Is there a cheapie in your life? You know the type. Let’s call him Chuck. He’s invariably late with rent money and he will short-change you on the bills (then meekly apologize for the oversight when caught).

He’s often a mooch.

Chuck helps himself to the food in your refrigerator and cupboards and he’s always the first to grab the last slice of pizza. During an evening out, he has ways to avoid paying his share of just about any tab, saying he’s forgotten his wallet or hitting the washroom for an extended period just as the bill arrives. And if he’s drunk, look out. He’ll pour over the numbers on the bill and rail on about how he couldn’t possibly have consumed six of the eight beers he guzzled. 

Yep, good old Chuck the Cheapie. If you don’t know him personally, you’ve doubtless heard about him. Of course there are degrees of Chucks, from the mildly stingy to the chronic penny pincher.

During my university years, I heard stories about one guy who qualified for some sort of global award in cheapness. His name, as a matter of fact, was Charlie. One night after drinking one too many glasses of wine (paid for by others naturally) he admitted to some chums that he made a practice of wearing his underwear for two days in a row. The first day he would wear them right-side out, then come day two he would turn them inside out, all in an effort to avoid dropping a few quarters at the local laundromat. His rationale for the behavior was simple: “I’m a college student on a budget.”

I daresay that from there stories about Charlie proliferated, as did the recoiling “ughs” in response to the stories. For instance, one day someone visited Charlie in his one-room flat where he was among others eating some fast food from McDonalds. As one of the others attempted to cast the McDonald’s bag in the trash, Charlie rushed to retrieve it and rummage through its contents. He fished several ketchup packets from the bag, then proceeded to transfer their contents into a bottle he kept in his mini-fridge. “You never know when you’re going to run out of condiments,” he noted (he was an English major).

Well, for Charlie, it was always a matter of never knowing when you’d run out of anything. He’d buy two-ply paper towels and toilet paper so he could separate the layers to get twice the use out of them. When on the odd occasion he was forced to shell out for what would always be the cheapest room in the cheapest motel, he loaded up on the complimentary soaps and shampoos and anything else he could get his hands on. When he was low on milk, he’d stretch its life span by adding water to it (not the tastiest measure given that he purchased skim milk to begin with).

Now, I could go on about Chuck, but I’m sure you’ve had your fill of him by now. Besides, I’d like to hear stories from all you readers out there about famously cheap people you may have encountered or heard about over the years. The stories only serve to remind us that while saving pennies is a good thing, being overly obsessive about it can be downright creepy and no way to live a decent life.

I think it’s healthy to distinguish between being cheap and being frugal. They are in fact two entirely different ways of looking at your financial reality. I define frugality as being wise in the way you economize. A frugal person does not save at the expense of living a noble life. Frugality means giving money respect and acting intelligently in the way you spend and save. The stingy, miserly type can be thoughtless and, ironically enough, frequently ends up spending more through his or her obeisance to cheapness.

The truth is, quality in spending can count for a lot: a car that does not cost you a fortune to repair; clothing that lasts season to season; other goods and services with reliable shelf lives. On the other hand, if cheap is all you want, then cheap is all you get, and in the long term that can cost you money. Which is not to say that I’m against bargains. I’m all for them, provided they are good bargains.
 
I would say that frugal folks generally believe in being lightweight consumers of resources, whatever those resources may be. For example, the frugal type will make meals from scratch rather than paying several times for the cost of equivalent foods at a deli or restaurant. Of course, cheapies look for deals, too, but they can be heavy consumers of resources, buying stuff that’s not really needed simply because it’s on sale.
 
Just as importantly, cheapies are no fun to around. Especially when they don’t change their underwear. But enough of that. As I say, join my blog with stories about famous cheapies you have known.
 
Meanwhile, here’s to fruitful frugality.

John Hussman (The Money Demand Blog, July 30, 2010) on Recession Warning – “Based on evidence that has always and only been observed during or immediately prior to US recessions, the US economy appears headed into a second leg of an unusually challenging downturn”.

Recession or not Americans feel the tradition of holiday gift giving is important to them. Canadians I am sure feel the same way. The more I think of it, the more I believe that Black Friday is going to be much hotter this year.

So as not to lose sales and dollars to our American competitors Canadians created the official website www.blackfriday.ca.

As some of you might already know, Black Friday in the USA this year falls on November 26th, 2010. This Friday follows their Thanksgiving Day, traditionally the beginning of their Christmas shopping season. It’s a three-day weekend named for the time when store chains begin to record a profit for the year, hence in the “black”. Some stores may even hold week-long promotions and deals prior to the actual Black Friday.

There were 140 million people who participated in last year’s Black Friday shopping rush in the USA. This year I will not be counting myself in. No siree! I am not physically able and prepared for it and don’t care to wake up at the crack of dawn. Besides, the memory of the the deadly accident in November 2008 where a Walmart employee was crushed to death by the rushing herd of frantic shoppers is still fresh in my mind. I just refuse to risk my sanity this time, standing in line at stores or beating the extremely heavy traffic on the roads and fighting for a parking spot.

Most retailers offer great deals on their websites so I am going shopping on-line. Some websites offer information about specials up to a month in advance so I’ll have time to plan and comparison shop based on these leaks. I can also get all my shopping done in one stop. Imagine the savings – one stop shopping is the best!

Most of my favourite retailers encourage people to do their online shopping on Thanksgiving Day by offering their Black Friday sales online that day. “Deal or No deal”? They offer the same deals online that you would find in store on actual Black Friday. Well if the price is right then, I’ll say “Howie, it’s a deal” (no pun intended).

Financially? I think I am prepared as I have started saving $50 each pay since the beginning of the month and I have a shorter Christmas list this year. If you’re like me you have your Christmas list saved and adjusted from last year with the maximum amount to spend for each person.

One thing I should not forget is to make  sure I have a firewall and up-to date Antivirus and Antispy software. I will only buy from secured websites like those ones that have an ‘s’at the end of their web address, i.e.  https:// (s is for secure). If not, I’ll look for a picture of a lock on the checkout page when I am ready to pay .  

As well, I have to consider:
- Free shipping and/or added discounts
- Retailers that price match any local competitors’ printed ad for an identical product such as Walmart, Amazon.com, Best Buy (I have to remember to bring a copy of the competitor’s ad with me)
- Freebies and coupons – CNET, BIN,  currentcodes.com, chickdowntown.com, iblackfriday.com, PCmag.com, PcMag’s Tech Saver, dealnews.com, mommysavers.com

So I won’t be leaving home without first checking the internet when the time comes. At the end of the day, I’ll be a whole person, in body and spirit. I don’t know about you!

Happy Shopping fellows!

Off on our routine 40-minute walk to our favourite coffee shop last Saturday morning, 15 minutes in and my husband says, ‘Wait a minute, let’s check out this big yard sale’. Uh-oh, what can I say, but, ‘OK, let’s go’.

He was checking out a fascinating item – a little pewter collectible.  He asked, ‘How much is this doggie in the basket?’  The seller responded; he responded back – then the dickering started. You probably have heard or witnessed the familiar ‘he says… she says…’ dialogue if you’ve ever been to yard or garage sales. You probably have haggled yourself. I think dickering or haggling is an art and a skill.  It’s a skill that my dear husband has been trying to teach me.  He tells me it never hurts to try or ask and you may receive it. We’re talking about collectibles here so it is worth asking nicely or politely. Besides, he says, what’s the worst thing that can happen?

To make the story short, we came home from our walk grinning from ear to ear. Why not? We had our exercise, ate a healthy breakfast, had savings in our pocket and a shorter Christmas list. I also came home with a couple of trinkets bought for $.50 and $1.00 each.

I used to cringe when his wrangling tactics start; I was afraid I would hear a rude or unkindly response from the other party; but now I find it interesting.  As a matter of fact we just came back from our sort of ‘staycation’ in a not far away small town where we picked up two fancy and intricately carved walking canes.  Honestly, his hobby is really not that bad because we also picked out two brand new items as gifts when we were gallivanting. It was equivalent to a ‘two for the price of one deal’ had we bought them from a department store.

Hubby collects mainly rare coins but he started this obsession for out-of-the ordinary walking canes or walking sticks last year. I laughed out loud when he said he is going to use a different cane each day of the week when he gets older- reserving the fanciest one for his Sunday walk in the park.

We’re visiting Australia next month and I’m starting to wonder if the Aussies are into dickering. We’ll soon find out when we visit their trash and treasure markets. I’ll have my Christmas list handy.  As for the haggling, I’d rather be a spectator and leave the ‘dirty’ work to my hubby.

It’s that time of year again. Kids are getting back to the books, and if you’re a smart parent, you will take steps to keep your own books in balance by looking for ways to save while shopping. You get high marks for it in a tough economy.

Start by using the best modern tool available, the Internet. Google your area for deals on everything from school supplies to clothing, to computer ware. And while you’re at it, keep some of these tips in mind:

• Check your school supply inventory. Search the home front for supplies you could already have in store. If you have more than one child in school, you could possess school-related stuff that’s unused or that can be used again like backpacks, notebooks, binders, pens and pencils, etc.
 
• Put together a shopping list. Random shopping sprees for school supplies can easily result in overspending. As they say, organization is the key. Give some thought to the supplies and clothing that may be required and write up a list of what is needed. It’s a good idea to consult your child or children about the items, but use common sense in relation to their requests.
 
• Set a budget and set limits. What can you afford to spend on school stuff? Write it down based on the shopping list you have developed. Go over it with your child or children ahead of time so that when you go shopping together, everyone’s aware of what can be spent. Kids may grumble if you cannot exactly meet their expectations; but they will come to respect you for involving them in the adult process, which leads to my next very important tip.

• Stick to your shopping list. Don’t let your children sway you into purchasing unreasonably costly items. Yes, kids are into what’s cool, but they need to understand that what’s cool is not always what’s affordable. Besides, nowadays, with so much value available through retailers, wholesalers, discount superstores, and the Internet, you are likely to find stuff that meets the needs of both your kids and your budget.
 
• Go coupon crazy. Keep all the sales flyers and coupon sheets that come your way this time of year. Also, search the Internet for coupons you can use in stores in your area. They are everywhere. Again, it’s smart to involve your kids in this process for it helps to teach them about the value of a dollar.
 
• Think about off-season shopping. Some of the best deals you are likely to come across happen not in the weeks leading up to the new school year but at other times of year when school supplies are not in demand. Keep an eye out for deals all year long, and put them in store for next September.
 
• Shop and compare. Don’t buy from the first store you visit. Shop around and compare prices. Welcome surprises are likely in store.
 
As a parent myself, I’ve got a few more suggestions for some back-to-school economizing.

If you can purchase used books, do so. Maybe your school or school district has a used book Web site. If friends and neighbours have kids in school in your area, check with them for used books and other supplies that can be recycled through your own kids. Also, save money on cafeteria food by supplying your kids with tasty, healthy box lunches. Last but not least, be sure you take advantage of student fares/passes for transportation.

Do all this, and you get an A + in home budgeting.

For many of us, it’s not January but September that qualifies as the start of the new year in Canada. Come the end of the Labour Day weekend, there’s a feeling the whole world is getting back into gear. Schoolrooms, boardrooms and businesses come alive; social and cultural events start ramping up; hockey season gets underway – and on and on. It seems we’re all full of enthusiasm to take on new challenges and to get stuff done.

Given the mood of the moment, I can think of no better time to put personal finances in order. With the right tools, it isn’t difficult. As a matter of fact, we make it easy at Credit Canada thanks to a bevy of online money management tools that can help you fine tune your life. The tools cover everything from setting budgets and tracking spending patterns, to analyzing mortgage payments and planning for retirement – plus much more.

Join me now for a closer look at each of the tools, which can be accessed anytime at www.creditcanada.com.
 
Piggy Pal – Your Money Tracker

PiggyPal is a true friend when it comes to managing money. Track your daily spending habits online or through your mobile handset while you’re on the go. Click here.
 
Piggy Pal Challenger

A fun, interactive game that tests your money management knowledge. Click here.
 
Benefits of Spending Less

A few reductions in your personal budget can free up money for investments. Here’s a calculator that shows you how to lay a new nest egg. Click here.

Budget Tracker Booklet

A pocket-sized booklet that helps you track monthly spending so you can budget intelligently. Click here to download the booklet.

Buy or Lease Calculator

Is it better to lease or to buy a car? This calculator offers answers that can put you in the driver’s seat to savings. Click here.
 
Debt Calculator

With this tool, you’ll discover how much interest you’re actually paying a creditor over the life of a loan. Click here.

Home Budget

Get your house in order with a calculator that helps you determine where your money is going. Click here.

Mortgage Rates

A tool that helps you compare mortgage rates from big banks, credit unions, specialty lenders and mortgage brokers in one search. Click here.

Mortgage Comparison Calculator

With this tool you can sort through monthly payments, fees and other costs associated with getting a new mortgage. Click here.

Mortgage Payoff

This calculator shows you how much interest can you save by increasing your mortgage payment. Click here.

Rent or Buy?

Should you rent or should you buy your home? This calculator helps you weed through fees, taxes, and monthly payments. Click here.

Retirement Planner

With this tool, you can lay the groundwork for a retirement plan. Click here.

RRSP Loan Calculator

Use this calculator to see how a RRSP loan could help you with your retirement savings plan. Click here.

Savings Calculator

Learn how even a modest but consistent savings strategy can work wonders. Click here.

Savings Goal

A tool offering you the big picture on the financial results of your savings plan. Click here.

Shopping Quiz

Test yourself with this shopping quiz to see if you have financial blind spots and are in need of credit counselling. Click here.

Student Budget Calculator

A calculator specifically designed to help students understand their expenses and income while attending a university, college or other full-time educational institution. Click here.

So that’s the kit. Feel free to use any or all of the above items anytime. And please share them with family and friends if need be. After all, the beauty of these tools is that you don’t have to worry about returning them to the box.

Fellow Canadians, we are in debt big time according to a recent report by the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada.

Despite all the cautionary tales we might have learned from simply watching the evening news during the past couple of years, household debt in Canada reached $1.41 trillion at the end of 2009. That translates to a debt load of $41,740 for every man, woman and child in the country.

Now debt in and of itself is not a bad thing. Credit helps drive the economy, and it allows us to enjoy material goods that would otherwise be beyond our financial reach. Problems come in when we reach too far, too fast. And much of the overreaching has to do with what is called consumer debt, as opposed to secured debt.

Secured debt is backed by assets or collateral, a prime example being a mortgage, which is generally less risky than consumer debt, which includes things like credit cards and lines of credit.

Credit card debt is often central to the problems facing the clients who come to us at Credit Canada for debt counselling. More and more, we see Canadians living beyond their means, financing their lives through high interest rate credit cards and lines of credit.

It’s the interest rates that get you. And there’s no sign that they’re going to remain manageable. 

Not too long ago, the Bank of Canada let us all know that low interest rates for economic growth policy is over. So we should all be preparing for higher interest rates and adjusting our debt accordingly. 

My advice to you is, reduce your credit card debt as much and as quickly as you possibly can right now.  And if you’ve got a bunch of credit cards on hand, make the effort to get rid of all but one of them. Or, if you’re in the financial thick of it, cut them all up.  

Meanwhile, if you’re in the market for a new credit card, know what you’re getting yourself into, and discipline yourself in the way you handle the card. 

Keep the following pointers in mind.

• Know the terms of the card.  Read the fine print. Know the interest rate, the fees and the payment schedule.
• Be cautious about low interest teaser rates.  You might be enticed to get a new credit card because it offers a low introductory interest rate. All fine and well until the “go-to” rate kicks in. Know what you will eventually end up paying.
• Calculate interest rates.  Determine how debt can build up because of interest. Those $60 sandals and last week’s $15 pizza delivery at 20 percent interest can be costly. You can calculate the true cost of your credit card debt with Credit Canada’s  Debt Calculator.
• Set and keep a budget.  This is simple. Don’t charge more than you are able to pay. Credit Canada can help here. Download our Monthly Budget Tracker.
• Pay on time.  Always try to pay off your balance. But if that’s not possible, pay as much as you can, or at least the minimum. Never lapse in a payment, ever, unless you’re just plain flat broke. Anyway, long before that happens, you should be talking to us at Credit Canada about your money problems. Our programs can help you manage your money and get debt free.
• Don’t go over your limit.  If you spend too much, you’ll incur additional fees. That’s just dumb. Stick to what you know.
• Think about a “secured” credit card.  Last but not least, if you need a credit card but wish to avoid interest rates altogether, then consider getting a secured credit card. That’s a card that is backed-up or secured by funds you have deposited with your bank. The card looks like a credit card, and acts like a credit card, but it will have a limit depending on the amount of money that secures the card. Usually a very low monthly fee is required for the card, as well as a one-time set-up fee.

Okay. Let’s be smart about how we handle our credit cards in Canada shall we. The debt we are incurring is getting out of hand. Let’s get a handle on it.

Meanwhile, happy swiping.

Last weekend my nephew flew into a fit of embittered rage after I beat him three games straight at table top hockey.  Not once has he beaten me at anything, not even hide and seek because that’s the kind of aunt I am.  He’s five.  Maybe I should let him win once in a while but that’s another topic. 

The fit of rage ended as abruptly as it started when he yelled at me, “you don’t love me!  You never buy me anything!” (anything pronounced, ‘Annnnnnnnie Thennnnnng’ for effect).   This from the kid who has a savings account the size of the Greek deficit.   Some of the proceeds of which came from myself, trying to balance cash and toys to avoid spending too much money on well…crap… that he would play with once or twice, hoping that a little later the funds would be able to help him out with say, an education!   I did something I’ve never done before and summoned  his mother and told her what he said.  She was unfazed, clearly she’d heard it all before but she saw that I was upset so he was directed to his room.  My sister assured me, whilst dragging him down the hallway, that he was just tired.  Tired?!  He protested, passionately the whole way like he was an innocent victim en route to death row. 

The comment still brings tears to my eyes as I write this, I was devastated.  My initial thoughts were that I’d betrayed the poor kid by getting him sent to his room but most importantly; I needed to buy him more crap and fast.  I took stock of what I’d bought him lately.  He was right, I didn’t love him!  I never bought him annnnnnnnie thennnnnng!  Of course there were gifts on Birthday’s and Holiday’s etc but those clearly didn’t count.  Yeah sure I’d recently bought him two packs of mighty beans but what are two packs of mighty beans when the kid next door has hundreds of them! 

He’s a blessing of a nephew, smart, inquisitive, fantastically funny and a talented hockey goalie but I can’t forgive him right now for his comment and when I do I know I’ll never forget what he said.   I’m sure he’s long forgotten the incident, as he should; the poor child was tired and made a fleeting comment that wasn’t intended to send his aunt to a therapist or to blog about him behind his back.  This is my problem not his.  I don’t want to reward him for his comment but at the same time I don’t want him to think of me as a person with a mean spirited wallet.  A person who claims to love him but never buys him anything. 

I’ve decided that if he writes me a story, complete with illustrations, I’ll buy him new books.  I’ve asked for the story but haven’t told him about the new books.  He’s excited about the task.  He’s never been the type of kid who asks for things but it’s been my first real insight into the challenges of being a parent.  I don’t envy trying to balance saying yes and no to endless demands for toys and the latest Ben 10 shirts.  The Jones’ exist on the playground but they’re meaner, more vocal about who has what and understand quantity and volume seemingly innately.  How do you achieve the middle ground of not having them feeling excluded on the playground without turning them into little brats?  And how do families with fixed incomes handle these demands?  Do parents who can afford to indulge their children give into constant demands for an easy life?  Sure, you can tell them that it’s who they are and not what they have that counts, you can tell them this because it’s true.  In the world of a child though, it’s tough not to have what your friends have. 

I’d love to hear how the parents/guardians/aunts /uncles out there handle the infamous “I want (ad infinitum)”

Surprisingly, there was one benefit to this H-E-double hockey stick-ISH humidity heat wave that hit Toronto this past week. Being a winter person, I only ventured outside to get to work and to get home. No need for morning coffee, too scared to go outside and buy lunch, no evening adventures either. Evenings were instead spent praying to my little apartment air conditioner to stay strong during that trying time.

A happy by-product of this time of trial was the extra cash still sitting in my wallet. I was far too hot to grab a coffee on the way in. Or pick up a frozen meal for lunch. Brown bagging lunch and only drinking half frozen bottled water for an entire week kept the wallet in the pocket.  Simple, seemingly harmless spending habits can easily add up. Sometimes a pastry will accompany that large double-double, which runs you at least $2. Multiply that by 5, and you’ve spent $10/week . That frozen meal isn’t cheap either. Generally they are around $5.  Times that by 5 and you’ve spent $25/week for a grand total of $35/week on a combination of sugary baked goods and processed food. That right there is a movie night in an air conditioned theatre (with ultra small popcorn and two thimbles of pop).

Now $35 a week doesn’t result in a dream vacation home in Hawaii, but it can be enough to give you that little bit of room at the end of month when the bills come in. If anything at all, it is something to think about. Take a look at what you passed by when exiting one air conditioned building to enter another. Did you have a little cash in your wallet this Friday? Did time stop because you skipped that coffee and muffin?

Take an inventory of what wasn’t purchased this week. Maybe use it as an excuse to break that habit. If there is extra money in that wallet, let that be the incentive.

So maybe you’re down this year about a lack of dough for some summer fun. Forget about it. Tuck those credit and ATM cards away for the time being. There are lots of great things to see and do in cities and towns across Canada this summer that cost you nothing, or next to nothing. You might need a little transportation. But that’s where low-cost or no-cost public transit, bicycles and comfortable walking shoes come in.

All it takes on your part is a little research via the Web. Take my home town of Toronto, for example. Based on my personal experience and with a little help from the Internet, I’ve compiled a list of ten things Toronto families, couples and individual explorers can do for local summer enjoyment. And even if you’ve experienced some of these offerings before, I say get out and experience them again. New sights, sounds and energy abound in Canada’s most populous city. But the same rule applies to just about any city or town in the country.

Get moving. Get exploring. Pack your own lunch or dinner and get yourself some hot summer fun that won’t fry your piggy bank.

1. The Beaches

Soak up the sun or get your limbs moving on the expansive sandy beaches that stretch out along Lake Ontario’s shore in this amiable east Toronto neighbourhood. The Beaches were in fact once a summer getaway for city folks in the days when Toronto was still a budding metropolis. Enjoy cycling, sunbathing, beach volleyball and, of course, people watching. There’s a local commercial area featuring interesting wares and the charm of summer sidewalk cafes.

2. Harbourfront Centre

Along Toronto’s downtown shoreline you’ll find a cultural hub in the summertime called Harbourfront Centre. Here is live music, and plenty of festivals and special camps, many with free admission. The harbourfront is a joy when the sun is high, with sailboats and yachts gliding between Toronto Island Park and the city’s gleaming downtown business and entertainment districts. On warm summer evenings, the whole area takes on a magical quality.

3. Toronto Island Park

The paths, picnic areas and beaches of the Toronto Islands make them an ideal place for a fun, relaxing day or afternoon. Terrific trails for walking and cycling. Sandy beaches for suntanning. Picnic areas. The charm of rustic cottages. A number of baseball diamonds, volleyball courts and wading pools. Plus food and bicycle rental outlets along with a mini amusement park for the kids. Meanwhile, for the more adventurous out there, a clothing-optional beach on the west side of Hanlan’s Point could be worth a look.

4. Chinatown

You can get lost for hours in downtown Toronto window shopping the wares of Chinatown’s many stores and enjoying the ethnic color of the neighbourhood’s streets and people. Plus, if you do have a little spare change, you can find amazing things for cheap, not the least of which include fresh produce and tasty treats like baked goods, many of which will send your taste buds to heaven.
 
5. Kensington Market

The ambience of this little neighbourhood in west downtown Toronto is charming and funky – in the best sense of the latter word. The area boasts colorful corner fruit stands, many thrift stores and pubs, and it is a gathering place for some of Toronto’s most interesting people. Visit during a summer Sunday afternoon when they block off the streets for strolling and festivities including music, dancing, street theatre and more.
 
6. Riverdale Farm

Riverdale Farm is a special a treat for urban families, particularly if you have little ones. You will find it in east Toronto near Cabbagetown. It’s an authentic, fully operational farm covering almost eight acres of land.  Amidst the farmhouse, barn, outdoor paddocks and flowering gardens you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to some idyllic rural landscape far from the city. The kids will love seeing and petting the animals, including cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and rabbits. There’s a shady, adjacent park for picnicking, too.

7. Don Valley

Toronto is unique among major cities of the world in that it is blessed with what is essentially wilderness area running throughout the many valleys and ravines that crisscross the metropolis. The Don Valley is a prime example. The 10 kilometers of biking trails are great for avid cyclists or those who enjoy a nice, easy pace. There are also beautiful wooded areas and open lawns for splendid picnics, sun tanning, plus surprises I’m not going to tell you about because, well, they wouldn’t be surprises otherwise.

8. Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

The AGO has always been a pleasure to visit. Now, with the relatively new Frank Gehry redesign, it’s even more of a pleasure to see and experience. And it doesn’t cost a lot to do so. In fact it’s free every Wednesday evening between six and nine o’clock pm. The gallery features more than 36,000 works of art in its collection.
 
9. St. Lawrence Market and Market Gallery

What was once the site of Toronto’s old city hall is now a vibrant, colourful marketplace filled with vendors offering delicious food, produce, meat, fish – you name it – under the soaring, vaulted roof of an old Victorian building. You can spend a good portion of a morning or afternoon exploring stuff, and finding some good deals, too. The building also hosts exhibits of paintings, artifacts and furnishings showing the history and culture of the historic area in which the market is located. Admission to gallery is free.

10. Allan Gardens Conservatory

Looking for a peaceful escape in the heart of the city? Look no further than Allan Gardens Conservatory, a lovely Victorian style greenhouse with a unique botanical garden, free to the public.
 
Okay, so there’s 10 great, economical ways to have some fun this summer in Toronto. Check out www.torontoonthecheap.com for more details on all of the above.

Meanwhile, I’m going to add just one recommendation to the list as a bonus because it can be so much fun for families and individuals who like the magic of outdoor theatre. Every Tuesday night from July 6 to August 31, 2010, Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square will be transformed into a giant outdoor movie theatre. And it’s all free with quite a line up of movies starting at 8:30 p.m. (except for double billings).

Have yourself a happy local summer holiday.

Once I was told, ‘Don’t leave the room or they’ll talk about you when you’re gone’. My response was, ‘I’m sure whatever it is, it will be all good’. Well now that the Royal Highness and her husband have left, I too can talk about the Queen’s frugality, in a good sense of course.

I was born curious (not nosy mind you) and I happen to love the Royal Family. On the first day of the Royal Tour of Canada, I heard on the radio what Queen Elizabeth will be wearing in the days ahead and the words ‘green’ and  ‘recycle’ got stuck in my head so I did my research.

Queen Elizabeth goes green. Among other things, she ensures the lights at Buckingham Palace are turned off when the staff goes for lunch, and she uses “energy efficient light bulbs”…I too save energy this way. She uses paper-free and forest-friendly e-cards, and so do I. 

Yes, the Queen had worn the same designer outfits she wore during her visit here and on multiple occasions as well.  Her staff members make a note of the ‘ws’ – of the functions she attends – the what, where and which and they plan a good mix and match of jewellery and clothes to keep combinations fresh. The news say even the Queen’s mother Victoria, her daughter Princess Anne and grandchildren all recycle their outfits; never insisted on wearing new outfits for every occasion. In fact, The Queen’s Mother recycled her wedding dress. I too mix and match my limited wardrobe.

What I do differently from the Queen is not use plastic containers at the breakfast table. The Queen has been dubbed ‘The Queen of Tupperware’. Reports say the Queen admits to being frugal as a result of her Scotch blood and her experience during the World War’s rationing system. Check out the Herald Scotland Paper dated October 22, 2008 and The Gaea Times dated March 20, 2010 and read for yourself.

Hmmnn… Interesting isn’t it? Are you reading this blog, friends of Paris Hilton? After all what better pedigree of an idea, right?