Posted on August 17, 2017
Are credits and benefits on your FIRE radar?
If you are Canadian and have small children, you probably receive one or more benefits from the government. If you are a family who makes under $220000 a year chances are you are getting some form of the… Read More
Posted on August 10, 2017
It’s only $20
I have a family member (who shall remain nameless) who I used to go shopping with at Costco. It was a social event combined with a grocery run and we had a monthly standing date to head out… Read More
Posted on August 4, 2017
Want to save money? Be more like children
Alright, you’ve probably already tuned out because it’s that kind of inspirational porn that is rampant over social media: all talk, no action. OF COURSE little children are carefree; what’s your point, Tucker? Ok, hear me out, people!… Read More
Posted on July 20, 2017
Everyone loves to hate budgets – Part 2
(see here for Everyone loves to hate budgets – Part 1) It has been a crazy month or two to try and nail this down as we are a bit in flux with Mr. Tucker’s new job and… Read More
Posted on July 12, 2017
June savings update & life update
This post should be my budget post, part II. Alas, it isn’t! My apologies but I had to review all our numbers with Mr. Tucker’s new job and since then I have had to revamp my numbers. I… Read More
Posted on June 13, 2017
Everyone loves to hate budgets – Part 1
My friend Devon asked me to write about budgets so I thought I would put together a wee post summing up my budget theory and discussing the different approaches. There is a LOT of info out there though,… Read More
Posted on June 1, 2017
New horizons
Mr. Tucker doing some online training at night (with liquid assistance) In my last post I alluded to a third reason our finances were all out of whack. That reason: Mr. Tucker changed jobs. Mr. Tucker had been… Read More
Posted on May 31, 2017
Savings update – April & May
This spring has been an absolute gong show and for that I apologize. I am still feeling a bit off and work has been hectic so blogging has not been on my radar. We continued to spend a… Read More
Posted on May 20, 2017
You can’t plan everything, but you can plan for something
A couple of weeks ago I was home sick when Mr. Tucker learned that his company was being acquired by another company. All-of-a-sudden it became a flurry of questions and what-ifs. The company was liquidating: people in the… Read More
Posted on April 17, 2017
Life and goal update – March 2017
Better late than never as the old adage goes! March came in like a lion and went out…like a lion. We had our last snow on the 31st, which is fairly late even for our northern clime. Luckily,… Read More
Posted on March 18, 2017
Managing when you are busy, stressed, and unwell
I have spoken often about what an awful year it has been for my family and I. While we were managing fairly well for a long time, recently we were suddenly not-managing-well at all. With so many balls… Read More
Posted on February 12, 2017
Here we are now, entertain us
Because I am middle-aged now, I see entertainment in a whole new light. It’s definitely changed since I had kids, and has even changed since my kids were small. Today, in terms of line items in the budget,… Read More
Posted on January 14, 2017
The amazing things you learn when you tally your investments
Like most people, we’ve tried to do all the right things, adhering to the standard personal finance advice: save for retirement, pay off your debt, take advantage of benefits such as retirement matching, save an emergency fund…blah blah… Read More
Posted on January 12, 2017
Ahead of the game?
Note: Our financial goals for 2017 include saving $18300 to buy back my pensionable years for my defined benefit pension as well as save $50000 which will make us mortgage-free at the beginning of 2018 I socked away… Read More
Posted on January 11, 2017
I hate this so much
My bank recently sent me some snail mail because I was “PRE-APPROVED FOR A $10000 LINE OF CREDIT!” I have no use for more credit so I just pitched the letter. Of course, I log into my bank… Read More
Posted on December 29, 2016
Habits and goals for 2017
Recently I saw an article headline to the effect of, “don’t do resolutions, make new habits.” I didn’t click and read it but I wish I had. My brain has kept coming back to the idea and I’ve… Read More
Posted on November 23, 2016
Meal planning for non-planners
Mr. Tucker and I love cooking. There is nothing we enjoy more on Sundays than putting on a fire, turning up a little jazz, pouring a glass of red wine, and then cooking up a storm. Usually we… Read More
Posted on November 21, 2016
Layoffs are inevitable, your reaction shouldn’t be
Last week there was a “reorganization” at my work. In two places in the country thousands of jobs have now been affected. Of course, I have to follow the stories, work late, do my job but I am… Read More
Posted on November 11, 2016
Sorry, you’re Canadian
Growing up in Canada is kind of like being the second child: your big brother the USA gets all the cool shit first while you are stuck shuffling along in his shadow hoping you get a turn someday…. Read More
Posted on November 9, 2016
Exit strategy: conversations with my mom
“I wish I had retired later. I find retirement really boring.” My mom said. She was over for her weekly cup of coffee & a visit with the kids and I. Although we keep Sundays as a strictly… Read More
