TIP OF THE DAY: Pay off your debts! Society just wants you to spend but you're much smarter than that!

Hey World,

I hope you're still trying not be broke..Because I am obsessed with no longer living the broke life and almost think I might be hexed by the broke life!!! Sometimes I ask myself why didn't I just NOT go to University save the 40,000 and just get my real estate liscence and do something I love. I mean I love digging into things and finding out information, like I really love to hunt, not only that but I am GREAT at it! Maybe thats what draws me into writing too. It feels like I can hunt for the best things for everyone else but not myself sometimes.. meh...

Anyhoot, today I am going to relay some infomation I read from this Kevin O'Leary book I just finished reading if his name sounds familiar its because he's that jerk from the shows Dragon's Den and Shark Tank. Ofcourse I added some information because you are my peers but I am telling you  I really recommend his books.

Think of University as an investment! 
(no its not an excuse to spend money..so you can seem like a smart person) Just like with any other investments you have to make the most educated choice so do your research on tuition, school, money you will make, demand, how much it will cost to get there or live in that city and is this something you really think you can do successfully. Not every smart person is meant for university in fact I think the majority of people would be better of with a community college diploma do a year or two in uni if you really want that degree (its cheaper). Think about it, even if you hated your program after a year and decided to drop out you will have spent a small fraction compared to going to University. This small fraction can be easily paid off even if you did the full length of your program.
 P.S. I encourage you to be stroung enough to drop out of university early on your own accord if you are finding it too difficult or annoying for you- don't be ashamed....Additionally, you can just do apprenticeships and different courses to support you being the entrepreneur you want to be and find the thing you are passionate plus talented with. You must ask yourself is University worth the amount of money and TIME I will have to put into it? if it is then Good for You!
Like any other investment you want a good return on it.

Okay, so you went to university anyways and actually liked and is good at what you studied and think it was worth it because you loved it sooo much. Now you have a tonne of student debt. You find yourself doing an internship or-and working at the bar (substandard employment) you've been working at even when you were a student. Or maybe you are entry level inyour dream job of employment or better yet you're making great money.

KEEP ON LIVING LIKE A STUDENT UNTIL YOU'RE DONE PAYING OF YOUR STUDENT DEBT!!!! I really hope this statement hits you deep like it did for me...I bet this will help you pay it off quicker thats for sure!

You know you see people with that brand new car they think they deserve because they finally finished university. If you can't afford it don't buy it!

Keep on living with 5 other people..Stay in your parents basement for as long as they will have you (contribute too)..But keep on living that affordable life that you knew was neccesary for you as a student. You had no car, stay carless! You couldn't buy a house, stay houseless! You couldn't even afford to carry the whole weight of the appartment costs by yourself, HAVE ROOMATES! There's nothing more sad that a boogie broke person!!! So don't get caught up in what people should see from you.

The stress from not having debt and being able to really have more funny to say but it is actually priceless...I mean think about it the more money you can keep in your bank account whooo actually KEEP whewww priceless!!!

A freind of mine was looking for a condo to purchase recently she has a good job and unlike me, is actually in the feild she went to school for. Knowing how much I love the house hunting I began to look, and then I began to think does she even really want to afford this? Condo's in Toronto are expensive as hell and this is a girl with great taste. The best thing she told me was, I can't afford this right now.. And even though secretly I wished she could just so I could look some more I knew she made the best decision. The fact is her focus should be paying off her student debt and when she is done that she needs to save at least 25% for a down payment for a cheap place in a great potential location and I will surely be there to help!

P.S. If you're racking up consumer debt you're a damn fool and you know it...so STOP THE MADNESS! A new smartphone is not an investment I don't care how you try to justify it ESPECIALLY if you still have debt!!

Title: 10 Things no one tells you about Germany

P.S. Hey World!

1. There is no such thing as public toilets which means that unless you are at an event or inside a restaurant you will have to PAY TO USE THE TOILET, this also goes for gas stations..

2. Words are way too long but when you really take them in, its actually two words put together for a certain purpose like to have the word Street "Strasse" attached to it  or School "Schule"

3. Places may not have the name you thought it had because there is actually a German version and an English version (maybe its the same for other languages but I am an English speaker), so ex. Munich is actually Munchen which is a lot harder to say that it looks because that U is actually hard it has two dots at the top

4. Germany or Deustchland as they would call it actually has a couple different states. In Bavaria which is where I am staying boast itself of not only being home of the best cars in the world but having a different kind of German which has different words and saying such as GusGod instead of the Hallo and Savos instead of the normal Chus. My spelling may bit off, but my point is when you come to Germany with your learnt German from school you have to be aware of the different dialects.

5. Just because a word looks like something you should be able to pronounce that doesn't mean it is. W is pronouced as Vey and V is pronounced as Fow or something like that.

6. They don't have police roaming the highways and streets catching these fast drivers who do not obey the speed limits they just have cameras everywhere just waiting to snap a pic of you and send you your speeding ticket via post. In fact, I'v hardly seen police outside of their cars but then again I haven't been to Oktoberfest yet.

7. They are much smarter than you think so they pull out statistics and geographic information that you don't know without checking google like what is the population of your city and how many kilometres is it. Speaking of their English is usually pretty good.

8. Which brings me to another point they talk distance in measurement like how many metres or kilometres is that place to that place and they seem to know it quite acurately. The fact is most Canadians will say it about two hours away etc. and actually have no clue about the kilometres or metres.

9. There is a beer culture, okay so if you know anything about Germany that was is not a surprise but did you know there are certain rules to the beer drinking? like in the morning you have this and you have this bear and that together. Personally I am not a beer lover so they have this great thing called Radtler which is like a lemon light beer..like a half and half

10. The Street lights are a little confusing instead of being above the road it is actually on the sides. When driving on the Auto Ban  espcially in Lower Saxony the speed limits change drastically I think to give you a ticket. So example no speed limit then all of a sudden it drops to a 100 keep in mind people such as my boyfriend drive 230 often so getting of that grove can be confusing for some especially if there is no construction on the road.

Hope you enjoyed it! 

Title: Having Feminist Ideal and being a Lady is fucking confusing but Fuck it we can do it!

Hey World,

I know its been a while since you heard from me but don't fear I am still a broke girl with lots of opinions. Just think of it like I took a summer hiatus...Anyhow as you may or may not know I have now moved to Germany to be with my lover. I always said I wanted to live in Europe and here I am living that life ...I feel so blessed...However, there's still shit that goes down in life that just pisses a broke girl of like having to ask your man for money so you can buy a snack but he says no because its his agenda to have you skinny so you starve a skinny girl's death!...that one is personal lol. Life has its hurdles that's for sure so that's why it is soo important to be goal oriented atleast I feel that way. You have to think of the big picture because the little picture sometimes sucks to much. I mean I am being negative.. life is okay I got a job no its not the BEST job in the world but I have to say its something I enjoy doing, I am finally living with my lover and I am soooo happy for that. Life has a way of throwing shit at you as if to see how much shit you can really take so when you get a moment of achievement basks in all of its glory...I say fuck humility...Basks in it cuz we just don't know how long it will last for.

One of the new things I am adjusting to is living somewhere where I am the lady of the house. And the feminist in me is mad and ashamed. You go though university at least I did thinking I will be the change I hate being expected to cook and clean but there I go wanting to marry someone from that exact culture. And it is as if I should be ashamed that I dont iron my boyfriend's shirt every time. And the idiot in me,  feels ashamed for it..
Man that is nothing to be ashamed about. Ladies you are the lady of the house because you have a vagina and that is all that should be expected of you. Yes, to have a vagina that's why society says your a lady so you conform and then you say that's mutha fuckin it! ..But there is this mind fuckin' dilemma you wanna be a good partner.

You should want to be a good partner and make the other person happy and of-course make yourself happy..But lets face it, if you want to have a successful and happy relationship you can't be selfish. You know I am going to sound real bad when I say this but for most of my life I have been a proud selfish person. I saw no fault in it I mean in some ways I still don't see fault in it... Let's keep it real this is my blog and I share my opinions. When I was in the 7th grade my teacher said one sentence to me that I never forgot..oh yes I forgot everything else I learnt but this one thing he said I will never forget.

He said "If you want to be successful in life you must think of yourself first". I often get mad at myself if I do something that is not alright with me. You have to love yourself first in order to love other people "Oprah said that line". Being selfish has served me well for most of my life, it has allowed me to cut out the bad in life with ease it has allowed me to treat myself well, it has allowed me to have confidence in my own thoughts and opinions and it has allowed me to say fuck the world anytime they tried to dictate what I could and could not do. And ain't NOONE taking that selfish behavior away from me!

But filling the role of a healthy partner in a successful relationship has also taught me a thing or two about selflessness. Oh yes, selflessness. Now old broke girl would of said fuck that bullshit but hey you grow in different ways. Sometimes you just gotta give in and compromise. I think this is something I still struggle with which sometimes makes me a difficult partner. As a person with some feminist ideals this also causes some confusion and self conflict. Why the hell should I feel ashamed that I am not good at fullfilling  my specific gender role expectation? I should feel so ashamed that I am not the best cook and I think ironing clothes are for dummies when the dryer works just fine. I would understand if you said I was a lazy person but no it's not that I am a person it's even worse I am a lazy woman. UGH how dare you be a woman who can't cook only men are allowed those privileges of life. You should basically go somewhere and drown yourself if you are a woman who doesn't like to cook, clean, do laundry and iron shit..I just want to say fuck I am a full woman, I have the right amount of chromozones and the vagina to prove it!

But again, women even if you are like me and you have this personal battle within yourself. Don't be a fuckin' mess. Be your best...try your best to be a good partner. Be a team... fuck being a gendered woman machine. But work for your team. That sometimes means you gotta cook, clean and do laundry, have pride in knowing your a good teammate. Anytime you feel like your being a good servant say Fuck U to your partner!

RISKS ARE RELATIVE

LIFE DEMANDS RISK - EXCITING AND UNCOMFORTABLE

My friend was telling me the other day that her boss said that "If you don't take risks in life you will NEVER get anywhere in life" (if not word for word this was definitely the gist). While I do believe in risk taking whole heartedly I started to really think about what that meant? Why did people feel so strong about this and why do we still  think there are people out there not taking risks? Its almost like we look down on them and view them as useless scared losers. My dad, a huge proponent of risk taking made me feel this way a few times and I have always questioned this narcissist sort of view. Risks are important in life and I would count myself as a risk taker but the fact is someone else might not....For me, it is important to make sure my risks are calculated - which granted may have others say I am not a real risk taker. The thing is- most importantly I believe that risks always starts with an individual personal comfort zone.
Some people are in a more economically or socially positive position where certain risks are easier example the risk of starting your own business when your dad is rich...Yes, it is risk but it is more of a risk if you are using all of your life savings which is not much to go after this business dream. My point is, WE MUST MAKE SURE TO NOT HAVE AN ELITIST PERSPECTIVE ON RISKS.

I would argue, that everyone has to take risks in life not necessarily because they want to but its more a function of life like getting older (a necessity in other words). It may not be to leave and go to Germany to live but it may be to finally go back to school or finally leave that SOB of a boyfriend you've been with for like 8 years. Yes, some people take more risks than others and others take greater risks than some but that uncomfortable excited feeling is what you know you need in your life. There are always risks that happen in life, sometimes they are successful and sometimes they are not but you doing it is ALWAYS a learning experience.

So my purpose today is to empower people to realize that they are risk takers even though traditionally not thought to be and that just because something they may be facing now is a much bigger risk than usual doesn't mean they shouldn't have the confidence in themselves to face it.... YOU CAN FACE WHATEVER IT IS. They should not feel like a loser when talking to others about risks, everyone knows about risks. You have always taken risks, you just have to realize what those risks were even if they don't seem that big to you because they may have been a bigger deal to someone else - and you know it.
Of-course there are positive and negative risks. Example  - a positive risk would be moving to a different city to pursue a career option to better yourself and  - a negative risk would be going to a store and stealing when you know its wrong. Regardless both are risks you generally hope for positive outcomes for knowing that the outcome can be positive or negative. Hence why they are called risks... Ofcourse you may feel nervous or an adreneline rush of some kind because this thing call risk is putting you in an uncomfortable but somehow exciting situation.
And there you have it RISK ARE EXCITING-UNCOMFORTABLE motions in life and thats how you know you are doing it! YOU ARE TAKING A RISK!

Positive Risks you may have taken (Which should be you goal in life);

Telling someone how they are impacting your life negatively or even positively if you tend to be a shy person.

Or leaving a negative friendship, relationship or even job situation completely for the betterment of your mental state

Moving to another country or city for love or opportunity

Learning how to drive or ride a bicycle

Going away for school

Being the bigger person to someone and letting them back into your life

And then there is Always Bungee jumping and facing an obvious fear...

Regardless they are all risk..Which have to be personal...It doesn't work if its just someone else risks for you as good-minded as their intentions are.

My point is, risks take on different shapes and forms, so don't be scared to say that you are a risk taker! Risk taking feels uncomfortable but exciting almost giving you an adrenaline rush of some sort. But in my point of view it is important to take calculated risks. Example you move to another city with the intention to find better work. You crazy you moved there without a job!!! Yes, you're a brave person and your risk threshold is a little bit higher than some. But what you do..Is do a lot of research before you go out there and even make contact. Figure out the demand for jobs and what they look for and what you are capable of. Like maybe its an advantage to have a DZ license and your a great driver..So why the hell NOT????  So you get that before you leave and you have just now opened yourself to a lot of opportunity. You make sure and work like a sweaty pig and save money so you have a nice cushion to begin with...and you set up interviews for immediately after arriving.....

RISK IS RELATIVE we just need to figure out what challenges us enough to take that uncomfortable and exciting journey into something new.  We all want our choices to impact us positively for the most part and in the moment we don't know if our risk will or not pay off but we know when we are in a situation where we HAVE to try..Life demands risks of us and maybe this risk is what you NEED!!!!

RISK ON!!!

Work Travel Visa

Title: You wanna take a leap of faith in another country? Here's how you can.

Hey World,

As you guys all know I am blogging from work  which is just where it has to happen these days...I went from a boring to busy life in literally 60 seconds, be careful what you wish for. Anyways as usual in my blogs I like to rant about my own life and offer some information and even guidance to my faithful readers. Yes, I am aware that my blogging has decreased but I was working 7 days a week and I am getting ready to move to Germany in 2 weeks. YEs, If you didn't already know I WILL BE MOVING TO GERMANY TO LIVE IN 2 WEEKS! CRazyyyy.,.....

The way that I made this happen is what I would like to share with you today as it may be something you may already be considering or want to consider. And no, you do not have to move to Germany like I am, in fact, there are a lot of countries that are in the program I have partaken in.

I am talking about the  "Youth Mobility Program"

The main perk of using a program such as this, is that if you are in the age of 18-35, you will receive a hassel free and yes FREE visa to live and work in your desired country providing that they are a part of this program.
According the website;
Canada has formal agreements with many countries to allow youth to work there temporarily. Those countries include:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Chile
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Korea, Republic of
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Poland
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom

Yes, it is up to you to find your own job and accommodation in these countries but many do as I am doing which is teaching English! As you may know my lover lives in Germany and therefore accommodation was not a real issue for me. But I know many people who have gone to teach in the Asian countries and had accommodation accounted for as part of their teacher's package. What is even better is that if you have an official teaching degree (something I do not personally have) you can teach  in an official international school in your desired area and country as education in Canada is pretty much taken in any country. In  some countries you may be able to teach in an official international school without a teaching degree, so it depends, but as I am going to degree obsessed Germany, this is a no no so I am teaching for a private school.

Questions you may have:

Do I have to speak the country's language?
No, but I am sure it helps - especially if you want more money

What if I don't have a degree and I want to teach?
Honestly, most places require a university degree as a minimum so that may be a struggle for you unless you have an ECE diploma.

Do I have to teach?
No - I know for a fact if you're in the IT or Engineering field, most countries will leap at you and invite you to stay long term..You just have to apply like you would anywhere else with the pre-requisite that the job allows you to speak English if thats' your only language and use your skills whatever they are.

Okay, but what if I have no post-secondary education, will I be able to find employment and qualify for the visa?
Yes, this visa is for people mainly interested in work and travel for their stay. As long as you can work to get enough money to support your travel and living - your good to go (plus if you have enough money, who cares - but those kinds of people generally never read my blog I assume) . Many people who do this program work at bars, do sales and work as English speaking tour guides.

Is getting a teaching job really that easy?
Yes, I got mines within a week!  No, its not the best school in Germany but as expats do we really care? Everyone wants to learn English these days, its the language of business don't you know? And, as Canadians our English tends to be much easier for foreigners to understand which is a natural perk.

Does doing a TELF program help?
Absolutely. It is not impossible to get a teaching job without this as I am an example, but you might have to do it eventually whilst in the job which is what needs to be done in my case. So if you can get an affordable approved program here in Canada before you go.. complete it. And remember it must have a practical/practicum section to be a approved program such as CELTA. They are pricey which is why this broke girl could not do it before she left.

Should I save money before I leave?
Absolutely! This country will be foreign to you so you need to have your own safety net incase your roomates are heroin junkies, you don't get paid on time or you get a really cool opportunity to travel in your region.. And ofcourse even broke girls need to eat!

How long did it take to complete the process?
like 3 months for me because I am broke but if you have enough money it can be done in 1 month. This included taking a new passport picture and then getting the passport done, getting extended coverage issued (you don't need to wait for the pysical card as you will be issued a temp. paper), travel/medical insurance and getting my flight.

Can I get just any insurance?
No, there are minimum requirements that must be followed. But Travel Cuts does a great job of offering affordable insurance.

Additional Info:
Under the YMA, Foreign Missions may issue a visa to the following individuals:

• young Canadians interested in work and travel during their stay
• young Canadians who wish to do an internship
• Canadian post-secondary students
• young professionals

Is there things I will need before I can apply for the visa?
Yes, they include a valid passport that will be valid for your whole trip and valid travel/medical Insurance that is valid for your whole trip (which means you need to apply for extended health coverage) and a one way ticket to the country you desire. It has to be within 3 month of when you apply..

Applying for extended health coverage is very easy and pretty much requires you to sign your life away, take a new health card picture and tell them you need a vacation extension - don't say you want a work extension even if you did get a job offer from that great bar or school because that will require a work permit which you won't have. This visa will give you a residence permit which will allow you to find work.

I personally found the toytown website very helpful and can be helpful for you to find jobs,accomodation/roomates and just knowing the lay of the land. Just search the country you want and toytown.

Sources: My own experience AND
http://www.youth.gc.ca/eng/topics/jobs/abroad.shtml
http://www.canada.diplo.de/Vertretung/kanada/en/02/visa/yma.html

If you got any questions just give me a shout!!

Best Programs to Study

Title: Best Potential Programs to Study in Canada (Good Demand, Good Pay, dont Cost Much!)


Hey World,

Because I am a true observer or I love to observe people or because I am a snoop, I enjoy people watching. I started to think about the careers people could take on that didn't cost a lot of money to aquire here in Canada, had good demand, and had the potential to pay well. SO here it goes yall, p.s. I wish someone created this list and showed me it before I went to university and paid all that money, some of these job you only need to complete grade 10 to enter the program. Okay so really, here we go...

5 Jobs that pay well, are cheap to acquire education for and are in high demand in Canada!

Industrial/Construction Millright:

Millwrights work in construction and in manufacturing. They install, maintain, and repair stationary construction and industrial machinery and other mechanical equipment.

• complete a four-year apprenticeship in Ontario. Apprenticeship includes on-the-job training (about 90 per cent of the apprenticeship) and some in-school training (about 10 per cent of the apprenticeship). It is a training agreement between a person who wants to learn a skilled trade and an employer who needs a skilled worker. An apprentice earns at least minimum wage while working and learning the skills necessary to become a qualified tradesperson or journeyperson. Apprentices receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship when they complete their training, and are automatically eligible to challenge the Certificate of Qualification examination.

Pay:
1-2 years experience 42,000-87,262
20 years or more 52,481 - 98,304

Tuition @ George Brown - $5, 120.00 whole program
Length of Program - 3 semesters
To read up more about this;
http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Millwright/Salary
http://www.ontarioimmigration.ca/en/working/OI_HOW_WORK_MILLWRIGHT_CM.html
http://www.millwrightsontario.com/eng/become2.htm


Electrician:

Using government labour market indicators, it is expected that the number of job seekers will be sufficient to fill the job openings in this occupation for the near future. The anticipated large increase in capital spending on infrastructure and engineering projects, mainly in the energy and mining sectors, should help to sustain growth in construction activities and should benefit electricians.

Average Salary: 42,000 - 57, 000

Fees according to Humber College Program; The 2013/2014 fee for this program is -

• Basic $450
• Intermediate $550
• Advanced $550.

Fee for  Electrician Liscence exam cost about $515.00 and require a 70% to pass

To read up more about this;
http://www.georgebrown.ca/apprenticeship/how_to_become_an_apprentice.aspx#get_started
http://www.humber.ca/program/electrician-construction-and-maintenance-apprenticeship#fees-scholarships
http://www.electricianlicense.com/industrial-c-of-q/
http://www.livingin-canada.com/salaries-for-electricians-canada.html


Oil & Gas Administrative Assistant:

Job outlook in this industry is projected to grow faster than average over the next decade. Oil and gas exportation accounts for a significant portion of Canada's economy and will flourish even more as the demand for oil increases. As the industry grows, companies will need more support from those in administrative assistant positions. Employers highly value administrative assistants who are proficient in industry terminology.

• According to the Labour Force Survey (2009), the Median Hourly Wage for Oil – Gas Administrative Assistant was $32.70.Whereas the Median Hourly Wage for all occupations was $21.00
• High Demand: From 2011-2020, job openings are expected to total 13,154. while only 5,514 job seekers will be available to fill these job openings.
• 17% of workers in this occupation worked full-time, compared to the average of 16%. for all occupations.

For this job you mostly need experience, however there are great programs that will set you apart especially if it is done in Alberta.

CDI College Program -  40weeks

http://www.careercourses.ca/business-program/Oil-Gas-Administrative-Assistant.aspx
http://www.cdicollege.ca/programs-and-courses/oil-and-gas-administration/

Rail Conductor

Railway conductors co-ordinate and supervise the activities of passenger and freight train crew members. Brakemen check train brakes and other systems and equipment prior to train run, and assist railway conductors in activities en route.

The railway industry is facing retirement rates as high as 70% over the next ten years which will result in a high demand for graduates. Graduates are rewarded with good salaries and opportunities for advancement to positions of greater responsibility. Railway conductors are paid based on the number of miles they accrue during the course of their work. Average annual starting salaries are $40,000, which can quickly grow to $80,000. Railway conductors are often promoted within a railway organization to locomotive engineer, as well as management positions. Railways operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a weekend 365 days a year. Railway conductors work out of specific pools with irregular hours, weekends and holidays depending upon workload position within the pool. This job requires excellent physical health and conditioning. Constant vigilance and situational awareness are key factors in performing safely and efficiently. 

In 2012, Canadian Conductors earned an average salary of $85,000

You can get into this job with a valid drivers liscence and a highschool diploma as the companies do their own training however for an edge you can do a program like the on offered by George Brown College

Tuition $9, 949.00 according to GBC

Program length: 1 semester

http://www.glassdoor.ca/Salary/Canadian-National-Railway-Salaries-E4455.htm

http://jobs.cn.ca/jobs/3113BR/United-States--Stevens-Point-Rail-Operations-Train-Operator--Freight-Conductor-

Library Technicians

Your Career

Bringing together people, information and materials, library technicians meet the challenges of a constantly changing information environment. To do this, they use the latest technologies to organize and retrieve information, and, along with librarians, they are the mainstay of libraries. They are service– oriented, work with minimal supervision and are adaptable to change. 

1. Technical jobs in libraries, archives, museums and galleries – 45% of jobs unfilled – College degree required according to workopolis

According to Salary.com Library Technicians or Assistants in Toronto average salary is 51,729 however it seems like this could vary dramatically

Tuition for Year One: $3,449.00 2 year program at Seneca College

http://swz.salary.com/CanadaSalaryWizard/Assistant-Librarian-Salary-Details-Toronto-ON.aspx

http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/LIT.html#layer3

http://www.workopolis.com/content/advice/article/what-to-study-preparing-for-the-20-most-in-demand-jobs-from-now-through-2020/

Title: If plan A doesn't work, fuck it! The alphabet goes up to Z!


Hey World,

So I got a job and I am totally blogging from work...Don't tell...anyways, life's been pretty good, I am faced with a pretty big decision right now and I can literally see life going completely different ways depending on the decision I make right. No, I am not being dramatic. Obviously there are decisions we make that will affect our lives such as continuing to smoke or whatever. But there are certain moments in life where you know point blank.com -  you are making a life changing decision. Well, that's the crossroads I am at right now and of-course I am going to choose the harder road which may not be better but its what I feel like I want right now. Anyways, the point of my blog as always is to not just talk completely about myself. The point is to let others know that when plan A doesn't work there is a perfectly good plan B that will work and when a plan B doesn't work there is a perfectly good plan C that will work an so and so forth.

You may be like really though Broke Girl what ish are you talking right now? My answer to you is simple don't be distracted by your failings. Like I have said before I am unlucky broke girl so failure happens. That whole failure is not an option statement is not something I am totally against however there's some holes in that theory.

Here's what, say you want to have orange juice but your mother only gives you lemons? You say at first WTF!! But that just means that you gotta start using what you have and find creative ways to get what you want (that orange juice)...You may cut the lemons in half and put sugar on it in hopes it will taste good enough to satisfy your craving, but it doesn't work. So like the saying goes you make lemonade; turns out you hate lemonade. So what do you now? Now we are on to plan C, so now - yeah you're grown and you live in the city but they do it on t.v. so you think to yourself "I am going to sell this lemonade on the sidewalk". Turns out everyone thinks you're a nut and doesn't want to buy your lemonade and cops stop you because you don't have a permit.
So what do you do now? Give Up? No...bitch you want your orange juice. So Plan D  happens...You put out a facebook message to everyone you know and send a status that says "I made some great lemonade, anyone want to do a taste challenge?,,Your Orange juice versus my lemonade" and EUREKA there's  at-least 5 people that accepted it with a whole lot of orange juice for you to drink.

The fact is people, third time is not the charmer...its a friggin' saying...the 10th time might actually be your charmer. You need to think out of the box and have a relentless attitude to get the things you want. So don't give up on that thing, you know what it is (it may be love, it may be money etc.). And just because the way it was supposed to work didn't actually work for you, doesn't make you a loser. It makes you YOU an individual with individual challenges and opportunities. Don't be ashamed to say it! I used plan F and it worked!!

TIP: Let's cheer for the Good in our lives..

Hey World,

SO I know its been a while since I have written anything but lets just say I got some inspiration yesterday from a friend of mine (u know who u are). Things are going really well for me, not to perfection but to where I am actually really happy and excited! It is so funny that when we have bad news its always so easy to share it but when we have good news we are scared to share them. We are scared people will put the evil eye on us or that we will end up in embarrassment. I think I am a supersticious non supersticious person, so this creates a lot of mental confusion for me. I won't throw salt behind my back but I do believe in signs, karma and all of the above. Why don't we scream to the roof tops to share good news like we do bad news? I started out being a very private person but now I've reached the point where I announce most everything on facebook. Yeah I am that chick, I don't know when I became that chick but I like to see whats going on in average peoples lives and when I have something good to share I figure why not (maybe its a bad thing but meh). But here's the other fact, I only post things on facebook when I know I have gotten them for real and there is no chance of someone corrupting what I've got..You probably do the same and just haven't verbalized it..

I think like most of us broke people, we're so used to trying to be positive through bad times that we don't know how to be positive through good times.

 I mean how does the saying about the shoe go? I am going to attempt to reference it, I can't but its something about "waiting for the shoe to drop" (I think that's it). Well I feel like that,.. I am waiting for the shoe to drop. I am used to walking with a  limp, I definitely don't like walking with a limp and its definitely not comfortable. But this two shoes on thing makes me feel happy but awkward like I gotta get used to it and I am constantly scared of falling on my face. I am honestly scared to get used to it in-case I loose the other shoe again. Get it, am I the only one who feels like that?
My point is, we need to start celebrating good again. We all have good in our lives, whether it be a great relationship with family, friends, or a boyfriend/girlfriend or good health etc. We all have things in our lives to cheer about. So how bout we take the day today, to instead of stressing about our broke life because I really feel like that will take years to come out of.

TIP: let's cheer for the good in our lives!

Title: For the Unlucky Broke Person..

Hey World,

Ever feel like you're doing so much and nothing at the same time? Well that's how I feel right now. Planning down to your pennies ain't fun for sure. I mean I feel like I am a great planner..Like if you want something planned and you want it to be on a budget you should call me because that is definitely my strength.  But even I, get stressed out beyond belief about how calculated I need to be in this broke life. Its like things are moving fast and not fast enough in other ways so its like your brain just gets completely discombujilated . Planning to the pennies means a lot of times having $20 in savings means really thinking about what you can use it for further down the line. Broke people I hear your calls of distress....I mean we all have opportunities however, I feel like my luck is close to nil. So everything is something I need to work extremely hard to achieve. So I feel especially for the broke and unlucky...

If you're like me and your going through whatever taking over your brain right now and you're trying to have a lil faith in luck even though u never seem to have it...All I can say to you is GOOD LUCK! Ironic but necessary. GOOD FRIGGIN LUCK>....
But because you may be an unlucky person like me, it is utmostly important for you to be strategic in every single move you make, which is exhausting mentally but necessary. You don't need to go to school for strategic planning to be a strategic thinker. This is your life and unfortunately your gonna be taking the hard road a lot of the time. You need to think three steps ahead and while in the short term your plan is not working out in may work out further down the line. You cannot afford to not be strategic! Its better to make a mistake and plan for it than a mistake and have no backup. Peace be with you my lovelies. Your anxiety might be high so don't forget to give yourself therapy whether it be writing in your journal, doing yoga or doing your art work etc.

TIP OF THE DAY:  Remember to do the things you love while doing the things you must!

Title: Critical thinking "I put that S**t on Everything"! You're normal and not normal. You just are....

As you all know if you read my blog often, I love to shop online. I shop for everything from deal to services to clothing and shoes. A friend of mine (you know who you are) introduced me to a clothes shopping website called sheinside.com. I thought it was great - it had free worldwide shipping, and very forever 21 sort of trendy clothing with new stuff everyday. I was immediately hooked on to the website and bought a dress  the next day. A few days after my friend got her items which were a maxi dress and a black & white stripped shirt. Lets just say the items were an Epic FAIL. They were poor quality with bad stitching and were only really made to fit skinny 15 year old girls. And there I was with my dress in the mail, thank God it sort of fit. Had we done some critical thinking we might have been able to see signs that this might have happened.  So here are some  tips for you.

Red flags for online shopping :

FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
WEBSITE DOES NOT STATE WHERE THEIR HEAD OFFICE IS
NOT BASED IN YOUR REGION
NONE OF THE MODELS ARE YOUR DEMOGRAPHIC
BAD REVIEWS FROM GENERAL PEOPLE WHEN GOGGLED OR BINGED WHATEVER
NO RETURN POLICY

If shopping for a flight:

Same rules apply for the most part;
MOST IMPORTANTLY, DON'T BOOK WITH A CERTAIN WEBSITE OR TRAVEL AGEENCY JUST BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS BOOK WITH THAT CERTAIN WEBSITE/AGENCY
ITS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO COMPARE AND CONTRAST DIFFERENT WEBSITE AND SCENARIOS
BE AS FLEXIBLE AS YOU CAN WITH YOUR DATES
IF YOU FIND THAT THE CHEAPEST FLIGHT IS DELIVERED BY SAY WEST JET ACCORDING TO THESE DEAL WEBSITE/Agency SUCH AS CHEAPOAIR AND REDTAG, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE WEST JET WEBSITE ITSELF BECAUSE YOU MAY FIND A BETTER DEAL OR BETTER OPTIONS 

In general, I feel as though we live in a very passive society. At some point when we finish our degrees and diplomas etc  we are just concerned about doing a good job instead of challenge ourselves and the people around us in fear of not fitting in. We are all normal and not normal people.. I hate watching Beyonce interviews when she tries to convince people that she is just like everyone else. The fact is no-one is like everyone else and the fact that you always feel the need to say this, shows most obviously that you are not like everyone else. We all fit in and we all don't fit in, it just depends on the circumstance. And yes, it is just that simple. (P.S. I am loving that Ke$ha show on MTV, I usually don't like to watch that stuff but I am always intrigued by people who don't mind being truly honest)...

But foreel like when did sticking you head in the turkey's butt become the best way to live?
 I remember when they introduced the new Pope to the world and it made headlines, which granted it usually does. But this time was different, we now had a Pope that wasn't from Europe for the first time in History!
Regardless of religious values, my biggest questions was "why are they all acting like it was so incredible and new that this Pope in particular was the first one that wasn't from Europe"?. Am I the only one who thought it wasn't a coincidence that his parents were from Italy and he spoke fluent Italian and that he was from Argentina the most European South American country there is???? Really only me? But try as I might, not one set a news questioned this. They were all regurgitating each other in print and on t.v constantly. I think I had a Oprah "uh huh moment" actually. Like I pretty much always believed the media was selling us stories and ideas but something about this one was different for me, maybe I actually became more open to see it for what it was than I have been in the past.
 I always thought conspiracy theory people were nut cases but maybe they aren't or maybe they are, but they ask different sets of questions which is admirable. I think we should all try to ask different sets of questions like the girl who got killed by the garbage truck in Toronto. What is the city doing to make sure this never happens again? How is the city compensating the family? Why haven't we heard any updates?
Most recently, I was watching Entertainment Tonight (US) and they were talking about the Boston bombers. It is definitely disgusting that this happened and I wouldn't wish this on anyone anywhere around the world. But I was also disgusted by this particular entertainment show that highlighted and glamorized a person that beat up the supposed Boston bombers. As far as I know they haven't concluded for a fact that these people are the people responsible. What I do know for a fact is that one is dead and one is in a coma and they have families who are probably hurting right now whether they are indeed responsible or not. And here is this entertainment show with absolute insensitive and turning these boys into villains without even knowing their side of the story. Most apparent their inability to defend themselves. But the fact is while this was actually repulsing  in my opinion I am sure a lot of people watched that scene and smiled with bully mentalities enhanced by the media. It's disgusting when you think about it, this whole situation is nothing to smile about. But there goes the media regurgitating the same story in different mediums and we the public not asking questions. They are not even trying to be creative these days in regurgitating the same story in fact I often hear the same lines no matter what agency is talking about it.

TIP OF THE DAY: YOU ARE BROKE< NOT STUPID, SO ASK QUESTIONS (DON'T BE AFRIAD TO HAVE A CRITICAL MIND)...You're normal and not normal. You just are....

Follow me on Twitter: broke_girl07

MAKE SURE AND ENJOY AND DISCOUVER FOR YOUR SPRING AND SUMMER.. will it help you save money? maybe?

Hey World,

So I am loving life right now cuz of this beautiful weather. If the weather is not beautiful where you lie right now, sucks to be you, sorry...
I personally can't figure out if great weather (sunny but cool enough to ride my bike comfortably), is helpful or harmful for the broke life.
It is helpful in that you can exercise super comfortably with out spending money. You can go jogging, biking, hiking, do free outdoor yoga classes and go to a tonne of great free events which all seem to happen in the summer.  Like honestly, you can do so much. And there is so much to discouver while doing things.. You can take a different trail etc. and find yourself in something completely new. Its wonderful I tell yuh, and I am getting great exercise doing it ( as you know this is a big concern of mine for the summer)..

p.s. I love The Rouge Valley Park there is just so much of it., So if you live in Toronto, go check it out! Honestly, I love exercising right now and additionally to that I have my gym Groupon membership at MMA World Academy, sometimes you wanna fight and its a great gym to lose weight and feel that adrenaline rush.

Anyways but this summer thing also has a dark side and my mind immediately goes to that Kelly Clarkson song " Everybody's got a dark side, is it worth it, is it..."

Firstly, everyone wants to look cute in the summer. So you find yourself buying new nail polish, new make up, and entirely new clothes because it always seems like what you have in the closet just doesn't work no matter how superficial that sounds. Now you gotta shave your legs and arm pits for sure (things I don't like, DON'T JUDGE ME). Now you gotta make your hair look decent especially if you single cuz that when the guys and gals come out to look and play (ugh, I hate combing my hair, i'd rather my winter hat). Its honestly, so much work and so much money! Oh and I am not done yet. All of a sudden you have a thirst for bear and patios, you wanna go see plays and comedy shows, you wanna go the cottage or travel abroad. And!...all of a sudden you become this social person who actually wants to go out with people and you end up hitting up a club or at-least a bar or two even though you think its a complete waste of money.

I just havent figured it out..but what I will say is....MAKE SURE AND ENJOY AND DISCOUVER FOR YOUR SPRING AND SUMMER.. will it help you save money? maybe?

Title: It sure sucks to be broke!

Hey World,

Damn, it sucks to be broke! You ever have that moment where for some reason, all of a sudden you just have soooo much to do. And then you think to your-self maybe watching all the franchises and episodes of Real Housewives might have possibly been a waste of your time. I mean like I really could have been more productive, who would a thunk it? But you know how it is, you're in the moment and you like watching t.v...I am a procrastinator by core, so what this means is that until I feel the pressure, I probably ain't doing it. I can't remember a time that I wasn't this way.
No, I do not by any means encourage this behaviour, in fact, I am always impressed by people who do things ahead of time. I tell myself like most people with my issue tell themselves, my best work is done last minute! This may or may not be true, I wouldn't know because even when I mentally plan on doing something ahead of time, it just doesn't work out. Anyways, so now all of a sudden I am like busy nancy, trying to do this and that for my thing that I am working on. I haven't told anyone really yet so I am not gonna write it here just yet. But needless to say, I am a little flustered and slightly overwhelmed. And ofcourse I wish I had more money because it would offer me more flexibility. It sucks to be broke...

Reasons it sucks to be broke;

- You have got to plan for every single little thing cuz if you don't it royally screws you over..And you know we all been screwed over by ourselves a time or two

- You really want to do something but you can't do it

- You often get panic attacks or breakouts or eating disorders because of the stress

- You have to hide from going out with your friends because you don't have a penny to waste buying a drink you know you don't need (You become a hermit)

- You may have to face the embarrassment of asking others for money

- It's majorly embarrassing

Tip of Day: It sure sucks to be broke...so please avoid it at any cost!!

Hello World,

Well I guess its not such a bad thing that I have been busy lately. I feel full of purpose again! This broke life, I tell yuh!

Yesterday, I realized something about myself. "I still let fear hold me back". I was so upset at myself because I don't want to be a coward at life. hmm....

 It brings me back to the days in high-school where in religion class (I went to a catholic school) we had to write these things called reflections. I don't know if you had to do this but we were always expected to write a page or so about what we thought about our-selves or something we read in relation to ourselves and what we learned. I, like most of my classmates hated reflections and thought it was an absolute waste of our time. We even made fun of our religion teacher just because we had to sit there and fill up the page with stupid reflections. Now, in my adult life I actually think reflections were not such a bad idea.

Honestly, in our day to day life we know certain things about ourselves like example, I would never own an animal or have any interest in touching one but I am totally against animal cruelty and always wonder how they feel in a world where humans think they should be caged up or used for their amusement. But a reflection would allow me to really tap into why I feel this way about animals. No, I am not gonna share my deep dark childhood experience with animals but now that I think about it, it definitely stems from somewhere.

I think we should all start doing reflections again and figure out why we do and think the way we do. It is important for our growth as successful human beings.

I had a little reflection of my own last night and realized how much fear holds me back, like it holds back many of us. I am usually a very brave person, at least in my opinion. I encourage people in my life to have a 'go for it attitude' always because I truly believe that it is a positive way to live. My dad always says "make sure you're living in a courage zone and not a fear zone". I really take that to heart as I do believe it is the best advice he has ever given me. However, I still find myself stuck in certain situations.
I think I haven't gotten my G licence yet because I am traumatized by a very bad accident I had a few years ago. It has actually scarred my face and is something I look at everyday. A huge pole actually fell on top of the car. Most people in my life might not even know the severity of the accident I had. The problem with me I think is, I want to be so courageous that I don't deal with my problem like really deal with it..And I know a lot of people are just like me but the fact is,

Sometimes you have to deal with your problem before you can move on. And it may be a lot tougher than you anticipate. But you MUST DEAL WITH IT!!

I am also dealing with other issues in my life where I am realizing I have a deep fear that I need to deal with and reflecting on why I have these fears will allow me to over come these them.

Tip of the day: You are human, you are scared of things. Everything you are scared of started somewhere. You need to figure out where it comes from and work on overcoming it because it's worth it! 

Title: It couldn't hurt to learn about finances in such a financial world, especially if you're broke!

Hello World,

I was a bit busy this week/weekend and didn't get a chance to write you, Sorry!
From speaking to my friends and others I have began to realize how easy it is to spend money and use credit but the difficulty in understanding money and credit. Wouldn't it be a great world if for every credit card sales person that existed from the department stores to our schools and even our banks there was someone right there to advise us thoroughly about the implications of these services from the get go? When I say advise us thoroughly, they should be advising us on how to use our money and credit wisely and what to do if we get in that tough situation like many of us do.
While I am not a banking associate I will try to define some things that I think are important for everyone to understand. I suggest you do your own research and see what you discouver, it couldn't hurt to learn about finances in such a financial world.

Overdraft - You usually have to pay an overdraft fee. It Means that you have a negative balance when in use. A refusal to pay this balance can result in a closed account and the bank may choose to report the problem account which may in turn affect your credit capability. You may notice that if you have a savings account or another account with said bank they may take money from that account and put it into your overdraft without your acknowledgment. With many banks it is expected for you to have your overdraft paid in full after every three months or it may vary. It is okay to use overdraft for temporary purposes as long as you pay it back in a timely fashion.

Tax Free Saving Account - The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) is a flexible, registered, general-purpose savings vehicle that allows Canadians to earn tax-free investment income to more easily meet lifetime savings needs. The TFSA complements existing registered savings plans like the Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP) and the Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP). The TFSA is an account that provides tax benefits for saving in Canada. Contributions to a TFSA are not deductible for income tax purposes. Investment income, including capital gains and dividends, earned in a TFSA is not taxed, even when withdrawn. Non-residents of Canada aren’t eligible to open a TFSA. If you happen to leave the country after you have started a tax free savings account, you can maintain your existing TFSA, but you can’t add anything to it as long as you’re a non-resident. Unlike an Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) the contributions are not tax-deductible.

RRSP's -  is a type of Canadian account for holding savings and investment assets. Approved assets include savings accounts,guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), bonds, mortgage loans, mutual funds, income trusts, corporate shares (stocks), foreign currency and labour-sponsored funds. Taxes on earned (employment) income (to the extent contributed to the plan) are deferred until the eventual withdrawals from the plan. There is no benefit from the deferral because it is an accrued liability that grows at the same rate as the investments themselves. The tax deferred is commonly called the contribution tax credit. Income earned inside the plan on the after-tax savings (excluding the contribution tax credit) is not taxed either while within the plan or on withdrawal.  By deferring the income until retirement, the additional income created at that time may reduce those benefits. For the most part, contributions to RRSPs are deductible from taxable income, reducing income tax payable. Since Canada has a progressive tax system, taxes are reduced at the highest marginal rate. Increases in the value of the plan assets (whether capital gains, interest income or other) are not subject to income or other taxes in Canada until funds are removed from the RRSP. An account holder is able to cash out an amount from an RRSP at any age. However, any amount withdrawn qualifies as taxable income and is therefore subject to withholding tax. Before the end of the year the account holder turns 71, the RRSP must either be cashed out or transferred to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) or an annuity. Home Buyers Plan: Canadians can borrow, tax-free, up to $25,000 from their RRSP (and another $25,000 from a spousal RRSP) towards buying their residence. Life-long Learning Plan:This loan has to be repaid within 15 years after two years of grace.his program allows individuals to borrow from an RRSP to go or return to post-secondary school.

Debt Consolidation: entails taking out one loan to pay off many others. This is often done to secure a lower interest rate, secure a fixed interest rate or for the convenience of servicing only one loan. You can obtain a loan from another financial institution to pay back the four credit cards. Now your debts are consolidated into one financial institution, where you will have to make one single payment each month. The reduction in interest rate is one of greatest advantages of this procedure. Such loans also have extended terms which reduce the amount to be paid each month. You have to make it a point to meet this payment every month to maintain your credit score.

Bankruptcy: you assign (surrender) everything you own to a trustee in bankruptcy in exchange for the elimination of your debts. 

To go into bankruptcy in Canada, a person must live or do business in Canada, and must be insolvent. To be insolvent means:

1. To owe at least $1,000. 
2. Not to be able to meet your debts as they are due to be paid.

You may be entitled to an automatic discharge from bankruptcy in 9 months, the minimum time set by the Court to be bankrupt, provided you have never been bankrupt before and you complete various duties and responsibilities. A secured debt, such as a car loan or mortgage, is not included. Since you have given an asset as collateral, your creditor does not need the bankruptcy process to recover the amount owing to them. Some unsecured debts are also not discharged in a bankruptcy, such as student loans less than 10 years after you stopped going to school and/or any alimony or child support.

The length of your bankruptcy will be nine months, unless one of the following is true:

• You fail to perform all your bankruptcy duties, such as regular payments of surplus income to the trustee.
• You have surplus income (see below).
• You have been bankrupt before.

On top of the trustee fee and your loss of assets, a bankruptcy may cost you some of your income, depending on how much you earn and the size of your household. The principle is that, if you earn more than your household needs to survive, you must pay the “surplus income” to your trustee for the creditors. The more you earn, the more expensive filing for bankruptcy will become. This affects your credit for several years, but their are ways you can work on rebuilding your credit. 

Consumer Proposal: is a contract that's negotiated with your creditors on your behalf, by a consumer proposal administrator (also called a bankrutpcy trustee). A legally binding agreement is put in place to arrange for a partial repayment of your total unsecured debt owing. You'll pay portion of what you owe, and your creditors will agree to ignore the balance owing. 

Consider these 5 main benefits to a consumer proposal

• Most wage garnishments cease immediately
• Interest stops accumulating from the date you file
• Collection companies and creditors can no longer contact you for payment; it's the law!
• You are not in jeopardy of losing your house or other assets, as in bankruptcy
• You repay only a portion of your debt owing, with a maximum repayment period not exceeding 5 years

the effect on your credit score is generally less than a bankruptcy. Consumer proposals typically produce an R7 rating, whereas personal bankruptcy will produce an R9. 

Credit Rating - Equifax 

Rating What it Means

• R0 Too new to rate; approved but not used
• R1 Pays (or paid) within 30 days of payment due date or not over one payment past due
• R2 Pays (or paid) in more than 30 days from payment due date, but not more than 60 days, or not more than two payments past due
• R3 Pays (or paid) in more than 60 days from payment due date, but not more than 90 days, or not more than three payments past due
• R4 Pays (or paid) in more than 90 days from payment due date, but not more than 120 days, or four payments past due
• R5 Account is at least 120 days overdue, but is not yet rated "9"
• R7 Making regular payments through a special arrangement to settle your debts
• R8 Repossession (voluntary or involuntary return of merchandise)
• R9 Bad debt; placed for collection; moved without giving a new address

Because I realize this is a lot of information to take in all at once, I will be sure to do another financial blog next month so we both keep learning!

Title:  Being Broke isn't easy but its definitely not the worst thing that could happen to you.

Hello World,

The life of a broke girl can be one of great discovery.You really get to figure out how strong you are when faced with Brokedum.
You really have to become a very present manager of your life when going through all of this. Think about it, if you are really broke then you may have already figured out by now or you will figure it out soon enough by a credit kick in your ass, that you need to deal with bills and not have bills deal with you.
Just like with anything in life, try to face the problem head on because it might be able to kill you with ease if you turn your back.
 While I write this, I only currently have a part-time job and I would be lying if I said I didn't have any opportunities since graduation to have a full-time job, however they just didn't feel right and well, I was lazy and naive. As I step into shadows of almost a year anniversery since I finished university, I realize that there are some decisions I have to make regarding my life. I have just always had this dream that I do intend on turning into a reality, of a job I really enjoyed and allowed me to be creative, ever learning and free. We all have dreams...

What I will tell you is, had I not faced brokdum the way I had, my eyes might have been closed to all of the improvements I have been able to make to life since graduation.
 Being broke opens up your eyes and allows you to take the time to really evaluate things. 

Example, I may now have paid off my cell phone bill and decided to disconnect it; had I been too busy surviving and working full time, I would still have that stupid bill taking me down every month. I may have not been actively dealing with my debt like I am now. Now, I am in a position where I know I will be debt free and exactly when this should happen. I may not have had the time to this sort of research. I may have just been adding to debt instead of subtracting to it like I am now even though I make next to nothing. I may not have figured out how much I love writing and the opportunities there are in this field had I been hurting my feet doing a job I hated.

I think my advice to others is to really enjoy being broke for now...I know saying this is counter-intuitive, but as I said before NOW you probably have the time, the critical mind, the support and the energy so that you can make and evaluate some critical decisions. You may have a crappy job here in your country, but maybe now is your time to grab a visa and go live in a foreign country (what do you have to loose?) Maybe this is your time to deal with your debt (you now have the time to get credit counselling, don't you?) Maybe, this is the time for you to follow your passions in life, (any extra income is good income; isn't it?)...

TIP OF THE DAY: Being Broke isn't always easy but its definitely not the worst thing that could happen to you.

Title: Freebies Friday - Why not get free stuff?

Don't you ever want free stuff and know that you don't really have the luck to win contests or have the money to afford 5 other products so you can get the one free thing? Well look no further!
 I have provided a list of stuff you can actually get for free depending on your interests...Without further a due..CHECK IT OUTA!!

1. Very Irresistible Givency Electric Rose New Fragrance sample - The Bay
http://veryirresistibleyou.com/en/get-a-free-sample.html

2. A Dozen Free Bagles on your Birthday - What a Bagel
http://www.whatabagel.com/index.php?page=what-a-deal

3. You can get a sample of Spray Paint, Acrylics, or Paint Maker - Liquitex
http://www.liquitex.com/samplerequest/

4. 5 day Trial - Goodlife Fitness
http://www.goodlifefitness.com/welcome/5day.aspx?source=Adjump&WT.mc_id=Adjump

5. Escada Cherry in the Air perfume sample - Escada Fragrances
https://esc.cocomore.com/zesnc/esampling/fragrance_escada_ff13_cherry_gl_spl1301/registration/register/en_GB

6. Nyquinadol (Powerful night time pain relief) - Adeeva
http://adeeva.com/index.php/adeeva/free_sample

7. Multi-Focul contact Lenses -  Bausch + Lomb
http://www.goodbyereaders.ca/~/link.aspx?_id=755EC319776D4485825D426BAE524E69&_z=z

8. 1 Month Free Trial - Netflix
https://signup.netflix.com/?mqso=80027988&KID=k240342&USERID=1574144813&CREATIVE=n&SESSIONID=id_1574144814&SITEID=wf.ca&TACID=

9. Free starter on next visit - Montana's Cookhouse
http://www.montanas.ca/sign_up.php

10. Live the Smart way book by Nutrition expert Kathy Smart
http://livethesmartway.com/gf/free-book/

11. Pain Reliever - Advil
https://www.pchsampling.ca/promo/advillg/

12. Weight Loss Kit - Atkins Weight Loss
http://ca.atkins.com/registration/

13. Skin Repair Essence - L'essence D'eau
http://www.lessencedeau.com/LD_SRE-Sample_ContactUs.html?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lessencedeau.com%2FLD_SRE-Sample_ContactUs.html

14. Footwear Cleaning Gel - NikWax
http://www.nikwax.co.uk/en-us/webquiz/index.php

15. Postcards - Postagram
https://apps.facebook.com/postagram/2013/kit

16. Yoga - Lululemon
http://www.lululemon.com/giftofyoga

17. Skin care samples - Nivea
http://www.en.nivea.ca/products/face-care?nvem=/modules-components/ext/en-fr-CA/expertise-modules/New%20Expertise%202&cid=CA-EMM-NIV-201303&dpl=deeplink-aquaeffect

18. Free Coffee - Timothy's World Coffee
http://timothyscafes.com/en/home/

19. Free Kids Haircut - Excel Salon and Spa
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Excel-Salon-Spa/108754289217238?v=app_140220056157989&app_data=gaReferrerOverride%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.facebook.com%252Fl.php%253Fu%253Dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fa.pgtb.me%25252Fs9Mj8G%2526h%253DmAQHz11d_%2526s%253D1

20. Earplugs - Howard Leight
http://www.howardleight.com/trymax/trymax.html

21. Gift on your Birthday - Old Navy
https://secure-oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/profile/info.do?cid=52346&src=Site_TextFooter&mlink=5151,2002317,8&clink=2002317

22. Youth Hockey Helmet - Bauer
https://www.facebook.com/ChevroletSafeandFunHockey/app_383101191747846?app_data=helmet

23. Dog or Cat Food - Nutrizoo
http://www.nutrizoo.com/p/405/%C3%A9chantillon-gratuit-de-nourriture

24. 2 Free Games of Bowling all summer for kids - Kids Bowl Free
http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

25. Men's Cologne Sample - Hugo Boss
http://fragrances.hugoboss.com/uk/hugo-red-perfume-for-men-free-sample

26. Toddler Drink Sample - Nestle Baby
http://www.nestle-baby.ca/en/survey/gum_survey.htm

27. Invati exfoliating shampoo and conditioner sample - Aveda
http://www.avedacanada.ca/invati/freesample.php

Remember, every second Friday of the month I will be doing one of these so if you know of any free stuff let me know!