plentyofnewervarietiesthriveinapot.Askatyourgardencentrefor
“patiotomatoes”andconsidersmallercherrytomatovarieties.
3.Salad
Headsoflettucetakeupalotofspace,butspringmixvarietiesgrowin
lessspaceandcanbeharvestedfrequently.Arugulaisafrugalfavourite foraspiciersalad.
4.Snappeasandbeans
Runsomestringsupyourbalconyandgetverticalwithpeasandbeans
growninapot.
5.Radishes
Radishesarequickandeasytogrowanddon’ttakemuchspace.
6.Beets
Beetsgroweasilyinacontainer.Justbesuretousealargeenoughpot forthevarietyyouchoose.
7.Cabbage
Containercabbagetakesalittlebitofwork.Whenthecabbageheadis
firstformingonyourplant,slicethetoppartofitintoquarters(when lookingdown)togrowfoursmallerheadsinsteadofonelargeone.
8.Garlic
Asmallrectangularplantercangrowenoughgarlictolastyoualong
time.It’seasytogrow,andifyoudryitafterharvestingitcouldlastyou wellintothewinter.
9.Hotpeppers
Ifyouliveinawarmerclimate,hotpepperssuchasjalapeñosaresimple to grow. They can be used as attractive ornamentals while providing somehome-grownheatforyourchili.
10.Cucumbers
Don’t go for the massive field cucumber varieties, which require too muchspace.Smallpicklingvarietiesgrowwellinapotandtastegreat
bothfreshandpickled.
Bonus:Catnip
Catnipiseasytogrowandcanprovidehoursofentertainmentforyour
feline friends. Catnip can be easily used in homemade cat toys and sharedwithyourneighbourhoodcats.
PARTFOUR
MoreWaystoSave
We’velookedatwhereyoulive,howyoulivethere,andeverydetailof
everyroom,buttherearestillmorewaystosave!Checkoutthesefinal pagesforsuggestionsonhowtogetoutofthehousewithoutbreaking
thebank,howtopamperyourpetsforlessandforhandycheckliststhat will help jumpstart your journey on the road to frugal bliss. Happy saving!
18WaystoSaveonYourNextFamilyVacation
1. Go all-inclusive. Choosing an all-inclusive resort vacation is the easiestwaytosticktoyourbudget,sinceyouwon’thavetoplanfor
meal expenses and entertainment. (They’re also a great choice if you’retravellingwithteenswhohavebigappetites.)Beforeyousign
up,however,considerwhetheryou’llbepayingforservicesyouwon’t
use.Ifyouandyourfamilyarenotbigeaters,oriftheupfrontprice
includesalcoholandyoudon’tdrink,youmaysavemoneybypaying
asyougo.
BOTTOMLINE:Anall-inclusiveflightandresortpackageisabout
20%lessthanthecostofbookingseparately.
2. Go in the off-season. While beach getaways are more welcome during a Canadian winter, many families with kids can travel only when school is out. Late summer can be a good time to visit the CaribbeanorMexico,sincetripstothesedestinationsarecheaperand
theweatherinAugustisn’tthatmuchhotterthaninFebruary.Ifyour
kidscanaffordaweekoffschool,travellinginNorthAmericainMay,
June or September allows you to save money and avoid crowds in popular tourist areas, while still enjoying decent weather in most places.
BOTTOM LINE: Visiting a destination during its low season can oftensaveyou30%to40%.
3.Waittillthelastminute. Ifyou’rejustinterestedingettingaway, some super-cheap last-minute packages are available online. (In the travelbusiness,“lastminute”reallymeansyoubookacoupleofweeks
early.) Check out sites such as SellOffVacations.com, TripCentral.ca, Travelocity.ca and Expedia.ca. Last-minute deals are less tempting when it’s high season, but you can almost always find week-long getaways for under $700 per person, including flight and hotel.
BOTTOMLINE:Expedia.caadvertiseslast-minutedealsfor30%off.
4. Shop around for the cheapest flights. For popular destinations, bookingonlineisusuallythebestwaytofindgooddeals.Startwith
FlightCentre.ca and CheapFlights.ca, as well as the more
comprehensiveExpedia.caandTravelocity.ca.Thelatterhasaservice
called FareWatcher that tracks up to 10 destinations and sends you emailalertswhengooddealsbecomeavailable.Foroverseasflights,
consider using a consolidator, a company that buys up unsold seats from airlines and unloads them at deep discounts. Visit
BargainTravel.comorAirlineConsolidator.comtogetstarted.
BOTTOMLINE:Comparingflightsonlineshouldsaveyouatleast
10%asopposedtobookingdirectlythroughtheairline.
5.Findcheaphotelsonline. Many budget travellers have discovered Hotwire.com, where you can save big if you’re willing to wait until afteryourbookingisconfirmedtolearnthenameofyourhotel(you
dogettochoosetheneighbourhood).Youcanalsofindcheaprooms
throughHotels.caandWotIf.com.Here’satip:afteryouconfirmyour
bookingonline,callthehotelandaskforaroomonahigherfloor.
Manyhotelsputtheironlinebookingsonlower(andnoisier)floors,
buttheywillusuallymoveyouforfreeifyouask.
BOTTOMLINE:Hotwire.comsaysitcansaveyouupto60%.
6.Lookforalternativestoahotel. Bookingyourfamilyanapartment orcondomaybecheaperforstaysofmorethanafewdays,plusyou’ll
enjoytheexperienceofgettingoffthetouristtrack.Houseswapsarea bargain if you’re willing to let strangers stay at your place: browse HomeForExchange.com,HomeXchangeVacation.comandsimilarsites.
Anotheroptionistorentatime-sharepropertyfromitsowner:lookat
VRBO.com(that’s“vacationrentalsbyowner”)forideasandreviews
oftheproperties.
BOTTOM LINE: There are some great deals to be had at
VRBO.com,suchassuitesinHawaiifor$500(US)aweek.
7.Enjoymealsinyourroom. Whentravellingwithkids,mealscanbe your biggest expense. Choose accommodations with a fridge, stove
and microwave, then hit the grocery store and plan for at least one mealadayinyourroom.Stockuponjuiceandsnackstoavoidthe
ridiculous prices in vending machines and hotel tuck shops. After a longdayofsightseeingyouprobablywon’tfeellikecooking,sobuy
breadandcheeseandmakeyourownsandwichesforasuper-cheap
andquickmeal.
BOTTOMLINE:Buyingabagofmilk,somefreshfruitandabox
ofcerealwillsaveyou$20adayonbreakfastforafamilyoffour.
8. Watch for extra charges. Travel sites love to advertise super-low pricesforflightsandaccommodations,buttheyonlytellpartofthe
story. Taxes and fees can quickly turn your apparent bargain into a ho-hum deal, or even a rip-off. Read the fine print on websites and travel brochures, and if you’re booking by telephone, make it clear youwanttoknowthetotalpricebeforeyougiveoutyourcreditcard
number.
BOTTOMLINE:AnexamplefromFlightCentre.cashowsthatthe
teaser price can be less than a third of the real cost: they advertised Toronto to Fort Lauderdale for $83—plus $226 in
taxesandfees.
9.Paywithcash. It’seasytoburnthroughmorethanyoucanaffo
rd when you’re on vacation, especially if you pay for everything with yourdebitorcreditcard.You’llspendlessifyougiveyourselfadaily limitandonlycarryasmuchcashasyourbudgetallowsandkeepthe
restlockedinthehotelsafe.Giveyourkidsadailyallowancethatwill coversnacksandanysouvenirstheychoosetobuy.
BOTTOMLINE:Ifyou’repronetobuyingimpulsesouvenirsand
overindulgingatrestaurants,youcancutyourdailyspendingin
halfbypayingwithcash.
10. Fly from a U.S. airport. If you’re travelling to the United States, especiallyduringpeaktimes,itmaybefarcheapertodepartfroma
bordercity:forexample,ifyouliveinsouthernOntario,flyingfrom
Buffalo can be much cheaper than departing from Toronto. Some
families save even if they have to book a hotel the night before departure.Youmightneedthehelpofatravelagent,sinceCanadian
websitesmaynotallowyoutobuydepartureticketsfromU.S.cities.
BOTTOM LINE: During the Christmas rush, a family of four can save several hundred dollars per ticket with a cross-border
departure.
11.Gocamping. Noteveryoneisthecampingtype,butitreallyisthe ultimate low-cost family vacation. If you’ve never camped before, bookacabinataprivatecampgroundbeforeyouconsiderpitchinga
tent. Camping equipment is expensive, and if you’re a novice you won’t know what to bring, so talk with friends who are veteran campersandseeifyoucanborrowtheirstuff(orrentatentfroma
localcampingstore)foryourfirsttrip.BOTTOMLINE:Youwon’tfind
acheaperdestinationthanacampsiteataprovincialparkfor$30a
day,includingshowers.
12.Getthemostoutofyourcreditcard. Noonewantstopaymore feestothegoodpeopleatMasterCard,VisaandAmericanExpress.But
someofthebenefitstheyoffercanbeagreatdealfortravellers.Ifyou haveapremiumcard,chancesareyourannualfeeincludesinsurance
forrentalcars(whichcanbe$20adayotherwise)andevencoverage
for trip cancellation or baggage loss. Call your credit card company beforeyoubooktomakesureyouunderstandtheconditions.
BOTTOMLINE:BMO’sMosaikMasterCardoffersatravelpackage
coveringcancellation,flightdelays,baggagelossandcarrental
coverage for just $60 a year. For similar coverage on a $5,000
tripthroughatravelagent,youmaypayfivetimesmore.
13. Forget the lame souvenirs. Everyone wants to remember great familyvacations,butwhohasn’texperiencedbuyer’sremorseaftertoo
manytripstothetouristshops?Preserveyourvacationmemoriesby
takinglotsofphotosandmakingascrapbookwhenyougethome.If
yourkidsneedtobringsomethingback,suggesttheypickupshells
fromthebeachoracoolrockfromthehikingtrail,orsavetheirticket
stubsfrommuseumsandotherattractions.
BOTTOMLINE:SaynotoonetackyT-shirtandsave$25.
14.Getagoodexchangeonyourloonies. Ifyou’retravellingtothe U.S. or overseas, currency exchanges can cost you a bundle. Plan aheadandexchangecashatyourhomebankratherthanattheairport
orhotel:countersthatcatertotouristsofferunfavourablerates.While theInteracsystemiswidelyavailableintheU.S.,boththelocalbank
and your home bank usually charge a hefty service fee for
withdrawals,andanadditionalfee(typicallyabout2%or3%)forthe
currencyexchange.Askyourbankhowyoucanreducethesecharges.
Forexample,Scotiabankcustomerscanmakeno-chargewithdrawals
at Bank of America ATMs and through specific banks in other
countries.
BOTTOMLINE:Whentheofficialexchangerateis80centsonthe
loonie, $200 American should cost you $240 Canadian. But
withdraw that $200 at an ATM south of the border, and you
couldpay$250ormorebecauseoffees.
15.Planaheadandprepay. Flightsandhotelsaren’ttheonlyplaces youcansavebysurfingtheweb.Takesometimetoplanaheadand
youcansavebiginotherways:themeparks,museumsandattractions
willoftengivediscountsifyoubuyticketsonlinebeforeyouarrive—
you’ll save lineups, too. Restaurants.com offers coupons for eateries across the United States: you choose the neighbourhood and get a choiceofrestaurantswhereyoucanbuya$10voucherfor$3,ora
$25 voucher for $10. To save on airport parking, visit
DiscountAirportParking.net, where you can get a heavily discounted priceforasmallupfrontfee.
BOTTOM LINE: A half-hour online before you leave can knock
$100ormoreoffyourtrip.
16.Getahotelwithapool. Ahotelpoolisthebestfreeentertainment you’llfindonafamilyvacation.Itwillkeepkidsoccupiedforhours
and allow you to relax with a book and a drink at poolside. Some
familiesevenoptforacheapminivacationwithyoungkidssimplyby bookingapool-equippedhotelneartheirhomefortheweekend.
BOTTOMLINE:Put$40inyourpocketbyspendingoneafternoon
inthewaterinsteadofheadingoutforaroundofmini-golforgo-
karting.
17. Look for freebies. Many museums have one night a week when admissionisfreeorreduced.Planaheadandarrangeyouritineraryso
youcantakeadvantageofthesefreebies.(Beawarethatplaceswill
usuallybemorecrowdedonthesedays.)Ratherthanbookingabus
tour,explorecitieswithaself-guidedwalk—lookforroutesuggestions
at the tourist info booth—especially if you have older kids. Stuff a backpackwithdrinksandsnackssoyouwon’tbetemptedtostopat
everyStarbucks.
BOTTOMLINE:VisittheChicagoChildren’sMuseumonSaturday
afternoonandafamilyoffourpays$36.GoonThursdayevening
insteadandgetinforfree.
18.Makeita“staycation.” Takeaweekofftojusthangoutwithyour kids:goswimmingatthecommunitypool,ortakewalksorbikerides
intheneighbourhood,finishingwithastopforicecream.Ifyoulive
inabigcity,chancesaretherearepopulartouristspotsthatyou’ve
neverbotheredtovisit:howmanyTorontonianshaveneverbeenup
theCNTower?Aridetothetopmaybepricey($25perperson),but
it’snothingcomparedtothecostofan“awaycation”—andhasthefeel
ofavacationtreat.Ifyourkidsaresportsfans,takethemtowatchthe local minor-league or junior team to enjoy a fast-paced game at a fraction of the cost of the big leagues. For ideas—and a genuine vacationatmosphere—pickupatouristguidetoyourowncity.
BOTTOMLINE:Giveupaweekataresortorhotelandsaveas
muchasafewthousanddollars.
11WaystoSaveonYourPets
1. Adopt, don’t buy, a pet. Rather than spend hundreds or even thousandsofdollarsonapurebredpuppyorkitten,adoptalovable
muttoradorabletabbyfromtheSocietyforthePreventionofCruelty
to Animals (SPCA), humane society or municipal animal services.
Adoptionfeesaregenerallyunder$200fordogsandunder$100for
cats.Beforeadoption,manyshelterswillencourageyoutobringthe
animalhomeonatrialbasistodeterminecompatibility.Adoptingan
adultanimalinsteadofanewbornonemeansthatbehaviouralquirks
choose the perfect pet for your family. If you’re set on a particular breedorneedahypoallergenicdog,checkoutpetfinder.com,where
you can search the postings of local rescue societies. Fees will be higherthanattheSPCAbutstillahugesavingsoverapetstore.
BOTTOM LINE: Bring home a pet from the SPCA or humane
society and save hundreds by not buying from a pet store or breeder.
2. Get your pet spayed or neutered. Caring for one pet can be a wonderful experience. Caring for a litter of puppies or kittens and finding homes for them is expensive. With many thousands of
unwanted animals put down by shelters each year, it is very
responsibletohelpcontrolthepetpopulation.Spayingandneutering
earlycanalsohelpminimizeyourvetcostsdowntheroadbyhelping
todecreasetheoddsofinfectionandillnessinolderanimals.
BOTTOMLINE:Littersofpuppiesorkittensmaybecute,butthey
become expensive when you factor in vet bills and the cost of finding homes for them. Spend a little now on spaying or
neuteringyourpettosavedowntheroad.
3. Brush those teeth. Like humans, a dog’s teeth can decay if not cleanedregularlyandcancostyouwithbigvetbillsinyearstocome
—sostartbrushingFido’steeth.Beverycarefulandgentlewhenyou
startabrushingroutine,asitmaytakeawhileforyourdogtoaccept
dentalcare.Teethcanalsobecleanedtosomeextentbyfeedingyour
doghardkibbleandprovidingacheworropetoy.Regulardentalcare reducesthenumberofvisitsyourdogwillneedforteethcleaning,and
also decreases the chance the dog will need expensive veterinary attentionforothertooth-relatedproblemslaterinlife.
BOTTOMLINE:Brushingyourdog’steethcanhelppreventtartar
buildupandtoothdecay.Preventbringingyourdogtothevetfor
a$500cleaningbyspending$5onbrushingFido’sfangsweekly
withbeef-flavoureddoggietoothpaste.
4. Only vaccinate if necessary. Common wisdom holds that pets shouldgettheirshotseveryyear,butcheckwithyourveterinarianto
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