THE TOP TEN DOLLAR STORE CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR KIDS ARE SIMPLE BUT FUN. Christmas presents are only part of the holiday season but one of the most expensive. While some parents might drop a jaw reading the title of this post and say they’d never spend money buying Christmas Presents at the Dollar store for their children other parents say this is all they can afford. Our little guy is working his way up to three years old and recognizes toys and anything that goes zoom from a mile away. That’s why we chose to find the Top 10 Hottest Christmas Presents for boys and girls at the Dollar Store this week. Whether you think the toys are cheap that’s up to you but remember what you buy will soon be buried and forgotten. How’s that for a smile and a wad of cash? Kids only get what we give them. Your choice, Your money. We have no issues with stopping by Mastermind Toys, Toys R Us or any other store that offers children’s toys with our boy. He’s perfectly happy just looking at the boxes and on occasion playing with toys that he can get his […]
Tis The Season For Giving : Merry Christmas Wishes To All
SPREAD CHEER EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR It’s Christmas Eve as I write this and apart from variety stores and a couple of gas stations everyone else is closed as loved ones gather to begin the Christmas festivities. Laid out on the dining room table are all sorts of Christmas treats, vegetables and dips, cheese balls and lots of fruits for the evening affair of spending time with the family. After some eating it was time to get out of the house to spread some Christmas cheer. No, I don’t mean by caroling although my wife is that woman who loves to sing and isn’t shy to go door to door. I on the other hand am not a singer, at all. The city was a ghost town as we went looking for Tim Horton’s coffee only to realize of course they are closed. I guess the only thing giving to us would be the kettle so back home we went after a quick drive around to see some Christmas lights. Although almost all shops are closed there are people out there that have to work, police, hospital and healthcare staff, paramedics, fire fighters and so on. Big thanks to […]
Happy New Year 2014 Is here to stay!
As we move into 2014 I notice how life can slip by in an instant if we aren’t paying attention and how it’s a blessing to wake up in the morning. Simplicity and life at it’s best work together when we just live a life that makes us happy as individuals. No amount of money can be put on happiness, not now, not ever. Money pays for things we need to survive, full-stop. It is what it is and to be honest, those who do that are missing out on much of life’s precious moments. One thing I like to do is not dwell on the past, rather look forward to a brighter future and believe that the path ahead will bring much joy and happiness into my life. Life is a series of photos and what you create in these photos is up to you most often but for those times you have no control the only control you have is those over your emotions. Be strong. We create paths in our lives and we also follow the path that gives us or what we believe will benefit us the most. Overall, the end result is mostly a product […]
The best of Canadian Budget Binder 2013
THE BEST IS YET TO COME The 2013 year has gone by so fast and with 2014 looming around the corner I am looking forward to our third year here at Canadian Budget Binder. Over the past two years I have been met with many ups and downs here the biggest being re-designing the blog which took nearly a full year. Personal finance has been a passion of mine for many years now and it’s been wonderful learning about Canadian personal finance and reading what others have to say while sharing my personal insights and stories. I especially love to share fan stories because the blog is for the fans, this is what I’m here for, you. A huge positive for Canadian Budget Binder in 2013 was bringing Katrina and Nicola on board with me to share their insights and recipes. They are both my rock here and committed to helping others as much as I am and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. Although Canadian Budget Binder is all about personal finance we all have to eat and eating costs money. Food is a huge part of the success of this blog and it’s here […]
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
SPEND TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES Good Morning to all of you reading this Christmas greeting hopefully with a smile on your face and a hot cup of coffee or mug of tea in your hands. I just wanted to take a moment to thank-you for your continued support here at Canadian Budget Binder because without you there would be no blog to read. Have a fun-filled day with your loved ones, eat and drink lots and make memories that will last you a life-time. It’s these times that we remember how thankful we are to be so blessed. If you are going to brave the crowds tomorrow to go Boxing Day shopping I wish you all the best of luck finding that bargain you were hoping to find. It’s time for me to get up, get crackin and dive into some chocolate and coffee for breakfast. Mmmmm Merry Christmas and all the best in 2014, Mr. CBB xo Are You New To Canadian Budget Binder? Follow Me on Social Media: Twitter, Facebook , Pinterest , Stumble Upon, Reddit and Google+ Don’t forget to Subscribe to the blog so you get my daily email. If you need to get in touch with me the best way […]
Christmas Countdown: Traditions for a lifetime of memories
WE ALL COME TOGETHER FOR LOVE December is here and with that the countdown to Christmas has begun. Christmas traditions are something that many families carry on to make Christmas a special and memorable time for their loved ones. Mr.CBB and I recently had a brief conversation about Christmas this year and how I will not see most of my family. He made the comment to me that the older you get the weirder life gets and weird would be an accurate description of my first thoughts about how Christmas will be this year. As families grow and many want to start having their own Christmas morning with their kids in their own home, things change and this is why Christmas traditions become so important. Some traditions may not be able to continue forever but can certainly make some memories that can last a lifetime. Spending time with family and friends and helping those in need is more important to me than any gift my kids and I may receive. It’s easy to get caught up in the commercialization of the holidays and forget the true meaning of Christmas but that doesn’t mean you have to celebrate like Scrooge. […]
Christmas Shopping: Online or In-store?
SHOPPING OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Did you know there are only 40 shopping days left until Christmas? With Christmas being not too far away the rush to get one’s Christmas shopping finished begins. Whether you plan to pack your suitcase full of gifts and jet off on holidays to see the family or shop right at home you can easily access shopping at your fingertips without stepping foot out the door. While some people prefer to shop only in stores there are many people who will choose to do the majority if not all of their shopping online. Tablets, smartphones and free wi-fi access offered in places like Tim Hortons and McDonald’s, have made online shopping even more convenient than just being able to shop from the comfort of your home. Though convenient, online shopping may not always be the best the choice when it comes to your finances and your Christmas budget. Online shopping Online shopping allows you to shop from the comfort of your home or really anywhere you are able to gain online access. Shopping online you avoid having to deal with overworked sales people, waiting in long lineups or having to drive […]
Christmas Vacation: Save money by packing right and packing light
Think Ahead And Avoid Paying More Down The Road Halloween is almost here and not long after that Christmas vacation will arrive. For some, Christmas vacation includes travelling far distances to celebrate with family and friends requiring you to not only pack up your belongings but presents you may be giving away as well. Many students take advantage of the Christmas break to head home for the holidays only to return to school with a lot more to pack than what they headed home with. If your travels include an airplane flight and your bags were already filled to the brim upon departure this could end up taking more money from your vacation budget and giving you more grief than you may be prepared for. Many airlines including Westjet which is the airline I have the most experience flying with have lowered the number of checked bags that are included in your fare. Westjet allows one checked bag per passenger (unless you fly with their Plus fare where a second bag is free) with a weight of 50 lbs or 23Kg per bag which is about standard for most airlines domestic or international flights. With some planning and foresight […]
