Mail in Rebates can get you free items, but there is some risk attached. I like using mail-in-rebates to lower my out of pocket cost on days when you can earn points for spending (like 20x bonus Optimum points).   While many are credited without issue, some are very slow or the rebate never arrives.  A …Read More

Many freebies, coupons and contests will require your email address.  Some are very good about using your email address only for that coupon or giveaway but others will sell your information or send you very regular emails. If you are just starting out, it is a good idea to make an email address just for …Read More

Saving, couponing and the forum can be overwhelming when you don’t know what all the acronyms and unusual words mean. A/C: After Coupon BB/ BBF: Best Before BOGO or B1G1: Buy One, Get One (free) – watch for the small print on this, it could be BOGO 1/2 price in which yo get the second …Read More

Ever been shopping and the item scans higher than advertised? You could be getting that product free! The Scanning Code of Practice is a voluntary code (although many stores do participate) through the Competition Bureau and Retail Council of Canada. If the scanned price of a non-price ticketed item is higher than the shelf price …Read More

When we tried the cash jar method, it was something that both of us agreed to and were pretty careful about making sure the budget would work, but this was not the case with all of my ideas for saving and paying off our debts. No money management idea will work if your whole family …Read More

It is as simple as don’t spend more than you earn, right? Sure, but you could still be living paycheque to paycheque. When we first tried the Gail Vaz-Oxlade method of budgeting using cash jars/envelopes, we were badly overspending. We were all too fond of putting it on our credit card and worrying about it …Read More

You know how it is, you get home, you are tired and still have housework to do and order a pizza or Chinese or you start making your favourite recipe only to find you are missing a key ingredient. Meal planning can save you both time a money. Personally, I am not into one day …Read More

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, I used to go to the same grocery store weekly, with roughly the same list yet my bill really varied. We bought the same brands because we were used to them, we picked up whatever looked interesting. Typical shoppers. Now I cringe when I am behind someone with …Read More

The best way to meet your long term goals is to set short term ones. If you have been overspending, the shock of a frugal lifestyle can be a bit much but cutting down bit by bit can set you in the right path for the future. Start with the easy stuff Bills: are you …Read More

Often we see a lot of new members join SmartCanucks on January 1st as people set goals to spend less, save more or other financial goals. Over the coming days and weeks, we will be posting some blogs about frugal basics and the site in general to help those new members on their SmartCanucks’ journey. …Read More