Alrighty, I’m getting my own eating-out-as-default mode back in hand. There was one mishap yesterday, but I’ve put a wee bit more effort into eating at home, and can safely say I won’t be eating-my-holiday-savings away this year. Hooray.

But then there are the dacshunds. Raw food? Treats? Chickenwing Tips (OK’d by the vet)? and now they look with disdain upon their kibble? I jest, but overspending on our pets is a secret vice, and I’m guilty as charged. A quick google search on ‘frugality’ and ‘dogs’ yielded some extraordinary results: a frugality discussion about using pets for warmth to save on heat, another who cuts old belts down to size for collars and leashes, and way too many frugality tips on saving money by serving hot dogs at parties, to which my daschunds took great exception.

It’s the Saturday case study post of my clients past and present.  As always, the characters have been altered to protect privacy, but the underlying issue remains the same.  Rick was as twenty-something who had a lot going for him:  attractive, smart and a real go-getter who was enjoying a successful business he’d started in his late teens.  Rick also had a gorgeous girlfriend who had a lot of struggles.  And didn’t have a job.  She’d moved in with him a few months previously, and it wasn’t going so well.  She had nothing to contribute to the rent, and hadn’t been able to keep any of the original financial arrangements such as contributing to groceries.  She was on E.I., but even that income seemed to be all spoken for, and none of it went to Rick.  They’d separated briefly, but both found that too hard, and she moved back with Rick within a week.  Rick cared about her, but was also growing tired of the situation, felt she wasn’t looking hard enough for a job (he would often come home and discover she’d spent the whole day at English Bay), and he was beginning to feel used.  At the same time, Rick felt he overspent on a number of luxury items for himself – lunch out every day (and he wasn’t eating at McDonald’s), a great car, and a lot of gadgets.  He didn’t feel right about pushing his girlfriend too hard on the financial front.What suggestions would you offer Rick?  Click the comments link below, complete the form (totally private, unless you’d like to publish your website in the field for it) and give your opinion!   

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH3IIzpwEhk]

I’m a guest presenter at LadyFest Vancouver on Sunday, and am both excited and anxious.  Excited, because this is an incredible event – keeping urban feminism alive and well, with a lot of hip-hop in the mix.  Excited because I think the extent to which women get actively involved and informed with their money collectively has significant impact on our  ability to reshape what money does in the world.  What would feminist financial planning look like?  What would feminist spending look like?  Playful and political questions.  Anxious, because I am…well… old! in comparison to the people who will be there (I think).  I don’t even have a myspace account!  although I do have virb… does that count?

A bit of intel, if you haven’t already discovered: Canadians will no longer be receiving cheques back with their statements. The Canadian Payment Association (the org. that clears cheques and transfers funds electronically between credit unions, banks etc.) put that policy in place. The cheques will be shredded by the clearing house of the institution that processed them. You will receive an image of the cheques on your statement. These are legally binding, just the same as the original cheques used to be. Presumably, this is related to anti-laundering initiatives. Still, I find it a bit disconcerting.