsibilities, bill payments, social obligations, cooking, cleaning, being a productive member of society, and the list continues. I make a point to try and fill my life with the highest quality experiences possible, so it is important for me to be able to enjoy them to their fullest.

Some things, I wouldn't count as an "essential tool" - my car, computer, cell phone, and other things that are simply facts of my life. Everything else better make my life better, simpler, easier...or it's gotta go (or at least be dealt with reasonably).

1. Google is by far the most important tool in organizing my daily life. I used Gmail, Picasa, Calendar, Notebook, Documents and Reader to easily access all of my documents from home, work or any other computer I may be using. Having all of my files and information accessible online stops a pileup of printing, CDs, back-and-forth emailing and other time-killers. One caveat - make sure you regularly back up your documents, either on a CD-RW or a flash drive. If something should happen (heaven forbid) to your files, at least you'll have a starting point to recovery.
   
2. Family Binder is a DIY tool I use to keep all of our important personal documentation in paper form. While most of my information is online, good old fashioned paranoia requires me to keep actual personal information in a large 3" binder. We have different tabs for each category (house, utilities, insurance, dogs, personal, etc), a sheet for cards and clear plastic sheet covers for each document. It's hefty, but the binder provides a sense of security that all of our documents are in one easily accessible place.
3. Online Banking is essential. I have never been good at paper banking, balancing checkbooks and even checking paper bills. Online, I can do direct transfers, pay bills, review statements and invoices, and balance all of mine and my family's information. Included in my "online banking" bookmark folder is anything related to bills - online insurance profiles, our telephone bill and even the bill for our heating company. This makes life so much easier and, like Google, allows me to access my information from anywhere - especially useful if I have a spare moment somewhere away from home!
4. Firefox goes hand-in-hand with Google. GoogleSync is an amazing extension that allows me to access all of my information in the same way, whether I am at home or work (both of which have Firefox and the Sync extension). If my browser crashes, it will restore the last tabs used. If I start something at home, I can pick up easily at work.
   
5. 5 Minutes. The final essential tool to my efficient day is 5 minutes of peace and quiet. Sometimes I get it when I am driving home from work; sometimes a few moments in the bath will suffice. I take this time to think about myself, selfishly - not my family, not my job, not even what I will be doing after these five minutes. If I'm lucky, I usually manage to extend this 5 minute break to at least 10 minutes, if not more ;).

As you can see, a good chunk of these relate to computer and internet use. I don't fight technology, I make a point of embracing it (so long as I don't have to spend money I don't have on things I don't need) especially since most of my time is spent with my face in a computer screen. Remember - no system is perfect, only perfect for your needs. What do you need to stay efficient?

Like what you've read? Subscribe to liFEEDit!