Top 5 Things I Learned Through #SavingMadeSimple

For the month of February I lived on a monetary diet - and on cash - for #SavingMadeSimple through #PGmom.

Here are the top 5 things I learned from Gail Vaz-Oxlade's Money Rules…not surprisingly, a few of them have to do with having kids.

Clothes, clothes, clothes! #SavingMadeSimple #PGmom

Once upon a time (aka 7 years ago) I still lived with my Mom while I was paying off college and saving for a place. One night I came home with Lululemon pants. $90 Lululemon yoga pants. If my Mom knew how much these pants cost, she would have flipped - even if I was a 20-something working woman. But guess what? I wore those pants last weekend. $12 a year doesn't seem so bad for a pair of amazing pants that look brand new when they come out of the dryer - and they are still in fashion!

Clothes are something we all have to wear (unless we want to be charged with indecent exposure in public). I'm not very trendy (my wardrobe is filled with dark jeans, sweaters and tees in various shades & prints and about four dresses). As I get older I know what looks good on me and what I feel comfortable in. But sometimes I'm still bitten by the sale bug. The allure of online shopping (especially boxing day sales!) sometimes has my Credit Card getting quite the workout (don't worry Gail - I pay my bill in full EACH and EVERY month).

Family Financial Challenge inspired by Gail Vaz-Oxlade #SavingMadeSimple #PGmom

When I was younger, the only goal I had before turning 30 was to be in a home where I was paying a mortgage (living in Toronto, I was being realistic - a mortgage is pretty much a necessity unless you win the lottery shortly after entering the workforce). Some of my friends cared more about finding a husband or having a child, but not me.

So it was kind of ironic on my 30th birthday I found myself with a two month old baby living with my boyfriend…in a rented apartment. And while I wouldn't give my daughter up for anything, I do find myself sort of jealous friends who have mortgages.

I am hoping 2014 will be the year of the mortgage. Chris and I have been saving our pennies (well, nickels now that the Canadian penny doesn't exist) for a hefty downpayment. We have been learning about property tax and maintenance fees. We have been scouring MLS for condos in our prince range. For the most part, we have figured out how to juggle rent, daycare, car payments, insurance, groceries, etc. And if we haven't, the Family Financial Challenge inspired by personal finance expert Gail Vaz-Oxlade will certainly put us in the right direction.