Important Lessons I’ve Learned While Staying Home

If you had of told me that 2020 would be the year that we were all forced to stay home, that jobs and finances would be questioned and that kids would be out of school, I would have thought you were out of your mind.

But, alas, here we are. In the midst of a global pandemic. Eight weeks in to staying at home - homeschooling our children while trying to maintain our jobs, our finances AND, to top it all off, not being able to spend time with loved ones.

While the past eight weeks have come with many challenges, they have taught us important lessons. Lessons that once this global pandemic is all said and done, we will hopefully carry forward with us.  

Important Lessons I’ve Learned While Staying Home

Slow Down

I’ve always felt that in order to feel accomplished, I must be productive. Heading into this pandemic, we were in the midst of updating our old home. With the girls at daycare, I would spend my time off painting, making the house our own. Once schools closed and the girls were forced to stay home, this mindset of mine continued. BUT the productivity did not. I found I was getting mad at myself for not doing everything, despite having a 4-year-old and 1.5-year-old constantly at my side. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve had to learn to shift my mindset, to learn that it is ok if I don’t check x, y and z off my to-do list that day. I’ve had to learn to slllooowww down. We have nowhere to go, nowhere to be but home with our families. So why don’t we just slow down and enjoy it.

The Need for Self Care is REAL

I am extremely grateful for being healthy and for having a healthy family. But staying healthy these days doesn’t just mean avoiding the virus, it’s also about mental health. Staying home with two littles ones, attempting to work a full-time job, while your husband does the same, has not been an easy feat. Add night training our preschooler and a teething toddler in the middle of an eight-week long sleep regression to the mix, and I’ve never been more mentally AND physically tired. 

I’ve learned that it’s ok to hand over the reins to your partner and take a few minutes to yourself every day. It’s ok to escape to the bathroom, sit on the toilet and mindlessly scroll Instagram or TikTok. It’s ok to take an extra-long hot shower. Everyone deserves a little me time, and if it helps you get through the day, it’s ok. (Now if only I could take advantage of the “nap when they nap” advice.)

Use the Time for Family

Sure, we may eat too many snacks. And sure, we may watch too much TV. But you know what those two things have taught me? That my four-year-old is eager to learn how to cook AND that she wants to be a vet when she grows up (thank you, reality TV). If not for the amount of time together, I don’t think that I would have necessarily learned that about her. 

We’ve also taken this time to consider the girls’ future, especially with the thought of potentially putting a future vet through school. It all starts with investing in an RESP - a Registered Education Savings Plan.

Do you have an RESP for your children? Despite the strict social distancing measures in place and not being able to go into a traditional bank, there are virtual options available for you to open an RESP for your child. 

Thanks to CST Spark (the newest member of the CST family), your RESP can be opened online, from the comfort of your own home. CST’s new digital offering is geared to the large and growing segment of young millennial parents and their families and is targeted to those who prefer to transact online (or are forced to in the age of social distancing). Pandemic or no pandemic, raising little ones can be chaotic, so CST Spark has made saving for their future education accessible and simple.

Be sure to check out more information about  CST Bright Plan™, as well as their Learning Centre which contains helpful videos and more  information to help make an informed decision for yourself when it comes to investing in your children’s future.

While this period of self-isolation has been extremely important for flattening the curve, it has been equally important for our personal and family well-being. We’ve all learned a lot - about ourselves and each other. And as much as I would like the world to go back to life as we once knew it, I am extremely grateful to have this time with my little family. 

Stay safe, stay happy and keep your distance, my friends. Together, we will get through this.

What has this global pandemic taught you? About yourself? About your family? I’d love to hear.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by CST Spark, however, all opinions are 100% that of To & Fro. Please note, I am not a financial advisor, so please consult a professional for advice.

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Investing in Your Family

I recently read an alarming statistic that immediately hit close to home. For a child born in 2016 (my daughter, for example), it is projected that by the time they start university in 2034, the cost of a standard four-year degree will be around $82,000. Factoring in expenses such as books, shelter, food and transportation, that cost will be closer to $148,000*! 

How on Earth is a family expected to pay for that?!

With university fees in Canada having nearly quadrupled over the last two decades, the high cost of getting a post-secondary education is an enormous financial stress for families. Luckily, there are options. One of them being a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP), the only government-registered investing vehicle in Canada specifically for post-secondary education. 

In 2008, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine & Freshwater Biology. The dream to someday be a Marine Biologist was one I had had since I was a little girl. Thanks to some early planning and regular contributions by my parents, a nice little RESP nest egg helped me fulfill this dream.

While many parents may not feel that regular contributions fit within their budget, it is important to look beyond the upfront “cost”. There are so many benefits to starting an RESP for your child as soon as you can. These are just a few:

• RESPs can be opened with most financial institutions and contain a wide variety of investments, from GICs to individual stocks. 
• Anyone can open and contribute to an individual RESP for your child. Consider encouraging monetary gifts on special occasions to contribute. 
• The funds grow tax-free until the child uses the money for school. 
• RESPs accumulate grants from the Canadian Government. The federal Canada Education Savings Grant matches 20% on any eligible contributions (to a maximum amount). 
• RESP money can be used to pay for any education-related costs including books, equipment and living expenses. 
• If the child chooses to defer schooling, the RESP can stay intact for up to 35 years.
• If the child opts not to attend post-secondary education, the principal contributions plus growth are returned to the owner of the RESP. However, any grants accumulated would be returned to the government.

Now that we have a daughter of our own, it is my goal to one day be able to provide her with a quality post-secondary education, like my parents did for me. While still many years down the road, it is important to my husband and I that our daughter focus on her schooling and not how she is going to get out of debt once she graduates.

To help fulfill this goal, we opened a RESP in Morley’s name shortly after she was born. By making small, bi-monthly contributions to a RESP, we are investing in our daughter and family’s future with the hopes that one day Morley too will fulfil her dreams.

A RESP is just one of the ways to help pay for the rising cost of post-secondary education. If you require additional support, check out loanandgo.ca for more options.

How do you plan for your family’s future? I’d love to hear!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by loanandgo.ca, however all opinions are 100% my own. I am not a financial expert but I do strongly believe that investing in your family’s future, including opening an RESP for your children, is a smart decision.

*Information on the real cost of raising kids found here.

Creative Money Saving Tips for Families

The cost of raising a child is no joke. From food to clothing, gadgets and daycare, it all adds up and news flash, it's not cheap! Are you a family on a budget? Check out these creative money saving tips for families.

I am in no way a financial guru. Thankfully, I have my brother for that. But, as a family that is currently living off one income while trying to save money for some significant purchases, I do know a thing or two about getting creative with our savings.

This past year has been a bit draining on our bank accounts. Between having a baby, saving for a condo that is nearing completion and registering the little one for day care, we knew we had our savings cut out for us and we jumped head first into the challenge. I know that pinching pennies is part of life, but when you don't expect it or see it coming, it makes it especially difficult - like most recently having to buy a new car that we had zero intentions of needing any time soon. Safe to say we've now been forced get creative with how we both spend and save our money.

With these creative money saving tips, you don't need to completely overhaul your lifestyle to save money. By taking baby steps to make small changes in your spending habits, its possible for you to still enjoy the things you love and even treat yourself once in a while.

10 Creative Money Saving Tips for Families

1. Unsubscribe from all retail emails.

If you're like me, your inbox is flooded with emails from retailers sharing their latest sales and coupon codes. While tempting to click and take advantage of the "great deal", chances are, you'll just end up buying more than you need and spending way more money in the process. The safest thing to do is to scroll down to the bottom of the email and hit "unsubscribe".

Pro tip: If you are making an online purchase, instead search "store x coupon codes". Chances are, you'll find the coupon code online, without having to subscribe to the store's email list.

2. Take advantage of the baby clubs and free samples.

We've found a lot of savings by making our own baby food, but one thing that we could not avoid was the cost of baby formula. Luckily, many of the formula brands have clubs and coupons to help you out. By signing up for their clubs, companies like Nestle, Enfamil and Similac will send you monthly samples, coupons and other great deals to help save you money. 

Pro tip: When you join these clubs, sign up everyone in your immediate family so that they also get the samples and coupons.

3. Use ebates.

When you do need to make a purchase, do it online through ebates. Ebates.ca works with over 650 stores that ship to Canada including Joe Fresh, Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Old Navy, Forever21 and Groupon, and shopping through them gives you cash back on your purchases (percentage dependent on retailer).  It definitely adds up!

Sign up for HERE to start earning cash back now!

4. Sell your belongings.

Do you have unwanted items in your house that are just taking up space and collecting dust? Take advantage of websites like Ebay, Kijiji, Craigslist and VarageSale, among many others. List your items with a good quality photo, description and fair price for people in your area to see. You get rid of your unwanted goods, and make some money in the process. Win, win.

5. Shop second hand.

There is nothing wrong with shopping second hand at local thrift stores. Successful thrift store shopping may take a bit of effort, but you can almost always find beautiful, functional items for your home and wardrobe without breaking the bank. Go in with an idea of what you are looking for, but also an open mind - maybe that table you're eying just needs a coat of paint, or those jeans you tried on just need to be hemmed. 

It's true what they say, one person's trash is another person's treasure. I found this rocking chair for $30 at my local Goodwill, and with a little coat of paint it looked brand new and has done its job rocking my little girl to sleep. 

Pro tip: If you do purchase new, shop end of season sales for the following year. You'll get items at a fraction of the price compared to if you bought them in season.

6. Family fun on the cheap.
As much fun as it can be to head out on a day trip, it can also be costly. Instead of nixing family time all together, why not take advantage of free events, parks, hikes, etc. in your area? If the outdoors aren't your thing, why not stay inside with popcorn and a movie or board games? For younger children, take advantage of your local library or community centre. They often offer free educational programs for children, such as story time, and some may even have swimming pools with free open swim.

Pro tip: If you are a fan of paid attractions, such as local zoo, aquariums or museums, look into their annual passes. An annual pass often pays for itself in just a few visits, and will offer you discounts on other parts of the attraction, such as the cafe and educational programs. Also, some attractions will offer discounts when you purchase your tickets online in advance of your visit.

7. Plan ahead.
When grocery shopping, go with a plan. Sit down and hash out meals for the coming week. Go through your cupboards to see what you already have and what you can use. For the items you need to buy, make a list. The worst thing for you budget can be walking into the grocery store with no plan in mind - you will most definitely over spend.

Pro tip: If you are like me, also make sure you visit the grocery store on a full stomach. No joke. If I go hungry, I tend to shop with my stomach and always buy items we do not need. Leave your cards at home and do your grocery shopping with cash. Having a set amount to spend on groceries, will also eliminate unwanted items in your cart.

8. Become a price match queen.

When we go grocery shopping, my husband knows to stand back because I am the "price matching queen" (his words, not mine). I have developed a strategy that works for me, and end up saving between $5-20 a week on groceries. It may not seem like much at the time, but if you can save on average $10 a week, over a year you're saving approximately $500. For us, that is almost two months worth of car payments!

For all of those interested, I plan on sharing my price matching strategy in an upcoming post. Stay tuned!

9. Loyalty and rewards cards.

While it seems like every store and their mother has a loyalty card these days, chose a few that fit your purchasing habits. For example, the grocery store and gas stations that you frequent the most. Gone are the days of hanging a tag on your keychain or keeping a card in your wallet - most loyalty cards now have apps, so scanning your card is as easy as opening the app on your smart phone. Points can add up quickly, and give you cash back on your purchases, discounts on gas and even a cheaper price just for having the card.

Pro tip: If you do frequently pay with a credit card, talk to your bank about the Rewards cards they offer. Rewards can often be redeemed for gift cards, gas, air miles and more. Make sure to look for the card with no annual fee!

10. Be energy smart.
With winter weather looming on the horizon, everyone's first reaction is to crank up the heat. Increasing the temperature in your home will also mean an increase in your energy bills. There are so many creative ways to save energy and money, from switching to LED light bulbs to taking shorter showers. Check out these 10 winter energy savings tips.


See, saving money with your family doesn’t require drastic measures! With a few simple and creative changes, you will see the savings in your bank increase, while still enjoying the things that you love. It may take some getting used to, but getting your family on board with your money-saving efforts will ultimately benefit everyone.

Keep in mind, these tips are great regardless of your home situation.

What are your creative money saving tips? I'd love to hear!

10 Winter Energy Saving Tips

Everything you do in your home, from cooking dinner to taking a shower, uses energy. Being a conscious energy consumer and knowing exactly how you use it, can greatly reduce your energy bill and help the environment. 
This winter, and beyond, be more responsible with your energy consumption. 

10 Winter Energy Savings Tips

1.  Take advantage of the sun.  Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. Don't forget to close them at night when the sun begins to set to reduce the chill. Make sure to keep these windows clean up let the light through.
2.  Cover drafty windows.  Use a heavy-duty clear plastic sheet to cover drafty windows in the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly. When winter is over, make sure to save the plastic for next year.
3.  Find and seal leaks.  Add caulking or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
4.  Keep doors closed.  Keeping doors closed will help keep heat in. It is especially important to keep doors to unheated rooms, such as the garage, closed to minimize heat loss.
5.  Use appliances efficiently.  Do only full loads when using the dishwasher and washing machine. Use the cold water cycle on your washing mashing when you can. Using cold water reduces energy consumption by 75%. 
6.  Reduce heat loss from the fireplace.  Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Check the seal on the fireplace to make sure it is as tight as possible and cold air is not getting in when it is not in use. 
7.  Lighting solutions.  Replace your home's light bulbs with LED bulbs. These bulbs take less energy to power, and unlike incandescent bulbs, do not give off as much energy as heat. Also use LED holiday lighting to reduce the cost of decorating your home during the holidays.
8.  Insulate!  Check the insulation in places like your basement, garage and attic. Do not heat these areas unless they are properly insulated.
9.  Bundle up.  Save money on your heating bill by programming your thermostat to a lower temperature at night and when you are not in the house. Lowering your thermostat by just 2 degrees Celsius can save as much as 4% on your heating bill.
10.  Maintain filters.  Cleaning your furnace filter every few months will increase its efficiency, and save money on your energy bill.


Do you have any winter energy saving tips?