Things to Keep in the Car

I was raised in a house where both parents frequently traveled long distances in the car for work. When the time came for me to start driving, you can be assured that I was given a cubic shit-ton of car related advice. I was basically bombarded with everything from car parts to what I should keep in the car. Being full of typical teenage rebellion I failed to heed all of my parent’s advice and on more than one occasion found myself in a situation where I wish I had listened. 

One of my main goals for this blog is for people to learn from my mistakes so read on if you would like to know the things everyone should keep in their car.

·      Change of clothes: handy incase you break down and need to spend the night somewhere. In the winter make sure your change of clothes is warm and maybe include a small rain poncho to keep you dry for changing a tire in the rain.

·      Small cosmetics bag: pick up some travel size shampoo, soap, spare toothbrush, etc. At least you won’t have to feel grimy if you need to stay overnight somewhere.

·      Blanket: doesn’t have to be large as it can be used to bundle up in if you break down or cover up your purchases after a day of shopping.

·      Folding shovel: so you can dig yourself out of a snow bank

·      Flashlight: always handy to have around

·      Tire repair kit: you’ll be able to patch things up until you can get to a service station

·      Booster battery: this baby will be able to give your battery a boost without needing another car around. You can also get them with electrical outlets so it can be used to charge electronics like a cell phone. If you're not sure what I'm talking about just click on the link.

·      Pair of sneakers: just throw a pair that you are going to be getting rid of or a pair you found on super clearance. You just want something to throw on if you need to walk anywhere, your current footwear (ie. Heels) are not great for driving in, or you need to fix something like a flat tire (again not a great thing to do in heels).

·      Storage container: this will keep all of your supplies above from rolling around the trunk of your car. The one I have is actually collapsible, lightweight, and has Velcro on the bottom so the container stays in place. 

Now that might look like a lot but if you travel in your car a lot it is really worth these things on hand. I can fit everything into my storage container so there is still a nice amount of trunk space remaining. More general things you might wanna keep around would be tissues/wet-wipes, garbage bags, a phone book, and of course some CDs incase your mp3 player dies.

Happy driving!

Rebecca

Where to Shop Online

I love to shop online, mainly because I don’t have to fight through crowds and my size is usually in stock. This being said I also usually shop on sites that I’ve been in the physical store itself so I have a better idea of what sizes I will need despite the sizing charts available. Here is a list of some of my favorite places to shop from the comfort of my couch.

Threadless

If you don’t know what Threadless is, shame on you. It is such an awesome place to get t-shirts with unique designs. I really enjoy how it’s a community of designers who submit designs, the public scores them, and a select few with the highest scores are chosen to be sold as shirts. In the beginning designs were placed on simple tees or hoodies, but now you can purchase infant-wear, bags, and they’ve started putting the designs on different clothing styles in their “Select” line. A lot of the designs are amazingly artistic and many have a story behind them you can read about in the “About the Design” section. If a design you’re looking to purchase is sold out never fear; just click on a button and Threadless will let you know when it has been reprinted.

You can check out Threadless Tees on their website or while you’re watching Community as Abed frequently sports these awesome shirts.

American Eagle/Aerie

I don’t purchase as much as I used to from AE but I still love the site, especially since they upgraded and got a better site layout. Since I live in Canada I get dinged with extra duties and taxes but it usually isn’t that big of a deal because AE has free shipping deals every other week it seems as well as taking off an extra percentage on clearance items. Clearance is typically where I get all my items from just because I love a sale and why pay full price for something when you can get it on sale?

Victoria’s Secret

As a Canadian I suffer from lack of Victoria’s Secret stores. Did you know that they can only be found in Alberta and Ontario? I live a long ways away from either of those locations so unless I wanna jump on a plane for a few hours every time I want to shop, I’ll just have to stick to online shopping. Now I’ve never ordered any undergarments or over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders, but I love their clothes. I find the sizing charts are pretty good to work with, but some items are a little short in the torso but still manageable. A big disadvantage I find with the site is that their free shipping offers generally only cover U.S. based orders. Once in a blue moon they apparently have free shipping to Canada. To make up for this there are usually some online promotion codes you can enter to save a few bucks, but without the free shipping it means that whatever I buy off the site is something I really want.

1928

I don't tend to wear a lot of jewelry but when I do I find myself drawn to vintage-inspired pieces. Thanks to a family member I was told about this awesome website. They have tonnes of stuff to choose from ranging from very affordable pieces to some that are a little more expensive. They also have a bridal line, things for pets, frames, and lots more. I adore this site and am always on the lookout for a sale so I can order even more :) Make sure to check out their website

If anyone can suggest some other great online sources for online shopping leave your comments below. Happy Shopping!


Rebecca

First Apartment Drama: Things You Should Learn

Just before you leave home there are a few basic things you should learn to do. Some of them are going to sound silly but hey, somewhere out there some lost soul is unaware of what they are missing out on.

1.      Learn to cook

One cannot live on take-out and Mr. Noodles alone. You need some nutrition in your life otherwise you’re going to get scurvy or a deficiency of some sort. Now I understand that cooking is not for everyone but at least learn to do some basic things like rice, eggs, boiling water, and cooking some form of meat. Ask someone you know to give you hand or write down a few pointers. There are also some great literary references you can invest in that will really help you out, a lot are actually aimed at college students who are getting their first place. Two cookbooks out of my collection that I really enjoy are Jamie’s Food Revolution and Everyday Food: Great Food Fast.

Jamie’s Food Revolution is the first cookbook of Jamie Oliver’s that I can actually use. Not because the recipe’s in his other books suck (they are actually awesome) it’s that I’m not fond of the page layouts. I’m really fussy when it comes to cookbooks but I use this one a lot, I find the recipes are simple, delicious, open to your own variations, the book is organized really well. He really tried to target this book at people who do not know how to cook.

Everyday Food sometimes has unique ingredients (it is a Martha Stewart book after all), but I really enjoy how recipes are divided into seasons. This gives one a greater idea of what produce is in season and taste best. Certainly you can cook these recipes anytime of year, but I thought it was a unique concept dividing them by season. I highly recomend the recipie for Creamy Broccoli Soup because it tastes fine by itself or with some additions like crackers and cheese.

Unlike my other books, which I never dog-ear or mark in, I love to write in cookbooks. I can remind myself what recipes I like, ones I don’t, changes I’ve made to recipes, or note another recipie that paired really well with another.

2.  Learn to do laundry

As Rachel Green pointed out, not everyone knows how to do laundry when they move out. If you do not have laundry facilities at your new place, scout out Laundromats around town. Make note what type of payment the machines take cause if they use quarters you can remember to save all of yours for laundry day. Don’t just throw everything in together; learn to read the labels on your clothing. Again you may want to ask someone you know for advice on laundry or you can check out Laundry Labels or How to do Laundry

3. Learn how to manage your finances

This is probably the most important thing to learn because you need to know how to budget so that all the bills are paid and you still have money left for food and other expenses. Try to make a routine out of it so you get into the habit of paying bills, transferring money when necessary, etc. Every paycheck I like to assess my bank account, make sure I have enough to take care of my living accommodations, then I move so much into a savings account for school, my budget for personal money I can blow on non-essential items, and my Christmas Fund. I love my Christmas Fund because during the summer when I’m working full-time I can actually have the money I need for getting Christmas presents before school starts. This means when I'm back in classes and only working weekends, I don’t have to worry about having money saved for Christmas.

Since you’re learning to budget it is also wise to consider getting a credit card. If you’re a student some banks offer a special credit card that cuts you a break on banking fees. Having one will help build your credit rating so if you ever need a loan, they can see what a good banker you are and approve the loan. But beware! Don’t use your credit card for everything, preferably it should be kept for emergencies or purchases you know you can pay off at months end. I use my credit card for groceries because I know I can pay it off each month and I get extra air miles at the store for using it.

There you have it, three things that are important to learn when you get your own place. Hope you find it useful!

Rebecca

First Apartment Drama: Dealing with Roommates or Lack of

 

Growing up I was lucky enough that I did not have to share a room with either of my two younger sisters so I really enjoy having my own space. When I moved into my first place after a year of living in residence, I had my first real experience of sharing a living space with someone else. Sure we both had our own rooms but after awhile you begin to realize that there are going to be some ups and downs to sharing an apartment. The same can also be said about living alone which I am currently experiencing as my roommate is now home for the summer and won’t be back until fall.

Here I am going to go through a basic pros and cons list to each situation and how to remedy any nasty roommate spats.

Living with a Roommate(s)

Pros You have someone to split bills, food, and rent with You have someone you can borrow clothes from/ask for outfit advice Someone to share chores with Someone to talk to Even if they are holed up in their room it’s nice to know you’re not alone Someone to blame those bump-in-the-night sounds on Someone to go see a movie with or another fun activity If roommate has a pet, you get to cuddle and play with it but don’t have to pay for any vet bills Someone to study with if you’re in the same classes If above is true they can also bring you notes when you’re sick Someone can help you decorate your new apartment Don’t have to get all the furniture It’s easier cooking meals for two rather than one

Cons Roommate may not want to pay for things they are not going to use ie cable or land-line Food preferences may differ so much you can’t split food Roommate is a crazy neat freak and gets upset when things are left dirty for two seconds Roommate could be a slob Roommate likes to play loud music Find out you just plain don’t get along (could be true if you move in with a friend or find someone in the “Roommate Wanted” section) Roommate likes to throw parties when you want to study Roommate does not clean up after their pet Roommate does not know how to cook and ruins your beautiful cookware Roommate has no regard of personal space Someone is ALWAYS around

Living Alone

Pros Can arrange things just the way you like with no compromise If the place is a mess, no one is around to judge you Quiet time when you need it Don’t have to worry about making food everyone likes Can walk around in your underwear Can watch trash tv without the harsh judgment of others No one is going to borrow your stuff without asking (unless you get burgled) No one is going to ruin your fancy cookware

Cons Have to pay for all the bills, food, and rent yourself Have to furnish the apartment yourself All the chores must be done by you No one to blame bump-in-the-night noises on No one readily able to give you their approval on an outfit Develop the habit of talking to yourself No one to blame but yourself for ruining your own things such as your fancy cookware Run the risk of becoming a crazy cat lady by acquiring too many feline companions

When it boils down to it I have enjoyed living alone these last few weeks, but I’m also excited for my roommate to come back, mostly because I really hate those bump-in-the-night noises.

If you are thinking of living with someone, make sure you think it over and discuss it carefully with that person. If either of you have mixed feelings about the situation, you’re probably not going to find living together easy. Be really honest with each other about living habits you may have or things that would bother you. For example, tell your potential roommate that you hate doing the dishes, you don’t want to pay for a land-line, and you are not going to clean up after their dog. This way you can find compromises so living together will be a great experience. Instead of doing the dishes maybe you can be primarily responsible for some other chore and agree that if you’re not paying for the land-line you will not use it or ask permission if you should need to. There is nothing wrong with making A Guideline to Harmonious Living. Being able to communicate with one another without flying off the handle will make sure you remain friends when one or both of you move out, so avoid yelling at one another or the passive-aggressive route should any problems arise.

Obviously there are pros and cons to all living situations, and your first time living with someone is going to have its challenges; but, it also is a huge milestone. You’re living without constant supervision, no curfew, you’re practically an adult! Enjoy it :)

Rebecca

P.S. Any stories/advice about your first roommate experience? Comment below!

First Apartment Drama: Packing, Unpacking, and Decorating

Now that you’ve acquired everything you need for your new pad, it’s time to move in and get settled. Before you move in make sure that all the arrangements have been made for electricity, cable, phone, Internet, or any other services you’ll need. When you’re packing everything away, remember to wrap up anything breakable before it goes in the box. It would suck to unpack your favorite picture frame only to discover it’s now in pieces.

When you put items into their respective boxes make sure to label them. This way you know what boxes should be handled with extra care, might be heavier than others (ie: the “books” box is heavier than the “pillows” box), and what room it should be placed. As you’re unpacking you’ll be glad you did this so you won’t have to root through all your boxes just to find the can opener. 

The rest of unpacking is pretty self-explanatory; you take something out of the box and put it where it belongs. The only advice I can offer is unpack the stereo, play some tunes, get through it one box at a time, and don’t drag the process out. You don’t want to find yourself a month later stepping over boxes you still haven’t unpacked.

Once everything is in it’s place you’re going to want to decorate to make your new place feel like home. You don't have to head out to the stores to get decorative items that can end up being expensive plus it's stuff a lot of other people can have too. Try to incorporated your style into your place even in small ways. A relatively cheap decorating tip I like is the use of picture frames. You don't have to fill them all with photos and they don't have to all look the same. You can fill them with fun printed fabrics to add a pop of color, greeting cards that have a design you like, postcards from places you've visited, ticket stubs, you can even leave them empty and place them on the wall. The later is actually one of my favorite frame use as it looks really unique especially when a variety of frame shapes and sizes are used. You can check out some decorating with empty frames at Tip Junkie 

If you don't want to poke a bunch of holes in your walls from hanging photos, I suggest the use of Command Strips. These little guys can hold a lot, do not damage the paint, and allow you to change up your decor as often as you like without leaving holes all over the place. You can also get the strips that come with hooks if you're looking for somewhere to hang your keys or need something in the kitchen to hang utensils from.

Place nick-knacks on shelves, get a house plant, and Google some DIY projects for home decorating. There is an amazing amount of great ideas out there on sites such as Crafterholic and Cut out and keep. If you feel like you're a person who doesn't have a flair for home decor, don't worry because you can do it! Try displaying items that you really like or collect like books, movies, CDs or vinyl records, anything. This can also serve as a conversation piece for your home. For instance, I framed a crocheted hand towel and whenever someone comes over they ask why I choose to display it. I can then explain that my 94 year old great-grand mother, who is blind, made it for me when she found out I was renting my first place.

The most important thing to remember is that this is your first place so don't get bent out of shape if everything doesn't match. Work with what you got, incorporate your own sense of style, have fun, and it will be awesome.

Happy Decorating!

Rebecca

First Apartment Drama: Part 1

In all honesty, I’m exhausted cause my job has been a little crazy lately; also, I feel as though this post could go on forever so I’m going to do it as a series. So without further ado, I give you First Apartment Drama: Part 1. 

Now that it is June, those students wishing to avoid the residence lifestyle are either now the proud owners of their first place or still on the hunt. Having been through this searching process and into my second year of apartment ownership, I thought I could share some lessons I have learned along the way.  

The first thing you are going to do before you can get settled into your new pad is make a few lists. If you are a person who dislikes making lists and following them, suck it up. You’re supposed to be somewhat of an adult now that you have your own place and that requires some organization. List making can be fun if you make use of some snazzy Apps.

Once you have collected your preferred list making material start jotting down all the things that you will need. Walk around your parents’ place and write down anything you may have missed. Include everything and I mean EVERYTHING; furniture, cleaning supplies, dishes, towels, you name it. When you’re done start crossing off anything that you already own.

With your new list of remaining items, it is time to start visiting family members and friends. Someone on your contacts list may have an old coffee table they are looking to get rid of or maybe they are updating the living room curtains and instead of throwing them out you can take them. This will defiantly reduce the amount of things you will actually have to buy. You may even score a big item like a couch!

Cross any obtained items off your list. Unfortunately anything still there will have to be bought but there are still plenty of ways to save some moolah. Keep your eye out for yard sales; browse the second hand furniture stores, and frequent websites like www.kijiji.ca. You never know what you’ll find for a steal. If you happen to find something that has seen better days and in need of some updating, pick up some paint at your local hardware store. A little will go a long way so even with a small tin you may be able to use it on a few pieces of furniture.

Get yourself to the nearest dollar store cause it is my favorite place for finding apartment things. You won’t be able to get everything there, but you should be able to get a good haul for a lot less than if you had gotten everything at Wal-mart. Make sure you pick up a basic tool set. You don't need anything fancy, just items for small repairs and furniture assembly.

Although you should be able to save on a lot of items for your apartment, you should use these savings to go towards things that you should NOT skimp on. These items include:

·      A pots and pans set: Invest in a good cookware set and you’ll have it for well beyond your university years. You’ll also save a bundle in food because your food won’t be coming out a burnt mess like it would if you had gotten a cheap set.

·      Cooking utensils: get a good set of kitchen knives and read up on how to properly care for them. Try to get as many good quality products as possible such as a whisk, grater, masher, rolling pin, and spatchula. If you must skimp, do so on items you know you won’t use often.

·      Kitchen appliances: The kitchen in my opinion is not somewhere I like to skimp because it’s the room that gets the most use. Don’t get the cheapest thing possible for things like toasters, kettles, and other appliances. Pick items that you are going to use most and invest most in these. A good example is a George Forman Grill. These bad boys are awesome and you can cook so much with them.

·      Mattress: who wants to buy a mattress secondhand? You don’t know where it has been and what it has picked up along the way. The mattress could also be quite old so you’ll end up having to replace it in less time anyways than if you had bought a new one. Also, if you buy new you can shop around and find what mattress is most comfortable for you. Skimp all you want on the frame; heck, you can even keep it on the floor! Just really try and avoid skimping on your mattress.

·      Vacuum: If you have an apartment with carpet this is a very important item especially if you have pets. Got an apartment without carpet? Invest in a really good hand held vacuum for getting into corners, along baseboards, and those spills a broom can’t clean up as well ie: spilt flour. If you a proud owner of a four legged fur ball, I highly recommend the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser. It is a lifesaver and it cleans up everything. A good vacuum will last for years if you take care of it, much longer than a low quality one.

 Hopefully you’ll find some of this helpful. Congrats on your first place!

Rebecca

Tip of the Day: Couponing

Hey guys!

I have been obsessed with the tv show "Extreme Couponing" lately and this has inspired me to do a little research into this saving money business.  Now since I'm from Canada, our laws and store regulations are very different from the US so we can't participate in couponing the way we see it on "Extreme Couponing" but we can find some cool deals.



It all started when a friend told me about websites that send you coupons for free. The ones I use are http://www.save.ca/, www.brandsaver.ca, www.gocoupons.ca, and www.websaver.ca. All you do is go online, sign up for free, select the coupons you want sent to you and order your free coupons! Sounds to good to be true right? But that's not all..

A couple days later I do some more thinking about coupons so I go to trusty google and search coupon blogs. There are a ton of blogs dedicated to coupons! I could have been saying money all this time! My absolute favorite is http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/.. This lady is amazing!! The posts I love to read are when she does Deal of the Week and shows readers what is on sale at stores and how they can use their coupons from the above websites to save big! A few other good websites are www.bargainmoose.ca, www.smarkcanucks.ca and www.canadianfreestuff.ca.

Good luck folks and happy couponing!

xox
Ashlee