Regardless of what you’re saving for – a down payment on a home, a dream vacation, a child’s education or your eventual retirement – developing good saving habits can definitely pay off. Even relatively small but regular contributions can quickly gain momentum thanks to the power of compounding, or making interest on your interest. Most people can rationalize buying new bedroom furniture or a better and more reliable car by using small monthly payments spread over several years. However, you can also use this strategy to build hefty savings. For some, saving is instinctive. Chipmunks know they must save enough nuts and seeds to get them through the winter. They even build storage rooms in their burrows. But it’s important everyone – even humans – realize the importance of saving. Deciding on your goals for the future The first step is determining an investment strategy and that means carefully evaluating your financial goals. After all, saving for a down payment on a house or a new car requires a different approach than long-term retirement planning. So, ask yourself this: what do you want to do with your money? Crunching the numbers Next, set up a spending plan to help you determine how much you can afford to put away each month. There are plenty of online tools and calculators that can help you. Start by going over your chequing and savings accounts and credit card statements, including ATM withdrawals. Make sure to include everything – even those pricey takeout lunches. This exercise can help you trim excessive spending. Once you have a better understanding of your income and expenses, determine your savings “payment.” Be bold, as you can always dial it back a bit later on. Or better yet, keep the amount steady and reduce your overall spending. Then, as your income grows, continue to raise the amount you put away each week. Choosing the right investment solution Your financial professional can help you choose the right mix of investments and help you achieve your unique savings goals. Why it’s is crucial to start saving now Setting up a regular, automatic savings plan is an essential part of anyone’s financial health. The sooner you start, the better off you’ll be and the sooner you’ll achieve your goals.

Sometimes I go for a little drive out in the country, taking pictures.  And tonight's experience is best portrayed in a recap, on a few thoughts from tonight's excursion.  "I should go to the grocery store.....what was I gonna get again?" "I should go for a quick drive first." "Is this actually a road?" "What's that high pitched squealing noise coming from the front end of my car?" "Where'd that moose come from?" A moose.  1 moose.  Moose.  Me.  Beside a shed. In a field.  With a moose.  That came out of a shed. Of all the things I run across....beavers....ducks.....geese.  This has to be the best thrill yet.  When I explore abandoned farmyards and old houses, I watch out for old wells.....barbed wire. Badgers. Zombies.  Axe murderers.  It hadn't occurred to me that I'd turn around and be staring a moose in the face. That just came out of a small shed.  He was having a nap inside a shed. I saw something move as I was walking towards the building and it kind of startled me, I briefly thought it'd be a bird. Nope.  Moose.  Where do you go from there?  Can't top that for a night.  This is a moose, isn't it? Yours truly, Caley

Random and peculiar things I noticed, on a Tuesday night after the grocery store, and a Friday night hockey game.  1). I thoroughly enjoy setting down the huge package of 18 rolls of toilet paper, at the dining room end of my 20 ft hallway, and kicking it to the other end like I'm going in for a field goal.  2). I also enjoy throwing any dirty tea towels/clothes down the same long hallway, like I'm pitching for the Blue Jays. That's the only sports team name I can use, because it's the only one that I actually know what sport they play.  On a side note, this past Friday night I went to my first hockey game. Ever. I think I'm the only person in the northern hemisphere whose never been to one.  The Wheat Kings game was action packed and ridiculously exciting!  I learned that "SOG" is not the score.....which was helpful in my confusion at wondering how I missed 28 goals....especially considering I was in the front row behind the glass. The energy in that crowd was unbelievable!   The other amusing highlight was how the whole crowd chants these sayings, all the humans.....in perfect unison, and then they all stop at the same time.  "They've done this before"......I thought to myself. All 5000 of them.  The outburst of excitement that came from the crowd after each goal, was akin to the sound a 20ft pile of wood makes when somebody pours a few dozen litres of gas on it and then tosses a match. WOOOOF! Explosive!  Yellow flags flapping everywhere!  Horns, cheering, clapping, pounding music, "the gold rush" they call it. And I can see why. What an incredibly amazing bunch of athletes.  I'm sold. So back to grocery shopping.  3). I ate 4 peanut butter square marshmallow things from the bakery for supper. Because I ran out of Toffifee yesterday. Morning.   4).  Whenever I get into an empty grocery store isle, I ride the cart. I push it fast, and then lift my feet up and ride it until something I want catches my eye, (or there's suddenly a witness, unless it's a little kid - they don't care that I'm doing it so I never stop if one's watching) and I put my feet down and slide like I'm a rock on a shuffle board.  5).  I noticed that as I loaded each bag into the trunk of the car, I was counting out loud. This didn't become apparent to me until I was up to about 6. Which makes me think of a few things. First of all, why am I counting. And second, why am I doing it out loud. And ok 3rd, I realized this is not the first time I've done this. Somehow I was unaware of it until now though. Yours truly, Caley

Oh wonderful, perpetually tardy Spring…it still tends to sneak up on you…especially when shorts, tank top and bikini season is approaching. Spring represents new beginnings, transformations and fresh starts. A mini-New Year’s for resolutions. I believe it’s never too late to start over again. It’s the only way to reach your goals. I have a calendar of motivational quotes and when I flipped it to April it said…”The beginning can happen anywhere along the way…” Something about that made me feel better, made me want to get re-started, re-motivated and re-committed to my goals for 2016. What goals have you let slide since the New Year? There is still time…(trust me, mother nature is taking her sweet ass time) The Zen Zone runs a “6 weeks to May long yoga challenge” every year. It motivates our challengers to get to where they want to be mind, body and spirit by May long weekend.   I am continually inspired by the different challenges that my clients want to accomplish in these 6 weeks. The goals range from quitting drinking alcohol, committing to a daily yoga practice, cutting out soft drinks and refined sugar to starting a regular meditation habit. What a great way to start some healthy habits to take with us through the rest of 2016 and save ourselves a New Year’s resolution for 2017! Longer days, more sunshine and that smell in the air. Let all these signs of spring launch you back into your routines. Get outside, get back in the gym, hit the yoga studio, whatever moves you. Connect to what feels good for your body and let’s get healthy and feeling better for when summer hits! And bottom line…it won’t hurt for when you put on that bathing suit either…

If Comic Con is on your bucket list, but you're not quite ready to tackle THE Comic Con in San Diego, what about giving Palm Springs a try?  For the first time, a version of the famed convention will take place in Palm Springs California this year.   The inaugural event is being held at the end of summer, August 26th through 28th, 2016 and will feature comic book icon Stan Lee.  To travel to Palm Springs, in the winter, it is very convenient to fly out of Brandon (YBR) however, in the summer the flight will connect and delay you overnight in Calgary. Therefore, I'd recommend using an alternate airport, like Winnipeg (YWG) or even Minot (MOT) or Devil's Lake (DVL).  A good price for a Palm Springs flight is $400 or less (Canadian Funds)  The current best price I see, is $361 (US Funds) with United Airlines and out of Minot. It also happens to be the quickest flight at just over 5 hours, with a connection in Denver.  There are no direct flights to Palm Springs (PSP) this time of year.  The host hotel, is the Renaissance. It's just a couple miles from the airport, thought you could say that about anywhere. Palm Springs, is a very compact city, small and well laid out, like Brandon. If you can navigate Brandon, you will do fine to rent a car and drive in Palm Springs.  The Renaissance is a Marriott Hotel. If it's full, or you are looking for a fun, designer boutique hotel in the area, you may wish to try the Triada, or the Riviera. During my last visit to Palm Springs, we stayed at the Riviera and loved their pool area, the rhinestone billiards table and the white grand piano in the lounge.  The Best Western (as shown in the Expedia example) is also very near to the convention and priced well.  As a 5 night package, with flights, hotel and tax it currently shows through Expedia  for under $1000 Canadian per person, of two people sharing a room.