Don’t let hockey take a slapshot to your wallet

My five-year-old nephew is pretty excited these days, but who could blame him? On Saturday, he’ll be suiting up for his very first hockey game: a momentous occasion for his parents, and sports-loving aunt. And while I don’t quite know what to expect from his tyke league – I’m imagining a pack of boys shuffling aimlessly across the ice for 45 minutes – I do know this: Hockey is one pricey pastime.

By the time league fees are paid and the catalogue of equipment is purchased, parents will be on the hook for hundreds and hundreds of dollars. In fact, according to a study by Harris/Decima, 49 per cent of Canadian families plan to shell out approximately $1,000 per child to play hockey this year.

Sad but true. The cost of partaking in the good old hockey game is incredibly steep, presenting a real barrier to many families.

“It can price a lot of parents out of the market,” says personal finance expert and author Kelley Keehn. “But everything that’s expensive can be managed with the right tools.”

Read the full article here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/home-cents/dont-let-hockey-take-a-slapshot-to-your-wallet/article2184472/

Cut Your Financial Clutter - Know What to Keep And What to Never Toss

Financial clutter - we all have it. It weighs us down and requires surplus storage. Plus, where should we store these papers? Learn what financial documents should you have at your finger tips, which are fine to file, and what you should shred for good.

Read my full article here: http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2011/09/22/cut-your-financial-clutter-know-what-to-keep-and-what-to-never/#aol-comments

Doing the coffee-machine math

Watch out, David Bach. A lot has changed since the financial wizard coined the term "latte factor” to show us how our money seeps away. Welcome to the new world of home coffee machines.

Read my full article in the Globe & Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/household-finances/doing-the-coffee-machine-math/article2165680/

Could You Turn Your Home Into an Income Property?

With the recent popularity of a new home show on HGTV teaching owners how to turn their house into an income generating property and with some of the grants many cities offer, I'm often asked by Canadians about the viability of turning their home into a money maker. Could being a landlord be a lucrative side venture for you?


Read the full article here: http://we94ww.walletpop.ca/blog/2011/09/08/could-you-turn-your-home-into-an-income-property/

Computer Game Promises to Relax Your Body and Mind; Is It Worth The Investment?

Welcome to the journey of the Wild Divine. That's the name of a new computer game that hopes to bring meditation to the masses, while utilizing cutting-edge technology to bring an ancient practice into the 21st century.

With such power names behind the project as Dr. Deepak Chopra, Dean Ornish, M.D., and Andrew Weil, M.D., the developers promise a deep level of meditation while playing a computer game rich with breath-taking graphics and a bio feedback hand piece. As with all games, technology comes with a hefty price tag. So, cross legged OM's for free or the next generation of meditation 3D style? Does this ancient practice need a transition into the new millennium?

Read the full article here: http://we94ww.walletpop.ca/blog/2011/09/08/computer-game-promises-to-relax-your-body-and-mind-is-it-worth/

Mortgage Tips and Tricks - What type of mortgage is best for you? Tips from financial expert and author Kelley Keehn

Published Aug 24th, 2011

By Jesse Semko, Avenue Magazine Calgary

Mortgage Tips and Tricks for Calgarians

What type of mortgage is best for you? Tips from financial expert and author Kelley Keehn

Read the article here: http://www.avenuecalgary.com/articles/mortgage-tips-and-tricks-for-calgarians