http://www.cheaperversion.com/todays_blog.php Todays Versions Blog RSS en-us Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:34:53 EDT admin@cheaperversion.com admin@cheaperversion.com http://www.cheaperversion.com/images/main_cheaperversion_logo.gif http://www.cheaperversion.com 2008-07-03 22:10:46 With fuel at an all-time high, many families are planning their summer activities close to home. In fact the popularity of this trend has spawned a new catch phrase - "Staycations". Some people are opting to renovate their outdoor living spaces to enable a 'retreat at home'. Others are simply staying in the city to entertain themselves, and parking their cars. For families with young children, this may be disheartening, since we all want to give our kids as many unique experiences as possible. The reality is that there are countless 'experiences' right in your own backyard. Here are some ideas to consider: Museums / Historical Monuments - Most Cities in North America have some form of Museum or Historical Monument. The U.S. seems to have more of these per capita, but based on a wild-assed guess, there should be a museum/historical monument within 30 kilometres of alm

]]> http://www.cheaperversion.com/blog_details.php?blog_id=17 2008-06-03 21:56:41 Remember the old saying "Sorry, we just can't afford it right now"? This common statement from my childhood seems to have died a quick death. When I was growing up, my parents, my friend's parents, my grandparents, pretty much everyone I knew would say this phrase at least once a week. It wasn't because they needed an excuse to not purchase an item, it was usually due to the fact that they could not afford the particular item. Instead they had already devoted their disposable income to debt repayment and savings. The priorities for most people up until the 90s (my arbitrary date) was: 1. Provide the necessities of life for my children, 2. Pay down any debts as quick as possible, and 3. Enjoy life in as simple fashion as possible. These priorities began to unravel over the last two decades due to the availability of cheap and easy credit, as well as the constant reminder that your social status is linked to having everything now. Many people from my generation have

]]> http://www.cheaperversion.com/blog_details.php?blog_id=16 2008-05-13 23:01:53 Our kids participate in numerous sports during the year, and the expense related to these activities can add up very quickly. One of the easiest ways to limit your expenses in this regard is to buy used equipment instead of new. Sports such as Hockey (we are Canadian after all), are very 'equipment oriented', and thus can require a substantial investment to outfit your child. Our son started hockey this past year at the age of five. Here is a list of the equipment and related costs incurred to get him outfitted: Helmet - Used (and safety certified) - $20 Shoulder Pads - Used - Free (from colleague) Hockey Girdle - Used - Free (from colleague) Elbow Pads - Used - Free (from colleague) Shin Pads - Used - Free (from colleague) Gloves - Used - Free (from colleague) Neck Guard - New - $16 Hockey Stockings - $15 Skates - Used - $25 Stick - New -

]]> http://www.cheaperversion.com/blog_details.php?blog_id=15 2008-05-06 23:06:52 Each and every day I try to come up with new ideas to help (trick myself) to save more and spend less. One of the most effective ways to spend less is to establish what I call a "Do Not Buy List". The purpose of a "Do Not Buy List" is to banish the idea of purchasing unneeded items from your monthly budget. It may be that you have a weakness for unhealthy or expensive items, such as fast food or expensive jewellery. By creating a "Do Not Buy List", you will think twice when you encounter that item in a store. It may not prevent you from purchasing, but it will reinforce in your mind that you do not really need the item, and subsequently may suspend purchasing the item in the future. To get you on the right track, here is a sample of items on our "Do Not Buy List": High Calorie Cookies - We don't buy them because I will eat them all within one or two days. Th

]]> http://www.cheaperversion.com/blog_details.php?blog_id=14 2008-04-14 23:23:55 What is the difference between a 65 year old person enjoying themselves at the cottage without having to worry about a pay cheque, and a 65 year old person working the night shift at MacDonalds? The answer is SMALL SACRIFICES. This may be considered a bold statement, but on average is very true. For the average middle class worker, the difference between a normal versus a stressful retirment is small sacrifices. What are small sacrifices? How about kicking that pack a day smoking habit - Based on $9.50/Day, you can save $285 per month - if you invest this money, over a 20 year period at 8% compound interest, this small sacrifice amounts to approximately $165,000! How about having coffee at home instead of Starbucks - Based on $1.50/Day, you can save $45 per month - if you invest this money, over a 20 year period at 8% compound interest, this small sacrifice amounts to approximately $26,000! How about no name food brands instead of 'br

]]> http://www.cheaperversion.com/blog_details.php?blog_id=13 2008-04-08 22:02:13 An Outvestment is anything which begins to depreciate from the date of original purchase. In other words – it loses its value. Although some Outvestments are necessary for daily living, many Outvestments are a huge waste of money. Here is my short list of Outvestments to stay away from: ·     Boats – owning a boat can be very glamorous but only for a little while, then the bills start coming – dock fees, maintenance fees, insurance, repairs and fuel. The funny     thing with boats is that they are usually purchased by people who have finished raising their kids – thinking that their big expenses are behind them. The expenses and     depreciation that can result from a boat purchase can sometimes add up to more than the cost of rais

]]> http://www.cheaperversion.com/blog_details.php?blog_id=12 2008-04-01 20:24:44 We are a family of six. It is expensive to go almost everywhere! Although attractions, accommodations and meals are not as affordable as we would sometimes like, little changes can make the difference. I have compiled a list of tips you (and I) can use to lessen the financial blows of those family outings: 1.  Utilize Reward Points – My Preferred rewards card is Air Miles. Although this may not be the most efficient rewards program. It has allowed me to cover the expense of tickets to the Toronto Zoo and Canada’s Wonderland for our entire family for the past 4 years. Air Miles offers an extensive catalogue of rewards such as hotel accommodations, concert tickets, and tickets to sporting events.

]]> http://www.cheaperversion.com/blog_details.php?blog_id=11 2008-03-25 19:41:32 Thanks for visiting our site on our first day of service to you! The purpose of this site is to provide timely information to allow you to make better (and cheaper) consumer choices in your everyday life. Through our daily blog and our consumer review section (Cheaper Versions), we will point you in the right direction to save money and build wealth. As a matter of necessity (we have four young children), we recently decided to start to focus on our personal spending habits. 

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