Top Tips For Keeping Kids Entertained On A Shoestring Budget

March 22, 2018 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Keeping kids entertained at the best of times can be a struggle. With their interests changing and their concentration moving from one activity to another, ensuring that you have plenty on hand ready to keep them focused when it’s needed is a must – but what do you do when things are getting tough financially? While there may be a short term loan available if you find yourself in a financial emergency, keeping children entertained doesn’t have to be a costly affair. Here are a few top tips for keeping the kids entertained on a shoestring budget.

Make-Believe Games

A child’s imagination is their greatest tool and when things get boring, it can definitely make for some incredible entertainment. Of course, they tend to lose themselves in their own imaginations a lot of the time, no adult help needed. But when they want to spend time with you, the imaginative play doesn’t have to stop. Conquer kingdoms, fight dragons, play doctor or frankly anything that you or they can come up with. I promise you that they’ll love spending a bit of playtime with you no matter what adventure you’re embarking on. [Read more…]

Get FREE Coffee Now and Your Favourite All Day Breakfast Food at McDonald’s Canada

February 28, 2017 by Kathryn 23 Comments

It’s been just over a week now since the debut of the McDonald’s All Day Breakfast and I have to say that I couldn’t be enjoying it more. To me, the Sausage McMuffin is a perfect light lunch or snack, and now I can enjoy one any time I want! And personally, McDonald’s Hash Browns have always been my favourite side, so I’m pretty happy that I can now get one instead of fries or a salad with my meals at lunch or dinner! McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets with a Hash Brown for the win!

Now, this week, McDonald’s Canada is making a good thing even better with seven days of FREE coffee! Until Sunday, March 5, get a free small coffee any time of day, no purchase required! As a big fan of McDonald’s Premium Roast blend, I already get to enjoy free coffee fairly often thanks to the company’s coffee rewards. I just collect the stickers on my drinks to earn a free medium hot beverage after seven purchases. But that doesn’t mean I’m not excited about getting treated to free coffee this week too!

[Read more…]

Winter Break Ideas the Whole Family Will Love Plus a FREE Downloadable Winter Activity Calendar and Epic Babybel Contest

February 1, 2017 by Kathryn 31 Comments

One of the things I love most about winter break is the way it gives my family the chance to really appreciate all the fun winter has to offer. Too often, we tend to hide away indoors when snowy weather arrives instead of embracing the opportunities that winter brings. But this year, Babybel is making winter cool for kids with an amazing contest that could let you enjoy winter to its fullest with your whole family! Looking for activities could fill your winter break days? Here’s my collection of top ideas for both indoor and outdoor fun, plus more info about the amazing Babybel contest!

Outdoors

1) Have a Winter Bonfire

There’s no need to save that fire pit in your backyard for summer! Fill a thermos with hot chocolate, grab a bag of marshmallows and bundle up for some fun around the fire! If you thought a gooey roasted marshmallow was good in the summer heat, wait until you try one on a crisp winter’s day! [Read more…]

Like Free Samples? Come Claim Yours and Check Out the New Mommy Kat and Kids Samples Program!

December 15, 2016 by Kathryn 13 Comments

If you love free samples (and really, who doesn’t), I have some fantastic news for my readers! Mommy Kat and Kids is planning a fun new monthly sample program for 2017! But first, I need to make sure you’re interested in great free samples tailored to you and delivered to your door every month. That’s why I’m running a test program to see how many of my readers love free samples as much as I do. [Read more…]

Get Kids Excited About Exploring Outside with the New Ecokeepers Program from EnviroKidz

September 16, 2016 by Kathryn 126 Comments

I’ve always felt that one of the best learning opportunities we can give our children is simply stepping outside and exploring the world around us. Growing up in a small town, my boys had many chances to learn about nature, walk the streets without fear and enjoy the exercise and education the outdoors has to offer. Now, living in a city, the options for outdoor play are a little more limited. And that means it’s time for me to get creative!

EnviroKidz, maker of delicious organic cereal and snacks for kids, is passionate about encouraging learning through outdoor exploration. And recently the company launched a new initiative to help inspire kids to learn about the earth: the Ecokeepers Program. The program is free for camps and schools and helps kids develop a connection to nature by combining outdoor activities with the fun of geocaching (searching for treasure boxes using GPS coordinates)! The Ecokeepers kits include Explorer Guides, parent literature, geocaches for kids to hide and the now peanut-free EnviroKidz Granola Bars for energy! Interested? Make sure to visit the Ecokeepers website for full program details and to apply! [Read more…]

Get the Best Rate on Your Mortgage, Insurance, Credit Cards and More with RateSupermarket.ca

September 1, 2016 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

So far, 2016 has been a year of change, adventure and fun at every turn. And those are all themes that are going to be continuing for the rest of the year too. With my upcoming wedding on October 1, a honeymoon in Ireland, a move to a new city later in October and the purchase of a new house, we’ll be busy every minute for quite a few months…and loving every minute of it!

Knowing we’ll need to purchase a house soon, I’m already starting to look into the many details involved in the process. From finding a good lawyer to draw up the paperwork to investigating the current prices in the markets we’re looking at, being prepared gives me the confidence that we’re making the best choice for our family’s future. And a big part of that process is making sure that we have the best mortgage available.

Luckily, finding a great mortgage is something I can do in seconds thanks to RateSupermarket.ca! This online insurance comparison website lets us quickly and easily check current available mortgage rates anywhere in Canada so that we can find the best one for us in just seconds. [Read more…]

Everyone Can Prepare and File Taxes Online Absolutely Free with H&R Block Tax Software

March 30, 2016 by Kathryn 18 Comments

I’ve often thought that when it comes to taxes, I’m a bit of an oddity. Being self-employed, my taxes take a lot of work. But despite that, I love the chance to see how well my business has done over the past year…though making that final payment to the government does hurt a bit! This year, H&R Block challenged me to try its online software and see if it could make my filing experience even more enjoyable. Since the company promises a quick and easy experience that’s also absolutely free, I was more than willing to give it a try.

Last year was my first experience with an online filing program, though I did use a different company’s paid version to file. This year H&R Block requested I see how its program compared and I couldn’t wait. I have to admit that I didn’t believe the program was free for everyone at first. I mentioned that as someone with a home-based business and investment income, I likely would need a paid premium version of the program. Learning that H&R Block’s online tax software is 100% free for everyone had me even more excited to test it out!

I signed up online and started entering my information. The program uses questions and answers in a simple interview-style process to obtain essential filing information about dependents, job status, marital status and more. I liked the way that just a quick click of a button prepared the software to obtain all the necessary information it would need for my return. I also loved being able to save my progress and come back at any time, since I often have to reference paperwork and add up various income and expenses when filing. [Read more…]

I’m Preparing My Taxes Online for FREE with H&R Block Online Tax Software #HowToRefund

March 21, 2016 by Kathryn 29 Comments

Ever since I started filing my taxes, I’ve been the do-it-yourself type. Each year I’d pick up my tax booklet at the post office, work through the forms and mail in my completed return. Initially that job was pretty easy. With a single T4 and not many deductions to claim, filing really couldn’t have been easier. Then I had children, bought a house and started my own business. Suddenly my taxes got a lot more complicated and took a lot longer. But I still did the work myself and up until last year, I still used the old-fashioned paper and pen.

When filing my 2014 taxes, I upgraded to online software for the first time. I loved the ease of use, but the price tag wasn’t so great. Because I was self-employed and had investment income, the software cost $50 for a single return! Since I had to pay quite a bit in income tax already, every extra dollar I lost filing hurt a bit. And with my return for 2015 being even more complicated as I’m paying GST for the first time, I wanted to find the most effective filing method possible this year…at the best price.

[Read more…]