The other day I happened upon the most amazing function in Gmail. Did you know there is a built in To Do list app? and you have the option of tying it in to an email thread? I didn't have a clue this existed. Apparently one of my husband's online friends pointed it out to him. All I know is I sat down in front of the PC and noticed this lovely little task box pop up in the … [Read more...]
Find out how to #SaveNProtect
Did you know November was Financial Literacy Month? Financial literacy means having the knowledge and skills to make solid financial decisions. Knowing that knowledge and access to information is the true key to financial literacy, Insurance Bureau of Canada wants to help Canadians To Save and Protect. The goal is to help you SAVE money by better understanding your home, auto … [Read more...]
Give the Gift of Education, Tips for Saving Towards a Child’s Registered Education Savings Plan
Years ago, I had a good friend who had young kids, and for each special occasion, be it Christmas or their birthdays, she would ask that instead of buying a gift we give money towards their Registered Education Savings Plan. Instead of going out and buying a baby outfit or a stuffed doll, I would grab a pretty card and stuff a cheque in there for $10 or $20. Done. Awesome. The … [Read more...]
Holiday Shopping Made Easy with Shoppers Drug Mart
Shoppers Drug Mart is a one stop spot for holiday shopping. You can get everything from holiday treats and snacks to put out for when company arrives, to decorations, stocking stuffers and gifts. They are always open late, and I’m guessing that like me, your closest Shoppers is only a short walk or drive away. Ho Ho Ho. Yep, I love Shoppers Drug Mart, but do you know why I … [Read more...]
Money Tips for Travelling with Kids
Do you remember the days before you had kids? How different life was! I’ve just been thinking about the vacations I used to take before I had my girls in tow. OK - I’d plan the whole trip but I’d always allow plenty of room for things to just sort of happen and I never worried too much about the money side of it all. That’s all changed now that I am travelling as part of … [Read more...]
How to Create an Art Centre in Under 5 Minutes with 3M Hooks & Cord Clips
My six year old daughter LOVES to draw. She will happily spend hours at her art table creating masterpieces. I wanted to tidy up her art space and give her "a place for everything and everything in it's place". We have two small lidded plastic bins for her piles of colouring books and art creations. This is also where we've been stowing her pencils, crayons, scissors and … [Read more...]
How to Save Money on Car Insurance, One Important Factor that Can Save You BIG
Ever wonder how auto insurance works? Basically everyone pays into a big pool, and claims are paid out of that pool. The payment you make is called a premium. You pay a premium to your insurance company so that you'll be covered if something bad happens. But because not everyone gets into an accident, or has their car stolen, there are more people paying into the pool than … [Read more...]
Lunch-Making Time and Sanity Savers, Tips & Tricks
How are you guys coping with the back to school lunch making routine? I feel like I'm getting into my lunch making groove, and I am shocked to find that I actually prefer having to pack school lunches every day, rather than every other. How do you ensure your kids eat their school lunch? How do you save time getting lunches ready? As part of my Rubbermaid LunchBlox giveaway … [Read more...]
5 Tips from IAMS on How Cats & Dogs CAN Happily Co-Exist
"Fighting like cats and dogs" is a pretty common catch phrase, but it isn't always true. I remember being shocked as a kid when I discovered that my family's cat and my grandparent's dog got along just fine. Cats and dogs can tolerate each other, even grow to be good companions and friends. If you're considering playing both sides of the "Cats are better pets.", "No, dogs … [Read more...]
Back to School Recap
I hope September has been treating you and yours well? Aside from the inevitable nasty cold making it's way through our household and a little bit of separation anxiety on the part of my littlest girl, things have been going pretty smoothly over here. To help mark our third week of back to school, here's a quick recap of Maple Leaf Mommy's back to school giveaways and … [Read more...]
The Importance of Tenant’s Insurance… or Advice I Wish My Younger Self Had Received
I remember moving into my first apartment. I was twenty-one years old and starting university. My parents had just bought a new house out in the county, with no bus route on hand and no easy way to get into the city each day to make it to classes I was forced to find my own place. I remember the excitement of having my own space, and filling it with the various necessities. … [Read more...]
Would YOU be prepared in the event of a natural disaster?
The deadly tornadoes that have hit in the Midwestern US are a wake-up call for us all to make sure we do what we can to be prepared to face severe weather. A natural disaster like a tornado can form at any time, sometimes with little to no forewarning. Having a family emergency plan in place just might save lives. I remember the devastation when an F1 tornado touched down in … [Read more...]
Let’s Talk Insurance ~ Private Run vs. Government Run Auto Insurance
IBC, Insurance Bureau of Canada, has been working to make insurance less confusing. Their Time to Talk campaign is all about explaining to people how insurance works and what it means for them, in everyday terms. So as part of their Time to Talk campaign, I'm here today to talk about the difference between private and government run insurance, auto insurance in specific, and … [Read more...]
How Insurance Fraud Hurts Everyone & What You Can Do to Help
The Insurance Bureau of Canada is a national association that represents the insurance companies that give you coverage on your home or car. I've complained for years about how high our insurance rates are, particularly our car insurance, but I've never really thought about the reasons behind it. Reading up on the Insurance Bureau of Canada really put it into perspective for … [Read more...]
The Mystery of the Disappearing Emails, or How NOT to Use Gmail
I finally figured out why my emails have mysteriously been disappearing, part of the problem is me and part of the problem is with how Gmail works. I only started using Gmail in the past few months. I've had a Gmail address for years, but in the past I forwarded everything to Outlook, resident on my desktop PC and did all my email stuff from there. This set up was great for … [Read more...]