Holidays

Life's tough. And dangerous. Even when you go on vacation. Why? Forgot to shut the windows? Or turn the bathtub faucet off?

No. It's the high-technology you own that's causing you wrinkles.

It doesn't have to.

High-tech devices and their use anywhere, even in the midst of a five-star resort, can bring untold troubles upon you. Especially if you resort to using your credit cards and communicating with others, using WiFi services you're not familiar with.

Here are some basic instructions to keep your mind at ease (and your devices safe).

With the beginning of May, many Canadians start checking temperatures and weather conditions - particularly for cottage country.

Not just because we're obsessed with Mother Nature, but because soon it will be time for the annual migration to cottage, cabins and summer homes.

Every year there's something to add to the list of items to bring with, but how to avoid overspending in the excitement of celebrating summer at the home-away-from-home?

There are those fixed costs that need to be covered - water, electricity, taxes - and then there are several costs that can be reduced with a little advance planning.

Mother's Day is fast approaching. (Psst ... May 13^th, in case you haven't marked your calendars.) After all the countless hours and seemingly limitless energy our mothers have spent taking care of us, isn't it always a great idea to treat her like a queen? This year show mom why she's tops in your books with some of these budget-friendly and beauty junkie approved gift ideas.

There's no question that mothers deserve our respect and admiration and I'm quite sure that they would be quite happy with any expression of thanks we cared to offer on their special day. Still, most of us want to give more than a hug and a greeting card so here are nine great gift ideas for Mother's Day under $40.

And, remember, most stores have attractive gift cards if you can't decide what your mom would really like.

Chica Wall Vases - Here's something a little different. These vases are, as the name suggests, made to hang on the wall. They are handmade of 100 per cent recycled glass and come in transparent orange, green, yellow, turquoise and blue.

A mom who is into home decor would really get a kick out of these. You can hang just one or multiples. Available at Crate and Barrel online for $12.38 each.

Read on for more great ideas:

With Mother's Day approaching, I find myself shamelessly
hinting to my husband and kids about what they can treat me to that will show their appreciation for me simply being the Mom of the family. I have to admit, Mother's Day is one of those occasions when I actually do feel like I deserve a bit of pampering or a thoughtful gift for the many sleep deprived nights I've experienced -- not to mention the many diapers I've changed and seemingly endless clean-up tasks I've endured. For anyone looking for gift ideas to appreciate all that Mom has done for you, here is some guidance on what Moms really want. In the under $50 range, you can actually go quite far with your money.

Just like everything else, the cost of food is rising, making it more difficult for most of us to eat well on a budget.

Pricing of food has risen by 4.4 per cent, according to a recent report from Statistics Canada. Food staples such as milk, eggs, fresh vegetables, coffee and bread are not immune from the price hikes, meaning the bottom line on everyone's grocery bill will be effected.

Registered dietitian Cassandra Reid at Cleveland Clinic Canada offers some advice on affording good nutrition throughout the year.

Last month the organizers of Colorado Springs' annual Easter egg hunt had to cancel the event because of aggressive parents hell bent on getting Easter eggs for their kids. People, it's only a game. Maybe the event would have fared better if the participants knew that everyone could and would get a basketful of treats, especially when the treats are pretty cheap. Here are seven budget-friendly Easter ideas to try that are, hopefully, aggression-free.

1. Create a family Easter basket. Place a large plate on a table and decorate it with Easter
grass and goodies. You can purchase Easter grass from Walmart for just $1. If you want to
keep an eye on the amount of sugar your child consumes, top the grassy heap with filler
eggs (Walmart 42-pack $2.97 each). As an alternative to a gooey sugary centre place
stickers from the dollar store inside.

Usually when you enter the muddy waters airline fare pricing, things can get confusing.

What you see is not always what you get and the surcharges left out of the advertised bottom line can seriously impact what you end up paying for your ticket to the sun -- and not in a good way. But things are looking up for Canadian travelers.

Air Canada and Porter Airlines Inc. announced last week an all-inclusive airfare policy when it comes to their print ads and websites.

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Valentine's Day can be a source of anxiety for some. Whether you've been in a relationship for ages or have started a brand new relationship, tensions over gift selection can run high.

In her new book, The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act Like a Millionaire, Even if You're Not, award-winning author Vicky Oliver shares frugal gift ideas that will have you spending less but showing a lot of thought. Want to know how you can make the right impression this Valentine's Day? Click the photo below to launch our gallery of Valentine's Day gift suggestions.

PHOTO GALLERY: Good and bad Valentine's Day gifts

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People are angry about having to pay for hidden fees, especially when it comes to travelling.

"I can't stand having to pay for that (expletive) tax, when I purchase a flight" says Jennifer, a 33-year-old program officer from Ottawa, Ontario.

In 2006, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-11, which requires the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) to regulate how airfare is advertised. But over six years have gone by and the Act hasn't been enforced until now.

Canadian low-cost carrier WestJet has used all-in air price advertising in their display ads, banner ads, website landing pages and print materials since early January 2012. WestJet admits that they have a minor technical glitch that their web provider will resolve within the coming months. Today when you book a flight, you will have to hover over the price and an overlay will provide you with the complete price breakdown of that particular flight. In the near future they hope to display the all-in price without the need to hover over the listed price. This feature is not commonly available around the world, and WestJet expects that this level of transparency will please many consumers. And now, Air Canada, too, is advertising all-in pricing.