Work to Live or Live to Work

Wouldn't it be great if you loved your job so much that you'd do it even if you weren't getting paid for it. Unfortunately, your car doesn't run on love nor does love put food on the table. The reality is that somewhere along the line we have to compromise. We need to find a job that pays a decent salary and where going into work doesn't drive you absolutely postal.

Personally, I think that entrepreneurship is the way to go. Being your own boss is one of the most rewarding pursuits. Every ounce of energy that you put into your business will impact the bottom line, you will have absolute freedom over your life and exceptional tax breaks (Check out: start-small.html). That being said you will need marketable skills and capital to start your own business. With schooling (Check out: got-student-debt.html) and job experience you can work your way towards that goal.

When choosing a job we want to make sure that the skills we acquire will be in demand. Demand can be measured through the salary you're paid. This is not the perfect measuring tool (but if markets were 100% efficient) than salaries would be close to representing the value of specific skills and knowledge. To find out what a specific job pays check out Payscale. This is an awesome site where you can search specific job titles to see what the average salaries are, where the highest salaries are being paid and a bunch of other stats. http://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Country=Canada/Salary

Also check out this video on salary negotiation:

Get Rid of Your Junk and Get Rich with Kijiji

Got junk? Try posting online ads in your local area for stuff you're trying to get rid of. You will be surprised by how many people want to snap up great deals on items you may be throwing out anyways. Kijiji is a great site that allows you to post classified ads for free! Visit it today: http://www.kijiji.ca/

It's best to sell things that are in relatively good condition (no used underwear). My recommendation would be to find the regular retail price online for the item you are trying to sell and reduce the price by 20-60% depending on the condition. People who are browsing through the ads on Kijiji are generally looking for a deal so if you are charging the same amount it costs to get the same item new than you won't be selling it anytime soon. Try to be reasonable and you should be able to turn your trash into cash.

I was able to sell an old board game that I wasn't playing for $20. It's a great way to clear space in the garage or basement and earn a couple extra bucks. Kijiji is not limited to just selling items either, you can also advertise your skills and services such as tutoring, hair dressing, or any other trade.

Finally, you can browse Kijiji for free stuff. People are often trying to get rid of things like old furniture. As long as you can haul it away for them, you can often get it free of charge. So be sure to browse through the free stuff category periodically, it's a great way to furnish a dorm room.

McDonald's Free Small Coffee: Feb 28 to Mar 6

It's on again! Just in time to battle against Tim Horton's Roll Up the Rim campaign. It's hard to beat a free cup of joe though. This is probably the best deal of the year so be sure to get one. I will be so caffeinated over the next week I don't think I'll be able to see straight.

Here's a way to save even more on your coffee drinking habits.

Zehrs Ontario: 10% Student Discount on Tuesdays

I've heard from many of my student friends that Zehrs is offering a 10% student discount on Tuesdays. Be sure to show your student card to the cashier at the time of purchase to receive the discount. This deal is definitely on in Waterloo, Ontario. I'm not sure if it's nation wide or just in Southwestern Ontario. If anyone can add comments about where else you can find this deal, please feel free.

Here is some information I found at Red Flag Deals:
Everyone has to buy groceries, so might as well do it on Tuesday and save the 10%.

The math to see what you can save:

$50/week on groceries * 10% * 52 weeks = $260
That's a whopping $260 savings a year!

Not so bad if you ask me. Buy your groceries on Tuesday and get 5 weeks of groceries free by the end of the year. This calculation depends a lot on your weekly grocery bill. If you're spending more than $50 a week you could be saving a lot more. Don't forget to include coupons you can find at www.save.ca and deals in the weekly flyer to compound your savings.

Get Ready To Roll Up The Rim!

Click to see full size poster.

In a previous post I compared Tim Hortons coffee with McDonald'ss coffee: tim-hortons-vs-mcdonalds-coffee.html

I still believe that McDonald's offers better value for their coffee, however there's something about rolling up the rim that Canadians have grown to love. Here's some information I found at Smartcanucks.ca about this year's Roll Up the Rim contest.

Begins MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21,2011

Contest Cup Eligibility

Eligible:

• Any medium, large or extra large size hot beverage
• Any hot beverage served in a qualifying china mug or re-useable container upon presentation of their order

NOT eligible:

• Small hot beverages and all cold beverages

Winning Rim Tab Redemption – Food Prizes

• An unlimited number may be redeemed at one time
• Winning Rim Tabs may NOT be redeemed as part as any combo

Coffee

• Guest may select any size of any hot beverage
• A flavor shot may be added at no additional charge
• No other substitutions allowed
• Always server winning beverages with a contest cup

Donut

• Guest may select any variety of one donut, one muffin or one cookie per winning tab
• No other substitutions allowed

Winning Rim Tab redemption – Major Prizes

• Present Guest with 2011 Rules and Regulation Form
• Guest must complete form in full and submit to contest company as indicated
• DO NOT accept or handle a major price winning Rim Tab

Double Cupping

• When required or requested, use a regular brown cup

Damaged/Tampered Cups

• Immediately deemed null and void

Other

• If contest cup not available ask customer if they’d like to change their order to an available cup size
• All major prize winning Rim Tabs must be redeemed by May 22, 2011

• As goodwill gesture, all winning food prizes should continue to be redeemed after this date

Prizes this year are:

40 Toyota Matrix
100 Panasonic 3D TV Packages
1,000 Napoleon Barbecues
5,000 Raleigh Mountain Bikes
25,000 100$ Tim Cards
And over 47 million Food Prizes