Author Archive: Natasha McKenna

Temptations, Habits, and Addictions

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Written by Suzanne St. Amour,

Clinical Therapist at Family Service PEI
What comes to mind when you hear the word temptation? Does it have a negative or positive connotation for you?  People can be tempted to do a variety of things,  such as pushing that sleep button one more time in the morning or having another portion of a favorite food.
Temptation can lead to repeating a behavior until it becomes a habit. Humans do things for a reason (even when they do not give it much thought). They may not be aware of the motivation that causes them to act.  People’s actions are actually not random. So a person may be tempted to eat a piece of chocolate cake, because  they  like the taste and they enjoy eating it. Another may start biting their nails when they get nervous because it seems to help calm them down. Over time repeated actions like nail biting can occur outside of conscious awareness. Eating another helping of a favorite food will most likely involve some deliberation. These examples both can become habits. Habits are behavior patters acquired by frequent repetition. Some of them become nearly or completely involuntary, meaning that the individual is no longer conscious of the action. The behavior is repeated because it serves a function or has a purpose (or purposes) such as aiding someone to cope, it can also be a type of self-soothing or calming ones self. Oftentimes it is rewarding and pleasurable. To sum up, temptations can become habits.
Repetition of an activity can result in a habit become more serious. There is a point at which some types of repeated or constant habit can become an addiction. Examples of this include smoking, alcohol and drugs.  One of the frequently asked questions regarding addiction is; when does an activity go from being a habit to so an addiction..  Part of the answer has to do with free will and choice. A habit (although possibly difficult to change) is still a matter choice and retraining the brain. An addiction is a powerful compulsive need for and use of an activity or substance.  The list of potential addictive activities grows longer as technology introduces new areas of potential addiction such as gambling (casinos, machines or online), sex (online pornography and sexting), social media (e.g. Facebook), and the constant use of cell phones for various activities.
Going back to the idea of choice and free will, there is a fine line between habit and addiction and the line is crossed when a person looses control of the act.  With drug addiction for instance, the urge to repeat the experience becomes all consuming and there can be withdrawal effects that impact memory, the ability to make decisions and learn.  Some types of drug abuse become a way of life that must be continued at all costs. There is a complexity to the addiction that includes a physiological dependence and often if not always requires professional help to overcome. .To recap, some habits can become addictions.
Living deliberately and making conscious decisions about temptations can reduce or
prevent the temptations from becoming habits and possibly progressing to addictions. Being aware of our choices and tracking them over time also helps. Ask yourself the following questions, and answer honestly; how often do I do this _______ (fill in the blank), overall does it have a  positive or negative impact on my life, do I know the reason I do it, and do I need to stop?

How to Show Others you Care

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By Alex MacDonald, Education and Outreach Specialist
“I love you.” Too often, this is something said quickly on the way out the door, rushed at the end of a phone call, or in a short goodnight text. Regardless of how or when you say it, it’s important that you not only tell your loved ones how you feel, but that you show them how you feel. Here are a few ways you can show your loved one just how much they mean to you.
1.  Listen.
This is an obvious one, but it really does make the world of difference. When you’re listening to a loved one, ask them questions about what they’re saying, make eye contact, be sure to let them know they’re being heard. Even try to follow up with them later. Imagine how your child would feel if you asked them what’s been going on in that TV show they’ve been telling you about. They’ll be excited because they know that you’re listening, and that you care.
2. Surprise.  
Do little things to surprise your loved one and make their day. Clean the kitchen. Make their favourite dinner. Write a list of 10 things you love about them. Bring them a coffee at work. The smallest things can put a smile on someone’s face without costing a dime.  A little surprise here and there shows your loved one you’re thinking about them and that they matter to you.  
 
3. Spend Time.  
Again, this one may seem obvious, but spending quality time with a loved one can do a lot to make them (and you) feel loved. Set aside time with no phones, no interruptions, no distractions, and be just the two of you. This could be the time you spend with your child on the way home from school, the time you and your partner have on dates, or any other time where you can focus on your loved one.
4. Appreciate.  
A great way to make someone feel loved is to show them how much you appreciate them. Say thanks when you notice them doing something for you. Whether they’re doing the dishes, picking you up from work, or if they got the groceries this week, let them know how thankful you are for them!
5. Compliment.
What better way to make someone feel good than to give them a compliment? It could be on something about their appearance if you like a new outfit they’re trying out, but don’t forget to also compliment them on other things! Tell them you enjoyed the dinner they made, or that they always make you laugh, or that you’re lucky to know someone who’s so generous. A little compliment here and there is guaranteed to bring out a smile!
The best years are ones filled with joy, happiness, and love. These five tips will help you ensure you and the people you care about have a year full of love.  

From Worrier to Warrior: Helping Your Child be Less Fearful

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Many children and adolescents struggle with feelings of stress and anxiety. In a world filled with school, extracurriculars, busy social lives, sports, clubs, volunteering and more, it’s not hard to see where stress can creep into children’s lives. Luckily, Amy Przeworski of PsychologyToday.com has some helpful tips to turn your worrier into a warrior.
1. Help your child face their fears. Oftentimes, avoiding stressful situations only causes more uncertainty and worry. Try encouraging your child to face their fears and help them through the situation that makes them the most nervous. If your child fears large crowds, start by taking them somewhere where you can slowly ease into crowds, and be sure to talk to them through it. After 20-45 minutes, your child should start to adjust to the situation and they should feel more relaxed. When they start to calm down, they may realize the situation may not be so bad.
2. Remind your child that it’s okay to be imperfect. Many kids feel pressure to succeed, and subsequently, have a fear of failure. Remember to tell your child that working hard and trying your best is always important, but that it’s perfectly okay to fail sometimes. Remind them that you love them unconditionally, and that they shouldn’t let a fear of failure stop them from trying new things and  living a happy life.
3. Remember the positives. Fears often arise from focusing on the negatives in life. Instead, make sure your child always sees the best in every situation. As a fun activity, get your child to write down one good thing that happened to them every day. Keep these happy moments in a jar or box, and look over them together when your child is feeling stressed. Seeing the positive in every day can be a big help in reducing fears!
4. Reward bravery. If you notice your child doing something brave, make sure you acknowledge it! A compliment, a hug, a trip to the playground – anything! Research shows that behaviors that are rewarded are much more likely to continue than behaviors that aren’t. No matter how you do it, make sure your child feels good about their brave behavior.
5. Listen. Make sure your child feels listened to when they express their fears. If they don’t feel comfortable opening up to you, their worries will only worsen and be harder to solve. Instead, try making them feel safe within the conversation. If they express their fear to you, say “Yes I noticed you seem a bit worried. Why do you feel that way and how can I help you?” Having an open and honest conversation with your child will do a lot to ease their worries.
6. Use relaxation techniques. In a moment of stress, try using relaxation exercises with your child. Focus on taking slow, deep breaths together. Then, get them to imagine a relaxing place that they enjoy. This could be a beach, a library, their grandmother’s house, anywhere! Next, ask them to use all their senses to imagine this place. If they’re picturing the library, get them to think about the smell of the books, the feel of the carpet, and so on. Imagining their favourite place will help your child feel safe and relaxed.
7. Don’t give up! Although it can sometimes feel like you’re going in circles, repetition is important, so continue with the routine. Eventually your child will learn to stay calm in stressful situations, and deal with their emotions in a productive and positive way. Keep it up!

Q and A: Credit Reports and Credit Scores

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Q: What is a credit report?

A: It’s your credit history. It shows:
>When you opened accounts
>Amount owing
>If you make payments on time
>If you miss payments
>If you go over your credit limit
Q: What is a credit score?
A: It’s a number that lenders use to rate your ability to use credit. Credit scores range from 300-900 points. The best score is 900 points. Lenders may also use your score to set your interest rate and credit limit.
 

Q: Who creates my credit report and credit score?

A: Credit report agencies are private companies that collect, store and share information about how you use credit. There are two main agencies: Equifax and TransUnion Canada.
>You can get your Credit Report at
BDO Accounting Firm
155 Belvedere Avenue
Charlottetown, PE
>You will need two pieces of ID

Q: What can I do with my credit report?

A: Your credit report can be used to:
 >Lend money to you
 >Collect on a debt you owe
 >Consider you for rental housing or for a job
 >Provide you with insurance

Q: How long does information stay on my credit report?

A: The maximum is 6 or 7 years. Accounts paid on time may be kept longer.
 
Q: How can I build my credit report?
A: The top three tips would be :
>Build your credit history early
>Make payments on time
>Apply for a secured credit card
Q: How can I improve my credit rating and score?
A: There are a few ways you can improve your score.
> Pay a little more than your minimum payment on time
> Keep older accounts, even if you are not using it
> Try to always use less than 35% of your available credit
> Keep Hard Hits down. A Hard Hit would be applying for a credit card and a Soft Hit would be requesting your own report.
Q: How often should I get my credit report?
A: Check your credit report at least once a year for errors and signs of identity theft. You have the right to dispute any information on your credit report!
If you have additional questions or concerns about your credit report, Family Service PEI offers free and confidential credit counselling. Call toll free 1-866-892-2441

Your First Counselling Session

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The decision to start counselling is big and takes a lot of bravery. EVERY individual goes through difficult times at one point in their life and struggles with the act of reaching out for help. As a Social Worker, I believe counselling is beneficial for ALL individuals. Unfortunately, I find the service often has a negative label attached to it.  I can’t stress enough the importance of having that certain someone to talk things through with whether it’s with a sibling, parent or friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to talk to the ones we love in fear of judgement, shame and guilt. Having a therapist to talk with allows for a safe place to share while helping to identify your strengths, challenges and goals. Asking for help is probably one of the most difficult things we can do as individuals. Seeking out counselling is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength!

Let me tell you what your first session with a therapeutic counselor is like.  It is definitely normal to feel overwhelmed or unsure about your first session. You might be talking about things you’ve never said out loud before. Maybe you’re unsure what to expect. Here are some things to know about your first appointment:

 

1)      Your first counseling session is called the intake (or screening). Your therapist will be doing a lot of information-gathering, which can sometimes feel overwhelming. During my intake sessions, I focus not only on what has brought you into my office, but also on the things that are going well for you – supportive family and friends, talents, passions, etc. These things play a big part in your life.

2)      Everyone’s favorite thing, paperwork! You will be filling out some forms about your background and personal information.  Your therapist can help you with this if you have any trouble.  Next your therapist will go over a document called the “informed consent”, which covers what you can expect in counseling – everything from your therapist’s background, specialties, and credentials, to session fees and confidentiality. It is very important to have an understanding of this document, so be sure to ask questions if anything is confusing!

3)      The majority of the intake (or first) session will be like an interview. Questions range from childhood experiences all the way up to how you have been feeling most recently. Depending on your situation, you might take some written questionnaires to help your therapist get an even better idea of how best to help you.

4)      Toward the end of the session, or even at the start of your second session, you and your therapist will start to come up with a few goals. These are the things you would like to focus on in counselling. Try visualizing how your life will look if counselling is successful. How will you feel? What will have changed?

At Family Service PEI we’re just people experiencing challenges like you. We’re a group of people that are helping other people. Our backgrounds range from social work, counselling, business, accounting, psychology, sociology, education and much more. Our team strives to help individuals succeed in this big thing we call life. If you’re interested in booking an appointment with one of our therapeutic counsellors or just looking for more information about our services, please contact our office to discuss setting up your first appointment. We would love to hear from you!

All the best,

Alex Walsh BA, BSW, RSW

Outreach Education Specialist

Family Service PEI

 

 

Transitions

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summer

Hello!  My name is Nora McCarthy-Joyce and I am the new Executive Director of Family Service PEI.  I am eager to use my skills in the advancement of providing Island families with services to enhance their daily lives.  I have over 15 years experience working for families in schools, community organizations, universities and government advisory groups and have a passion for helping others become their “best selves”.  I believe that no investment is more important than investing in families!

 

As Spring turns into Summer here in Prince Edward Island, our children will be eager to finish up the school year and transition into their summer vacation.  This transition is not always an easy one for kids.  As they move away from the routines of school and are thrown into the freedom that summer vacation offers, many kids find it challenging and may become under-stimulated and complain that they are bored.

 

There are many things that could help to make the transition easier for kids.  Here are some ideas that could help children adjust from their school schedule (and provide fun activities for the family too)!

 

Create a Summer Calendar

 

Children get excited about sitting down with parents or guardians and creating a fun list of things to do!  Let your children brainstorm all sorts of activities they would like to do in order to have the best summer possible.  Create a list of all the ideas your family comes up with.  Now you can start penciling activities into your calendar and planning out a summer to remember.  This gives children something to look forward to while creating family memories to last a lifetime.

 

Organize Educational Activities

 

It is important that children have learning opportunities throughout the summer to prevent summer learning loss.  There are lots of ways to maintain skills throughout the summer.  For example, teachers often offer reading materials or other practice activities for students to complete over the summer break.  It is your job as parent to make sure your student completes the assigned task.  You can make it fun by creating rewards together for each completed assignment.  If no work was assigned from their teacher, you can make a fun and educational trip to your local library.  They often offer free reading and craft programs that children can attend, in addition to taking home books, videos, and other great literacy materials!

Stay In Touch With Friends

 

Staying social with friends is very important to children over the summer.  Help your children stay in touch by planning for fun with other parents or events.  Summer barbeques, a trip to a local park, or taking part in a community celebration is a great way to do this – it can even be added to your calendar of fun!  Strengthening friendships over the summer will help ease kids back into the upcoming school year with confidence!

 

I hope you will find these tips useful as our weather gets warmer and the school year comes to a close.  Wishing you a all a wonderful summer this year filled with many memories and lots of fun!

 

 

Nora

 

 

 

To Lend Or Not To Lend? 4 Things To Consider

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LendMoneyBy: Ellan Dickieson, Family Service PEI

We have all been asked to lend money. It may have been $5, $500, or even $5000. Chances are, the person doing the asking viewed you as someone they could trust and turn to in a time of need.

Adult children, grandchildren or even friends may be coming to you to lend money. They might be purchasing a car, going to school or need a new appliance for their home. It might just be for weekly groceries, gas for the car, school supplies or to buy someone a gift. Helping others can make us feel good about ourselves and can be extremely rewarding, but if you are considering lending money you must always remember to put yourself first.

1) Do Your Research

If someone has approached you to lend them money, get as many details as possible. Regardless of the amount, the person should be able to provide you with the information that is necessary for you to consider a loan. Give yourself 24-48 hours to think about it. Some extra time will help you to gain confidence to form an answer. Be sure that you only lend what you can afford to live without and also consider the impact your lending decision will make on other family members or friends.

2) Don’t Be Afraid To Say No

If you have decided that now is not the best time for you to lend money, then you must stand your ground. Be firm and concise as you explain that you are not in a position to help out at this given time. People might assume that you have money to spare, but make it known that it acts as an emergency fund to protect you against unexpected expenses.

3) Help In Other Ways

With the life skills that you have, could lend a hand for someone in different way? Perhaps reviewing their finances or finding ways for them to earn extra income. Maybe you can provide them with services like babysitting, home cooked meals or drives to work. For an upcoming birthday or holiday, consider giving a cash gift this year.

4) Get Details When Saying Yes

If you do decide to lend a large sum of money, you should discuss all of the terms including: the amount being loaned, interest rate and repayment schedule. The key thing to remember is to write it all down! A personal loan agreement form can be helpful. Having it on paper will help avoid any confusion in the future.

In most cases, it is hard to say no but your financial stability is just as important as anyone else’s. Learn from the experience. Teach the person who has asked for a loan about self-sufficiency and independence. Both of you will feel better about your decision in the long-run through one another’s strength and support about financial matters.

For more information about lending and giving money visit: www.It’sYourRight.ca

Wanted: Co-Location Partnership

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sharing_0In this day of rising costs, decreasing stability of funding, and movement towards greater efficiencies we are seeking a partner with which to co-locate our services in Summerside.

In that office we currently have 3 employees – 1 who is full time, and 2 who are part time (2 – 3 days per week). Yet, we have an abundance of space – 3 private offices; a waiting room; and a kitchen/storage area.

We are very happy with our current property management company. However, we have a need to reduce our overhead costs. We are willing to move to another location, or work with our current landlord to expand/reconfigure our space to accommodate a partner agency.

We see the benefits of doing so as:

  • Shared/reduced overhead costs
  •  More efficient use of resources
  • Shared common space(s)
  • Possible shared reception position(we currently don’t have any)
  • Cross promotion of services and/or greater visibility
  • Creation of synergy as a result of partnership initiative(s)

However, there are also some challenges:

  •  The need to protect the confidentiality of clients
  •  Finding a partner organization that ‘fits’ well with our services
  •  Developing a strong partnership agreement that works for both agencies

We are willing to work with anyone who is interested in formally partnering in this way. We feel that if there is interest and commitment, solutions can be found to any and all barriers to making this work.

If you are interested, please contact Denise Lockhart, Executive Director, via email: director@familyservice.pe.ca or phone: 902-892-2441 ext. 3 or 902-436-9171.

Building Better Relationships

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IGS-00075550-001By: Maureen Croken, Family Service PEI

We know that relationships are important and contribute to our well being .We also  know that having a good support system in our life is one of the determinants of good health, and in particular good mental health. How do we achieve this?  We learn skills early on in our family, school and community that inform us how to interact with others. Sometimes however to improve the quality of our relationships we need to improve these skills and there are many resources available to us in the form of books, lectures, blogs, and therapists to name a few. Some skills that will be helpful are communication skills, listening skills, problem solving skills and mindfulness skills. Learning these skills takes work and practice and for many of us is an ongoing process.

We are all unique but also similar in that we have a need to have a connection with others, to belong and ideally to have acceptance by others of our most authentic self. In view of this we need to establish relationships with others and more importantly maintain them. There are some who say our resilience is rooted in our ability to form close relationships.

Relationships can range from deep friendships to more superficial acquaintances. Both play a role in our life and the latter, in some cases, may lead to a deeper friendship.

Establishing Relationships:

Taking risks:

We do need to remember it does take two people to establish a relationship. Individuals have different needs and interests at different stages of the life cycle. A relationship may not work out because of time, because of other commitments and priorities or lack of common interests. It is important to remember, that in most situations it has nothing to do with you. This work of connecting with others can cause anxiety, in some cases fear and for others it is remarkably easy and natural. We need to over come our fear of rejection, a common fear for many of us.

We need to accept that our attempts at establishing relationships will not always work out; in fact we need to plan on it. For example, you think you might like to be a friend with a certain person and for example, arrange to have lunch. You soon realize this is going to be a long lunch .Your lunch partner is talking about sports or some other topic in which you absolutely have no interest .They have no interest in what you have to say. Another scenario could be completely different. You have lots on common and lunch is over before you know it. You are surprized when your lunch partner does not want to schedule lunch again. That may have nothing to do with you. Your lunch partner may be overwhelmed with other commitments and responsibilities.

Be Yourself:

Being yourself gives others a chance to see if there is compatibility and if they have anything in common with you. At the same time, pace the level of self-disclosure…too much too soon can scare people away. Have you ever met someone who disclosed their life history without even asking you, your name?

Interests

You meet people sharing common interests. You need to identify your interests and be able to discuss them with others, such as reading, cooking, gardening, sports, bird watching, just to name a few. If you do not have any interests you need to develop some. This may involve trying many different things until you find something you love to do. It is fun to share with others and this becomes a win win situation.

Social Activities   

You are more likely to meet people if you attend events and activities. Some people are fearful of attending some event on their own, yet others see it as an opportunity to meet someone. In fact, many people travel on their own for this reason.

Social Media

There is great potential for connecting with others through social media. You have to use the same judgement and caution as you do in the offline world.

Maintaining and Improving Relationships

Know Yourself

There needs to be a balance between healthy relationships and feeling secure and satisfied with ourselves. Are you aware of your values, beliefs, interests and feelings? Are you able to say no to something makes you feel uncomfortable? Do you sometimes go along with a request and then feel resentful? Are you able to take time for yourself and know that you deserve it? The better you feel about yourself, the easier it will be to care for others.

Give and take

Recognize what is important to the other. This involves being there for the other as well as your expectation that they be there for you. Relationships are a two way street. Give importance to the needs of the other. Develop the skill of both giving and receiving emotional support.

Learn to Listen.

Do you ever find when some one is talking you are waiting for your turn to talk, and tell your own story or you may interrupt without hearing what was actually said. Most of us do this at some time and we miss out. You may need to practice this skill of focusing on what the other person is saying. This becomes even more difficult when the topic triggers negative or uncomfortable feelings within. For example, imagine you are discussing the subjects of vaccines with someone and they have a strong opinion that is different than yours. You are convinced that they are wrong and shut down before they have had a chance to state their position.

Expectations

Be realistic about what to expect. When we have a relationship with someone, it usually comes with a set of expectations. Keep in mind that we all have our own habits, personalities, beliefs, values and experiences. Your definition of a friend or friendship may be different than that of another individual.  Many of us expect our friends to be mind readers and know what we want. We are disappointed when our friend or friends fail to meet our expectations. Be clear about what you want. For example, you may want your friend to be available by text, email or phone more often then they would like or are able. Check with your friend what works for them. You may need to adjust your expectations or come up with some kind of compromise.

In conclusion building better relationship takes work, practice of specific skills and involves risks. Your life will be richer and more meaningful. As mentioned previously, there are many resources available to assist you in this process.

10 Ways I Am Paying Down My Debt Faster- And You Can Too

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Ellan vacationing in Newfoundland.

By: Ellan Dickieson, Family Service PEI

Do you ever imagine what your life would be like debt free? I know I certainly do! How many times have I thought, “If I just had $20,000”?

Paying down debt is hard work; it takes patience, perseverance, discipline and intelligence. As someone who is working very hard to pay off debt (most of which comes from a graduate degree obtained while living in a big city) I want to share some tips that have worked for me. It is my hope that my honesty will help you.

That being said, I realize that there really isn’t any one “best way” that works perfectly for everyone, and what worked for me may not be applicable to you. Hopefully within my ten suggestions you will be able to consider a few. The more of these you can apply, the faster you will get out of debt.

1. Suck It Up and Go Work

I realize I am starting harshly, but any amount of money is better than none! When I moved home I was under the impression I had the education to obtain a well paying government job. To say the least, it didn’t pan out. It took me 10 months to get a job in my field. In the meantime, I went to work for $12 an hour, working 12-hour night shifts in a home for the elderly. Although I loved the residents and I cherish my time spent with them, it was not a job that matched my qualifications. At times I was embarrassed to even tell people where my graduate degree had gotten me, but at the end of the day that pay cheque sure looked a lot better than nothing! You have to find a way to generate income (legally)- even if it is taking a job you are over qualified for.

2. Prioritize Your Debt: Pay Off Your Most Expensive Debts First

Upon my return home I had credit card debt and three sources of student loan debt, all with varying interest rates. I prioritized these debts based on interest rate. I chose the debt that was charging me the most interest (credit card 20%) and focused my extra payments on paying that one off first, while continuing to make minimum payments on the others. Once my first, most expensive debt was paid off I started to focus on the next most expensive debt (Federal student loan 5.5% interest rate).

I will continue this method until each of my debts is paid off, with the Provincial student loan, sitting at 0% interest rate, being last as it is the least expensive. This strategy can help get you out of debt quickly, and you will feel encouraged as you knock off one debt at a time.

3. Pay More Than the Minimum

Once you have prioritized how you are going to repay your debts, make sure that you always pay more than your minimum payments. If you only make your minimum payments each month you will be running on a treadmill; it can take forever to pay off your balance.  If you want to pay off your balance quickly, pay as much extra as you can afford. Even an extra $50 each month will help. I spent a lot of time using financial calculators to see how quickly I could get my debts paid down. I would suggest you do the same.

4. Spend Less Than You Plan to Spend

Like most young professionals, I wanted to get my own place, decorate it nicely, travel, shop, dine out…the list goes on and on. The harsh reality is that most of us have wishes and wants that are bigger than our pay cheques. Many people get into debt and stay in debt because they tend to buy what they want, not what they need. Instead of my own place, I settled for moving in with someone else. Not only did this save me a ton of money on rent, but I also didn’t have to furnish or decorate the place. Although I don’t have a place to call “my own” I do have new friendships that will last me a lifetime. Try to think about what you could do without. Sometimes living without can be a blessing in disguise.

5. Buy a Quality Used Car Rather than a New One

To be honest, some of the worst debt I see is vehicle debt. The reason being, when you purchase a new vehicle the value decreases the minute you drive off the lot, and if you are having difficulty keeping up with the payments your options for getting rid of the debt are limited. You can save yourself thousands of dollars if you buy a quality used car rather than a new one. I got lucky; my elderly neighbor was selling her vehicle and 2 years later, knock on wood, it hasn’t cost me a cent. I cannot begin to describe how nice it is not to have to make a car payment every month!

If you live in an urban area you may be able to forfeit a vehicle altogether, or cut back to a 1 vehicle household. Not only will you be saving money, you will be saving the environment and increasing your activity by walking or biking!

6. Create a Spending Plan & Track Your Spending

You should have an idea of how you plan to spend your money. I prefer to look at how much money I take in every month, and how much I think I will spend. I simply write down all my known fixed monthly expenses (rent, car insurance, debt payments) and then estimate my fluctuating expenses (gas, groceries, entertainment). The key here is to make sure that I am spending less than I earn. The other key is to see how much I have leftover, and decide what I want to do with it; pay extra on debts, save for emergencies, a vacation, or all three.

Planning is great- but saying and doing are two different things. That is why you need to track your spending. (Insert blank look here). I get it; it’s not exactly something to jump up and down about. However, doing this can save you almost as much money as working a part time job.

I don’t track my spending all the time; that would just be torturous for me. To keep my money mind happy, I track my spending about 2-3 months a year. This allows me to see if my spending is in line with my budget. Do I really spend $200 a month on gas and $200 on groceries?

I prefer to use an app on my phone, however a notepad can work just as well. Be sure to adjust your spending plan based on your tracking results. Should your personal circumstances change (new job, living arrangements, baby) be sure to track at that time.

7. Save on Food

I don’t cut out coupons, make meal plans, read the flyers regularly or grocery shop at Mom’s house (not saying I haven’t or won’t again someday). I do cook food at home and try to avoid eating out for convenience. I don’t buy a coffee in the morning. I make big pots of soup and chili and put them in the freezer. I go to Costco and stock up on the necessities, and I share/split bulk items with others. I pick up the flyer when I walk into the store and do tend to buy things that are on sale.

There are numerous ways to save on food, simply visit Pinterest. Some require a little effort; some require a lot of effort. Find a happy medium that works for you. I don’t expect to see you on the next episode of Extreme Couponing.

8. Get a Second Job and Pay Down Your Debt Aggressively

I often get asked why I would want to work a second job. My answer: Because I can, and someday I may not be able to, or won’t want to.

If you have the time and ability, taking on more hours, or getting a second job could be your key to financial success. I teach fitness classes as my second job. It rocks! There are far greater benefits than simply the pay: I get to help people, I get paid to workout, I meet people, I get a free gym membership…the list goes on. Do you have a hobby that you could turn it into cash? This doesn’t work for everyone, but if you can make it work, you could be debt free faster.

9. Get Creative with Vacations

I know I should be telling you to completely cut vacations, but nobody wants to do that, including me. So instead, I encourage you to vacation on a budget. For me, this looked like adding pleasure to work trips. I was fortunate to get to travel to Ottawa, St. John’s and Vancouver for work in the last few years. Each time I tacked on extra days and was able to visit friends/family and tour the area. I also suggest vacationing where you have friends/family you can stay with, as accommodation can often be one of the biggest expenses. I have also chosen to take many smaller vacations in the Maritimes, close to home, which usually involve the less expensive option of camping. It is amazing how many great vacations are waiting in your own backyard!

10. Find Free Money

Yes, there is such thing as free money! Are there grants that you can apply for, whether it is to do renovations to your house, or to pay down your student debt? What costs would your employer be willing to cover? This may include your work gear, cellphone bill, travel expenses, professional fees/dues or first aid training. Would they be willing to contribute to a retirement savings plan? Some employers will agree to match your contributions up to a certain amount. All of these things are what I call- free money. You MUST take advantage of all the free money you can get!

As mentioned, what is working for me may not work for you. A good first step is to meet with a Credit Counsellor. A Credit Counsellor will be able to review your financial situation and provide you with additional options to help you get out of debt faster. This may include a consolidation loan, refinancing your mortgage or a debt repayment plan, amongst others. At the end of the day what is important is that you feel in control of your debt and you have a plan for getting it paid down as quickly as possible.