Moving season is fast approaching as people rush to get into new houses for the summer. After you’ve moved and unpacked, you have tons of boxes sitting around, waiting to be recycled. Instead of recycling, you can actually reuse them! Check out these brilliant ideas for fun and frugal ways to reuse a cardboard box.

This one will make your kids love you! What kid doesn’t want to slide down the stairs at some point? My kids have used a variety of things to propel themselves down the stairs at some time or another. How about letting them do it? The Contemplative Creative (above) is to blame for this great idea.

Another great idea for kids, how about building a train set or town inside of a cardboard box? Like they say, give a kid a new toy, he’d rather play with the box, well this is a toy and a box all in one. The Imagination Tree (above) put a lot of work into making this a realistic and exciting cardboard box project.

Apartment Therapy (above) made this DIY ball maze out of cardboard. This is great not just for kids, but could be a great game at a family reunion or stag and doe.

Instead of spending a ton of money on expensive storage baskets, why not make your own? Using a cardboard box and burlap with hot glue, By Stephanie Lynn (above) made this cute burlap storage basket.

My husband has made a ton of great things for the kids from large cardboard boxes, like a rocket ship, a playhouse and a six-room castle (I’m not even kidding). This cardboard airplane definitely takes the cake. Check out Onto Baby’s (above) cardboard box birthday party for more inspiration!

Do you have any great cardboard inspirations? Would you consider a very fun and totally cheap cardboard box birthday party?

In the United States, the average family spends $1600 on utility bills alone (I know in Canada, I’ve spent much more than that) (source: Investopedia).  If we save money on things that we don’t really care about (even though they are a necessity), we get more money to spend on the things that matter, like retirement, or great memories with family and friends.  You might think that there’s no point in helping to stop climate change and global warming, that we are too far gone and that even if we change our lifestyle and behaviours that others won’t.  But we must remember that collectively, we are more powerful than we think.

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

- Ryunosuke Satoro

Here are 4 tips on how to save both money and energy in your household:

#1. Microwave it instead of using the Stove

When you’re simply reheating something, it’s more energy efficient to reheat it in the microwave instead of on the stove.  According to Scientific American, the energy used by a microwave is about 25% less than that of an electric stove.  The energy difference used by a gas stove and a microwave, on the other hand, is a bit more nebulous.

However, what it boils down to (excuse the pun) isn’t really that much of a savings for your wallet unless you cook often, of course.  Using a microwave compared to an electric stove only three times a week is only estimated to save you a little over $2 per month.

#2. Opt for a Laptop instead of a Computer

Gone are the days when everyone had desktop computers.  Nowadays, laptops are so versatile and packed with so much stuff equivalent to a desktop computer, that many people do not have desk top computers, including me.  I haven’t had a desk top computer for over 5 years and haven’t looked back. You may be surprised at the energy consumption difference between a laptop and a desktop computer, even for a laptop with a larger screen.

The Energy Star website in Europe stated that when you compare the energy use of a notebook and a desktop computer, there is about an 80% difference.  With a laptop or notebook despite a larger scree, the difference between that an a desktop computer’s energy consumptions is still about 50% difference.

#3. Use a Front Loading Washer

Front loading washers don’t just look good, they are good for the environment too.  According to the Michael Blue Jay blog, laundry is one of the easiest ways to save money.  One way is to use the cold water cycle (90% of the energy that goes into washing laundry goes to heating the water).

More importantly, front loading washers use about 40-75% less water and 30-85% less energy that top loading washers according to the Michael Blue Jay blog.  They make your clothes last longer (they don’t agitate the clothes as much, it is more gentle) and the clothes get dried more easily because they do a good job wringing the water out.  This equates to an average savings of $100 per year- which makes the average $100 extra price tag of a front loading washer compared to a top loading washer worth it.

If you want to really compare, the blog has a great calculator that lets you compare front loaders and top loaders and the energy savings if you used gas or electricity for your home.  It even goes into the detail of how many cents it costs per kWh for your electricity.

#4. Turn the Heat Down

The biggest factor in utility bills is heat.  Keep your feet warm, only heat the rooms that you are in, turn down the heat when you are going out (consider investing in a programmable thermostat), and grab a sweater on those colder days.  Also, make sure your home is insulated well.  Just getting used to a colder temperature can cut your utility bills considerably.

It isn’t that difficult to both save energy and electricity in your home.  Small changes can amount to big pay-offs.  If you’re interested in other ways to save energy (while likely saving money as well), check out David Suzuki’s list of 10 Ways you can Stop Climate Change.  Both mother nature and your wallet will be thankful!

Bargainmoosers, do you have other ways you save both money and energy?

If you can’t afford to take Mom to the spa, or just don’t choose to want to spend exorbitant amounts of cash on a spa day, here are some awesome ideas on how to bring the spa to Mom. What’s great about this is that you can participate with her, because honestly, the best present is time spent together.

Start with a good, cleansing drink for you and Mom, like this sassy water (above) from A Sweet Simple Life. The cucumber, lemon and mint fuse together to make a detox drink that also tastes out of this world.

You can’t have a spa day without a face mask. Homemade Face Masks blog has a ton of recipes for masks you can make at home with ingredients right in your refrigerator, like this cucumber and yogurt facial mask (above).

Birthday Party Ideas 4 Kids (above) has a number of great spa recipes, including lip balm, eye reliever, pore cleansing strips and more great face masks, and these are not just for kids.

Don’t forget to feed Mom! Eat a clean lunch with this recipe for Cool Cucumber and Quinoa salad from the Eat Clean Diet. This is a perfect lunch for a spa day!

Slouch off that dead skin with a pure and simple sugar scrub (above), made from – what else – sugar! Pink of Perfection has a number of easy to make and yummy scrubs for your spa day.

New Jersey Moms Guide (above) has some great recipes for spa days, including a make your own hair conditioner.

We’ve covered the inside and the out, with scrubs, facials, hair treatments, detox and relaxation. I don’t think there is a better way to spend Mother’s Day. What do you think Bargainmoosers?

(Thanks Dennis Wong!)

One of the more common New Years’ resolutions is to learn a new or different language. Although English is a pretty accessible language, it doesn’t get you everywhere, especially if you travel for business or travel for fun and like to explore different countries. Many people want to learn Spanish, French, Japanese, or even Chinese. As children, it is easy to learn languages but as we get older it can be increasingly difficult. According to Forbes.com this critical period is at around four months of age.

If you’ve missed that boat and are still interested in learning, here are a few tips to learn a different language on the cheap (or even for free).

#1. Take a Course

Many universities or local community centres usually offer a continuing education course that meets once or twice weekly for language lessons. Usually these are very reasonably priced, especially if you are doing it through a local community centre. Expect to pay around $120 for a course that spans three months. The great thing about taking a course is that you get to be connected to your community.

If you are over 60 or know someone who is, take advantage of the free language courses that are offered at the university. In certain universities in Canada, for anyone who is over 60 you have access to free university courses that are with credit. The downside to university classes is that they are usually offered during the day. Another reason to aim for early retirement!

#2. Immerse Yourself

Probably the most expensive way (but in a way cost effective) is to immerse yourself in the country that you want to be learning the language in. Language courses taken in the country of destination (especially if you are learning Spanish in Latin America for example) is intensive (expect Monday to Friday classes for a few hours each day) but you can expect to see quick results. Language courses in Peru, for example, can be about $100 USD a week (20 hours per week) depending on which language company you use. In addition, you may be able to choose an option to Home Stay with a family in order to immerse yourself even more and reinforce the learning you did at school. Although this is the most expensive option, it is the option that combines great memories, great adventures, and meeting people from a different country.

#3. Go Online

There are many ways that we can learn a different language online. For example, Rosetta Stone, long regarded as the leader in language do- it-yourself classes, costs about $300.  If you don’t want to spend that much money, there are many other websites that are available that are free or cost next to nothing (though you might not see the same results).

For example, a few online websites that help you learn are:

• Busuu.com - It’s a free service and links you up with people from around the world who are interested in helping you with your language of choice. Some examples are Spanish, Portuguese, French, Japanese, and German. Busuu also has an app.

• Skype – Yes, Skype has a forum to exchange language learning and connect you with people from around the world.

• LingQ - Another online community linking you to others around the globe to practice. The difference with this, is that they give you mp3 downloads of language lesson content. It’s free to sign up but beyond the basics, you’ll need to pay if you want to do more advanced stuff.

#4. Join a Meet-Up Group

A great way to solidify the information that you learned in your language course is to join a meet-up group.  If you don’t use it you lose it.   That adage rings true especially when it comes to languages.

Joining a meet-up group is free. Just go to www.meetup.com and check for groups in your area. It is a great way to meet new people, make new friends, and most importantly, practice the new language you have learned. Alternately, there may be options in your city to meet up with individuals who are interested in learning English in exchange for learning their language. Not only will you be learning a new language, you also get satisfaction in knowing that you are helping someone learn English.

As you can see, there are numerous ways to learn a new language. They say that a great way to approach “life” is to have the perspective that we should never stop learning. Research has shown that being able to interchange between two languages helps delay the onset of dementia by 4.3 years. It is great to want to take that first step in learning a new language. Therefore, despite the potential high cost of continuing to learn a new language, preventing the onset of dementia in the future can be priceless! Also, if you’re learning for business and to expand your professional career, that’s priceless too!

Bargainmoosers, do you have other tips on how to learn a new language on the cheap?

Mother’s Day is next weekend and you need to get on whatever it is you are getting on and make your Mom feel special. If you are short on money, you can make something shockingly easy that doesn’t look like your kids made it. And she’ll love it.

Loveable Martha Stewart (above) came up with this fab idea to make candles out of teacups! This way you know it matches the decor, plus it is such a personal gift idea. You can find teacups at thrift or antique shops.

Shanty 2 Chic (above) made this amazing photo holder for only $3! This looks like something you buy in a store for at least $30. Your Mom will love it!

This DIY idea is incredibly easy. Pinching Your Pennies (above) found printable inspirational quotes online, printed them at Costco, then mod podged them onto cheap canvases from Michaels (I’ve also seen them at the dollar store).

Can you believe you can make these gorgeous necklaces yourself? Sarah Ortega (above) has a tutorial for making these bird’s nest necklaces on her website. And it is much cheaper and more sentimental than anything you’ll get at a jewellery store.

I don’t think you can get any easier than this do-it-yourself idea. Simply find an item at a thrift or vintage store and spray paint it. From Craft Kitsch to Cool (ab0ve) uses the items as decorative pieces on a bookshelf. What I love about this is the uniqueness of the item can not be duplicated at Home Sense! Thanks for the top image Jessica!

Instead of just bringing flowers (which cost an arm and a leg at this time of year), make this gorgeous and personal vase out of a PVC pipe! Then pick a few flowers from your own garden. Check out Mod Podge Rocks Blog (above) for how to do it.

I’m trying to decide which one I want to make for my own Mother. I love all of these ideas and love that it won’t hurt my wallet!

Which one should I ask my husband to make for me? What do you plan to do for Mother’s Day Bargainmoosers?

If you are like me, you may be one of those people who constantly loses things, especially earrings since they can easily become misplaced.  Either jewellery gets lost or the jewellery becomes oxidized (for example, silver jewellery).  Once silver becomes oxidized, even at-home polishing often doesn’t work.  Therefore, in order to keep the luster from leaving, it makes sense to organize your jewellery in an easy-to-access way without exposing it to too much air.

Here are some do it yourself ways to organize your jewellery that will have you admiring your jewellery collection so much that you won’t have to buy any more!  It’s amazing what a little organization can do!

#1. Peg Board and Accessories Station

Desiree from The 36th Avenue blog (above) shared a great gift to her husband of 14 years (organization!).  She gives a fantastic tutorial on how you can do this project yourself.  All you need is a peg board, something to frame it with, nail gun (or screws), chicken wire, and some paint. Also a bit of crafty energy!

I loved how there was a frame inside another frame.  She also went all out and made an accessories station but personally I think the peg board is great by itself.  I just love love love the colours together (pale blue and white are always a great combination, in my blue-lover biased opinion).

#2. Wire Jewellery Frame Display

This is probably one of my favourites because it’s just so aesthetically pleasing and so simple to do (I like simple).  I’ll likely try and make this one myself out of all of these brilliant ideas shared in this post. The wire jewellery frame display is from the Calico Skies blog (above) and she created it on a 52 week challenge (one crafty project per week).  Amazing, but I would never find the time to do that!  One project per season or year is good enough for me. I also love how it looks like you could probably whip this up in under an hour, provided that you don’t staple your finger down.

To make this all you need is a vintage frame, wire cutters, wire mesh, frame hangers, and a staple gun.  I love how elegant it looks.  It’s handy because it will look great propped up on top of a dresser, or even hung up on the wall.  I would probably hang this up inside my closet door.

#3. DIY Burlap Jewellery Organizer

This do it yourself burlap jewellery organizer is tres chic as well and looks very easy to make.  The Making The World Cuter Blog (above) shares this idea. The great thing about this one is that you can also hang up your necklaces and bracelets.  You can use buttons and put them in a little satin mesh bag to store your smaller non-hook earrings.  The only thing that you want to make sure you have is heavy duty wire so that the bracelets and necklaces don’t all jumble up together in the centre.

All you need for this one is some burlap material, a black frame, a regular stapler (or a staple gun if you have one), and some heavy duty wire.  When you use the regular stapler, you can just staple the wire to the back of the burlap material.  This is probably my contender number two just because its so versatile and also looks very nice and is easy to make.

#4. Lace Jewellery Organizer

If you want to pump up the girly-factor and want a jewellery organizer that encompasses lace into the design, this jewellery organizer shared by the Mr. Kate blog (above) is super cute and really easy to make as well.  To make this jewellery organizer, all you need is an empty frame, lace ribbon, strong glue or a staple gun, and a hammer and nail to secure it on your wall.

All you need to do is to glue the lace on the frame and hang it up.  Et voila you have a super chic jewellery organizer that can hold hook earrings, stud earrings, bracelets, and even necklaces.  Very versatile and very pretty!

There you have it — four super easy ways you can organize your jewellery so that it’s not one big mess on a jewellery tray.

Bargainmoosers, which one is your favourite?

Weddings are expensive, that’s a no-brainer. But if you want to avoid spending your down payment for a house on a one-day event, then you really only have two options: elope, or start cutting things from your wedding wish list. If you are anything like me and have always dreamt of having a rather traditional wedding, then going to the courthouse or jetting off to Las Vegas may not be your cup of tea. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have the wedding you want for the price you want too. It just means you may have to make a few sacrifices here and there to keep your budget in check.

The Designer Gown

If you’ve ever seen the TV show Say Yes to Dress, then you know that if you want a designer gown you’ve got to be prepared to fork over $5,000 and up for some glitz and glam. Listen, I whole-heartedly believe that a wedding dress is one of the most important articles of clothing you’ll ever wear in your life, but let’s be serious, you’re only going to be wearing the darned thing for 12 hours or less. Instead, you can get an equally beautiful dress minus the steep price tag by shopping online or visiting a discount bridal boutique. It may not have Pnina Tornai on the label, but who is going to ask you “Who are you wearing?” on your wedding day anyways?

The Guestlist

Have you ever had that nightmare of walking down the aisle and seeing a bunch of empty pews? That’s not a nightmare, that’s a blessing! More people equals more money you have to spend, so start crossing off names until all you’re left with is a list of people you couldn’t imagine not sharing your special day with. If you’re afraid of offending anyone, invite them to just the ceremony and make the reception for close family and friends only.

The Open Bar

If you can afford it, do it! If not, you can still make sure everyone has enough to drink without having to sell a kidney after your nuptials by going with one of these three options. Firstly, if you really want to save yourself from a hefty bar bill at the end of the night, have a cash bar instead. You may hear a few complaints from your red nosed uncle, but you’ll be all the richer for it. Secondly, you can give out drink tickets to everyone then once those tickets are used up guests need to pay for any additional drinks themselves. Lastly, you can have a subsidized bar in which you give your venue a certain amount of money to put towards liquor, and once that limit has been reached it turns into a cash bar. This gives guests the illusion of an open bar without leaving you broke the next day.

The Formal Rehearsal Dinner

If you’re having your wedding rehearsal on a weeknight or in a part of town that’s far away, it’s a nice gesture to feed all of the people involved afterwards. That being said, instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a formal sit-down dinner, you can save a lot of money by hosting a more casual event instead. The best way to do this is to have it at someone’s house, put out some drinks and appetizers, and if it’s the season for it, turn on that BBQ and start grillin’!

The Wedding Announcement

With free platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, there really isn’t a need to shell out a hundred bucks or more for a marriage announcement in your local newspaper. Sure, it’s a nice ideo and your grandparents might like to clip it from their paper and hold onto it as a keepsake, but if you’re looking to stretch your budget, there are more important things you could spend that money on.

Bargainmoosers, what other things should you cut from your wedding to save money?

(Image credit: scottsnyde)

Clothespins are great for hanging laundry, but did you know they are great for other purposes too? I love the following inspired by Pinterest ideas for reusing clothespins. If you don’t happen to have clothespins, but would like to try these ideas, you can get them very cheap at the dollar store.

Fine motor skills for small kids are so important, and as parents we need to find creative ways to work on these skills. Hands On As We Grow (above) simply pinned the pins to the side of a bucket and let her toddler pin and unpin. Since it is something a child doesn’t get to do all the time, they really work hard doing this!

This clothespin wreath is incredibly creative and is perfect for a laundry room! Just hot glue and a thrift store mirror, plus clothespins painted in any colour to match your decor, Keep Home Simple (above) crafted this in no time.

Teach your child even more skills by using clothespins and popsicle sticks! Your child will want to do their math homework when it is this fun (and super easy for you to make). Common Core Connection USA (above) shows you how.

Your child probably has a ton of artwork cluttering the side of your fridge. Well, why not display it more professionally on a gallery wall using a DIY artwork display frame, simply with an old frame and clothespins? Living Well Spending Less (above) simply painted both the same colour and hung it on the wall beside their family pictures. Looks amazing and this is definitely something I’m going to put on my to do list.

Tiffany at the DIY club (above) is a photographer and created this banner as a backdrop for her photo shoots. You don’t have to be a professional to do a photo shoot, or even to make this banner, which could be purely decorative. You can easily change the paper patters to match the season or celebration. So easy and cost-free!

(Image credit: Grumbler)

If places like Morocco, Tibet, Nepal, and Vietnam pique your interest but you don’t know where to start and more importantly, don’t know how much it will cost, you’ve come to the right blog post!

Exotic travel is about exploring different cultures, learning about history, and soaking in the rich landscape and beauty of the country. Traveling is a way of expanding your own horizons, opening your own mind to the differences and similarities of cultures, and meeting great people. The great thing about exotic travel is that once you get there (e.g. after you pay for the flight), things are pretty cheap. Exotic travel is more accessible than you might think and for the most part, usually costs less than an all inclusive vacation to Mexico or a cruise.

Here are a few tips on how to exotic travel on the cheap:

1. Research, research, research

One of the greatest things about travel is the anticipation of it. Nothing makes your days at work go faster than trip planning and thinking about your future trip. Oftentimes, I like to start planning my next trip right after the previous one ends! Other travel addicts know what this feeling is like.

The most important thing is to do research. Look at what you want to see, check out the rough itinerary of your trip, and also see roughly how much it will cost. Some great itineraries or “must sees” can be done simply by doing a Google search (free) and even checking itineraries online (e.g. check out G Adventures, Intrepid Travels, or other travel companies) and in store (grabbing a catalogue is as easy as heading to the travel agency!).

2. Try to contact hostels directly

Another great thing about adventure travel is meeting people through hostels. Many places like Morocco, Tibet, or Vietnam don’t typically have a large selection of hostels, but their hotel prices are approximately the same prices as you would get for a hostel. Check out Asiarooms.com for accommodation in Southeast Asia or Asia.

Most likely the cheapest way (but probably the most anxiety ridden way you can travel) is to reach your destination and hunt for accommodation there. The hotel proprietors will agree to negotatiate and you can often get prices down by 30-50% of the Asiarooms.com rate. This is because hotels and hostels pay sites like Asiarooms and Hostelbookers a fee for having their accommodation listed on these sites. When you skip the middle person, you can save the fee.

3. Book tours once you get there or skip the middle man

Another cheap way to exotic travel is to book tours once you get there or skip the middle man. For example, online, Halong Bay tours were approximately $100 USD to $250 USD per person for a 2 Day 1 Night boat tour of Halong Bay in Vietnam. Prices range dramatically. Once we selected a hotel, we asked the hotel agency (who usually has connections to travel agencies in the local city) if they had any tours. We were able to bargain it down to $50 USD for the same tour. They asked that we not disclose what we paid to other members in the tour group because they paid much more than we did. The bottom line is that last minute, the tour agencies want to fill the seats. Also, it is important to note that in these countries, the prices you see should usually not be seen for face value!

Another example is a Sahara desert tour in Morocco. Once we got to Morocco we booked the tour of the Sahara desert at a local travel agency. Sure it took up about 1-2 hours of our travel time in a short 10 day itinerary but the experience was magical and it was even better to know that we paid a fraction of what it would usually cost would we have booked through a tour company in North America. For example, the Sahara 2 day 1 night tour (including Berber tents, camping under the stars, and riding camels) cost $100USD and the same tour as a package (involving accommodation and other cities in Morocco) cost $800.

Another example is Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. The same trip would cost about $1900 (not including airfare) for a 30 day adventure of these countries, but by booking with a tour company from Nepal (versus G Adventures or Intrepid) we saved almost $1000. We contacted the tour company through the Internet but would have probably saved even more would we have booked once we got there.

As you can see, adventure travel isn’t as inaccessible as you think. If exploring and learning about different cultures is your thing, planning the trip is half the fun. Hopefully with these tips you can also exotic travel on the cheap for your next vacation. If you need some inspiration, Yahoo Travel has a list of 10 exotic vacations you could consider.

Bargainmoosers, do you have any other tips for exotic travel on the cheap?

Spring has arrived and with it, comes lots of time outside. We’ve spent every night outside since the temperature rose above 5 degrees, but as soon as the ground gets less soft and squishy, we are going to be taking to the trails and going on nature walks. My kids tend to bring home souvenirs from these walks and they usually end up in the garbage or thrown into the garden, but I’ve found eight great ways you can actually use these pieces of nature to decorate your home or keep your kids busy.

I am all about sensory tubs. I find kids learn so much better hands-on and even though they do make a huge mess sometimes, the kids love it and it is such a good experience for them. Not just tactile, but they can smell it, shake it and listen to it and even, yes, lick it. Kids Activity Blog (above) did this fall-themed sensory tub, but I’m sure you could find some good Spring items out there. What’s great is this is a 2-in-1 activity, with the search for items first and the play second.

Not just a kid’s activity, flower printing is great for young and old alike. Make unique art for your home using flowers from your garden, or that you’ve found along your way, by dipping the flowers in paint and making a very unique pattern. This would be great for making your own Mother’s Day card. Nurture Store (above) used all types and textures and different colours of paint.

In the same way, Katherine Marie Photography (above) used flowers or weeds as paintbrushes to make some unique art for the home. Use up all those dandelions you know will grow instead of buying expensive paint brushes!

Not The Office Type (above) made these love rocks using mod podge and patterned fabrics. I love this idea, especially as a very cheap gift idea for someone special.

I never would have thought of making perfume with flowers, but what a wonderful, completely all-natural way to add some scents to your home and body! Imagination Soup (above) shows you how and it is so simple!

Want to remember a great day at the beach? This is a great do-it-yourself idea that you can do anywhere in the world! Crafting a Green World (above) shows you how easy it is to do it and remember your holiday forever.

Molly Goldberg (above) painted these sticks, which make a unique and naturistic artsy decoration for your home. Plus, it will only cost you the cost of the little bit of paint!

Zing Zing Tree (above) created this wall flower out of sticks, molding material and fabric scraps. This would make an awesome homemade gift.

(Image credit: Stuart Herbert)

Aeroplan is a rewards program created by Air Canada.  You can earn Aeroplan miles through flights on the 27 other Star Alliance airlines in addition to flying with Air Canada.  You can also earn Aeroplan miles through their partners, such as Esso, Home Hardware, or Rexall Drugs. For a complete list of online retailers that you can earn 1 Aeroplan for each $1 you spend, click here.

When Do Aeroplan Points Expire?

You have seven years to use the points you earned and if there is no activity in a 12-month period, your points (yes, all your points) will expire.

How Do I Accumulate Aeroplan Points?

If you get gas at Esso, it is a great way to link your Esso Extra card or Speedpass to the Aeroplan points card.  That way, your points will not expire because there will be constant activity.

As mentioned, you can earn points by flying with Air Canada or any of the Star Alliance partners.  Certain flights like Tango give you fewer Aeroplan points.

Recently, Aeroplan has created the Star Challenge whereby you can earn a lot more Aeroplan points than you would normally earn in one month.  This year, you need a minimum $10 transaction (previously it was $3 per transaction) at participating retailers like Esso and Rexall, but some Aeroplan points junkies still believe that this is worth it.  The period is until April and the task is difficult but again, may be worth it for some.

Another way to accumulate Aeroplan points is to use a credit card linked to earn you miles.  Some such examples are Aeroplan plus cards and Aerogold cards.  More often than not, a bonus Aeroplan miles is provided but it is important to ensure that the annual fee is waived for the first year.   The credit card could then be cancelled before the annual fee starts.  Despite an annual fee, the Aeroplan credit cards are still effective and worth it.

 What is the Best Way to Use Aeroplan Points?

The best way to use your Aeroplan points is to use it towards travel.  At approximately 2.3 cents “bang for your buck” for each Aeroplan point, compared to cashing in your Aeroplan points for gift cards which gives you a value of 1.2 cents per point. According to The Toronto Star, traveling certainly gives you more “bang for your aeroplan mile” when compared to gift cards or other merchandise.

Another great website that compares the reward values of each Aeroplan point is HowtoSaveMoney.ca.  This website provides a complete guide to the accumulation of Aeroplan points, the rate of return, earning regular and status miles, and a reward chart for travel.

Looking at the travel rewards, not all flight rewards are created equal.  The taxes and fees are not included and can really add up, unfortunately.

Recently, I booked a flight to the United States using my Aeroplan points.  I had enough for a long haul flight to Europe (a little over 60,000 Aeroplan points), but the taxes and fees that accompanied the long haul ticket were too much.

A flight to Europe would cost $1180 including taxes and fees if I purchased the ticket outright whereas it would be $640 on Air Canada with points with 60,000 Aeroplan points.  The $640 is just taxes and fees.  I would save about $550 for this flight if I used the Aeroplan points.

A flight to the United States costs 25,000 Aeroplan points and the taxes and fees were only $97.  The ticket would originally cost $550 including taxes and fees; therefore, I saved almost $450.  Should I have used approximately, 60,000 Aeroplan points for three of the same tickets, I would save about $1100 instead of the $600 saved using it towards a flight to Europe.

Therefore, using more points for a longer flight doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s cheaper in the long run.  Comparing the cost of flights quickly through a flight aggregator like Kayak.com can be helpful to give you perspective on the true cost of the Aeroplan points.

Aeroplan points can be a great way to travel and provides a great incentive to work hard at earning your mileage.  Trips are even more therapeutic for the soul when you know that you didn’t have to pay for the ticket.  However, it is important to ensure that there is most “mileage” (pardon the pun please) with certain people.

Bargainmoosers, where has been your favourite destination using the Aeroplan points?  Do you have any other tips and tricks for earning Aeroplan points and using them for most return on mileage?

Everyone knows that buying lottery tickets can be a big waste of money, but it’s hard not to get caught up in all of the hoopla when the jackpot reaches $55 million! This past weekend the 6/49 lottery reached the largest jackpot in Canadian history, and four lucky winners from B.C. and Alberta will now have a cool $15 million to play around with. Although we all have our own lottery winning fantasies of buying a yacht or moving to the Caribbean, the sad truth is many of the rags to riches tales we hear about later turn into rags to riches then back to rags stories. Hopefully these four newly minted millionaires will be a bit more prudent with their money and won’t repeat the mistakes made by some of these past winners.

Sharon Tirabassi – A resident of Hamilton, Ontario, this lucky lady won $10.5 million in 2004. These days however she’s living paycheque to paycheque (The Star). How could one person squander ten million dollars in less than 10 years you may ask? Well, she gave away $8 million to members of her family, then spent the rest on “fancy cars, designer clothes, lavish parties, [and] exotic trips” she tells The Hamilton Spectator. This all could have been prevented if she found herself a good financial advisor at the start, but I guess some people need to learn about personal finance the hard way.

Michael Carroll – Some people just like to party, and Carroll partied away his entire £9.7 million payout that he won in 2002. He explains to People UK that he used to spend £12,000 a week on drugs, on top of spending loads more cash on booze and prostitutes. In July of 2012 he said he only had 70 pence in his bank account and still plays the lottery hoping to win big for a second time around. Although it should go without saying, drugs, booze, and ladies of the night don’t come cheap (and for the most part are illegal). If you want to have a good time and avoid wasting your millions on a slew of nights you won’t remember, order a Shirley Temple and go to Disneyland instead.

Janite Lee – Lee won a whopping $18 million in 1993 with the Illinois Lottery. Instead of spending all of her winnings on big-ticket items, she chose to go the philanthropic route. Unfortunately for her, no one told her that being too generous could also be a bad thing. Case in point, she donated so much money to the University of Washington and the Democratic Party that she was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2001. The lesson to learn here is that even if you have a big heart, if you give all of your money away the only thing you’ll be left with is a big fat zero in your bank account.

Roger Griffiths – Another British lottery winner who made some regrettable expenditures, Griffiths won £1.8 million and blew his money on an expensive new home, a Porsche, plus wasted £25,000 to get his old university band back together (The Sun). He also made a few bad investments including a salon that started losing money rapidly once the recession hit. In another turn for the worse, his home caught fire and destroyed a number of possessions worth thousands of dollars. The two key things to take note from in this story are that money always has it’s limits and you are never too rich to have an emergency fund. Also, trying to revive your old band from college is never a good idea. If you weren’t any good then, you still won’t be any good now.

Bargainmoosers, what would you do (or not do) if you won the lottery?

(Image credit: lwpkommunikacio)

Even though we are getting blasted by a freezing rain/snow storm here in Ontario, I am still promising that spring is coming. So, lets get your garden ready for its big debut and add some funky and unique items, which you will repurpose yourself. I am in love with all of these ideas and am not sure which I want to tackle first!

You don’t just have to plant in planters and the ground anymore. Add some uniqueness to your deck by planting your flowers in an old dresser. DIY Real (see above) shows you how.

This funky bottle tree (see above) was pinned all over Pinterest and adds some colour and brightness to an otherwise green gardenscape. Talking to Plants says this is so easy to build, just using rebar and coloured bottles, which you could probably get anywhere.

Lifetime moms says this is such a great craft for kids to do, using old rubber boots, a little bit of paint and some imagination (see above image). Simply decorate your boots and plant your bulbs. Kids will love getting into the action and showing them how things grow is such a great learning experience.

This re-purposed outdoor table (see above image) now looks fantastic, thanks to Indigo Earth’s idea to cover it with covered glass. I can’t imagine how beautiful it looks with the sun rays reflecting off of it. Check out what she did with a fire pit too.

Garden Drama also found an interesting and unique place to plant flowers, inside of an old milk can (see above image). I think it looks wonderfully rustic.

Mom Endeavors brought out her creative side with these DIY painted rock garden markers (see above image). I think this is a fantastic way to remember what you planted, while keeping it looking as real and natural as possible. Plus, it looks fun to make!

Small Garden Love took some wood and some jars and made these fantastic herb planters (see above)!

Share your funky garden ideas with us. How do you keep your garden looking full and lush, but keep the cost down?

(Image credit to Sheba)

With spring in full swing, birds are chirping, bees are buzzing, and babies are uh…popping out!  The cost of raising a child can be daunting, especially in the first year when you’re busy adjusting to an additional member to your family.  According to The United States Department of Agriculture, the average cost of raising a child to the age of 18 in the United States is over $200,000.  Before you collapse thinking about that number, there are some ways that you can cut the sting a bit, at least in the first few years of raising your child.

Breast feed

Although some babies have difficulty in the first few days of breast feeding, a lactation consultant can easily help with latching issues.  Breast feeding is much cheaper than bottle feeding obviously because it costs nothing.  Though one would need to buy a pump, this still pales in comparison to the cost of formula feeding.  However, if you are considering formula feeding (there is nothing wrong with that), you can opt for the store brand version because the Food and Drug Agency ensure that there is a standard of nutrients found in formula.

Make Your Own Baby Food

Once your baby is old enough to eat solid or baby foods, you’ll probably want to start introducing these.  No one really buys Gerber’s baby food anymore probably, but if you still do, you might want to consider making your own baby food.  Not only is it better because you know what is going into your baby’s food (because you’re blending/ making it),  but you’ll also save a substantial amount of money as well.  According to iVillage.com it is about a 50% savings.

The Baby Bullet (which costs about $60 at Toys R Us) is BPA free and is a great way to make your own baby food (not to mention it looks pretty darn cute).

Swap Daycare With a Friend

Daycare is expensive.  On a monthly basis, it can range from $900 to $1200 depending on where you are.  In Vancouver, this is how much daycare usually costs.  A friend of mine worked part-time and swapped childcare with her friend who also had a child 1-2 years of age.  This worked out well and she only had to pay $300 for one day a week childcare.  In addition, she got to spend quality time with her son (and her son’s new friend).

Buy Used…Everything

Buying used clothes, blankets, or accepting hand-me-downs from friends or family is a great way to save money.  It might be tempting to dress up your baby in adorable fresh-off-the-clothing-rack goods, but babies really don’t care what they look like.  The one thing that you probably would not want to skimp on is a baby seat.  Transport Canada advises that baby seats have expiry dates on them because the plastic becomes dated and aged.  The average expiry “best used” date for most baby car seats is about six years.  Not reusing your child car seat can also ensure that any new regulations regarding child seats changes are noted.

Cloth Diapers are Your Friend

Even though they don’t seem like it (because it is probably much easier to chuck that full diaper in the garbage), cloth diapers can be your friend.  Consumer Reports has a great article on the cost savings between cloth diapers and disposable diapers.  They argued that it costs approximately $2500 for disposable diapers until your child becomes potty trained whereas it only costs $1000 for cloth diapers for the same period.  Cloth diapers really aren’t what they used to be – there are cloth diaper services available which can pick up your bin of dirty diapers for you.  Even with this service, cloth diapers still is cheaper than disposable diapers.  Besides, with cloth diapers you won’t be adding to that Great Pacific Garbage Patch of plastic in the middle of the ocean.

As you can see, there are some easy changes that you can make to save money on the first few years of your new bundle of joy.  As mentioned, saving money by breast feeding, considering swapping daycare with a friend, buying used items, and using cloth diapers are a great way to cut the newborn costs. The first few years can set the stage for how much you’ll spend on your children!  Enjoy this time while it lasts because pretty soon they will be asking for $700 iPads for their birthdays.

If you are anything like me, you have a ton of old art and photo frames in the storage area in your basement. You don’t just want to toss something that sat in a special place in your home for years, until you decided the new Umbra frame you bought better showcased your trip to Hawaii. Or maybe, also like me, your mother didn’t want to throw out these special frames, so she gave them to you, making it now your responsibility not to throw it out. I call that Hoarders: Pass it On edition. But, seriously, here are some great ideas for creative ways to use those frames and not have to pitch them.

Love Of Family and Home took an old frame that was her grandmothers, removed the artwork, added burlap and a self-painted letter for a beautiful monogram wall hanging. This was very cheap and easy!

This could be one of the most awesome ideas I’ve ever seen. Wedding Paper Divas gave us this idea for a wedding frame wall, with photos of your family, plus two inconspicuous trap doors within the frame for the happy couple to pop out of. I love the vintage look of this one, but you could do it according to whatever style you fancy.

Homedit has a ton of great ideas for old picture frames, but I love this one where they framed old letters. You could frame letters from family members, from your loved ones, even your children. Whatever letter is sentimental to you, which you’d rather not keep in a box would be great for this idea. You could even take a copy of a page from a deceased family member’s journal. This idea costs literally nothing, but means so much.

HandMakeMyDay had this fabulous idea to make a rainbow out of cardboard and glitter and glue it on to the glass of an old frame. They added the hat and it instantly became the perfect backdrop for a St. Patrick’s Day photo session. You could also do other themes like an Easter bunny for Easter or elves for Christmas. Use your imagination! Again, another cheap idea, although this one looks like it took a bit of time.

Melissa at 320 Sycamore used tea towels and old frames (this one had hooks, bonus!) to make amazing jewellery holders. This is one idea I’m passing on to my crafty hubby to make for me. How awesome would it be to see all of your jewellery right in front of you, instead of having to dig through a cluttered storage case? Love it!

I always adore anything Shanty 2 Chic blogs about and this frame is no exception! They painted the frame, added fabric rosettes and used a staple gun to apply the jute in a haphazard manner. Then simple clips like laundry pins do the job to hang your photos and you can change them out whenever you want.

Meadow Lake Road was very crafty and sentimental when she put together this frame with thoughts from her heart, using of all things, a sharpie. Imagine your family waking up each day to see how you feel written out in plain words, just in case they need a reminder. Beautiful thought!

I love this Father’s Day idea from Positively Splendid. She took photos of her kids with chalkboard quote signs that said what they loved about their dad. She put the collage of pictures into a frame and this was his cheap and from the heart Father’s Day gift. I have had this pinned since last year because I really want to do this!

Spam me with your old photo frame ideas and let me know if you create any of these masterpieces. I’m on my way downstairs to find those old frames of my mom’s. Happy crafting!

(Image credit: maury.mccown)