New video: Shoebox Budgeting

This week's video is a tutorial that explains how you can set up a realistic budget using a shoebox.

This method is simple and dependable, so it's perfect for those of you new to budgeting (or those of you who are having trouble sticking to your current budgeting method!).

The guidelines for this budgeting system were originally written by Trent from TheSimpleDollar.com You can check out his blog post (and see all the steps in written form!) here.

Do you keep a budget? What system works for you? Share your budgeting tips in a comment below!

Larissa

Idol Update!

For anyone who sees this post Tuesday evening:

Guess what? Lloydminster's own Earl Stevenson (who is also a Common Wealth member!) is performing tonight on Canadian Idol. Tune into CTV @ 8:00 PM Alberta time to watch him sing.

Don't forget to vote for him after the show by calling 1-866-9-IDOL-06

Go Earl!

Save money with Snail Mail

Last weekend, I intended to follow some Summer Tips Week advice. With the Skinny on Sunscreen blog post in mind, I went to the drugstore to buy some continuous spray sunscreen. One particular brand (cough cough Banana Boat) was on sale, so I picked up two bottles.

When it came time to apply the sunscreen, it was very clear that the product was defective. Instead of spraying in a fine mist, the first bottle spattered noisily. The second bottle worked fine until it completely conked out mid-application. There was nothing I could do to unclog it.

What did I do about the situation? I wrote a letter.

Letter writing seems like a rarity these days. Stamps and envelopes often fail to compete with IMs, text messages, and e-mails. Despite this, letter writing remains one of the strongest methods of communication (especially when it comes to product complaints).

Through personal experience, many have found that contacting a company via phone or e-mail to lodge a complaint usually only merits a brief apology, whereas contacting a company via snail mail often leads to a sincere apology and an attempt at a solution.

Next time a product lets you down, don't chalk it up to bad luck – do something about it. Writing a letter can sometimes make up for any money wasted – the response you receive might include a replacement product or a free coupon or voucher.

If you find yourself needing to write a complaint letter, be sure to follow these quick tips for the best results:

• Write with respect   We all know you're miffed, but if your letter looks like hate mail, don't expect an answer any time soon.

• Disappointed, not angry  Your letter should make you come across as a loyal customer who is disappointed with a certain product or service rather than a ranting sorehead. Just think: is a company more likely to compensate a customer they can win back or an ex-customer who is ready to take their business elsewhere?

• Keep it short   Be direct and get to the point. Your letter should be no longer than a page.

• Don't forget the address!  Make sure to provide your contact information – not only on the envelope, but also on the letter itself.

I kept these tips in mind while composing my letter. I'll let you all know if and when I get a response to my sunscreen mishap.

Have you had any experience writing letters to companies? What sort of response did you get? Feel free to share your experience in a comment below.

Cordially,

Larissa

Where do your best summer memories take place?

Hello everyone – it's time for a new poll question!

Last week, I asked you what kind of footwear you don for the summer months. As it turns out, 46% of you live in flipflops while 28% of you prefer to stroll in sandals.

This week's poll asks you to pinpoint the location of your favourite summer memory (the memory doesn't necessarily have to be from this summer!)

Favourite summer memories are as unique as the people who make them. They're fascinating because they can take place halfway across the world, or right in your own backyard. They focus on the friends you've made, the sights you've seen– or a combination of both. In your opinion, what makes a great summer memory? Share one of your own in a comment below.

Favourite Young & Free Summer Memories... Cotton Candy!!!

Larissa

Webthing of the Week: Mobaganda.com

Planning a party or a night out this summer and need a way to get the word out fast? Try Mobaganda.com

Online invitations are definitely not a new concept, but never before has there been an E-vite website this simple and to-the-point. Mobaganda is the perfect online invitation service when:

- Your friends are scattered over various social networks/some aren't on any social networks at all.
- You're looking for a service that's convenient and easy to use
- You can't stand the tacky graphics and annoying junk mail that go hand in hand with other Evite services

With Mobaganda, there's no registration or login required. You just enter your event name, date, time, and location. When you click Create, Mobaganda then provides you with the following:

• A free URL: The URL is what you send to your friends. E-mail it to them, paste it into your Twitter feed, or send it out to your friends on Facebook. When they visit the page, they can RSVP. By checking the page in the days leading up to your event, you'll be able to see who can and can't make it. After 60 days, the URL gets wiped out (so that your old party info doesn't stay floating in cyberspace).

• A free RSS feed: If you use an RSS reader (like Google Reader), Mobaganda provides you with an RSS feed that will update you whenever someone RSVPs to your event. It's an alternative to checking the URL regularly. Just like the URL, it also gets deleted after 60 days.

• A free e-mail address:  That's right, Mobaganda even provides you with a temporary email address! When you send a message to the email address, it forwards it on to everyone who's RSVP-ed. Your guests' individual email addresses  stay private and protected, and you're able to get in touch with everybody without the hassle of searching through your address books and social network profiles to find all your friends' current emails. After 60 days, your event's Mobaganda email address is deactivated (keeping you and your guests safe from spam and junkmail!)

So next time you're organizing a get-together, give Mobaganda a try! It's quick, it's simple, it's easy to monitor (and it's more green than paper invites)!

And that just about wraps up Summer Tips week. Hope you enjoyed it!

Larissa

Make your own Eco-friendly bug trap

Are wasps and other mean bugs getting in the way of your picnics and BBQs this summer? Keep them at bay by building a simple bug trap made from a recycled bottle!

All you need is:

• A plastic bottle (a 1.5 L pop bottle works great)

• An exacto knife

• Bait (orange juice, soda pop, or some other liquid that's bound to bring in the bugs)

STEP 1: Remove the bottle cap. Cut around the upper third of the bottle using the exacto knife. (Be careful not to cut yourself during this step!) You will have two pieces: the top section and the bottom section of the bottle.

STEP 2: Pour some 'bait' (ex. orange juice or soda pop) into the bottom section of the bottle.

STEP 3: Take the top section of the bottle, turn it upside down, and fit it snugly inside the bottom section of the bottle.

Pests will be able to find their way into the bottle, but won't be able to find their way out again.

If you're planning an outdoor dinner or party, make a few bottle traps to set up around the table. They're cheap to make, quick to assemble, and they'll keep those pesky bugs away from your summer smorgasbord.

How are you finding Summer Tips Week on Y&F so far? Let me know by posting a comment below.

Larissa

Save money by learning to love your water

Everybody knows it – there are numerous benefits to drinking water. It increases energy, regulates body temperature, flushes out toxins, and is an important part of maintaining overall health. Oh yeah, did I mention it's free?

Despite this, a good chunk (almost one third) of Canadians are mildly dehydrated. It's not that everyone's forgetting to drink – it's what they're choosing to drink that's causing the problem.

Coffees, teas, pop, and alcoholic beverages are made up of mostly water, but they also contain ingredients or chemicals that can dehydrate you (and are bad for your health, too!). They may taste better, but they have nothing on water when it comes to caring for your body.

A popular excuse for not drinking more water (and I tend to use it a lot, unfortunately!) is that is tasteless and boring to drink. Although there are options out there like bottled water and flavored water, these can be very pricey and can contain the coloring and chemicals that you're trying to avoid by drinking water in the first place!

The solution? Go natural!

There are ingredients in your kitchen that you can use to give your water a little kick. This summer, try out a couple different "water recipes". Not only will you save money on bottled drinks, but you'll be doing your body good, as well!

• Cucumber  For a refreshing twist, chill cucumber slices in with your pitcher of water. You can also add in cubed honeydew melon for a hint of sweetness.

• Citrus    Lemons, limes, and orange slices can do wonders to liven up a pitcher of water. Lemon and lime juice can also be used.

• Vinegar    "Ew! Larissa, are you kidding me??" Nope. Vinegar is a healthy way to flavor water. Just a splash of apple cider vinegar into a pitcher or water will turn it into a crisp, refreshing beverage (note: I would not recommend white vinegar or balsamic vinegar... now that would truly be "Ew!")

• Hint of Green    Mint and lemongrass are great for fresh-tasting water.

• Berries    Cut or crush a few berries into your water (blueberries and strawberries are both great choices) and let it absorb all the lovely flavors.

• Ginger    If you're a little more adventurous, sliced ginger adds a spicy kick to your H2O. Though calming when served hot, it is also tasty served cold.

If you keep your water at room temperature, these water recipes should be switched out daily. If you keep your water chilled in the fridge, you can hang on to them for a couple days. But really... it shouldn't be an issue because you'll finally be drinking more water!

Cheers!

Larissa

The Skinny on Sunscreen

Now that we're in the middle of a hot Albertan summer, it's important that you protect your skin from the sun.

Many people use sunscreen to block out harmful UV rays – but what many people don't know is just how much sunscreen to use and when to apply it. The result: very weak protection from the sun.

Check out these sunscreen tips to get the most out of your SPF:

• How much??! The most common mistake people make with sunscreen is that they apply too little of it. If you're applying sunscreen in a lotion form, you should be using (at least!) a golfball-sized blob. That's about 200 sprays if you're using a pump spray (and you thought rubbing lotion into your skin was a chore!), or 25 seconds of spraying if you're using a continuous spray.

• Repeat Repeat Repeat. You probably already know that it's a good idea to reapply your sunscreen after getting a little sweaty or going for a swim. But did you know that you should be reapplying every two hours (yes, another golfball-sized amount!) to stay protected? The active ingredients in sunscreen start breaking down the moment you step outside, so reapplication is essential.

• Out of proportion. Contrary to popular belief, SPF numbers do not increase proportionately – meaning SPF 30 does not have twice as much protection as SPF 15. Similarly, a thin layer of SPF 60 doesn't provide the same protection as a thick layer of SPF 30 (busted!).

• When to apply. Believe it or not, you should apply your sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside. That way, your skin will have time to properly absorb the product. Instead of slapping on some lotion last minute, whip out the SPF earlier in your "getting ready routine".

•   Expiry Date? Just because that half-used bottle of sunscreen has been sitting in your cabinet all winter doesn't mean that it needs to be tossed. Although sunscreen does lose some quality when stored for long periods of time (like a year or so!), the change is extremely minimal. Year-old sunscreen is just as safe and effective as a new sunscreen.

• You can leave your hat on. Don't leave all the work up to the lotions and the sprays! Hats and sunglasses are also great sunshields. Hats are great for protecting your scalp and the tops of your ears (popular burn magnets that are tricky to put lotion on!), and sunglasses will keep your eyes from getting sunburned (that's right – if your eyes feel dry and irritated at the end of the day, it's because they've been exposed to too much sun).

With so many sun products out on the market today, there is truly something for everyone. So do your research, do your shopping and mind these tips– your skin will surely thank you!

Don't forget to check in tomorrow for another summer tip!

Larissa

Summer Tips Week and New Poll

(Sing it with me: School's out for the summer!)

As you may have noticed on the homepage, today marks the start of Summer Tips Week on the Y&F website.

Check out this video message to see what it's all about:

 

Now on to the weekly poll!

This week's poll has to do with your choice of summer footwear (it's very strange how particular some people can be about their seasonal shoes!) Whether you're running around in brand new Pumas or taking a stroll in your bare feet, you can answer the poll here.

Don't forget to check back all week for your daily summer tips!

Larissa

Webthing of the Week: Tiny Mix Tapes

Tiny Mix Tapes is a site that keeps the fun and eccentricity of mix tapes alive in the online world.

Visitors to the site are invited to submit "a thought, phrase, question, quotation, or whatever else" to the site. If you're lucky, your submission will be posted on the site along with a list of tracks that complement it (...in other words, your request will be turned into a Mix Tape).

Most of the Mix Tape topics are humorous, and it's quite fun to browse the archives. Some of the Mix Tapes I found were titled:

• Songs with Titles That Would Make Excellent Fortune Cookie Fortunes

• Awkward Songs to Listen to in the Car with My Mother

• Songs for Sleeping in a Hammock

And as for the usefulness of Tiny Mix Tapes... it's a great way to discover new songs and artists. If you spot a Mix Tape that interests you, the full playlist is right at your fingertips.

Please remember that because Mix Tapes are user-submitted, the content is not moderated (= bad word alert!).

Have a fantastic weekend!

Larissa