In the January 27th issue of The Voice, someone wrote to Dear Barb, explaining how they went way over budget this past Christmas and woke up after Boxing Day to a surprise bill. While I’ve been just as guilty as the next person, I’m going to be a bit of a stinker and say that… Read more »
If math, algebra, calculus, and anything number-related is something you have avoided like the plague, it’s time to stop. I do understand the aversion and still stumble with the simplest of calculations when someone is watching or waiting for the answer. At 17 and right out of high school, I could not have given a… Read more »
Every year, on December 31st, most of the planet celebrates a full spin around the sun. Nothing new about that. We also commemorate this full circle by making bold statements, both to ourselves and others. You can bet your bottom that this year we’ll all quit smoking, lose the thirty pounds, walk out on the… Read more »
I don’t do sappy. However, the world around us has changed. Everyone seems isolated—more so than before—and I feel like the majority of the planet has no grip on reality. We all scroll through hundreds of social media posts, from real and imaginary friends, claiming if anyone needs to talk they should reach out. But… Read more »
Holiday Stress-Shopping It’s no secret: being an adult equals stress. Some adults are more stressed than others, some handle it better than others, and some prefer to pretend they’re Peter Pan and hope for the best. Then, once a year, you have your “festive stress” to add to the list. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas,… Read more »
I don’t do sappy. However, the world around us has changed. Everyone seems isolated—more so than before—and I feel like the majority of the planet has no grip on reality. We all scroll through hundreds of social media posts, from real and imaginary friends, claiming if anyone needs to talk they should reach out. But… Read more »
Typical Western society refuses to talk about money in its raw form. We may discuss the abstract concept of wealth and the financial state of our local economies, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty we have learned to zip it. This topic, just like politics and sex, is so taboo we won’t even… Read more »
A priest, a weed dealer, an AU student, and a grocery clerk walk out of a bar, go home, board up their windows and doors, and have drinks over Zoom. Sounds like a bad joke but for better or for worse, it’s our new reality—and it’s here to stay. For a while, anyway. Every time… Read more »
The debate about whether homeownership is an asset or a liability continues. It’s a controversial subject, so it’s hard for some people to make a confident decision. Those on one side continue marching towards financial freedom alongside Dave’s “baby steps.” At the same time, the other side keeps hollering, telling us we need to wake… Read more »
The past few months we have been paying a ridiculous amount of rent in southern Ontario. At the same time, we have been waiting for our home in Saskatchewan to find its next owner and have been paying full-blown mortgage payments in the meantime. So the question of whether I want to buy a home… Read more »