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Tackling the Job Hunt

January 24, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / One comment

Help Wanted © by 91st Customs™ 2012

This week I am tackling the job hunt. Last week my childcare services for the families I worked with all of a sudden were no longer needed as their place of employment was hit with large layoffs. So all of a sudden my source of income is gone.

So this week I hit the job hunting trail running. I am treating my fulltime job hunt as a fulltime job, and if you are a job hunting so should you.

What else am I doing, and how can you my readers possibly help me?

1. Attitude is everything. I am starting my day with gratitude for the small things that I do have. I have a little journal and I am writing a short list of what I am grateful for in the moment.

2. Staying healthy. One can’t job hunt well if you are sick. Eating well, resting, moving are all important. I am also taking my vitamins and trying to get over a cold that I have had for weeks.

3. Networking. Because I have an active online presence I have put it out there I am hireable but more important, I am looking for ways I can help and encourage others. I have found that is what works best is me is when I am giving, sharing, caring, which is who I am naturally that good things come my way.

4. I have a spreadsheet, every day I am entering my to do list, brands, people I want to connect with to see what might be possible. At the end of the day I check my list. Yesterday and today it was all about connecting with people in my past for references, and applying for 2 open jobs with 2 of my favorite places.Staying organized is a key for a successful job hunt.

5. Taking time away from the job hunt to enjoy the little moments life brings. Having a wee bit of me time will be a key to my sanity.

6. Adjusting the budget. With the loss of income I am down to the bare minimum money wise. I have to be more than careful with every penny. Reality is I have 6 weeks to find a job or I have an empty wallet and that is the harsh reality. 6 weeks folks.It can be done.

7. Asking you my readers, do you know of an open job that you think would be perfect for me?

I am leaving a link here to my Linkedin Profile, just incase you are hiring so this is what I am tackling what about you?

*I am participating in 5minutesformom’s Tackle Tuesday

Category: Money / Tags: jobhunt, work

Making and Keeping a Budget

January 18, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / 3 comments

Budgeting © by RambergMediaImages

One of best things I ever did for myself was learn what a budget was and how it could help me. A budget got me on track and moving towards my goals. A budget today keeps me on track.

So where to begin.

Begin where I began.

Know where you are at. You have to know what you have and don’t have. When I had to sit down and face my reality, it helped me to be more realistic. Track your habit for 30 days, gather up those bank statements, and look at what they are showing you. Do you notice any trends. If you are bouncing checks, not saving, not paying the bills, yet spending on junk you know you have an issue and that is where I was.
So now you know, Get the resources to help you. For me this was forced on me with my bankruptcy, there were forms to be filled out every month and I had to keep track of how I spent every penny. Now, one of my mentors while I was going through all this was the amazing wonderful Gail VazOxlade. On her blog she has some excellent resources for tracking, and doing the things that will help you like office in the box. Gail’s guide to building a budget takes you through it step by step. I highly recommend it. These days I have been using Mint.com to track my budget.
Got the resources, Set a date. We all like to put off those chores we don’t like and many people see a budget as just that a chore, so set a date. Plan a time when you can sit down and get to work. Setting a deadline often helps you get to a goal as well.

So you have your budget. Great, now comes the hard part, keeping it. For me my budget is like a roadmap that is keeping me on the road I want to travel. I have a destination I want to reach and my budget is a tool that will help me get there. Budgeting works for me, it helps this scatterbrained spendthrift stay on task, it focuses me. What does budgeting do for you?

Category: Money / Tags: budgeting, money

Thrifting Thursday: Do you shop in thrift stores?

January 12, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / 5 comments

Value Village © by bradley j

Do you shop in thrift stores?

I do.

There are 3 Canadian ones that I love to hit up quite regularly: Value Village, Salvation Army and Goodwill.When my daughter was younger there was also a consignment store Ages and Stages (it is on the Danforth if you are in Toronto).

I have shopped second-hand stores for as long as I can remember. Think of it like going to a garage sale without having to rummage through someone’s garage or backyard. I find it is a great way to be eco-friendly and save more than just a few dollars and if you are a vintage designer you love a good thrift store, there are so many things that can be tweaked and upscaled for your home.

Because of my love for the second-hand I have decided to start a new regular feature called Thrifting Thursday to my blog. I will be sharing what I found, how things can be reused (upscaled), and discussing thrift in general. Why be thrifty? Think more money to do the other things you want to do and love.

I also want you my readers to share your great finds, and I will be looking for guest bloggers to write about their great finds, upscales, frugal decor, etc on Thursdays.

Now about one of my most recent finds. Right before Christmas I really wanted to have lanterns on my new mantle. Yes, in the new apartment, there is a beautiful fireplace mantle that is the focal point of my living-room. So I really wanted to decorate it with lanterns, but every lantern I saw was out of my budget. Then one day, at the Goodwill store at the end of my street, I spotted 2 lanterns, silver, weathered and perfect for my mantle. Best part I got both for $3.I love when I find what I am looking for in a thrift store. What about you? Have you thrifted lately and are u willing to share your story?

Category: Frugal Tips, Money / Tags: second hand stores, thrift, thrift stores

Changing Banks Can Be Simple

January 11, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

Bank Safe Combination © by Todd Ehlers

Have you ever been frustrated at your bank? Ever thought of switching banks but didn’t want the hassle or headaches? Did you know it is easier than ever to switch financial institutions?

“A new, national survey conducted by FirstOntario Credit Union, one of Canada’s leading member-owned financial cooperatives, reveals that the average Canadian has been with the same bank for more than 15 years, yet more than 40 per cent of those surveyed are unhappy with the high service fees their bank charges them. “ They asked 2500 hundred Canadians this question and this is what they found.

Canadians like me are so very tired of bank fees. We are all looking for ways to save, and reducing or even eliminating bank fees is on the mind of many. Most Canadians put up with the bank fees simply because they think it will a hassle to change banks.

Let me make it clear: changing banks can be very simple!

In that same survey 42% of Canadians said they weren’t happy with were they were. I think all the banks need to look at that figure. An other 10% said that even though they thought of switching they simply did not want the headache, or thought it would be too hard.

How wrong they are, switching banks here in Canada can be simple and painless.

First Ontario Credit Union today released 5 steps that you can use to switch banks, even if a credit union is not for you, it is a simple process.

5 STEPS TO LEAVING YOUR OLD BANK FOR GOOD

There are serious misconceptions among Canadians about what is involved in switching financial institutions, and for many people even the thought of switching can be daunting. The reality is that switching is simple and straightforward and we can even help you switch. Here are five simple steps to get you started.

1. SET A DATE

Any big decision requires a bit of planning and getting organized. Setting a date will give you time to plan according to a timeline that works for you.

There is nothing like a deadline to get most of us moving!

2. TELL A FRIEND

As simple as this might sound, it may surprise you how many people you know have actually switched banks or gone to a community-based credit union. Their experience may prove useful, and they can point out shortcuts or give you tips that could come in handy.

More than 10 million Canadians are members of an affiliated credit union or caisse populaire across Canada, drawn by lower banking fees and the ability to have a voice in how their financial institution is run.

3. OPEN YOUR NEW ACCOUNT

Generally, you are able to open a new account with an initial deposit. Plus, at a credit union you will also become a member and co-owner at the same time.

At FirstOntario Credit Union, getting started is easy. Click here to find out how we can take care of most of the details – free of charge.

4. GET YOUR NEW ACCOUNT IN ORDER

Ensure your new account is fully functioning:

* Order new cheques and a new credit card

* Reroute your direct debits – we can help! Click here to find out how.

* Reroute your direct deposits – ask the credit union for a direct deposit authorization form that includes your new account information. Give this form to your employer and anyone else who makes direct deposits to your account. It may take one or more pay cycles for the change to be made, so keep your old chequing account open and watch for the switch.

If you have direct deposits for payroll or government cheques, FirstOntario will also provide you with a form to assist you with switching over any incoming deposits you may have on the old account.

5. SET-UP ONLINE BANKING

Online banking has become a standard offering by most financial institutions. FirstOntario provides Members with a number of easy, convenient ways to bank and access your money. You may even want to use more than one type of access, depending on your location, the time of day, and the type of service you need.

Now even if you are not thinking of a credit union, these steps will work no matter where you are thinking of.

I want to add an extra step here:

6.DO YOUR RESEARCH

Find what is going to work best for you, and your money needs. Honestly, being with a credit union served me well for years but at this time it doesn’t work well, so I found a solution that did. The reason a credit union doesn’t work at this time, I can’t get face time with a teller close by. For me location was an important element in deciding.

*this is a paid post by First Ontario, and #myownbank. Even with it being a paid post, my opinions and thoughts remain my own. First Ontario is also the paid sponsor for the #cdnmoney chat on Jan. 11, 2012. They will not have input at the conversation, but will be watching the feed to see what thoughts real Canadians have about banking.

Category: Money / Tags: Banking, First Ontario, money, switching banks

Choosing the Right Financial Institution

January 10, 2012 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

Bank © by 401K

How did you decide where you bank? What were or are you looking for in your financial institution? How do you know recognize a great bank?

These are just some of the questions we are going to talk about this Wednesday as part of the #cdnmoney chat on Twitter.

For me I have personally banked with a few credit unions along the way, and 3 of Canada’s big banks. Most recently I’ve been banking with BMO, Desjardins, and ING Direct. I am new customer to the last one on the list.

I was first attracted to BMO because of their partnership with Airmiles, and over the years I have seen several dividends from it. But I also love my little home branch on the Danforth. Most times when I have to visit a branch I get good service and when I have had a problem with the account I can call 24/7 and get an answer. In the almost 10 years I have been with them I have only once ever had a bad customer service experience. But I pay through the nose. I hate the fees upon fees at the BMO. So because BMO charges so much to look after my money I started to look at other banks and do the comparisons.

Last year I paid out over $300 in fees, and I am a small customer, so I wonder what others had to pay. As well the interest rates are not the best at BMO.

I started banking with Desjardins, the largest credit union in North America quite by accident. I had been banking with the Province of Ontario when they had their own financial institution which they then sold to Desjardins. My little branch in Hamilton, and then my branch on the Danforth( which they closed) served me well for many years. I loved the service. I loved the low fees and they knew me. Even when I was a welfare mom, and this is where I banked during those hard years I always was treated with respect. I was very sad when they actually closed the branch on the Danforth. The staff there were wonderful. My account there has been practically dormant because I no longer find in convenient to get to the location, and I don’t want to get dinged with an ATM fee.

When Desjardins closed the Danforth location I started looking at other banks on the Danforth and decided on BMO because of the partnership with Airmiles at the time, as I look back not necessarily the best reason for choosing a financial institution.

This time around as I am looking to rebuild credit, and save for a future. I looked a little more carefully, and with an agenda in mine. I will be honest if I had found a credit union nearby I may have chosen one but decided on ING Direct. Why?

Here is what I was looking for:

1. Low fees or nonexistent fees for accounts with even less than $1,OOO that allow for a number of debit transactions for free, I use debit quite a bit.

2. A fair interest rate.

3. Smart, friendly customer service, make me feel like you care about my money.

4. As I rebuild I will be looking at things like perhaps RRSP, mortgage etc so they had to have good products for these areas of my life as well.

5. Since I am a digital mom, a decent online presence.

6. ATM’s where I need them.

I think when we look at banking and what we want and need we have to know we can change banks if you aren’t getting what you need, you can find a lower rate, higher rate, better customer service, whatever the key elements are for you. Remember though banks can change fees, products etc. so it is important to keep up to date on what your bank is doing. If you don’t like what you are getting you can find often a bigger bang for your dollar, meaning you spending less, and getting more value. How about you? What is important to you when it comes to banking? and choosing a bank?

Category: Money / Tags: Banking, BMO, Credit Union, First Ontario, ING Direct

For 2012: 30 Canadian Money Blogs to Read to be Money Smart

December 29, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / 4 comments

Three years ago in 2009 I wrote a list of Canadian Bloggers that help you be money smart. Well that post is my most read post each and every year.It is also on the front page of Google when you search for Canadian money blogs or Canadian frugal blogs. With that said I decided since there have been many new entrants since I wrote this list in June 2009 I would list who I read now. These bloggers help me be money smart. I have learned from each of them. Each of them offers a different take. Some are investment bloggers, some deal with Mortgages, some are frugal bloggers, some know a great deal. All of them are worth reading and knowing. They say here in Canada, 2012 will be another hard year for many a Canadian family so I wanted you my reader to prepared by giving you a great list of bloggers who can help you chart your financial course.

These bloggers are shared in no particular order. Some are moms just like me, some work with money day in day out, some are bankers, some are investors, and all are money smart. If you are like me and always wanting to make the most of your dollar here is a list of great reads that will help with that:

1. Gail Vazoxlade- We all know Gail from her hit TV Show Princesses, but her blog gives us a regular dose of money medicine. I have been blessed to had dinner with Gail and a gang of other bloggers this year. Getting to know her a bit better has only made me want to read her blog more.

2. Sqwakfox-Kerry is one of those old time (meaning she has been blogging for years) personal finance bloggers. Her blog is on a number of best read lists. She is practical which is why I love her.

3. Marcy Berg -Marcy is a mortgage broker, and the owner of Mortgages for Women, I first met her in person, then started following her blog, she is smart and knows her stuff, and great woman to read.

4. Fabulously Broke in the City- is another older personal finance blog. She has gone from being broke to now have a net value of a cool $250,000 all in just a few years. She also lives simply and has another blog that talks about that.

5. Simply Frugal- Taya started her blog about the same time I started mine, so we are both almost 4 years old. She posts deals, money saving tips and even some great recipes.

6. Give Me Back My 5 Bucks. I love Krystal and her blog. She has been debt free since 2007. She also writes for Moneyville and you can even find her talking money quite frequently with me on the #cdmoney chat stream.

7. Where Does All My Money Go Preet is an investment guy. He knows his stuff and has even won a spot as The W Network’s money expert. He also let me guest post over on his blog last year so a good guy in my books.

8. Money Smarts- This blog used to be Four Pillars and then Mike started this one. Its focus is on personal finance with an emphasis on investing topics. Another long time blogger who knows his stuff.

9.Canadian Dream:Free at 45- Tim started this blog as he dreamed of retiring at 45. Well I am there now and no where near retiring. One can dream though, but this guy is showing how it can be done.

10. Ellen Roseman- is a columnist with the Toronto Star, and one of the writers on their Moneyville blog, as is Krystal. She has been writing about money for years.

11. Moneyville- The Toronto Star started this blog just over a year ago and it has some great writers who I have read all before they came to Moneyville.

12.Peter Aceto- as CEO of ING Direct, he is a voice in the banking industry that I read and listen too.

13. The Canadian Personal Finance Blog- Big Cajun Man has been blogging as well for years and simply put he talks about everything money. I love how personal he is in some of his posts.

14.Canadian Couch Potato-Dan is a journalist who knows investing. If you want to know about index investing this blog is a must read.

15. Retire Happy Blog-Jim has been talking and teaching money for 20 years. He offers money talk that is timeless.

16. Boomer and Echo is a fairly new find of mine. They are mother and son team who want we all want to retire knowing we can manage. Really I am enjoying discovering this new read to me.

17. The Asian Pear- Is a young woman I love to read, she writes about day to day what she is doing to save, and lives in a very practical way.

18. Bargainista- I love Eden. She doesn’t write a lot about money, but she does know how to find a great deal, and is actually very money smart as I can attest because I know her in real life now too.

19.Smart Canucks is another blog that helps you find a great deal, or freebie, for me it helps me to be frugal.

20. Canadian Mortgage Trends is a blog all about the Canadian Mortgage industry. If you need to know what is happening and how it can effect your mortgage this is a blog to follow.

21. Canadian Capitalist is a blogger with Moneysense. Ram has been writing about about money for years and is well worth reading, he truly knows Canadian money.

22. The Wealthy Boomer is a blogger and writer with The Financial Post. He is also an author of get this a a financial romance. That alone is reason to read what he writes.

23.Million Dollar Journey-also writes about investing, he is a young man on a journey and on the way he shares everything from best credit card to have in your wallet, to index investing.

24. Thicken My Wallet- This blog written by the president of an investment company offers much in the way of personal finance talk and investing.

25. Bank Nerd Need to know anything about banking, then this is the blog you want to be following.

26. Financial Uproar Nelson is young, just starting out, but I love his wit, and for a young man he is very smart.

27. Mrs. January is another frugal mom like me, who is trying to be money smart. She shares deals and some great practical posts on saving money.

28. Sustainable Personal Finance-this blog written by a couple shares the story of meeting money goals while being eco friendly and green.

29. Nickel by Nickel- Another new find of mine, an east coast gal who wants to keep track of her money nickel by nickel

30.Common Cents Mom- Of course I want you to come here and learn, and grow with me as I move forward. For me this blog will be about having real money conversations and sharing things that help me day to day, whether it be frugal, or finance I will continue to share my journey here.

And don’t forget you can connect with many a Canadian money blogger on Wednesday nights on Twitter 7-8pm EST for the #cdnmoney chat. Come and join the conversation and may you get the insights you need to be money smart.

Category: Money, Opinion / Tags: bloggers, blogs, frugal, Investing, money, Personal Finance

What If A Bank Was Actually Listening to You?

December 27, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

Ever feel like you are getting shafted by you local bank? Ever feel like it might just be better to have your money in your piggy bank? Sometimes I feel that way. When I have to pay fees each and every month just to keep an account open I cringe, and what about the fees every time you need to do an unique transaction.

When I was in high school I opened my first savings account. It wasn’t with a bank though it was with a credit union. My mom had just married my step father and well my new uncle managed a local credit union in Manitoba. I learned about being a shareholder in my banking experience.For many years I had a credit union account because it made sense and I had a say. You see with credit unions every member has a say, something we do not have when we bank with the big banks. I attended many a shareholders meeting over the years and it was nice to know I could voice my opinion, that I had a say, and that they were actually listening to me.

My family has dealt with the big banks, and credit unions over the years and sometimes I just don’t understand why the bigger banks have such outrageous fees, and policies, over the years sometimes they have confounded me, but I have never felt that way with my credit union account. My sister’s mortgage is at a credit union, and so are others in my family, you see when it came time to get their mortgage it made the best sense.

One of the things I like best about being at a credit union they actually really listen to the customer. They engage their shareholders and care about what we say after all we own the bank. So what would you say if you owned your bank? One credit union really wants to know the answer to that question right now. So what if you owned your bank? What do you want them to know and know this your comments will be read, and heard. So I want to know here what would you tell them? and I want you to actually tell them at My Own Bank.

So what would you do if you owned your own bank?

* This post is sponsored by My Own Bank but my opinions and thoughts on the matter are mine so I really want to know what you think.

Category: Money / Tags: . My Own Bank, Bank, Credit Union, money

My Christmas Gift to You : 6 Apps that Help Canadians Save

December 20, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

Tis the time of year for this mom to share.

It is time that I give you some presents.

How about Apps that can help you save money?

I have done the research to bring my readers some of the best Apps there are to help to you save.

Do you drive a car? Then Gas Buddy is for you. Why pay more than you have to? You can find the cheapest gas prices, and more with this excellent app for every driver.This really is the App every driver should have.

Want to find a hot spot? The nearest one? so you don’t eat into your data plan. Then you want WiFi Finder. Make sure you never go over your data plan again with this nifty app. This application searches for all the free Wifi hotspots near you. It claims to cover 465,000 free hotspots over 140 countries.

Like to save money on your shopping? Then Shopcatch is for you. It lets you know where the closest deals are to you. There are also mobile coupons and you can even get alerted to deals at your favorite store as they happen.

Another app that lets you save on your shopping is the Red Flag Deals app.It is for the iPhone and iPod Touch and it makes it easy to stay on top of the latest Canadian deals,coupons, and freebies from wherever you are. Take it shopping with you.

Are you like me a coupon loving mom? Then Clip mobile is perfect for you and for us Canadians it is the coupon app to have. Clip Mobile allows Canucks to search, save and redeem special offers from their favourite stores and restaurants from their local area. The coupons are listed directly by businesses, rather than aggregated from newspaper inserts or direct mailers. Just show the cashier the coupon on your mobile device and you save.

Want to know what that saved money is worth in the future or have a money goal then Money Talk might just be for you.

These are 6 great apps to have and I hope they help you save in the year ahead. By the way each and every one of them is a FREE download.

Category: Frugal Tips, Money / Tags: Applications, Apps, money, save

A Will Leaves You Prepared

November 15, 2011 / Common Cents Mom / No comments

Do you have a will?

Recently a few of my friends have suddenly lost a spouse. I was very thankful to here that they had things in order, and am very thankful for the statistic that shows most Canadians do have a will. Quite a few people think of a will as something to be scared of or something that needs to be done later in life. They are wrong because things do happen; situations that can leave a person incapacitated or worse. These are the types of situations that require a discussion of wills, trusts and estates.It is better to be prepared for a situation so that you are leaving your family taken care of.

What is a Will?
A will is a legal document that carries out a person’s last wishes. It is a typed or handwritten document that makes it clear your wants and desires after you have died. It means your wealth and assets are given out how you wish.

Wills have been around for hundreds of years. First used by the Ancient Romans and refined by the British, wills have been long used to bequeath estates to benefactors that are specifically chosen by the writer of the document. The have been used to fight against royalty, save families and have been known to save thousands of animals with well-meaning donations and bequests.

Why Have a Will?
Creating a will is one of the most important things a person can do in their lives! The sooner you do it the better. Talking about death is a hard conversation that way too many people put off. The reality of life is, death; there’s nothing more certain. Writing a will doesn’t speed up the process, it simply leaves a person prepared for the inevitable; which could be the best decision they ever make.

A Legal Will can:

Protect your family: By personally directing your assets to your spouse, children or family, you can ensure that they thrive.
Name an executor: By naming an executor in your will, you can be sure that someone you trust is dealing with your precious possessions.
Help carry out your last wishes: Whether you always dreamed of having your ashes spread in the ocean or that the local humane society inherits your whole cash estate, your will can see to it that your dreams can come true.
Avoid long delays in settling your estate: When you have a legal will, there isn’t much to dispute.
Help you recognize your loved ones: If you always wanted to leave your cherished coin collection to your best friend, your will can ensure that it happens.
Appoint a guardian: Through your will you can state exactly who you would like to have raising your children in the event of you and your spouses’ inability.
Name your own beneficiaries: Your will can state exactly who gets what and how much. Without a will, your whole estate will go to a court appointed beneficiary and in some cases, this may not be your wish.

Without this simple legal document, many of these decisions will go through the court system called probate which can cost our loved ones and family time, effort, money and emotional well-being.

If you don’t have a will why not?

Did you know you can even prepare on your own? You can purchase a simple will kit and they are fully legal. You do not need to spend a fortune to be prepared for the future, may I suggest if you don’t have one please get it done soon.

Category: Money, Opinion / Tags: canadian will, death, final planning, will

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