It's June. This means we are heading into the hot and hazy days of summer. It's the time for BBQs and countless laid-back celebrations, and, of course, the most important celebration of them all -- Father's Day.

This year ditch the customary tie and socks and instead, get Dad what he really wants.

Well, what he really wants if he's a tech enthusiast.

With summers getting hotter and drier, homeowners should think about how they can conserve more water - in their homes and in the garden. It's easy to put these practices to work and that will pay off big time when it comes to your water bills. This is especially true now that many municipalities are moving to a consumption based model, where homes are metered and charged accordingly.

In Toronto for example, a typical water bill for a single family home runs about 600 dollars. The city has had a long-term plan to increase water rates by 9 per cent each year, so home owners are looking for savings anywhere they can find them. So heed our advice, and start saving with these easy-to-implement fixes.

SLIDESHOW: 10 EASY WAYS TO CUT YOUR WATER BILL

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How to Conserve Water and Save Money
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They say necessity is the mother of invention. And we, laid-back Canadians have been behind some of the greatest inventions in the world. However, studies show that two thirds of Canadians are unaware of the homegrown inventors and inventions that helped to change our world. Let's change that and continue to innovate.

SLIDESHOW: Invented in Canada

As the population ages and Generation Y struggles to achieve a lucrative work-life balance, it is the so-called "sandwich generation" that is left to pick up both the emotional and financial tab.

According to the Pew Research Centre, nearly half (47%) of all adults in their 40s and 50s have a parent over the age of 64 and are simultaneously raising either a young child or adult child while caring for their aging parents.

Additionally, Statistics Canada's findings strengthen the case for creating a resolution to the growing financial burdens of the sandwich generation. Recently, they tabulated that 2.7 million Canadians provided unpaid care to people aged 65 and over. And, among these individuals, many of them had some sort of long-term illness.

If this scenario seems all too familiar you may feel comforted by the fact that the government feels your pain. This year the Canada Revenue Agency has introduced a new tax credit -- the family caregiver tax credit -- to help ease the financial burden.

Here's what you need to know so that you can maximize your tax savings this year.

April 30^th is just around the corner, and if you haven't filed yet because you are looking for creative ways to reduce your tax liability, take comfort and learn from the fortunes and misfortunes of other taxpayers.

The key to maximizing your tax return is to plan ahead, so you won't miss some of the little deductions that could make a big difference to your tax return.

Beyond the usual deductions, there are more that people have successfully argued are valid deductions. Have a look and see what has worked - and what hasn't - in the murky world of tax write-offs.

CLICK PHOTO FOR A GALLERY OF ODD TAX WRITE-OFFS

It's been a busy year for accountant Selva Perera, 45, who lives and works in Brampton, Ontario. His wife, Vasudha, 43, has had a pretty eventful year too. (We've changed their names to protect their privacy.) Six years after arriving to Canada from Sri Lanka -- via a brief stint in Abu Dhabi -- they became Canadian citizens last winter. "When we received the chance to come to Canada, we didn't hesitate," says Vasudha. This long awaited opportunity did not come without a few sacrifices.

Since immigrating to Canada, Vasudha, a trained lawyer, has had difficulties finding steady full-time work in the legal profession. This has meant that her family has endured some financial hardships on their way to achieving their Canadian dream. "It's been demoralizing as well as financially challenging," she adds.

With two children aged 11 and 16, like many parents, both Selva and Vasudha want to provide them with a secure future. In 2012, after many years of searching and praying, Vashuda finally landed a full-time job as a legal assistant at a downtown law firm.

Over the years the Pereras have toiled away and saved enough money to purchase a townhouse for their family of four. The Pereras were laser-focused on their quest of buying their first home, so much so, that they cashed in the entire value of the RESPs they had set aside for their children's post secondary education. Now that Selva and Vasudha both have reliable full-time jobs, Canadian citizenship and a home that they can call their own, they are at a loss as to what their financial priorities should be. Should they be more aggressive with saving for their children's education or should they focus more on their retirement savings?

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is undeniably a significant day. Celebrated by millions of men, women, and children all around the world, the grand love-in never ceases to keep cash registers ringing or curb the occupancy rates of hospital nurseries.

Here are some facts and figures about this beloved (and bemoaned) global celebration of affection and love.

Last summer, while knee deep in her backyard vegetable garden, Lucy Nichols found herself at a crossroads. At the age of 39 she was established in her career as a high school principal and was living quite comfortably in her three-bedroom home, which she had purchased by herself four years earlier. But she felt something was missing. (We've changed her name to protect her privacy.) She began to feel her life was becoming mundane. She craved adventure yet she still felt compelled to help people.

As a single and childless woman she thought she was in a good position to take a sabbatical. Trouble is how much of a beating would a one or two-year sabbatical take on her finances? "I've been quite fortunate in life and I don't necessarily want to wait till I'm in my sixties and seventies to travel, volunteer and write that book that been on my bucket list for years," she says with a grin.

If you've been bombarded with RRSP ads, you'll know that Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSPs) season is in full swing. It's important to save for retirement and RRSPs are but one strategy to employ. So before you run off to your nearest financial institution or to your financial advisor to get one, we thought it might make sense to break down the basics of this vehicle that dates all the way back to the 50's.

The end is nigh, or is it?

Ask a Mayan about Friday, December 21, 2012 being the end of the world and they'll most likely laugh it off. They may even tell you that it's an example of marketing at its very best.

Still, that hasn't stopped visitors from flocking to Mexico to witness doomsday in person. Mexico expects to receive 52 million tourists as result, and estimates to take
in $19.5 million in profits.

It's not just hotels and tourism boards that are cashing in from the doomsday paranoia. Businesses that supply survival essentials are enjoying the financial benefits, too. It's hard not to want to service the needs of customers who are willing to spend between $130,000 to over $500,000 on ensuring their survival in the event of a natural or manmade disaster.

In any event, who doesn't love an excuse to party? Here are some inexpensive ways to party like it's the end of the world, as we know it.

1. Cuddle Party
According to the organizers a cuddle party isn't just an ordinary party – it's a movement! Hey, no funny business is aloud here. There are some strict rules to abide by, for instance you have to receive a verbal yes to cuddle someone. So far the Canadian headquarters for the cuddle party is in Calgary and admission is $25 for singles and $40 for couples.

2. Go to a concert
It just may be your last chance to cut a rug so you might as well go celebrate Mayan style. If you're headed to Mexico chances are you'll check out one of the two government-sponsored concerts located in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. If not, maybe you're local bar will host an "End of the World" concert.

3. Head to church
This is what the Mayans will be doing as they will be praying and holding traditional ceremonies at home. You may want to reserve your space at the chapel as many churches are anticipating full houses, as people will have to pray more than usual.