Category Archives: Lifestyle

One woman’s trash . . .

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Is another woman’s treasure. This saying rings particularly true when it comes to me and antique finds. Anyone who knows me, also knows that I swoon over a dusty phonograph and pine for Victorian button tucked couches. The only problem with antiques is that you usually pay an arm and a leg for them, so when a friend of mine offered to give up two antique picture frames, I was overjoyed and snatched them up right away.

The frames were dated, as they surrounded an array of pressed flowers on a bed of green felt, totally circa 1970. I saw no reason that these brassy frames couldn’t be turned into something chic and stylish to spice up the grey walls of my bedroom.

I’ve always been fascinated with home decor tips that suggest using empty frames to fill a wall space. I almost find it to be counter-intuitive to hang something, that should contain a work of art or glimpse of a memory, with an empty space in the middle. However, after seeing it executed in a way that made the home seem warm instead of empty, I thought the empty frame idea might not be so bad. I also liked the use of this decorating style here and here.

After emptying out the frames, they still needed to be spruced up.The brassy edges were tarnished and gold simply isn’t part of my interior decor colour palette. I saw great potential in these two pieces as intense black frames and the DIY process of making them new-age chic was so simple!

This is what you need:

I used an auto-air colour paint, usually used for car touch-ups, because it will adhere best to metals. After 12 hours of drying, the frames were ready to hang.

As you can see, a very simple process for a rewarding final product. . .

Tell us what you think about picture frames with no pictures! Chic or cold? Ala mode or overdone?

5 ways to say I love you

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Whether you are celebrating solo or in a pair, don’t let Valentine’s Day go unnoticed. Here are a few simple and lovable tricks to make the day all the more enjoyable for yourself and others.

1. Breakfast in Bed. This is a fun way to put a spin the old “breakfast in bed” treat. If you have a loved one snuggled up in your sheets, this is a really cute way to start off the day.

2. Decor. Not one to usually opt for red or pink hues in decoration? Find a sweet and simple way to decorate for February 14th.

3. Bubbles. But when it comes to drinks, think pink. Nothing says Valentine’s Day quite like pink bubbles!

4.You. Love yourself. Treat yourself to a festive manicure or pedicure.

5.Love notes. Leave behind a love note. They never go out of fashion and will surely bring a smile to his/her face.

Images via

Calling All Chocoholics!

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Today marks a special day for all you chocoholics… The launch of The Body Shop’s newest collection: Chocomania! The only calorie-free chocolate that you’ll receive this Valentine’s Day, chocomania products are being promoted as indulgent, sweet treats. This guilt-free chocolate is a great way to please your sweetheart on February 14!

Having worked at The Body Shop for years, I can say that men and women alike turn to The Body Shop when they want to spoil their partners. There are so many great things about all the products available, but the best part of a Body Shop gift is the aspect of pampering and relaxation. When you give someone a bubble bath or a body scrub, you’re not just giving them products to help their skin, you’re giving them what they need to spend some quality time on themselves. In our busy world, there’s usually nothing better.

I was lucky enough to receive advance samples of the line and I decided to take the new Chocomania products to my most trusted allies (nuts, friends and co-workers) to get the full scoop on them. The scent of these products is nutty, with a hint of dark chocolate. Where I thought the chocolate scent would be overwhelming (since I don’t actually LIKE chocolate…shock, gasp) it wasn’t. It reminded me of crème de cacao… YUM!

Chocomania Body Lotion:

Out of all the people that I had try this body lotion, the biggest fan was my male co-worker, David.

“This cream rubs in so quickly and doesn’t leave my hands feeling greasy. The smell isn’t overwhelming or too sweet.  I don’t usually buy lotion, but I could see myself using this.”

Disclaimer: Some of the women who tried the chocomania body lotion felt that the smell didn’t work well with perfume they were wearing. I would avoid using other scented products at the same time!

Chocomania Shower Cream:

Kelly, who generally prefers sweeter scents, tried out the shower cream and had mixed reviews.

“The quality of the product is great; it was nice and creamy on my skin. It’s got a strong scent when you first use it, but it fades once you’re out of the shower. Truthfully, I felt that it had a bit of a men’s cologne scent at first, but as the scent stayed with me for about an hour after my shower, it grew on me as I smelt myself. Personally, I don’t know if I’d use it regularly because it’s not sweet enough for what I’m used to.”

Disclaimer: If you’re into really sweet smells, this line may not be for you! I would suggest asking for a sample or demonstration at your local store to find out what your preferences are.

Chocomania Body Butter:

Kate, being an avid fan of Shea Body Butter normally, was smitten with the Choccomania variety of her skin saviour.

“I always love the body butter products by Body Shop. I find the butter is a superior moisturizing product and maintains the skin’s moisture throughout the day without leaving a greasy film. The new Chocolate Body Butter is definitely a top contender with other body butters I have used, such as the Shea. It has a similar aroma profile to the Shea Butter with an accentuated “nuttiness” and a hint of cocoa, leaving your skin feeling like a silky cocoa puff!”

Chocomania Body Scrub:

Body scrubs are always a must-have, especially during the dry winter months. I asked Jess to try it out…

“The smell was more pleasant than expected – taking on a nuttier aroma. I found it a little bit oily, so I wouldn’t recommend using it in the morning. It’s a great nighttime pampering treatment, where even if you’re a little bit oily afterwards, it wouldn’t matter!”

Chocomania Lip Butter:

Catherine was my ginea pig for this product, and has given it a rave review.

“Rarely when asked, ‘Do you have any lip gloss?’ can I actually respond with a ‘Yes’.” It’s just not my thing to sport trendy lipsticks or be in a constant state of chapstick application. But, with the erratic winter that January threw our way, my lips were looking for a little TLC. As a self diagnosed chocoholic, I knew I would have no problem applying and re-applying. The scent (and taste) is a dark chocolate and nutty mix, but not too fragrant. Within days my chapped lips were remedied and the butter leaves just the smallest trace of a shine, perfect for not looking over-glammed at work. It was definitely a positive experience that might even have converted me to storing a container in my clutch on the regular.”

In a nutshell, these products are a great idea for a Valentine’s Day gift, which will surely impress the chocoholics in your life. Head down to your local shop today to try out the new products and let us know if you given in to Chocomania!

*All photos courtesy of The Body Shop Canada.

What We’re Nuts for Nowadays

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As some of you may know, I recently spent a few sensational months in Europe. While I was away, my fellow nuts compensated for the absence of one less writer-on-duty with heavier workloads and fresh ideas. No matter where I was, from Budapest, Paris or Slovenia, I sought out internet cafés, wi-fi areas and hostel computers, with the intention of first and foremost, checking out what my girls were posting on in a nutshell. One of the posts I wished I had been apart of was “Obsessing over….“, a piece where the girls documented just what they were fixated on that month. So, in an effort to bring this great idea back to life, here are some things we’re currently nuts about – adding to the usual pile of obsessions like Ben Flajnik, Gregory David Roberts’ Shantaram, Lana Del Rey’s album release…oh, and this little blog we cherish dearly.

Meghan
Obsession: Essie’s Mink Muffs Nail Polish
I was looking for a nail polish colour that could easily transition from day to night and I’ve found it in Essie’s Mink Muffs. Not only is the name hilarious, but I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it over the past week and a half. Depending on the light, it looks like mocha or a dull, deep purple. It almost acts as two seperate polishes and is really good quality. I know I’m going to have to switch up the colour soon, but for now I’m obsessed!

Jess
Obsession: M.I.A.’s “Bad Girls”
The freshly leaked digital single from everyone’s favourite neon-clad, sharp-witted British emcee is absolutely off the hook. A catchy comeback to pick up where she left off after a critically-acclaimed three album jumpstart is exactly what I expected out of the radical rap princess, and you can find more on her recent mix tape and inevitably her upcoming summer release. Although skipping out on lyrical complexity with this cheeky return to the ranks, M.I.A. still rules the speakers with a whopping beat and hotshot lyrics (“Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well”) that deserve their own set of diamond-studded grills and some low-swinging swagger. Swagger like hers, you might even say.


Catherine
Obsession: Mink Oil
If my life was a novel, the January 2012 chapter could be called “Catherine’s Crazy Quest for Boots”. Seriously, you’d think it’d be easier to find some functional knee-high boots, appropriate for both the office and a night on the town. But, after instantly ruining my Aldo black suede booties with salt (unavoidable!) I sulked into Verona shoes and was pointed in the direction of a grey leather boots, that I LOVE and more importantly, mink oil which is my obsession du jour. It’s seriously the best product I’ve purchased ($ 100 in shampoos, protectors and cleaners later) and has left my new kicks looking pristine. On sale for only $6 it works on all types of footwear. I lather them up once a week and it does the trick. For any Canadian female, that must inevitably trudge to work, school, social engagements, etc, through mounds of aggravating snow, this is a must have.

Kate
Obsession: “SOMM” Trailer/Film Release
When Jess first brought my attention to this video I was, in a sense, star struck. Not because anyone famous is making a cameo in this wine documentary, but because the world of wine is made out to be a celebrity in itself. This documentary, entitled “SOMM” by Forgotten Man Films, looks so cool! It follows 4 men who are attempting to pass the Master Sommelier exam. Imagine a Masters program that, over the last 40 years, has seen only 170 people succeed. I’ve since shared this clip with anyone who will listen and plan to be the first in line at the box office.

Kaylee
Obsession: Breaking Bad
Lately I’ve had plenty of time on my hands, so I’ve taken to watching new TV series’ on Netflix (don’t judge – I do other productive things, I swear). After some browsing and giving up on several attempts at loving other critically-acclaimed shows (ahem…Mad Men), I finally found my knight and shining armor, the series that can do no wrong in my books – Breaking Bad. If you’ve never heard of it, even the simple gist of the show will leave you intrigued. Bryan Cranston (the dad from Malcom in the Middle who plays a totally different character here) is a high school Chemistry teacher who discovers he has lung cancer. Realizing he’ll leave his family with little money to survive with, he decides to do the only plausible thing…start making Meth. The story unfolds as he learns about distribution, competition with the Drug Cartels, how to launder money…all the while under the nose of his good friend and brother-in-law who is a DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent. In a nutshell, watching just one episode of this show will have you wondering what’s to come, and the cherry on top? The acting is impeccable and no matter how serious the subject matter, you’ll laugh along with the irony of it all and the scenarios these characters find themselves in. Here’s just a bit of what Season 1 entails:

As Good As New: Homemade Jewelry Cleaner

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I’ve expressed my fondness for accessories on several occasions (1 & 2 for example). In this article in particular, we shall discuss (rather, I will demonstrate) the proper care instructions for your most precious jewels. Costume jewelry, ALDO purchases, vintage bangles…step aside. This one’s for all those real deals out there. Sterling silver, white gold, diamonds (if you’re out there), I’m talking to you.
Ladies, dig out your First Communion pieces, your graduation gifts, your personal indulgences and any of those pieces that you most cherish. Just like cleaning your makeup brushes, cleaning precious jewelry can be way low on the priority list. Consider this your cue to take 20 minutes out of your day to make your sparklers sparklier. Here’s your easy step-by-step guide to doing just that – be sure the entire piece is real or you’ll tarnish it! In a nutshell, there’s nothing like adding a little shine to your day.

  • Salt
  • Baking Soda
  • Dish soap
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Soft cloth
  • Small bowl
  • Scissors

1. Cut a piece of aluminum foil to cover bottom of bowl.

2. Add 1 cup of hot tap water.
3. Add 1 tbsp. of baking powder, salt and soap.

4. Stir mixture.

 5. Place jewelry in bowl and wait 10 minutes.

6. Rinse jewelry in warm water. Use a toothbrush to scrub extra dirty jewels.
7. Wipe with soft cloth.

8. Wear, admire and show off your good-as-new sparkle.

A Blackberry lover’s week with an IPhone

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I won’t lie, there are definite perks that come with being a journalist.

My fellow journalist and homegirl, April O'Neil

Sure it’s a high pressure job, where your deadline is always coming two minutes too fast. You put in way more than your expected 40 hours a week and at the end of the day, everything you’ve worked on is up for criticism by the public. People don’t want to talk to you, or people talk your ear off. You attend car crashes, funerals, crime scenes, court dates and if you don’t have carpel tunnel by the time you’re 25 … well then  you’re not doing your job right.

But, there ARE perks.

Hob nobbing with celebs, concert tickets, backstage passes, gift bags, lots and lots of free food … and my latest acquistion: a company paid IPhone 4s.

There are really only three tools a journalist needs to get their job done: a computer, phone and camera. So, my head office decided to give us a device that combines all three. Not complaining.

At the original meeting, my superiors wanted me to consolidate my two phones, tossing my current Blackberry, to make sure I could be reached on just one device at all times. But, the thought of losing bbm, my Blackberry groups, and the keypad was something that made me squirm.

History's greatest feud

Despite the raised eyebrows of my boss “You want to still pay for your own phone. The one we are giving you is FREE,” I managed to convince them I needed both.

IPhone owners, love the IPhone. Blackberry owners, love their Blackberry. And now I am both. So, after a week with both in my pocket and being asked countless times “How do you like the IPhone!?”… here is my conclusion.

The IPhone is amazing. Straight up, it’s probably one of the coolest pieces of technology I’ve ever owned. In fact, I don’t even consider it a phone; it is a minature computer. It’s Camera is incredible, the internet is so fast, the apps will keep me entertained for hours….

BUT…

For what I actually use a PHONE for … the Blackberry still triumphs. I would say 90 % of what I use my phone for is messaging. Texts, bbms, etc. I hardly make calls, I hardly play games. My phone is the way I stay connected with my friends who live far away, keep up-to-date with the co-founders of this blog, make my work day go a little faster by sending just a fewww texts … that is the purpose of my phone. And while I’m already getting used to the touch screen, I can type 10 times faster and more accurately on my Blackberry.

The IPhone auto-correct is half blessing half curse. Often, it goes along and corrects the many mistakes you make while tapping away at the touch screen, but almost as often it corrects words that shouldn’t be corrected. In a ns, it really get in the way of my abrevs.

Could get yourself into hot water with something like this...

And for anyone that says that IMessage is the same as BBM … you’re gravely mistaken. Apple would be wise to create a forum like BBM where you have a display picture, status, GROUPS! These are the key things that make people who use BBM sweat at the thought of giving it up. Out of the 15 people I would say I speak to on a daily basis, 14 are bbm users.

All day. Every day.

But if you’re not an avid texter, or don’t have loved ones on BBM … well then the IPhone trumps the BlackBerry in almost every other sense.

It is faster, better, cooler. The internet browsing is easily 10 times faster, the camera is 10 times better and all in all it’s just so user friendly.

Despite the fact that I’m sticking behind my Bberry … here are some things I LOVE about the IPhone (so far):

TWITTER: The IPhone Twitter is Ah-Mazing. For the simple fact that it’s ultra fast and allows you to connect to more than one account. I have four. Insane, but true and with a tap of the screen I can effortlessly surf through all four and get notifications for each. My life just became a million times easier.

INSTAGRAM: Instagram is a free App that is like Twitter in pictures. You follow and get followed and your newsfeed consists of just pictures and captions. There are also functions to make the pictures look really retro and neat. “Hipster pictures,” as one hater said.

ANGRY BIRDS: I am addicted. Nuff said.

NEWS: CBC, Ottawa Citizen, Globe and Mail, Metro … all at my fingertips. For a journalist, this is a blessing.

 SCREEN SHOTS: The ability to take a picture of your hilarious “texts from last night” is gold. Just, gold.

SIRI and me are not friends … she doesn’t understand half the things I say. So while this is a cool concept, I haven’t developed a love for it yet.

And as mentioned already, the camera quality (and fact that you can flip the screen to take selfies) and web browsing are unmatched.

So in conclusion, if you want the coolest toy on the planet: buy an IPhone.

If you want to be able to text quickly and accurately, stay more easily connected with  a large group of friends, and send emails to your boss without having made embarassing auto-correct mistakes: buy a Blackberry.

But above all, find a job that will buy you both. Because I truly  have the best of both worlds right now … in a nutshell.

When Life gives you Lemons

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Following Blue Monday, this week has continued to go from blue to a dismal grey. Yesterday, the streets and sidewalks blended into one another as the dirt-trodden snow slowly turned from a pure white powder to sludge. Yesterday morning, I was so disheartened by the weather that I simply did NOT want to get out of the toasty warm bed I was enveloped in. I finally put on my leopard print slippers and slinked into the living room which appeared to be equally as dull as the scene outside my windowsill. This simply will not do, I thought. If I’m going to stay inside my house to escape the weather, I need to be inspired and get my day going with a punch. So I braved the outdoors for a quick 20 minutes, nipped out to the grocery store and picked up some Gerber daisies (my absolute favourite flower) and some lemons to take on a project that caught my eye on Pinterest . . . Happy Hump Day nuts, let the simple things in life brighten your day!

Keeping Up with Resolutions

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So, we’re somehow almost mid-January. Scary right? I don’t know about you, but these days, time seems to fly by at warp speed. Generally, following the first week of the New Year, everyone tends to forget about their resolutions and revert back to their old ways. Seriously, that is SO 2011… So, read on for a list of easy ways to stick to some ‘common’ resolutions that often fail because there just aren’t enough hours in a day!

1. “This year, I’m going to eat SO much healthier!”

This one is tough. There are a million reasons why people don’t eat super healthy. Maybe it’s because McDonald’s tastes a million times better than an apple. (I’m working on it folks, pattent pending…) Maybe it’s because eating unhealthily causes a reaction in your brain that makes you feel good. But, the number one reason that this resolution fails is time. By the time you get home after work, it’s so much easier to order a pizza than to plan a meal, get the ingredients, and whip it up. Plus, with pizza, you’ll have leftovers for lunch the next day… #viciouscycle.

 The biggest helper I have found, is a ‘WHAT TO EAT’ weekly meal planner that I picked up at Chapters for $7.50. It doesn’t take long to fill out, and by planning your meals ahead of time you save yourself the question, “what’s for dinner?” that so often leads to quick, unhealthy, fixes. Plus, by planning ahead you can save yourself multiple trips to the grocery store and pick up everything you need for the week in one shot. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

 2. “This Year I’m Going to Take Better Care of Myself!”

Once again, Father Time often gets in the way of this resolution. When you’re working, going to school and trying to balance family and social commitments, allocating ‘personal time’ can feel like a foreign concept that you just don’t have time for.

Maybe you don’t have two hours a day to get back and forth to the yoga class you’ve wanted to take. Maybe you can’t spend an hour getting a massage. But there are things you can do at home that will improve your overall health: Skip that random episode of TV and go to bed 30 minutes earlier each night. Ignore your neverending e-mails for a bit and take a 20 minute bubble bath. Put on some soothing music and give yourself a quick man-pedi. While these may not seem like huge leaps, making sure that you focus on yourself, even if it’s just for 30 minutes, will still make a difference. They say that you have to look out for #1 – and in this way they’re right!

 

3. “This Year I’m Going to Spend More Time with Friends!”

This one is near and dear to my heart! Sometimes, we’re so focused on the daily tasks at hand that we can go days, weeks or even months without spending quality time with good friends. Planning easily falls by the wayside; where the ambiguity of “we’ll get together soon!” leads to not seeing each other for weeks.

A ‘standing date’ is a great way to counteract this issue. You’ve heard Catherine and Kate mention their Book Club before – it meets once a month to discuss a book and socialize with old and new friends. Now that the Bachelor is back, (Hallelujah!) every Monday I pile around one TV with my girlfriends to watch the show. Whether it be breakfast once a month or coffee after work every two weeks, setting up standing dates will easily help you spend more time with your friends. Spontaneity is always nice, but if planning guarantees frequent friend-time, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

Bachelor Viewing Parties Look Like This...

Good friends, Comfy Clothes & Undivided Attention Towards the TV. PERFECTION!

Veggie Tales

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As a relatively new vegetarian, who has coincidentally been cooking and eating mostly vegan meals as well (funny how that happens) –I’ve come to realize several things.

1. I’ve never felt better
2. The food, recipes and creations are quite delicious
3. Eating out or eating at someone else’s house is.not.easy.

But I’m not here to preach about number 1 or 2! Everyone should make the diet and lifestyle decisions that are best for them – but in the case of my personal life change, let’s chat item #3. I would hate to be the guest who shows up to a lovely dinner, having not previously announced my food restrictions, and then be forced to coyly push food around my plate that I can’t eat, waste a finely cooked meal or go hungry. All of these things aren’t fair to the hard-working host of a party and certainly aren’t fair to my sad, growling little tummy. Therefore, becoming a vegetarian or vegan comes with a little dedication, a boatload of reading, a lot of experimentation and a willingness to get your butt into the kitchen – big time.

Restaurants will always be tricky (sometimes you’re that person who has a special request), but dinner parties can be just as fun, if not more, for someone in a veggie position. This is especially the case around the holidays when every host wants a little help in the kitchen, buffets stretch for miles and you get the chance to show off how tasty and decadent your new style of eating can be.

If you’re a veggie of any sort and are stressed about those upcoming gatherings – here are a few suggestions as to what you can bring to wow the potlucking masses. All of these dishes are either gluten-free, vegan, organic or all of the above, so there should be something for everyone you’re dining with. Expect many more recipes to come!

*Shameless promotion: Did I mention one of the best ways to get protein as a vegetarian is nuts? That lately you can find me with a pile of nutshell’s at my side a few times a day? Interesting.

Purple Cabbage Coleslaw with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Chunky Tomato and Kidney Bean Tomato SauceEggnog Spiced NutsQuinoa Tabouleh Salad

Cocoa Peanut Butter Oat SnowballsBanana Carob Chip Cookies 

Recipes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

New Year, New Budget?

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With 2012 just two short sleeps away, I’m sure that New Years’ Resolutions are flooding the minds of just about everyone I know. While New Years’ Resolutions are often tossed to the side mid-January, it is always fun to dream up the reinvented versions of ourselves that the promise of a fresh start has to offer. Personally, 2011 was a tough year for me, financially. And like so many other young adults, I lacked the ability to properly budget my money. My financial goal for 2012, while not overly ambitious, is to make a monthly budget that I adhere to (for the most part). I’d like to minimize the financial stress that accompanied 2011, live comfortably within my means and start to save for my future. While doing my own personal research on this subject, I discovered some really smart tips which have helped me shape my 2012 financial plan!

1. FIGURE OUT WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES.

While modern advances like debit and paperless banking are convenient and green, they can cause you to be completely unaware of your spending habits. Small charges for items like coffee and lunch seem menial, but they add up quickly. Before you sit down to hash out a budget, examine your on-line statements and really evaluate where you’re spending your money. Not only will this help you eliminate or cut back on unnecessary expenses, but it will also help you make a realistic budget that reflects all of your spending, not just set payments. 

2. TAKE CHARGE: ORGANIZE YOUR FINANCES.

It is important to take charge if you want to achieve financial stability. You need to have accounts that work for your unique situation. Often, people feel restricted to have one checking and one savings account, when having a third (or more!) can really be of benefit. There are also services offered by your bank that can help you make the most of your accounts and help you save.

Major monthly expenses (such as rent, car payments, cable & phone bills, etc.) are generally the same each month. For this reason, it was easy for me to calculate a lump sum that I consistently transferred from my checking account to my savings account, immediately after receiving my bi-weekly pay cheque. However, because both of these accounts were accessible from my debit card, when things were tight I was able to dip into that savings (a major no-no) for everyday spending. I have recently set up an account that I cannot access from my debit card. That lump sum now sits out of reach until payments are made.

Furthermore, there are tools in place that can help you get a little bit further ahead. For example, I now have a service which automatically transfers 50 cents to my savings account for every purchase I make using my checking account. While it seems small, this can quickly add up to an extra $20+ a month that you don’t notice at the time.

3. ACCOUNT FOR EVERYTHING!

To make a budget that really works, you have to take a lot of variables into account. Make sure your budget is detailed and thorough.

  • DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN GROSS AND NET INCOME: The annual amount that you make on paper is nowhere NEAR the amount that you clear after taxes. Make sure that when you make your budget you use your net income as the starting point of reference.
  • OVER-ESTIMATE FOR VARIABLE EXPENSES: Groceries are a prime example. Groceries have fluctuating costs, and while some weeks I can spend as little as $25, where other weeks I can spend as much as $75. If you over-compensate for this, whatever you have left over can be put into your savings account or spent on something nice for yourself!
  • TAKE SPECIAL EVENTS INTO ACCOUNT: You should always account for ‘Entertainment’ in your budget. Whether that amount goes towards a weekly meal out with friends, drinks at a pub, or a trip to the movies, it is important to take your social life into account. Besides that standard amount per month, you should also look at each month individually and plan for special events like Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc. Any special event that will give you reason to go out for an extra evening or where you are purchasing a gift should be accounted for. 

4. MAKE SAVING GOALS REALISTIC & CREATE ‘MONTHLY PAYMENTS’ FOR YOURSELF.

We’d all love to be able to save 50% of our income, but realistically we know that can’t happen. So, sit down and figure out what you’re saving for and how to start growing towards your goal. Calculate a monthly payment for each goal, and incorporate it into your budget. Here are a few examples, using my goals for the year: 

  • Emergency Fund: $500 ($42/month)
    For those things that just pop up out of the blue – I have never had one before, and can’t wait to have a bit more peace of mind!
  • Retirement Fund: $500 ($42/month)
    While I already pay into a pension plan at work, it’s important to start personal retirement savings now. Analysts are predicting that by the time our generation reaches the age of retirement, the Canadian Pension Plan will have run out of money. That being said, starting to save for retirement now is actually really important!
  • Trip Fund: $1000 ($83/month)
    I think realistically it will take me until 2013 to be able to afford a big vacation. Instead of breaking the bank next year, my plan is to put a little bit away every month so that I have a nice travel nest egg when I’m ready to take flight!

5. PREPARE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.

A budget is like a boyfriend; you need to test the water to make sure that you’re compatible! The first 3-4 months are going to be trial and error. You may have grossly over or under-estimated different aspects of your budget. Make sure you test it out and make adjustments where needed and don’t panick if it doesn’t work out right away. Re-vamp your budget and keep working at it! 

**Need some advice? There are lots of online resources that can help you with your finances and planning a budget. Personally, I have really enjoyed looking through financial guru Dave Ramsey’s website. Not only is there a ton of information about getting out of debt and how to save for a comfortable life down the road, but there are also tools that can show you what your projected wealth could be, and plan a realistic personal budget to help you get there.