holiday posts

Five Tips for Champagne Travel on a Beer Budget

Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, Economizer, Saving

Do you dream of winning the lottery to be able to live like the celebrities?

I remember watching the series Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, wanting the chance to visit that lush island resort or being able to step foot in that expensive big city hotel.

For the one per cent, the red carpet is always rolled out to welcome them and their Louis Vuitton wallets. But what about the 99 per cent?

Luxury destinations don't have to be out of reach - and there's several tips to be able to make those dreams become reality.

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Tags: budget, holiday, loyalty programs, LoyaltyPrograms, luxury travel, LuxuryTravel, travel, vacation

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Looking for Snow? How to Find a Winter Vacation Spot

by Waheeda Harris

Filed under: Travel

For those who thought this winter would be another cold terror - think again.

Its been unseasonably warm for many of us across Canada - and the desire to flee into the sun has been lessened by temps hovering at zero and the lack of blizzards.

But what about the ski and snowboard crowd? For them, this winter so far has been a disappointment. All that new gear brought by Santa has so far seen little action.

But if you're willing to travel - there's a few spots that the snow has indeed made it on to the mountain.

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Tags: bargain, budget travel, BudgetTravel, holiday, ski resorts, SkiResorts, snowboard, vacation, winter, winter destinations, WinterDestinations

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Five Tips to Buy Last Minute Gifts Without Losing Your Mind (or Wallet)

by Waheeda Harris

Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, Economizer, Holidays

Why do we leave gift buying to the last minute? Is it procrastination? Or do we truly need the looming deadline to complete the task?

As the countdown continues on the shopping days until December 25th, there are many shoppers who are shaking in their boots over the thought of entering a shopping mall or major retailer - especially since they know they won't be alone.

And if you google last minute gifts - www.lastminute.com pops up - but it may not offer as many suggestions as you'd like.

So how to finish off the gift list without losing your mind or overspending? Take a deep breath and follow these easy rules of gift acquisition.

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Tags: budget, gift tips, gifts, GiftTips, holiday, last minute gifts, LastMinuteGifts, shopping, tips for shopping, TipsForShopping

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Holiday Deals for Travellers

by Waheeda Harris

Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, Economizer, Travel, Holidays

Can you still find a deal for holiday travel?

For many of us, its not just about finding the right gift for a family member or a close friend, its also about travelling to a destination during the busy festive season.

Although finding a flight or a train ticket may not be impossible, the price in December can be frightful. There are still some deals to be had through Expedia.ca or Travelocity.ca, if you can be flexible about timing.

But there are other ways to save some money and keep your budget in check during the holiday season, and maybe even benefit others, thanks to some hotel promotions now available.

Tags: deals, discount, holiday, hotels, travel, vacation

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The Holiday Currency Diet - How Much Will Eating All Those Canapes Cost?

by Waheeda Harris

Filed under: Food & Drink, Health, Holidays

Holidays mean eating more than we should, and not making the best choices

The next weeks are some of the most festive of the year - whether its work colleagues, family or friends, parties are de rigeur for the holiday season - in every direction, there's plenty of temptation.

For those of us who want to insure we don't over indulge, we need to keep an eye on everything we put in our mouth.

But how to figure out what will keep us nice or what will make us feel naughty?

Personal trainer and fitness expert Brent Bishop knows that no matter how committed an individual is to their personal health, the holidays provide a challenge.

Who doesn't want a butter tart, piece of shortbread or a couple of glasses of red wine? And what will it cost our health and our wallet?

Tags: desserts, diet, exercise, fitness, health, holiday, holiday food, HolidayFood, nutrition

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How Canadians Will Be Buying and Spending This Holiday

by Renee Sylvestre-Williams

Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, Shopping, Holidays

Christmas is back. Every year at this time we get told what's hot and what's not.

Which begs the question - what are Canadians buying?

Google took a look at their search inquiries and have discovered that Canadians are still willing to shell out big bucks for Christmas, but not as recklessly as in previous years.

In other words, we're happy to buy but only if we get a good deal. Which makes sense.

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Tags: Holiday

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Holiday Parties - Worth the Expense in Tough Times?

by Waheeda Harris

Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, Employment & Careers, Holidays

Its almost that time of year - not just gift giving for family and friends, but the holiday party circuit.

For many corporations and businesses, the holiday party, especially in our ever-changing economic times, may seem ostentatious, wasteful or useless.

According to a recent article in Business Week, although some may think the party isn't worth the effort, its a morale boost that the staff deserve.

A recent survey by the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA) found that the holiday party for 31 per cent of respondents won't be happening this year, but 81 per cent of Human Resource professionals believe its essential for keeping employees in a good frame of mind in the office.

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Tags: Christmas, Christmas party, ChristmasParty, Hannukah, holiday, holiday party, HolidayParty, human resources, HumanResources, office morale, office party, OfficeMorale, OfficeParty, party

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Has Social Media Become Your Travel Agent?

by Waheeda Harris

Filed under: Travel

Whether its a business trip or a week-long vacation, its becoming rare for many of us to walk in the doors of a travel agency and work with a travel agent.

According to a recent survey by Swedish travel website Tripl, social media is rapidly changing the way we view travel. Tripl's Social Travel Revolution analyzed how travelers using Facebook and Twitter, as well as how access to the internet is changing.

The numbers reveal that we're all getting more connected, checking our fave social media sites and more than likely to do it from a mobile phone than any other electronic accessory. According to Tripl, 72 per cent of us access social media daily when we're traveling.

But does that preclude expert advice?

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Tags: Facebook, holiday, social media, SocialMedia, travel, travel planning, Travelocity, TravelPlanning, Twitter, vacation

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Road Trip: What to do to Save Money and Gas

by Waheeda Harris

Filed under: Travel

Temperatures for most of Canada (sorry west coast!) are hovering at 30C and higher as summer is in full swing - for many of us, dreams of cooling off means escaping the city on a road trip.

But before you toss everything in the trunk and throw a dart on a map, is there something you're forgetting? Snacks? Best friend? Tunes?

The one thing many of us forget about - car maintenance. Especially with current cars on the road, the tune up is a thing of the past. Most cars only need a twice a year maintenance, excluding those in extreme environments.

So what to do to help the car love the road trip as much as the passengers?

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Tags: car, car maintenance, CarMaintenance, Ford Canada, FordCanada, holiday, roadtrip, summer, travel, vacation

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Do It Now: Book the Summer Cottage

by Waheeda Harris

Filed under: Budgeting & Planning, House & Home, Travel

With spring making its appearance across Canada, those who don't own a cottage, summer home or cabin know it's time to start checking the listings and make reservations.

It may seem early, but with just three months of high season (June, July, August), you know you want to make sure time lolling along the shores of a favourite lake is confirmed.

How to start the process?