Economizer

Although there are package deals to be had geared towards
getting away for a romantic night, not all of us are in the
position to jet off to Chicago with our mate on February 14th
for a night of good eating, theatre and a posh hotel.

Who really has the cash right now to pay for the airfare for two, a sitter for the kids and tipping a doorman several times all in recognition of one night?

But that's not to say Valentine's Day shouldn't be recognized -- I've always been a big believer in doing something special for your significant other on the 14th. Even if it is an appreciation that is somewhat forced, it does remind us not to take our partners for granted (at least for one day).

Here are a few ideas on how to treat your sweetheart without getting walloped with a big bill at the end of the night.

Liked this article? Don't miss another one. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

There's something strangely satisfying and less stressful about flying with only carry-on luggage.

The first snicker of satisfaction comes when you arrive at the airport with your boarding pass already printed off the internet and breeze past the line of people waiting to check in their bags. The second is knowing that you've avoided paying check-in baggage fees (this is not so much an issue on Canadian airlines, but you really need to watch out for them in the U.S. or on budget airlines around the world -- they hurt. Ouch!) Third is knowing that the airline won't lose your luggage (it's a slim chance, but it does happen.) And fourth is being able to walk straight off the plane, past those waiting for the baggage conveyor belt to start up, and straight out of the airport.

Before you say that there's no way you could fit everything you need into your carry-on, read on.

The past couple of years have been tough on many Canadians and for a brief period of time, frugality was the financial buzz word. I'd like to add the adjective "intelligent" preceding frugality (being smart with your money) as a trend I hope will stay.

But then there are those individuals, you know the ones (maybe intimately), that are just plain cheap.

Take this test to find out if you're fantastically frugal, penny-wise and pound-foolish or a killjoy miser.

Question #1: Have you ever been out with friends for dinner and excused yourself just as the bill came to avoid chipping in?

A: Never; I can't stand people that do that
B: I'll be honest – I've thought about it
C: Yes, and I can't count how many times (is that wrong?)

Question #2: The last time the Girl Guides or Boy Scouts came to your door fundraising, you:

A: Bought one of what they were offering
B: Told them you bought at the office
C: Shut the blinds and turned off the lights when you saw them coming

The new year means a lot of things for a lot of people. For me, it's an opportunity to reevaluate my personal financial habits, see what needs to be improved and then make an effort to change them.

Overall, it's not too bad. Like most Canadians, I'm concerned about paying down my debt - a mortgage - and saving for my retirement. As much as I would love a financial windfall, say, via lottery, that's not going to happen; so the alternative is to see where I can save some money without feeling completely deprived.

Realistic cost-cutting is what I'm talking about.

After the spending frenzy in December, and seeing the bills in January, many of us want to avoid shopping. We're not eager to take the credit card out of the wallet.

But dear consumers, you should be shopping in January - if you have some money tucked away, there are bargains to be had - whether it's small ticket or big ticket, there are several items that purchased now will save money later.

And you won't be fighting crowds to find the deal.

So what's on the shopping list? For the spontaneous shopper, the list will be items that won't cause any spending stress are good for those who are planning for next year's holiday season.

The moment is always awkward. You scramble to unwrap the biggest gift under the tree as fast and as happily as possible -- certain you know it's exactly what you asked for -- only to have sinking disappointment overcome you, as you realize that all your subtle signals were somehow lost in translation and it's not what you wanted at all.

Once you fain pure joy, say thank you and the offending party has gone home, then what do you do? Where do all the unwanted Christmas gifts go? After all, a UK survey from Gumtree revealed that unwanted Christmas gifts totaled £2.4 billion this year and that's just in one country.

No surprise that mothers give the most unwanted gifts according to one of every five people who answered the survey. Mom's horrible taste and clouded judgement was closely followed by mother-in-laws at 18% and aunts at 16%. But, what do you do with them all -- seriously?

Related Links:

• How to Save on Christmas? Celebrate a Few Days Later
• Five Tips to Buy Last Minute Gifts Without Losing Your Mind (or Wallet)
• Five Tips for Finding Online Holiday Deals

We all have debt, and Canadian household debt rates rival and surpass most other western economies. We need to rein in our spending and find creative ways to tackle our personal debt to avoid a looming financial disaster. Here are six ways to take action today and make 2012 the year you got your financial house in order.

Click photo to launch gallery.



























%Gallery-143512%

We're always racking our brains, trying to come up with novel ways we can save a few more dollars each day. We hope that by employing just one or two of the 20 ideas in our list, you'll be able to shave a little off your living expenses, pay off your debts quicker and start to save instead.

Click on the image below to learn how you can start saving.



%Gallery-142919%

When I caught up with my friend Sean at a local coffee shop, he vowed not to make any New Year's resolutions.

He joked, "I'm doing everything right." But my friend holds an MBA from a top Swedish business school and is underemployed. Somehow our conversation turned to the topic of negotiation. He's a big believer in compromise and bowing down to what "the market" deems as being fair.

I, on the other hand, sang the praises of win-win. Who would have thought that both of our opinions, that are deeply rooted in conventional wisdom, are among the most dangerous negotiation mistakes that can be made. Why? What does it take to be an effective negotiator?

In Start With NO Jim Camp explains why win-win is an ineffective and disastrous strategy. After reading the 259-page book and speaking with America's most sought-after coach I'm changing my approach. Here are the five ways I'm improving my negotiation skills by starting with no:

Liked this article? Don't miss another one. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

Do you want to look back on your New Year's resolution list and shudder in shame? We thought not. While it's hard to cut back on your spending, don't worry. You're certainly not alone. The year has just begun and there's plenty of time to break bad spending habits and make good on your resolutions to save more. To keep you motivated we've scoured our archives and have come up with 10 pain-free ways to help you keep your financial resolutions for the next 12 months.

(CLICK ON PHOTO TO LAUNCH GALLERY)

%Gallery-139808%

1. Save on minutes

One place to look for savings is your cell phone plan. We're not suggesting that you ditch your phone -- far from it. However, how many minutes do you really use? And is your current monthly package truly meeting your needs? Always shop around before you commit to an agreement. Better yet, don't commit to a contract that will tie you down or slap you in the face with penalties for leaving early. By shopping around you can see what options are available -- not just with the competition but with your current provider. Use this comparison shopping information as your negotiation leverage and ask for a better deal. To learn more, check out Shopping for a Cell Phone Plan? This is as Easy as it Gets.

Your savings: about $180 per year if you get the basic 150 minute voice and data plan.