DIY - How to Build Under Stairs Playhouse

How to Build Under Stairs Playhouse

Sometimes in life you find yourself with space that isn't very useable. Hard to get access too and need to crawl inside to get things. You could just ignore it, or you could turn it into a fancy white shiplap playhouse. You might view it as a complete waste of money especially when kids grow up, but eventually, hopefully, those kids will have kids who can enjoy it. 

DIY - Installing Built In IKEA Recessed Bookshelves

Installing Built In Recessed Bookshelves

Sometimes you find little crevices when doing home improvements. Now you could just wall this up with drywall to get a nice smooth wall, but that wouldn’t be very fun or exciting. Installing a recessed bookshelf helps to utilize space that would be otherwise wasted. Once it's finished it will leave others wondering how it fits into the wall. Here is 5 easy steps to make it happen.

Saving

 

Saving - 

Financial freedom and independence is impossible without saving. You cannot invest if you do not save and if you don't invest you will never build wealth. You also will never save without budgeting so its really all interconnected. Finding savings in your budget will help to save more. Finding better deals or spending habits will increase savings. A dollar not spent is a dollar saved and saving is all about stashing away money in our literal or figurative piggy bank. 

Debt

Debt - 

It can be hard to go anywhere but down when drowning in personal debt. Debt payments can eat up your paycheck leaving you with pennies or worse reaching for more credit to make ends meet. This can make a debt spiral especially with rising interest rates. Digging your way out of debt can feel like walking around with a ball and chain, making any financial movement slow and arduous.  

Recipes

Food Expense - 

The amount of money spent on groceries and eating out can be the third largest expense after housing and transportation at around 10 - 15%. This makes it opportune for cutting back and saving. The obvious cut is eating out which can cost 40% up to 200% more. Fast food is now over $10 a meal with sit down restaurants edging close to $30. Cooking at home per meal is around $5 per meal but they can vary to very low levels like a dollar a meal. 

Doing It Yourself

 

The Benefits of Doing It Yourself: A Budgeting and Saving Money Guide

It is easy to want to outsource home improvements and projects in the name of convenience, however with some elbow grease, tackling a job yourself can save money and teach you valuable skills. 

Coaching

Financial coaching is more than lectures on spending better. Its support when times get tough and someone to bounce ideas off without judgement. Its someone holding you accountable to make sure your goals are being met. According to ChatGPT 80% of coaching clients say that they improved in the area they were working towards. Coaching can be for a day, a week, a month or even years. It is customized to the situation. Simply looking for a budget spreadsheet to get your started, that is still a form of coaching. Whether you want a nudge or someone to hold your hand the entire time coaching can help anyone.

Budget to Wealth's 7 Baby Steps

Dave Ramsey is a big name in the personal finance world and he often preaches of The 7 Baby Steps to take control of your money. I thought I would take a shot at my own 7 Baby Steps.

A Potential Solution to the Canadian Housing Crisis

A Potential Solution to the Canadian Housing Crisis

The Canadian housing market has become increasingly more unaffordable in the last 20 years making it harder and harder for first time home buyers to break into the market. In big cities like Toronto and Vancouver, average homes have cleared a million dollars. The average monthly payment based on the assumptions of a 20% down payment, a 30-year loan term, and a 5% annual interest is over $5000 a month. Given the average wage of $80,000 that is around 80% of income just for mortgage payments alone. 

Toronto: Approximately CAD 1,174,000 Average Home - Average Wage $78,000

Vancouver: Approximately CAD 1,348,000 Average Home - Average Wage $82,000