I'm here to save YOU money. My name is Kristina and I want to give you the most up-to-date saving tips and ideas.

Thursday 31 January 2013

Home Made Greek Salad Dressing

Home Made Greek Salad Dressing



Hello Everyone, 
Today, I wanted to add another one of my sister-in-laws recipes. She revealed this to me before today and I really wanted to use it yesterday in my 'mid-week-meals'. But I couldn't I had to wait for her to release it and let me do it :) 

Anyhow, Its smart and its simple. Its so easy and it really does save time in the kitchen. So check it out, love, use and comment!! 

Also, remember to go onto my webpage and sign up for a free report for your finances, mortgages, renewals and even for a visa option with great low rates and coverage.  My webpage may be a little everywhere right now. I'm in the midst of getting a new webpage made and this is sort of the default setting, lol. I hate it ;)  www.kristinacrosbie.ca 

Here it is: 

A great trick and way to save time for you during the week is to make a pre-made salad dressing. Its not store bought so you know exactly what goes in it. And the trick here is to use your almost finished dijon mustard container!! 

First let me start by telling you about Turmeric. Turmeric is mainly found in Indian cooking. Fortunately  its is also found in mustard and some dijon mustards. Turmeric is found to be beneficial in many ways such as: detoxify liver, anti- inflammatory, aiding in fat metabolism and helps to maintain weight. There are many more benefits from Turmeric and the reason why I am saying this is so that you make sure when you purchase Dijon Mustard, look for this in the ingredients!! 

When you are nearing the end of your Dijon mustard bottle, approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons left, simple add these ingredients: 

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive oil
1 tbs Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Tbs Red Wine vinegar
1 Minced Garlic Clove
Pinch of salt and Pepper
2 Pinches of Basil and Oregano Leaves 

Shake together and Presto!! 

By Flavia Del Monte


See Also:



Tuesday 29 January 2013

5 Tips for College Students

Its Tips for Tuesday Day!!

And I got a great treat for you, I had this created for me and I love it. I hope you do too. Remember to share it with the loved ones you know that are planning to go to college or university, are in college or even those who you think could benefit from it :)


5 Tips and Things for College Students!

Have a Lovely Day!!
Kristina


See Also: 




Monday 28 January 2013

Motivational Monday! How to Double your Money

Happy Motivational Monday! 


The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your wallet
-unknown author-


Hello Everyone, its so true isn't it? Most people spend more than they should and a large percentage of people these days spend money they dont have. Today's challenge is to think before you spend. 

Love you all, 
Kristina


See Also: 



Friday 25 January 2013

Visa Credit Cards Everyone Should Know About!!!


Good Day All!

I trust you are all doing well and are enjoying this lovely cold weather we are having here in ontario... if you arent from here, lucky cause its COOOOLD!! Honestly Im not a big fan of the cold. 

Anyhow, today I want to bring to your attention some great stuff!! I wanted to let you in on a little secret... Dominion Lending now has Visa Cards!! Ok, its not a secret, but its great news. They are such better offers then you can get at the bank, honestly im not just saying that cause I work for these people.  The rates are good and there are many different cards to suit your needs for coverage, even for students there is great coverage such as travel coverage and cell phone coverage. Its really neat. SO do yourself a good thing, if you are a visa owner, or are looking to get a new one... look into this one. 

Click here for the link: Visa Credit Cards

Be sure to sign up on the site if you are interested, even just to inquire, Id be happy to chat with you!! 

** Remember I work anywhere in Canada, not just ontario. I have many clients in other provinces and it works out great!! 

Have a wonderful friday and an even better weekend!! 

With Love:
Kristina

Thursday 24 January 2013

Newtown massacre charity scam, phishing among top cons of 2012

Hello Readers, 

Today I want to share with you this article that was sent to me. It was very interesting, sad that its true and I was asked to share it. I believe its important for all to know this and it would be best for all of you to take caution. Being aware of whats happening in our world today is so important. Here it is, read, comment, and make sure you are stay safe. Love you all!! 


Metro/Phylicia Torrevillas Better Business Bureau president and CEO Danielle Primrose reveals the bureau’s annual Top Ten Scams of 2012, which include online romance scams, computer virus fixing schemes and investment fraud.

Scam artists in Ottawa have been posing as the Better Business Bureau to steal private data from companies, according to the actual Better Business Bureau.

The organization included that scheme in the top 10 scams of the year on Wednesday.
“The scammers take our identity and pretend to be the BBB and send online messages to consumers and businesses pretending to be us,” said Diane Iadeluca, President and CEO of the Ottawa branch of the BBB. “One company clicked on a link and lost all their data. For a small company, this could be crippling if they lost their order or customer list.”

Iadeluca said this type of scam, known as phishing, was the most popular one to hit the city in 2012. “We have a lot of consumers and businesses calling us saying ‘we got an email from you,’” she said. “The worst thing people can do is to click on those links.”

By clicking a link from a respected organization or friend, you can inadvertently download a computer virus or other malicious code that can destroy your computer or lead to identity theft, she said, noting the scam also hit other groups such as the RCMP and Revenue Canada.
Another popular scam in Ottawa, said Iadeluca, was the “Grandparents Scam” where cons pose as the grandchildren of seniors online, in text messages or phone calls and say they need money after being mugged, arrested or hurt.

“There’s a lot of new twists to old scams,” she said, noting that cons can now glean facts from Facebook pages to add verisimilitude.

The BBB’s “Top Scam of the Year” was a con that cropped up recently following the Newtown massacre where 20 children were gunned down in a Connecticut public school. Soon after the shooting charity sites popped up looking for donations from concerned Canadians. The FBI has arrested one woman who posed as the aunt of one of the dead children. “That one was disgusting,” said Iadeluca. “It just shows you how low some of these people will go.”

To fight back, consumers need to keep themselves educated. “It’s sad to say, but don’t be so trusting of strangers who are emailing or coming to your door asking for personal information, even your birth date,” Iadeluca said.

“Make sure you don’t respond to threats as well. Sometimes people will try to scare you by saying ‘if you don’t pay this, you will be sued by such and such lawyer.”

By Graham Lanktree Metro Ottawa



See Also: 
Financial Tips
What the Dragons' Den!
Gluten Free Recipes 



Wednesday 23 January 2013

Tortilla Chips

Mid-Week Meals...

Todays midweek meal, im going to tell you how to make home made gluten-free tortilla chips. A friend of mine told me about this recipe this past week and its so easy, it saves money, you pretty much always have these ingredients at home and its super easy.

All you need to do is to combine Milk and Oil to a Mix of Flour, Baking Powder and Salt. Now to make this gluten free you use corn flour, but for those of you who don't care, you can use all purpose or whole wheat.

It sounds so simple.

Tip: For old, stale tortilla chips that you have had in your cupboard for a while, brush them with olive oil and pop them in the oven at 350. You can even use left over pita shells, cut them into triangular shapes, coat them in olive oil, sprinkle some spices if you'd like and pop them in the oven a 350 for a max of 15 mins. Remember to rotate them ever few minutes!!!

Yummm, I hope you enjoyed todays post.

Lots of Love
Kristina


Tuesday 22 January 2013

Tips For Tuesday! Dont be a credit card spender


Its 'Tips for Tuesday' day!! And today I have one basic and easy tip! So simple, but many may find it hard to adjust to at first. The tip for today is DONT BE A CREDIT CARD SPENDER!! 

Fact is that if you use cash for your spendings, you can pay better attention to how much you spend, and you can limit yourself better because you can carry the amount you intend to spend. It one of the greatest secrets to saving money if you are a shopper :D 

You can make jars for each expense that you need within a week. For example: Groceries, Gas, Necessities, Other. You get the just of it. 

I also added the fancy ol' $5 Savings Plan that has been floating around for a few years now. 
Try it and let me know how it goes for you. 

With love:
Kristina

See Also:



Monday 21 January 2013

A Man with Surplus Control Circumstances!

Save a part of your income and begin now, for the man with a surplus controls circumstances and the man without a surplus is controlled by circumstances - Henry Buckley




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Friday 18 January 2013

Why more home sellers are listing in January

Hello there, 
Today I want to share another blog about finances and home. I received this article about selling homes in the winter and I thought -its winter and Im sure many people would be happy to read this. 
Check it out:

Why more home sellers are listing in January

By Mark Weislede


Traditionally, January is a slow month for real estate as most sellers choose to wait until the middle of February in the hopes of capitalizing on the early spring market. However, given the uncertainty in the housing market right now, more sellers are opting to put their house on the market in January.
This presents an opportunity for buyers. Most people are reluctant to uproot their families during the school year, so that means less competition — and fewer bidding wars. Lenders will not be as busy, so buyers can expect a more efficient process to get approved for a mortgage to ensure they have financing in place before making an offer.
But there are things you simply won’t be able to inspect during the winter. Here are some tips for protecting yourself when making a deal during the winter months:
Sellers
Spruce up the outside: Use urns with light wood branches to brighten up the exterior of your home, to compensate for any overcast day or snow on the ground.
Get rid of the Christmas lights: homes that look dated on the outside give the impression that they are probably dated on the inside.
Make sure your fireplace is working during any showing, that the temperature is comfortable in the home and that any interior lighting compensates for what is usually grey lighting from outside.
Have pictures of your landscaping available from the summer and autumn, showing how beautiful your home looks year round.
Have available any inspections that you may have done on your air-conditioning unit or swimming pool before they were closed for the winter, as buyers will likely not be able to conduct inspections on these items and will have questions.
Consider inviting a company to do an environmental audit on your home in advance, confirming that there is no moisture behind the walls that could lead to mould and that you have sufficient insulation behind the walls.
Buyers
If there is anything that cannot be inspected because of the winter, such as the air-conditioning system or any swimming pool, then negotiate an extended warranty in the agreement, to give you until at least May 1, to inspect and have the seller be responsible for any damages. In addition, also negotiate a holdback of, say, $2,000 so that if a problem arises, the money comes out of that fund to fix it and you don’t have to chase the seller in court later.
Be careful about snow accumulating around the base of the home. It will be difficult for a home inspector to figure out whether the grading is likely to cause water problems in the basement later. Consider doing your own environmental audit to check for moisture behind any walls.
If the snow on the roof looks like it is evaporating faster than the snow around the house, it is likely a sign that there is not enough insulation in the home.
Check with your insurance company early as to whether you will have any difficulty obtaining insurance on the home; for example, by finding out whether there have been claims made in the neighbourhood about water damages or sewage backups.
Check whether snow accumulation makes it more difficult for street parking, as this may be the only parking available on certain streets. Also see how bad weather may affect your morning commute.
Check the last electric/gas bills, to determine how energy efficient the home is in winter.
People tend to hibernate and stay at home in the winter, so take the opportunity to get to know the neighbours before you finalize your purchase.
By being properly prepared in advance, buyers and sellers can negotiate a safe and successful winter home sale.


You May Also Like: 

Thursday 17 January 2013

Enriched Academy - Dragons' Den!


Hello Everyone, 

I wanted to post this picture to let you all know to watch this episode. The enriched academy is a program to teach youth to save!! Ive been saying for a while that they need to teach managing money in high school... this is close enough! Its a great idea and it looks like the dragon's den are interested ;) 

Not only am I sharing this with you because I think its a great idea but also that the creators work for DLC (Dominion Lending Centres), whom I work for. 

So be sure to watch this!! And get involved! I will definitely be telling the young people I know to get into it!! 

Alrighy, With Love,
Kristina

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Cookies & Cream Cheesecake

Happy Mid-Week Meals!!


Hello All!! 
Today is Gluten Free Recipe day... Ive have share with you a few of my own recipes and I have also shared with you some other recipes from some great people. Today I want to give a shout out to Carol Kicinski. She is a great recipe developer!!

I chose this one of her because I wanted to share a little memory of mine. My husband comes from a massive family and every christmas we all get together, everyone. This year we had nearly 50 people here, just immediate family with their significant others and children. We had a blast. The reason why I am sharing this memory is because one of Sebastian's (my husband) brother and his wife brought a oreo cookie cheesecake and let me tell you it was DELICIOUS!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Mmmhhmmmmm. SO I saw this photo and the recipe and I thought I have to share it because I know for a fact that this cheesecake is to die for. Give it a try and let me know how it turns out. 

Cookies & Cream No Bake Cheesecakes

Ingredients

21 Kinnitoos
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Place paper liners in the cups of a standard muffin pan (12 cups).
Take 3 of the cookies, cut them in quarters for garnish and set aside. Place 12 cookies in a plastic freezer bag and pound them with a rolling pin until they turn into fine crumbs. Divide the crumbs among the muffin cups and press down firmly and evenly. Place the remaining cookies in the bag and break them up so that there are bigger pieces of cookie as well as some crumbs.

Whip the cream on high speed until stiff peaks form with a hand held mixer. Place the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and beat on high speed until smooth and well blended. Fold in the whipped cream and the crushed cookie pieces. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cups. Place one of the quartered cookies on top of each cheesecake. Refrigerate until serving, at least 5 minutes, up to a day ahead.

Servings

This gluten free recipe makes 12 mini cheesecakes.

You can visit her at: Simply... Gluten-Free

See Also:

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Tips for Tuesday - Mortgage Renewal

Need a mortgage renewal soon? 


I wanted to tell everyone about how you can save on your mortgage renewal! One thing I do the most of, it seems like, is mortgage renewals, lol. Many people are still with banks but people are beginning to see the truth - Bank rates are just too high. First of all if you are with a bank, know that most canadians do not ask the bank for the lowest rates, therefore the bank will give them a high rate. People assume that the bank that they've dealt with, for the past 20 years, will give them the best rate. But they won't! Even if they do go there, ask for the best rate... Truth is mortgage agents have better rates, nearly half the amount a bank will send you. For example: recently I had someone come in with the new bank rate they received. the rate was fixed 2% more than what I offered them, the rate they walked away with. If it was .5% higher, my rate would literally be half the rate they offered. 

Anyhow, Thats that. If you are still with a bank and you are interested in seeing the price difference, don't hesitate to ask me. My webpage has a contact section where you can sign up for a free report. Or you can email me. 

Website: www.kristinacrosbie.ca
Email: kcrosbie@dominionlending.ca



Monday 14 January 2013

Money Saving Monday - Stay Committed


Stay Committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach. -Tony Robbins

What great advice eh!! As we stay committed to our decisions to say more and spend less, the way we do so can be done in so many ways. Be flexible and realize that there are so many areas that we can improve one, whether it be eat out less, go to the movies less, spend less on clothes, add more to the RRSP plan, add more to the children piggy bank... etc.  :) 

Have a wonderful day everyone. 


See Also: 

Friday 11 January 2013

Could Your Home Equity Save Your Finances?


Hello everyone!! Happy Finance Friday!
Ive been going over something I want to write about, some important things that I really want to share with you. Being involved in finances I know a lot about the best ways to spend and the best ways to save. At this time of year its really important for people to learn how to save because they are coming out of the big holiday season where everyone spend too much ;) 

Here is a thought that I want to share with you and I hope it really helps you:

This month, next month and even into march, a lot of people will be getting credit card bills in the mail. They will realize how much they spent and even over spent during the holidays. Now most credit card rates are around 10 - 20% with some credit card rates being as high as 25%. If people end up carrying a balance on their credit card for a while, it is actually in their best interest, if the have equity in their home, to finance their home, to pay out that credit card bill. Here is why: because rather than having both a credit card bill (say a minimum payment of $400) then a mortgage payment of $900 (or more), chances are they can refinance and eliminate the credit card balance and only have 1 payment a month, the new mortgage payment. Even though, the mortgage amount would be higher, because the added credit card balance to the mortgage, changes are the new mortgage payment would be lower than the original mortgage payment. BECAUSE rates are so low, compared to when they got the mortgage. Therefore, even though its a higher mortgage amount the payment each month will be lower because of the lower mortgage interest rate. 

Does that make sense? I hope so. And I hope it helps. 

I also want to throw a little something else out there... I am located in ontario and I can work with anyone in ontario with there mortgages, BUT I can also work anywhere in CANADA! I have clients in other towns, cities, and provinces. Its not just a local thing. Its all over. So please dont hesitate to contact me if you wish to seek my help!!

Email: kcrosbie@dominionlending.ca
Phone: 613-283-8763 or Toll Free: 877-583-8763

Hope you all are having a wonderful week and an even better weekend!! 

With Love: 
Kristina Crosbie. 





Wednesday 9 January 2013

Mid Week Meals - Chipotle Chicken

Hello all! Its been a little while since I had to think about a recipe to post. I had too much gluten food this past holiday, it should be a sin! 

Today I wanted to bring to you a recipe from my sister in law. She is a great fitness model and she makes her own recipes so that she can help her fans and followers eat healthy as she does. So here is something you can try at home. Its a simple quick meal and if I can do it , you can! 


Chipotle Chicken

Author: 
Recipe type: Main
Prep time:  
Cook time:  
Total time:  
Serves: 3
Try this super easy chicken recipe today for dinner. This is so tasty, you’ll fool your family into thinking it isn’t healthy.
Ingredients
  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 2 tablespoons chipotle spice
  • 1 tablespoon oregeno
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
Instructions
  1. Coat baking dish with organic olive oil spray
  2. Place chicken breast in dish and add half spices to each breast
  3. Bake at 400 degrees F for 25 minutes. Ovens vary.
Notes
* all spices are dried * chipotle spice could be any brand. I used Clubhouse. Mrs Dash has a good one too.
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 4 oz Calories: 180 Carbohydrates: 4g Sugar: 1g Protein: 20g

Mashed Cauliflower

Ingredients:

1 head of Cauliflower
Salt
Peper
diced fresh herbs: Cilantro & Parsley
Green Onion
1 minced Garlic Clove 
1 tbs Butter

On stove bring your pot of water to a warm temperature over medium heat. While its heating up chop a head of cauliflower into florets. When water is warmed add salt, place florets in water. Check on florets occasionally. When you see that they are soft enough that they start to fall apart you know they are ready. Next, in a blender mix the florets with pepper, fresh herbs, garlic, green onion and butter. Serve Hot.


Aw and there it is, simple, quick and filling. Not to mention healthy! YAY! I love the idea of mashed cauliflower because I love mashed potatoes and now I have a healthier alternative. 
I hope you all enjoy this recipe. Try and make sure you come back on to here and comment letting me know how it went. Enjoy! 

With Love:
ME! 

Monday 7 January 2013

The Trick to Stop...


Hello Everyone!! Happy Money Saving Monday!!

This is a great quote, it caught my eye as soon as I read it and I thought, perfect for today!! 

Is it so true that when we get some kind of a loan, visa, master card or another kind of credit given to us we tend to think we have more money to spend?? I catch myself thinking that way sometimes. 
REALITY CHECK!! Its not. Its borrowed and if you use it, you need to pay it back. Why I am saying this is because if we start to think of it as 'not ours' rather its the banks or the governments or friends, family members, whom ever we borrowed from, then it will make it easier to set that thing back down and rethink before purchasing it. 

Think of it this way: 
-You will have to pay it back
-You will have to pay interest
-If you know you cannot give a payment toward the 'card' or 'debt' within the month, don't make the purchase. 
-Keep it for what you need it for, not what you want
-Know that the more you save now, the less debt you have, the more money you have later

Its so easy for us to get tempted to spend now a days. And this is one simple way to help us not to spend too much. Another way of looking at it: 

If you have a family or a significant other think of it this way. The money isn't all of yours. Before you spend, think of the entire family or of your spouse, whomever you have in your life that means responsibility other than yourself. Then decide, am I taking from them? Could it make it hard on us down the road? am I jeopardizing or even neglecting these relationships. Will it benefit just me or will it benefit 'us'? Even worse will it destroy us?

A big sucker is OSAP or student debt. Students get these student loans (whether it be osap or not) and they pay off what they need and have a thousand or a few hundred or more or less left over, then they think.... EXTRA MONEY!! But reality is that thousand or so will be increased with interest and you will have to give in back some day. 

Tip: Rather then spending the extra, save it for an emergency firstly, but mostly to have to go towards paying it back. If you took out 6,000, used 5,000, you will have less to pay back to them from the original owing and less interest added to it cause less was used. 

You see what I mean? 

In other words, instead of taking 5 years to pay off your debt, you have 4 years. That means the sooner you pay it off, the sooner you can get that dream car, home, wedding...etc. 

I hope that helps :) 

With Love: 
ME 

See Also:
Saving Money when shopping Online 
11 Steps to Financial Freedom  
Other ways to save money 


Friday 4 January 2013

At Home Self Tanning Solution

Alright for you ladies and gents out there who love to tan yet a) live in a wintery country and/or b) don't want to damage your skin... I came across this today and thought I would share it with you.

I know its not a furniture friday or finance friday post but I have to post this!!

This girl has some pretty sweet stuff on her blog and this especially is something I will be trying and ill let you know how it goes.

Now what you have all been waiting for:


This solution will last up to 4 days and will not damage your skin! You wont have to pay money to go to a tanning bed or get a spray tan! Its brilliant and it looks great. So read up and try. Then comment below and tell me how it went. 
 All you have to do is:
1. Grab yourself a clean spray bottle, 4 black tea bags, and 2 cups of water.
2. Find a spot in your bathroom you don’t mind getting a little messy in, such as the shower or your bathtub.
3. Boil your water and let your tea bags steep for about 15 minutes.  
4. While your teabags are steeping, have a quick shower to get any excess oil or sweat off your body so your tan doesn’t end up looking streaky and will dry evenly. 
5. Once you are done your shower, are completely dried off, and your tea has cooled down enough to touch without burning you, simply pour your tea, sans tea bags, into your spray bottle and sit down in your bathtub or shower.  
6. Then spray yourself evenly with your tea mixture, giving it time to soak in and dry before doing your next coat.  
*I find it best to do one body part at a time and let that section dry before moving onto another area so you can be sure your tan looks exactly how you want it to look.* 
7. If you are after a darker shade, spray yourself a third or fourth time until you get your desired color.  
8. Make sure that you are fully dry before getting dressed as you don’t want to run the risk of staining your clothes. 
Well there you go!! Sounds so easy eh!! Well I will for sure be trying this out, I have been craving a tan. And im super excited for this. Thank you Vanessa :)

Thank you all. Hope your holidays were/are wonderful. I had a great Christmas and New Years celebration... Such a great time of year. Now we are in 2013! crazy.

With Love,
ME!


Find her blog at: http://topbeautybrands.com