Canadian Budget Binder

Do you find men attractive when they know how to save money? If only they stood out among the rest like in a crop ready to be harvested. Are more and more men leaving the budgeting up to the women?

When I say Frugal I don’t mean cheap-skates getting flowers from the dumpster I mean men who are mindful of their money and understand how to save.  Men that are frugal understand that delayed gratification can take them to higher levels on their path in life. Learning how to do things for themselves and not hiring someone provides men with a sense of  pride that no one can ever take away. Men that aren’t in debt and understand that emotionally spending their money won’t get them ahead are the one’s who sleep better at night. Even saving small amounts of money over time will grow a nice emergency savings to help pay for the unexpected.

I’m noticing more men nowadays  roaming deal and coupon sites to see if they can get more bang for their buck. Stockpiling on deodorant and shampoo doesn’t sound like a bad idea when you can get it almost free with a coupon right on the shelf. Yes it’s true most men MISS a coupon right in front of their faces only because shopping isn’t their number one choice activity.

Here at Canadian Budget Binder I have seen an increase in the men who “Like” our page or subscribe to the blog. They are also coming out and participating in conversation which I believe the women think is macho. No I’m not talking about muscle or good looks I’m talking about budgeting and saving money.

Most women on my Facebook page say they are in charge of the finances and complete the family budget. Why are more men not involved in understanding how money keeps food on the table and a roof over their heads? Realistically men like to just go out and make the money, they don’t want to sort it out.  I’m hoping to change that, I’m hoping to have more men jump aboard with me and lay it all out on the table.  Believe it or not there are loads of us men out here who enjoy seeing our Savings grow.

Would the women who do all the budgeting gladly trade rolls with their significant other or be ready to work as a team? Absolutely, no one wants to be the one responsible in the end “if” the finances take a bad turn. Working as a team makes for a better understanding and the women dig it. Funny thing is it goes both ways. There are men out there who are in charge of the money and budget and want their wife to jump aboard with them. No picking on just the men here.

Saving money and using coupons is a perceived past time of little old grannies but now decades of savings have continued on into today’s generation.  Who knew you could save money with a product price adjustment? Would you go back into a store if I told you they would hand you $50 back for that tool you bought just 2 days earlier? I bet you would (that would buy you a case of beer), but the problem is not so much the men it’s the message isn’t received. I know men who have tunnel vision when they shop, they get in and get out. They don’t have time to peruse up and down the isles looking for deals and reduced items. They have “other things” to get done…. remember that ” DIY project” or the “Honey Do List”~

I’ve been a saver all my life and not  because I have a Debt Management Degree but simply because I didn’t want the stress of owing people money with nothing to pay them with. When I moved half way across the world to marry my wife I sure as heck would not have done it if she was not a financially independent woman and she will tell you the same thing about me.  It is what it is, I love women who take charge of situations and are go-getters.

I wanted a woman who has goals and is motivated by the success of achieving them whether small or large, short or long-term.  That is just me though but there are many women out there who love  a man who has a career,goals and money in his wallet because he knows how to keep it there.  So yes my wife is not only sexy but she is budget sexy, she loves to save and she has goals and she sets out to achieve them, that’s HOT! And no not all of her goals are related to money, but perseverance pays off.

With more and more Canadians sinking further into consumer debt many couples are thinking twice before saying “I Do”  rather saying “Not Yet“. I’m rather impressed when I hear about couple’s that take the time to get their financial house in order before jumping in and making mistakes that can haunt them for years to come. Understanding what a budget is and why it’s critical to the success of any marriage should be a priority. For some hearing the word budget means “I can’t do anything”, “We are poor”, etc.. this is not true. Purchasing your “needs” and “wants” whilst working together on the budget makes for a balanced relationship.

Gone are the days where “Looking Hot To Me” is one of the main criterion for “Will you be my girl” or “He/She’s the one for me“, unless you have money in the bank or you are on Millionaire Matchmaker.

It’s more like ………

• “He/she may be the one for me, but what does he/she do for a living”
• “I wonder how much money he/she has in the bank or investments?”
• “Do you think he/she has a lot of consumer or school debt?”

I see more young people are thinking twice before jumping into a relationship with someone with no money, no job and in debt up to their eye balls. The media splashes the debt problems of Canadians all over the internet, reality television shows and the newspaper and for good reason, we need to wake up to this problem. We can’t make taxes go away but we can control how we spend our money. Am I being optimistic this will get better, I am but I believe more Canadians will take a stance on debt even if that means learning the hard way.

Some say money isn’t everything and I agree but, it’s 2012, money does make the world go round, there’s no doubting that. Most divorces happen because of money so I ask again is a man who is frugal attractive to women? What do you look for? What are the signs? You don’t just ask someone straight up so knowing what to look for might help you or it could simply be a load of dung!

Some signs a man may potentially be the frugal man for you!

• He walks around the store with a flyer in his hand
• He has coupons, even better a coupon binder
• He has a grocery list
• He has an item in a cart that’s on sale and multiples of it
• He thinks vinegar and water works just as well or if not better than other cleaning products
• He brings his own shopping bags so not to get charged $0.05 a bag (although he could be more into saving the environment but none the less potentially a tip-off)
• He uses cash so he doesn’t potentially overspend using credit cards
• He’s using a rain check or asking for a rain check
• You see him washing his own car at home
• He washes his own windows around the house
• He’s using a payphone
• He uses a Reel mower instead of a gas-powered mower
• He’s asking for a price adjustment at customer service
• You see him reading labels and comparing products while imputing data  using a calculator
• He brings a lunch to work
• He brews his own coffee and tea at work and brings it from home
• He openly talks about money and savings…
• He thinks real estate is a great investment
• He has more than one home (he’s in it for the long haul $$)
• Finance is the topic of many conversations
• He has copies of money magazines or books on his desk
• He has no cable or cell phone
• He wants to replace all his appliances with Energy Star Rated
• He always asks for receipts, better yet he files them when he gets home
• He grows his own vegetables and herbs
• He thinks a rain barrel is a great idea and has one or more to save on the water bill
• He’s out at garage sales on the weekends
• He shops at the cheaper grocery shops
• He’s hanging out at the reduced rack
• He has a lot of no-name products in his cart instead of brand name
• His cart is full of pink sticker 50% off items or reduced items
• His hobbies don’t need much cash or are free to do
• He has friends with benefits where they trade or borrows services
• He buys second-hand clothes from Value Village or The Thrift Shop and enjoys shopping there
• His idea of exercise is running or he makes his own home gym from items he picked up from Kijiji, Free-cycle,friends or the side of the road
• He prefers to make a gift than buy a gift (everyone loves something home-made right?
• He has a side business  to compliment his full-time job
• He asks others about products they’ve tried and what they thought about them
• You run into him at Dollarama
• You see him at the INKJET refill depot instead of buying new
• He’s at the Library rather than Chapters
• He changes his own oil instead of paying someone else to do it
• He participates or starts a car pool at work to save on gas
• He would rather cook at home then eat convenience foods or go to a restaurant
• He menu plans each week
• He washes and presses his own clothes rather than brings them to get done
• He uses a handkerchief  instead of  tissue
• He returns the beer bottles or better yet collects them from the neighbours
• He doesn’t turn the A/C on in his vehicle on Hot, humid days, he rolls down the windows, same goes with the house or apartment
• Water is his beverage of choice and he always refills from the tap
• He’s a DIY type of guy
• He hangs his clothes to dry outside
• He borrows DVD’s from the library rather than goes to the movies
• He collects Points to redeem later for merchandise (you see him handing his points card at the cashier, better yet his optimum card)
• He’s excellent at negotiating and haggling a good deal
• He rarely gives up working over-time or holidays
• He drives a second-hand car
• He walks to work, rides a bike, motorcycle or Emmo Bike (thinks cars are not a need but a want)

I’m sure there are many other ways to try and get a tip-off a man is frugal but you have to decide ultimately what gets your engine running. Frugal doesn’t have to mean stingy, it simply means money smart, to me at least. I like to balance my frugal lifestyle with dollops of  splurges, simply by having a budget.

You might not agree with my potential frugal man signs but maybe you don’t mind men high on the fluff factor.  So if you think frugal men are sexy, and potentially spot one, go get him!

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