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Mommy Kat and Kids

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Three Questions To Ask When Planning For Retirement

December 18, 2020 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Co-operators. All opinions are 100% mine.

Even though financial literacy wasn’t something I was ever taught in my younger years, running my own business meant that I had no choice but to figure it out! From budgeting for less profitable months to tracking payments and expenses, I quickly learned to love managing the money I made working for myself.

kathryn-at-computer

But there’s one area of my finances that I haven’t paid as much attention to as I should…retirement planning! I know that being self-employed means it’s even more important that I have a retirement plan, but I never quite seem to get around to actually making one to follow!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Money

How Does an RESP Work?

October 9, 2020 by Kathryn 1 Comment

With my oldest starting high school this year, I’ve realized that his post-secondary education is just around the corner. And in Canada, that’s an expensive prospect!

The average cost of a four-year university degree in Canada is just under $80,000 in total, and like most parents, I don’t want my son crippled by student loans for decades once he graduates.

empty-classroom

Luckily, the government does provide some ways for students and their parents to minimize that debt, and one of the most popular is through RESPs. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Money, Parenting Tagged With: kids education, resp benefits, resp management

Meal Delivery Services – Can They Really Help You Save Money?

January 23, 2020 by Kathryn 11 Comments

Meal delivery services have exploded onto the scene over the last few years. Social media feeds are brimming with sponsored ads of pre-packaged food, and we all know someone who swears by the quality of chef-designed meal plans. But are meal kits worth the hype, or more importantly, the money?

In a survey conducted by Morning Consult, 59% of participants believed meal kit services were expensive and budget-wrecking. But while meal kits do cost more than a home-cooked meal, they are far more affordable than dining out every day. For instance, a 2-person meal plan sometimes costs just $10 a day, and most meal plans start at just $60 per week.

maple salmon and strawberry salad

If you are enticed by the idea of fresh and oven-ready meals, but are hesitant to subscribe to one because you’re worried about the cost, check out this review on how a meal delivery service could end up helping you save! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Health, Money Tagged With: meal delivery service, meal preparation, saving money

5 Useful Tips to Save Electricity and Reduce Your Monthly Electric Bill

September 3, 2019 by Kathryn 1 Comment

If you’re trying to save money, analyzing the cost of your utilities is a great place to start. Paying your electricity bill is essential, of course, but you may be paying more than you need to! To try to lower your bill and save money, try these five tips that can help you conserve electricity.

dining-and-rec-room

1. Seal Up Your Home

The cracks around your doors and windows are leaking your money away. It’s a good idea to seal them with caulk and weather stripping. Not only do cracks and gaps waste money by causing your heating and cooling system to work harder maintaining the temperature, they can eventually reduce the life of your furnace too! Proper insulation of your home can lower your energy costs by 15 to 30 percent. Check out Electricity Monster for more ways to save on your electricity bill.

lg-quadwash-controls

2. Use Your Appliances Strategically

Using appliances with thought is very helpful when trying to reduce your electric bills. Everything from dishwashers to washing machines can be “gamed” to reduce their energy consumption. For instance, you can dry loads of your clothing consecutively rather than waiting between loads. This reduces energy consumption as the unit remains warmer and dries clothes faster after multiple loads.

In summer, avoid using a dryer if possible and put up a clothesline to let Mother Nature dry your clothes. Cold water detergent for washing machines is now often the same price as other varieties, so switching to doing your laundry with cold water is also a great way to save money. And remember to load your dishwasher fully before starting it to ensure you’re cleaning as many dishes as possible with each cycle!

3. Shield Your Home From the Sun

Air conditioning can use a lot of electricity in the summer, so cut down on your air conditioning use by using blackout curtains or blinds on the sunny side of your house. A tinted window film can save you even more money by making your home energy efficient.

And consider landscaping your home to help keep it cool as well! Strategically planted trees will shade your home from the direct sun, keeping it cool for the maximum time possible so that your air conditioning will not have to work as hard to keep your home cool.

home depot globe led bulbs in bathroom

4. Choose the Right Light

Sometimes saving electricity is as simple as thinking about the light bulbs in your home. They may be sucking change from your bank account. The most energy-efficient lighting option is LED bulbs. They use 75 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs and can last about 25 times longer. Also, unlike florescent bulbs, they do not contain mercury.

Regardless of the light bulbs you’re using, though, make sure to turn off the unnecessary lights during the day when you can make use of the daylight. Also, remember to turn off extra lights before going to bed at night!

5. Schedule an Annual HVAC Maintenance

Your HVAC system can sometimes be the cause of an elevated electricity bill. Get it checked and cleaned at least once a year by scheduling an HVAC maintenance service. Proper maintenance will ensure that your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is working optimally and efficiently.

As an added bonus, regular maintenance also ensures you’ll have cleaner air circulating in your house. And don’t forget to change or clean the filter of your HVAC system at least once every season to keep it running at peak efficiency!

With a little care and inexpensive maintenance, trimming money off your monthly electric bill can be surprisingly easy. And using these tips to save electricity means more money in your bank account for fun!

Filed Under: Articles, Money Tagged With: money saving tips, save electricity, save money

Getting Your Teen a Smartphone? Five New Ways TELUS Helps Keep Families Connected

August 14, 2019 by Kathryn 4 Comments

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and TELUS and have received compensation for this post. All opinions are my own.

In June, our family celebrated a milestone that I’ve been anticipating all year…we officially have a teenager in the house!

I’ll be honest; I’ve been nervous about my oldest son Zack’s teen years for a while now. From worrying about peer pressure to dealing with mood swings to paying for the sudden increase in our grocery bill, teenagers bring their own unique challenges to a household.

zack-birthday

But managing my son’s cell phone use is one aspect of teen life that won’t bring me any extra stress at all, thanks to TELUS! The company knows that life with teenagers has enough challenges, so they’ve put together several new programs designed to make managing a family’s wireless use easier than ever before.

Looking for the perfect phone solutions for your teenagers? Check out these five great options TELUS has for families! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Money, Parenting Tagged With: teen smartphone, telus canada, telus smartphone tips

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