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Lately I have been choosing to buy organic foods whenever I can.  The Bisphosphenol A (BPA) scare really got to me (90% of Canadians between 6 to 79 have this chemical in our blood) as it can wreck havoc on your fertility and has been linked to certain cancers. With the increased pesticide use on crops, I have been more wary of the food that goes into our bodies.

Organic foods taste better and are better for your health.  Organic groceries don’t have chemicals sprayed on them to make them last longer.  Organic meat is free of growth hormones and antibiotics (no wonder there are these things called “superbugs” in our hospitals that can’t be killed by antibiotics- we’re all eating antibiotics without even knowing it).   A few years ago, King of the Hill even did an episode where Hank fell in love with the organic steaks and joined a local Co-Op.  Organic is tastes better, is better for you, but is not necessarily better for your budget.

More often than not, buying organic can mean paying double the price for something that isn’t organic.  There are certain things that you should buy organic, and things that you don’t need to fuss too much about (like organic bananas).

Here are a few tips that can help you save some money when buying organic.

Continue reading 6 Tips for Buying Organic On the Cheap

A look into Y&T's closet

I guess this post is dedicated to the shopaholics out there.  That feeling you get when you buy a new pair of shoes or a new pair of pants is sort of addictive.  Something different to your wardrobe, something new, something to shake things up a bit.  You think about when you can wear your new clothing out.  Things are exciting for a while, and then you get the credit card bill.

Your internal voice screams: “What? I paid $150 for these pair of pants? I don’t even wear them that often!”

Then you get the guilt.  When you see that item of clothing in your closet, it calls at you, telling you “Hey! Remember when you thought I was all that and a bag of chips? What happened?”  The wave of guilt courses through your veins again and you close the closet door in remorse.

Aside from the talking clothing, I’m sure that scenario rings a bell.

Continue reading One Person’s Trash is Another One’s Treasure: Clothes Swap!

Last weekend BF and I went to the PNE. The Pacific National Exhibition is this fair in Vancouver that runs for two weeks every year at the end of August. This year is the 100th anniversary celebration, so I suppose the line ups were extra long, but the cotton candy, candy apples, mini-donuts was extra delicious.  They even had the Beach Boys, Kevin Costner, and Bryan Adams  playing at the PNE this year.

I used a promo code (yes, I heart promo codes) I found online and saved us $5 each for admission (usually $20- prices have gone way up!), though if we got our butts together and left early in the morning, there was free admission from 9-12pm. But alas, that didn’t happen.  We decided against spending the extra cash to go on the rides this year- the extra long line ups aren’t worth it, IMO.

We checked out a pig race, some cows, a marketplace (which ended up being every infomercial you can imagine- but LIVE), and the carnival games.  Oh the carnival games.  They are so so good at suckering you in to plunk your money down and try again to no avail.  BF was so intent on winning something with the basketball hoop game and he tried a few times with no luck.  Then I stumbled on this post by John Chow.  Guess we weren’t the only ones who thought that game was ridiculously impossible.

Carnival games are like casinos, but instead of money, you get an ugly stuffed animal that you would likely never use.  They get them young.  Now I realize how much money I spent when I was a kid, trying so desperately to get those prizes.  I suppose there are some very good lessons parents can teach their children whilst letting them gamble at the carnival games.  Like: know your limit, stay within it.

PF Blog Love:

• Invest It Wisely gives a few tips on healthy living, eating, and exercise
• Boomer and Echo has 10 tips on saving money on auto insurance
• Tiny Potato has great tips on what NOT to do when opening a discount brokerage
• The Passive Income Earner asks what is a real estate bubble and how is it defined?
• Financial Samurai talks about how small business owners are encouraged to sack their employees before tax hikes
• Bucksome Boomer wonders whether we should be eating our eggs, given all the contamination scare
• Money Reasons shares with us how he supports his local community
• Monevator asks whether you consider yourself richer than  your kids, or poorer than your grandchildren
• My Journey to Millions asks whether Gen Y’ers follow stereotypes (I think we do)
• Canadian Finance Blog talks about my dream- retiring abroad

Readers, did you ever get suckered into playing the carnival games? Did you ever win something really good?

I was on my boyfriend’s computer the other day trying to look for travel deals at his place, when I got bombarded by “Your computer is not safe, do you want to renew your antivirus software??” or something like that.  Every five minutes I was asked if I wanted to renew.  Makes me very very glad I splurged  on a MacBook Pro now… I’m so computer illiterate that I couldn’t even protect my old PC from being bombarded by a virus.  I remember I was so technologically challenged that when I thought I was hit by a Trojan (not that kind of Trojan, get that mind out of the gutter!), I had to call my sister to the rescue.  It turned out that it was actually “scareware”.  Scareware tricks you into buying their antivirus software by making you think you have a virus in your computer.  Tricky, eh?  Because of this experience, I thought I would reach out to my fellow computer illiterate folks out there (do I hear crickets chirping…is it just me?) and share what I learned on how to protect your computer with firewalls and antivirus software.

Let’s first explain what antivirus software and firewalls are.

Antivirus software hunts and detects crap in your computer and kills it.  Kind of like what the white blood cells do for you (remember biology class?).  You need antivirus software to help you get rid of spyware, trojans, viruses and the sort.

Firewalls work by filtering the internet and blocking things so that the network can be protected.  Firewalls are especially important for larger companies with huge networks of computers (some people can’t access Facebook or certain websites from their work computer, and that’s why).  How Stuff Works (love that show!) explains in an easy to read format what firewalls are.

I would say that the key to using firewalls and antivirus software is to find something that is easy to use (if you’re just like me, and not computer savvy), because if you screw up, it can cause a breach in your computer’s security and it can be a pain to fix (not to mention cost you an arm and a leg).  Or worst case scenario, your computer will crash and your photos and memories will be gone…forever.

You definitely don’t want that worst case scenario happening to you.  So to protect your computer, you can buy the antivirus software or firewall protection at your local computer/ electronics shop, which can cost anywhere between $20 to $60.  To save money, you can also download basic versions of them for free too.

Here are some free basic antivirus software downloads:

• AVG - this is the most common one, I would say
• BitDefender
• Bullguard Free Antivirus

Here are some cheap (or free) firewall downloads:

• Zone Alarm- this is the one that my boyfriend has on his PC
• Comodo

Of course, if you want added protection against malware, it will cost you.  Also, you would want something that doesn’t ask you whether you would like to download the “non-free” version of the software every five minutes.  It’s a pain in the butt to have to click “remind me later” while you’re busy surfing the net.  Not having to click “remind me the next day” was one of the primary reasons that drove me to switch to a Mac (sorry PC!).  I heart my Macbook Pro.

I hope that helps save you some money (and not to mention a headache) with protecting your PC computer from the crazy crazy internet world out there.

Have you had an experience where you’ve had to deal with a virus on your computer?  Any PC die-hards or Mac die-hards out there?

It has been stifling hot this summer (thanks, Global Warming) even in our usually temperate climate of Vancouver.  We’ve been hitting 30+ degrees Celsius regularly (about 86+ degrees Farenheit for youngandthrifty’s USA friends).  My boyfriend and I are known to be really cheap when it comes to turning on the air conditioning, but in this hot hot heat, we’ve been less stingy and have been closing the windows and pressing that button and turning on the glorious A/C.

Because of this hot heat, and possibly because I was rendered delirious from the heat, it got me wondering, which one IS cheaper for fuel economy? Air conditioning or having the windows down?  Which one will help that tank of gas (running at $1.18/L again here in Vancouver) go that extra mile for you?

There are two camps to this often heated and long drawn debate, probably not dissimilar to the pronouncement of tomato.  To-MAY-to or To-MAH-to. =)  That is the question.

Continue reading AC or Windows Down? Which One Is Better for Fuel Economy?

I’m sorry for the excitement, but I think I have FINALLY FINALLY fixed something (thanks to professional help) that was bothering my blog for the past four months.  Being computer, wordpress, AND html illiterate, I had a heck of a time trying to figure out why my comments were getting allocated to the wrong posts (and I’m sure you all had to deal with it too, thank you for your unwavering patience!).  Thanks to my favourite wise Kiwi, Derry, who suggested that I use this website called elance.  You can hire professional computer programming help for cheap!

After getting more and more frazzled with seemingly more and more wrongly allocated posts with the new wordpress edition (and frantic copying and pasting and getting booted off comment luv for too much copying and pasting), I thought, “okay, enough is enough!”  So I took the plunge with elance and after a few days, the problem was fixed!  Turns out I have too many plug ins that are making each other confused, hence making my blog confused.  It was like taking my blog to the doctor, lol.

I thought I would celebrate with some Bob Marley- I can see clearly now!  It’s gonna be a bright, bright, sunshin-y day!

In other EXCITING news this week, I watched Eat Pray Love and loved it.  It made me have wanderlust again, when I thought I had quelched this feeling from the recent interest in buying a place (home buying update too- waiting for the prices to come down down down…).

But MOST exciting, is the launch of the official site, Yakezie.com.  It’s very exciting- it’s going to be huge (and viral, just like that Old Spice commercial)

Onto some great reads for the weekend.  Hope everyone has a great weekend!

PF Blog Love:

• Early Retirement Extreme asks what is happening to the middle class?
• Canadian Finance Blog has five frugal tips on reducing your food bill.
• Eliminate the Muda has some tips on how to set up a garage sale (this was on my personal to do list for the past four weeks. FAIL.)
• Money Beagle gives us five ways to save at the beach
• Couple Money shares with you how to graduate with money in your pocket
• Little House has these really fun personal finance quizzes (reminiscent of my YM and Seventeen magazine days)
• The Financial Blogger has a very interesting post on how schools show you how to be poor
• Million Dollar Journey pits ING Direct with PC Financial (who gets KO’d?)
• Len Penzo shares a simple trick to get your credit card interest waived
• Invest it Wisely shows you how to own your own restaurant (and pack it with you)
• 27 and Frugal talks about how one goes about managing a savings account
• Coupon Sherpa shares with us how to make sure you’re not getting scammed by coupons (yes there’s such a thing!)
• Boomer and Echo tells you how you can save money by meal planning
• Jenn @Paying Myself speaking of escapism and travel, Jenn shares pictures from her Mexico trip and tallies up how much she spent on it.

I thought I would talk about exercise, especially after I talked about ways to stuff your face get your money’s worth at a buffet earlier this week.  I have been contemplating getting a gym membership. I was always one to say “no!” to indoor exercise, sweaty bacteria ridden gym equipment, and members of the opposite sex gawking at you while you work out.  I have been wavering lately because of my recent expansion in my midsection (that age and metabolism is catching up to me haha), and I was thinking that good exercise habits will do my blood vessels well as I get into my thirties.

However, there are a few things stopping me from signing up for this.

Continue reading Does that Gym Membership Really Do You Good?

We’ve all been to an all-you-can-eat buffet (just in case you’re not sure, I’m talking food buffet, not Warren Buffett), I remember back in the day, it was $0.10 per years old you were (when I was seven, it cost $0.70 for my parents to pay for my buffet meal). In fact, I was recently at one and paid $18.95 for the all-you-can-eat. I then proceeded to limp to the car, whimpering with each step because my stomach was so full. I was trying to get my $18.95 + tip and tax worth. It got me thinking, there must be some defined strategies on how you can best get more bang for your buck at a buffet.

Both of us have really high metabolism and added together, we only amount to a bit over 250lbs (yeah, we’re like stick people!) so I would think buffet owners cringe when the see the amount we order or take to our tables.

Here are some (tongue-in-cheek) tips I came up with (some of them are my boyfriend’s suggestions, since he’s the one who requested we go to an all-you-can-eat this last time).

Continue reading How to Get your Money’s Worth at an All-You-Can-Eat-Buffet

I haven’t done a “Cheap and Good Eats” post in a while, and I have been meaning to feature Japadog, but lost the picture I took of the delicious hot dog.  Finally found the picture, so here’s my post!

If you ever come to Vancouver and you see a line up on Burrard and Smithe (in front of the Sutton Place hotel- yes, that’s where the Backstreet Boys stayed when they went on tour in Vancouver; and no, I didn’t go watch their concert don’t worry), then you know it’s a line up for Japadog.  Expect to wait about 15 to 20 minutes for one of their hot dogs, because there is ALWAYS a line up.

They have a little hot dog stand at the above said location, at Burrard and Pender (all downtown locales), and a new shop (not a hot dog stand, but a real shop) on Robson Street.  When a company expands like that, you know business is good. =)  They started in 2005 with just a small hot dog stand and two employees (the owner and his wife) and how they have over thirty employees and three locations.

Japadog is has been featured on the “Must eat” lists for a multitude of magazines showcasing what you need to do when you’re in Vancouver.  Even Steven Seagal ate there!

I’ve only tried the terimayo (terriyaki sauce and that delicious Japanese mayonaise and the bonito flakes) and it was really good.

I know $5 is a bit pricey for hot dogs, but it’s like a souped up hot dog.  The flavors just explode in your mouth. Mmm….
Check out the picture of my japadog dog- isn’t it sexy?

If you ever come to Vancouver- and hang out downtown, I’d say this is a must-eat.

Man, the owners must be rolling in cash- I mean, it doesn’t cost much at all to get a contract with the city for a street corner as a street vendor.  The city of Vancouver just opened up 17 more street vendor positions, and apparently there were 150 applicants.  Glad we’re following the lead of New York and having some real good street food!

Do you have any Cheap and Good Eat places in your hometown that you’d like to share?  Anyone been to Vancouver and tried the Japadog?

Net Worth: July 2010
$114,554 (+ 3.7%)

I would say that I put in effort to save this month.  For big purchases, I only spent money for a gift for my boyfriend for his birthday and a long weekend trip to Kelowna which didn’t cost very much at all.  What also helped was that the market wasn’t acting too depressing this last month, considering it’s summer holidays and all.  They say “sell in May and go away” …maybe they meant to come back in July.  =)

I finally looked into my TFSA Questrade Trading account and checked which one of my holdings were planning to incorporate and which ones weren’t.  I found that all of them were converting (or already on the verge of converting by getting approval) except for one of them.  That one plans to convert, but doesn’t seem like they have any concrete plans as half the year is over already and they are still saying “might”.  I plan to sell that before the year ends and buy some XTR.TO (yup, adding some ETF’s to the mix).

Without the pension added, I’m at 97373… almost over 100K. So close, so close!  Hopefully in the next few months I’ll be at over 100K before adding the pension.

Okay, so here’s the breakdown:

Continue reading youngandthrifty networth update: August 2010