A few years ago I pulled on my big girl pants and did something I swore I’d never do. My taxes. All by myself. It was liberating to finally conquer my fear of numbers, which stemmed from a terribly embarrassing incident in Grade 4 involving a boy I had a crush on, sweaty armpits, and the times tables, but I digress. Because of that small boost in confidence using TurboTax to guide me, I was emboldened to do even more. I’ve since taken on my own bookkeeping for my business, and I’ve mastered the …
My Top Five Money Regrets Raising Kids
**This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of EQ Bank. However, as always, all opinions are my own. I am at the stage of parenting, where I can actually see the finish line; a shimmering mirage in the distance. I’m a little out of breath, limping a little, but the promise of crossing that finish line dragging my two girls into adulthood, whether they like it or not, is a powerful motivator. When you’re in the marathon this long, you learn a few things along the way about making it the …
Fear of Taxes and How to Make Tax Time A Positive Experience
Conquering my fear of taxes was not an easy feat. Growing up, one of my Dad’s favourite expressions, aside from “pull my finger”, was this: “There are only two things certain in life; death and taxes.” Needless to say, I didn’t view taxes in the most positive light. For many years, I delegated my income taxes to someone else — my dad, my husband, my accountant. When I started my own business though, I really felt that in order to understand my business inside and out, I should do my own. …
D.I.DON’T: A Small Rant About Penny Floors
We live in a world of conspicuous consumption. People make money to buy the things to make us happy enough to make more money to buy more things. Even the penny has value, as much as we treat them as useless; in great quantity, they can buy happiness too! I am equally guilty of it conspicuously consuming, I make no bones about that. I work hard, as does my husband; it took a long time for us to get to a place of comfort—we are not rich, but with a little saving and careful money management we …
Real Ways to Save for Retirement When the Clock is Ticking
Ah yes, turning 50, that year when you realize you’re all grown up. It’s sometimes a shock, but I took it in stride and so should you. Now is the time to think of your grown-up future. What’s to look forward to? A great retirement. Some of you have planned your retirement for years; others are just starting to think about it now. That’s ok, because it’s never too late to start planning for retirement. Whether you’ve got 25 years to plan or just 15, there’s a lot you can do to make sure you're …
