Student Travel: Keeping Reading Week Inexpensive

Whether you are going away to an all-inclusive down south or travelling somewhere else it's extremely important to limit your spending while you are away. It can be especially tempting to purchase a ton of stuff before prepping for your trip, or blow a huge chunk of cash while you are away. Trips are one of those purchases that lead to the need to buy more. You never just pay for a hotel and flight, there are a tons of purchases made before you go away from tanning to a new suitcase or (I really hope not) a brand new iPad so you can watch movies on the flight..



Here are a few tips for keeping costs low (since you already have paid for a flight/hotel or all-inclusive vacation).

Go to Walmart for your pharmacy type products.

• I know I did suggest the place that everyone loves to hate, but its often a lot cheaper than Shoppers Drug Mart when your looking for sunscreen (and aloe) and all that other fun stuff.

Dollarstore

• You can buy a variety of products for around a $1 or $2. There are airplane neck pillows to a variety of snacks you can bring on the plane.
• Also you can grab travel size shampoos/conditioners/moisturizer etc. for cheap

Check Canadian Tire for Bubba's

• Yup these are awesome, and I did already post a link the other day on the Facebook page. I'm going to be taking one away with me when I head south and it's relatively inexpensive while keeping your drinks nice and cold.

Take a set amount of money away with you and avoid using your credit cards unless its an emergency

There are also a few things that I hate forgetting;

• Sunglasses
• Loading up my iPhone with music/movies and other in flight entertainment
• Books
• Deck of cards and other stuff needed for drinking games 

Also just so you don't for get anything, check out Sunwings Trip Checklist (yeah I know it's kind of dated, who brings a camera anymore...)

Image

Read More

Not So Extreme Couponing

We all know a few years ago how much couponing in the United States blew up. And if you didn't congrats I'm kind of jealous you didn't have to hear about it. There were women out there who managed to pay about $6 for a $200 grocery bill or something ridiculous like that...only in the US.

Now for the less crazy people out there who don't want to be carrying around a folder full of coupons or basically fill their basement like a personal grocery store...there are less drastic savings options.

What I'm here to tell you is that you can't find a few coupons here and there and save a few bucks. We don't  need to develop our own store room of food, but by following a few tips and checking out the following websites you can save some money...without being crazy.

• First off check out my coupon page which has some of the better websites out there for coupons that can be printed or directly mailed to you.
• These are some of the best websites out there in terms of coupons
• Also check out a previous post I put together on how Facebook can save you money.
• Make sure to like these pages on Facebook. Basically you will get a variety of contests, offers as well as coupons for sometimes free product right to your newsfeed.
• Keep coupons in your wallet-the amount of times I've forgotten coupons is annoying and then I end up not saving as much
• Double up coupons on top of sale prices, it helps you save even more
• If you are printing coupons make sure your grocery store accepts printable one's. Some store's are coming around to the idea of printable coupons (fraud was one of the main concerns previously).

Also here's a little gift from me..for all those ice cream lovers.

Chapman's $5 Coupon Offer

All you have to do is click on the link above and write in the comment area that you would like to request the $5 coupon from Chapman's and then they mail it to you. Simple as that.

Oh and then double up the coupon with sale prices and you've got yourself a pretty sweet deal. 

Read More

Subletting a Rental

Some students may never have to worry about subletting their rental, while others especially those that go on exchanges, are in co-op or only take a final part year may have to do so. Here are some tips and tricks on how to sublet your room  in order to save some money when you aren't living in your home. Make sure to also speak with your landlord before you start thinking about posting an ad, your landlord may not want subletters at all which could prevent you from doing so.

Posting your ad
Make sure to choose a classified site that a large proportion of your student body frequents. This could be a school affiliated classified site, or by using kijiji and craigslist. It's also a great option to consider posting a listing within the Facebook group you joined with all the other members of your graduating class.

When posting your ad its really important to include the following information;

• General location
• Distance to the school and the closest bus stop
• Which buses/subways take you to the school
• Amenities available ie. kitchen, laundry, parking etc.
• Efficiency of heating etc.
• Rental price per month
• Specify if utilities are included
• How many other rooms are in the house
• If you have a preference include student, male or female etc.
• Dates the sublet is available
• And Contact Information!

Screening potential candidates
An important thing that may slip your mind at first is the compatibility that the candidate has with your current roommates. It's important to ask a few questions like, why are you subletting? Are you a university student?
The more easy going an individual is, the more likely they will fit in with a group of strangers. It's important to choose subletters at your own discretion  and you may even want to request a reference from their previous landlord if you're really unsure. It's also a bad sign when you get an extremely sketchy response to the initial posting, it may be a sign that that individual should just be off the list immediately.

Setting up viewings
Communicate with possible subletters through whatever means necessary and set up viewings of your room. I know I'm a messy person, everyone tells me that, but you need to pretend like your a real estate agent selling a house. Make sure your room looks amazing, it's going to be a much easier sell. Make sure to have information on hand about the type of heating system, the average monthly utility costs etc. These are questions that subletters will ask.

Finalizing the deal
Always make sure you form a contract with a sublet.

You can use a template like the link below
http://studentlife.uoguelph.ca/sites/uoguelph.ca.ocl/files/SubletAgreement08.pdf

Also it's important to determine a payment plan in terms of both utilities and monthly rent, which should be included within your contract. The safer the better, and in most cases it's a great idea to request post dated cheques as well as the last months rent in order to confirm that the subletter will actually pay you. Make sure to contact your landlord and let them know that an individual has been confirmed as a sublet.
Provide the subletter with e-mails or some other contact information so they can get in touch with their future roommates if need be (this is optional).

Image

Read More

Kitchen Food Essentials: Pantry & Fridge

When moving into a new house, or moving back into your old one, you may be quick to realize that you have very little in terms of food and don't know where to begin. Just like kitchen utensils, you do need a quite a few ingredients here and there in order to get a meal together. There are a few shelf-stable/non-perishable things that you should always have around, the fresh stuff is mostly up to you.

The Essentials;
-Spray Oil/Cooking Oil
-Butter/Margarine
-Milk
-Eggs
-Mayo
-Tomato Sauce (Canned/in Jars)
-Pasta
-Rice
-Apples/Banana's/Oranges
-Canned/Frozen Veggies & Fruits
-Kraft Dinner/Mr Noodles
-Chicken/Beef/Beans or your choice of protein
-Cereal/Oatmeal
-Some sort of fruit (if you do that) - or assorted fruit juices :S
-Milk
-Canned Tuna/Chicken/Ham
-Cheese

The Essential Spices (if you actually use spices)
-Salt
-Pepper
-Red Pepper Flakes
-Garlic Powder or real garlic. You can also buy pre-chopped garlic in a jar.
-Seasoning Salt (awesome on fries)
-Steak spice (for chicken and of course steak)
Check out a more comprehensive list here (if you really are dedicated chef)

Now I have just given you the basics. Most of the food choices you make are going to be more specific to allergies, tastes and cooking abilities. A few good frozen foods are always a good call in case you haven't made it to the grocery store.
Image

What's the number 1 food item you can't live without?

Read More

Coffee Consumption [Infographic]

Just found this new infographic about coffee consumption. 

Do any of the our readers drink more than 3 cups of coffee a day?

Retrieved from http://www.coolinfographics.com/blog/2012/5/23/fast-facts-on-coffee-consumption.html

Read More

Getting a Job After University: Where to Begin

A recent article made me a bit more interested in this topic. It's a constantly revolving door where employers want a bunch of experience for lower level/entry level positions, yet how are students and recent grads supposed to get this experience in the first place?

You can check out my article of inspiration by clicking here

The article is in fact a letter to a writer at the Globe and Mail from a struggling 20 something fairly recent grad, who is struggling with both finding a permanent job, but also the expectations he had before he graduated University. 

This blog post will cover some ideas that I have when it comes to building your resume, and hopefully providing you with a better job search outlook once you finish university. Now this isn't a fool proof plan, and I have yet to graduate from University myself, but hopefully this will give you a little motivation, open your eyes and make graduation seem a little less scary. 

Where to Begin?

It's hard to exactly pin point where to begin, but there are a few steps that you need to consider when it comes to future career choices. First off the type of hiring environment that you will enter is based on a bunch of factors;

1. The ones you can control; 

• Your resume and the experience's you have gained
• The way you prepare yourself for the hiring process
• The way you present yourself 
• The expectations you have when it comes to future job's that you may take
• The network you build  (ie. career fairs you attend)
• (Often a touchy subject but I believe it's true) The degree you choose

2. The ones you can't control;

• The economy
• The "lack" of jobs due to baby boomers retiring later
• More temporary positions versus permanent positions available

These lists aren't exhaustive but they are meant to get you thinking of the different ways that you are able to control your future job search.

The Ones You Can Control

When it comes to building your resume and gaining valuable experience students often believe that by getting a university degree it simply means that you will get a job as soon as you graduate. In my dreams I wish that this were true, and that I would be able to land a $100,000 a year job right off the bat. This is pretty unrealistic, and unfortunately our grand expectations at making it big, immediately upon graduation, are often the reasons why the older generations say that we are spoiled, entitled etc. I'm sure you have heard it before. The truth is, yes university is a lot harder than it used to be (I believe it and I'm sticking to it), we pay thousands more to get our 4 year degree than our parents, and most people who hold management jobs often have degrees in unrelated fields, but unfortunately its something that we have to overcome and not complain about. 

Here's what you can do.

Build a great resume before you hit the job market after graduation

• Make the Most of Summers Jobs-The most important thing to do when looking for summer jobs, is try and find jobs that are related to what you are studying. Straying away from your summer camp job, when you are studying in sciences may be your best bet, it may be good money, but will it be the best thing for you in the future when it comes to looking for jobs after graduation? Sometimes it is impossible to find a job related to your field, make sure to either volunteer, or make the job you do have work for you and really emphasize the transferable skills you have developed when applying for jobs.
• Volunteer- I know it sounds super lame, and you don't have any time in between napping and watching the most recent episode of How I Met Your Mother but it's often a really good idea to do so even once a week, or even twice a month during the school year. It will provide you with relevant experience for what you want to do (in certain degree programs, real work experience is often hard to come by when it comes to paid jobs) and also look good on your resume since you now have developed excellent time management skills while taking that semester's course load and volunteering..
• Some great websites:  
• http://volunteer.ca
• http://www.getinvolved.ca/
• Virtual Internships/Internships- Internships are often seen as controversial at times, but they are also an excellent way to gain great experience that will help you get that PAID position later. It doesn't have to be with the company you interned for and it can also help you decide if it's really a industry that you want to work in. You can also use websites like SpringTern and complete virtual internships, which is really convenient say..during school, and allows you to work from anywhere without being in the city that the business is located.
• Some great websites:
• http://springtern.com/ (A great site, they post interships and most are often virtual)
• http://talentegg.ca/ (you can find jobs on here as well as internships)
• Join a Club-I have to say that I have failed to do so most of my high school and university career. Clubs offer an opportunity for you to network, build friendships, often make a difference and provide excellent examples of team work, communication, organization and time management on your resume and in interviews.  
• Take courses at school that provide real world experience. For example at the University of Guelph they offer a course called CBaSE and it gives students the opportunity to work with a local business, network, and use skills learned at school in a real world setting. And it counts as a credit. Investigate at school, ask professors and see if there are any opportunities like these at your university, these would be excellent resume boosters and skill development opportunities.
• Co-op- If you have the opportunity to opt into a co-op program at your university, do it. I am currently a co-op student, it gives you a better idea of what you want to do, gives you a lot of experience when it comes to the hiring process and ultimately gives you great job experience for when you finish school. Check out the Maclean's university co-op program listing here  
• Check out the listings for jobs that you want to get. View the experience requirements for that job, do you have what's needed to be hired? If you don't find ways to develop the skills you need. 
• Some Great websites
• http://ezinearticles.com/?Job-Skills---7-Essential-Skills-That-Are-Required-For-Any-Job&id=2243854
• http://www.linkedin.com/studentjobs?trk=hb_tab_clgjobs (You will have to register to view these postings, these are student/grad jobs)
• Build your skills through online courses. Check out our tab on free/paid online courses to develop new skills or sharpen them, or even learn a lean language.

Being Prepared for the Job Hunting Process

Check out the tab on this blog about Job Hunting, and also make use of the resources at your university. There are often cover letter and resume editing resources and online resources for interviews and other job hunting related subjects.

The Network you Build

Have you developed a LinkedIn profile yet? Check out our LinkedIn 101 post

I have also recently found other sites online that provide further online image building opportunities

• https://about.me/
• http://zerply.com
• https://workfu.com/

Some tips on how to build your network

• Develop a web presence, but one that portrays you in a professional manner 
• Hiring managers and recruiters will often Google you before an interview, if they like what they see its a good sign, if not you may not get the job 
• Another great way to develop a network is through attendance at Career Fairs DURING university.
• Make the connections before you head into the workforce, and you aren't panicked and nervous and also desperately trying to network and find a job after graduation. 
• Build connections early, and lots of them, and make sure to stay in touch.

The Degree You Choose

Unfortunately the degree you choose can limit you to the career options you have available, its the honest and sometimes harsh truth. 

Check out the list from Canadian Business on the Best and Worst Jobs for 2012.

The most important advice I have ever received from anyone was make sure that you are studying and in turn pursuing a career path in whatever makes you happiest. What I have learned myself is to also make sure that what I love to do is practical and not going to leave me dirt poor.

I feel as though it's an even balance.

Now this isn't the end, and I will cover this topic again, and some of these aspects will continue to come up in other blog posts in the future.

But one thing that as soon to be or recent graduates we need to remember is that we aren't going to go out there (for the most part anyways, I wish I loved economics more) and make a ridiculous amount of money. We will have to work hard, and we may have to move back in with our parents after we graduate. And of course always stay POSITIVE, your attitude and negativity towards the job hunting process will be picked up by the people trying to hire you, even though you may not realize it.

I hope that this provides an all around picture as to what YOU can do to help put yourself in the best situation possible when you graduate. 

Images

http://startmike.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/hand_shake.gif

http://images.pictureshunt.com/pics/g/graduation_cap_and_diploma-2091.jpg

http://oumathclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/volunteer_3d_people.png

Read More

How to Save More of Your Paycheck: Saving & Budgeting

Aside from cutting down on food purchases at work it's important to save a decent percentage of each pay in order to save up enough money for rent, utilities, food and of course entertainment during the school year. Often on payday I take a percentage of my paycheck (usually over 50%) and put it directly in my high interest savings account.

I often don't leave myself a ton of money other than to cover rent and utility expenses as well as a little money for emergency purchases and unexpected costs. By doing so you still live on your "student budget" but are saving a large percentage of your pay instead of spending most of your paycheck since "you know you have the money now".

Another important step is to develop a budget for both the summer and during the school year to determine how much money you will need for tuition, groceries, bus passes, utilities (on average) etc. By doing so you can figure out how much you will actually be able to spend when you go out, if you will have any leftover money to make clothing purchases etc.  The sooner you start saving, planning and budgeting this summer the more money you will have saved and the less you will have to rely on student loans, credit cards and even your parents.

There are a variety of websites that provide excel spreadsheets to allow you to develop a budget.  Check these 

out

Yearly Budget Worksheet

Get Smarter About Money - Student Survival Kit

Set up a budget for the school year AND the summer

• Make sure to breakdown costs for tuition, groceries, utilities (you can base this on your previous years costs, they should be similar)
• This will give you an idea on what you will need, how much you will need to save and if you need a part-time job etc.

Note this post is just an overview, later posts will go more in depth into these topics. 

Does anyone have any saving tips and tricks that they use?

Read More

Credit Cards 101

The topic of credit cards is often a bit sketchy at times. Some of you're parents may not want you to get one and depending on the type of spender you are, that may be a good thing. Not to sound like your parent, but if you spend tons of money carelessly like you're a hip hop star, please don't get a credit card.


Always be cautious when signing up for a credit card, think it through and determine what your needs are.


There are a few things that I live by when it comes to using my credit card.

• Whatever you purchase on your credit card, you should have the money to pay that balance back by the time your payment is required at the end of each month
• Don't pay the minimum payment, pay your whole bill if possible. If not you will continuously get charged interest at rates that hover around 18-19%
• Don't miss a payment!
• Since I have the BMO Mastercard I tend to make purchases with my Mastercard even though I have the money in my bank account just so I can collect points, I then am able to pay my Mastercard bill using my credit card with no problems (since I already had the money).
• By paying your balance on time and in full you have the ability to build excellent credit rating which will help in the future when taking out a mortgage and other dealings with the bank.
• Please, don't take your credit card out with you when you go downtown, I've heard some horror stories.

Click here to view the Cheap Students credit card chart.

Some more information if you just LOVE reading.


8 Important Words to Remember
This article was found at gettingsmarteraboutmoney.ca 

1. Annual fee – If your credit card charges an annual fee, ask the lender if they’ll waive it. They may be willing to do this to keep your business.
2. Balance due – Your statement will tell you what you owe and when it’s due. The amount due can include any unpaid balance you owe from a previous bill, as well as any new charges, interest, late fees or annual fees.
3. Credit limit – This is the amount you can borrow using your card. The lender can’t change this limit without letting you know.
4. Finance charges – If you don't pay your bill on time, these charges can include late fees plus interest. You’ll likely pay a higher rate of interest on any cash you borrow using your card and a lower rate on money you borrow for purchases. Your credit card company treats these as two different kinds of balances.
5. Grace period – This is the time you have to pay off the balance you owe each month before you have to pay interest. In most cases, the grace period starts on the billing date and ends a certain number of days after. Under Canadian rules, if you pay off your balance in full each month, your lender must give you a grace period of at least 21 days on all new purchases. If you don’t, you’ll pay interest on the full amount you owe.
6. Annual percentage rate (APR) – This includes all loan service costs and interest. It may be higher than the interest rate you see in the loan contract.
7. Introductory rate – This is a special offer that gives you a temporary, lower APR. In most cases, the offer lasts about 6 months. Then it goes up to the normal rate for your type of card. Your lender must tell you in advance when interest rates are going to increase – even if the information is part of your contract.
8. Minimum monthly payment – Most cards ask only for a minimum payment each month. This is often 5% of the current balance or $10, whichever is more. Your monthly statement will tell you how long it will take to fully repay what you owe if you only make the minimum payment each month. Use this calculator to see how long it will take to pay off your card if you make the minimum monthly payment

What is a Credit Score?

Your credit score is a judgment about your financial health, at a specific point in time. It indicates the risk you represent for lenders, compared with other consumers.

There are many different ways to work out credit scores. The credit-reporting agencies Equifax and TransUnion use a scale from 300 to 900. High scores on this scale are good. The higher your score, the lower the risk for the lender. Lenders may also have their own ways of arriving at credit scores. In addition, lenders must decide on the lowest score you can have and still borrow money from them. They can also use your score to set the interest rate you will pay.

What is a Credit Rating?

North American Standard Account Ratings

Code	Translation
Other rating indicators that might be found on a report are "I" for installment credit or "O" for open credit line. Source: Equifax Canada
R0	Too new to rate; approved but not used.
R1	Pays (or paid) within 30 days of payment due date or not over one payment past due.
R2	Pays (or paid) in more than 30 days from payment due date, but not more than 60 days, or not more than two payments past due.
R3	Pays (or paid) in more than 60 days from payment due date, but not more than 90 days, or not more than three payments past due.
R4	Pays (or paid) in more than 90 days from payment due date, but not more than 120 days, or four payments past due Pays (or paid) in more than 90 days from payment due date, but not more than 120 days, or four payments past due.
R5	Account is at least 120 days overdue, but is not yet rated "9."
R6	This rating does not exist.
R7	Making regular payments through a special arrangement to settle your debts.
R8	Repossession (voluntary or involuntary return of merchandise).
R9	Bad debt; placed for collection; moved without giving a new address or bankruptcy.

If you just read all of this and you were like..please stop this madness. Read this summary instead.

• A credit score is a score given to you based on how safe it would be to lend you money, low is bad, high is good
• A credit rating is based on how quickly you pay for bills (credit cards, hydro, cell phone etc.), the more reliable your payments are the better. Do you pay your bills on time?

Visa vs. Mastercard
What do these 2 brands mean? 
Simply put they are the service providers that allow your credit card transactions to take place. Both are widely accepted around the world and at major retailers, if they don't take your credit card, you're probably better just using your debit card/cash anyways.


Mastercard/Visa Availability

Mastercard	Visa
BMO	RBC
RBC	CIBC
Canadian Western Bank	Citzens Bank of Canada
	Laurentian Bank of Canada
	Scotia Bank
	TD Canada Trust

Add-on's

When applying for a credit card they may try to swindle you into buying extra add-on's.

Some examples of these are;

-Extended warranty
-Balance protection 
Often you don't need these add on's as a student. If you are really considering these add on's do some research online and see if it's right for you, if they aren't simply tell them no thank you, despite how persistent they can be.


Sources:
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-bc.nsf/eng/ca02179.html 

Read More

Ramen Noodles - Refreshed

Here's another blog post all about how to spice up a plain and sometimes boring student staple - The Ramen Noodle (also known as Mr. Noodles, Ichiban etc.)


Some of my own cooking tips;


Although not flashy, in the past I have simply boiled the noodles and added things like spinach, frozen peas, oriental style frozen veggies and topped it off with soya sauce. I rarely use the flavouring package any more because its crazy salty and I also don't have a broth and will just use the boiled noodles.


The easiest thing to do, and this is often the case with pasta as well; add an extra vegetable that can easily be boiled towards the end of the noodle cooking, its super easy, you strain and you haven't used more than 1 pot/pan to make veggies and noodles. 


Another way I used to cook these noodles was by boiling kettle water, putting the dry noodles in a cereal bowl (large enough to fit the noodles), adding the flavouring packet and then pouring the boiled water on top so the noodles are covered. Place a plate on top to prevent the steam from escaping, wait about 5 minutes, and your noodles should be cooked.


Some other awesome ideas;


While checking out stumbleupon I managed to find a few articles about other ways to customize Ramen noodles. Check them out and see what you like. You can apparently make shepherd's pie out of Ramen noodles?!?

Ramen Hacks: 30+ Easy Ways to Upgrade Instant Noodles 

(click the image to see the recipes);

Here are some recipes pulled from Crazy Ramen Recipes

Note* I didin't write these...

For Spaghetti-O's Fans

Ingredients:

2 pkgs Ramen noodles (I like the spicy flavor)
1 can tomato soup
Hot sauce (I like Tabasco)
Shredded cheese

Break noodles into quarters, place in pot. Add enough water to almost cover the noodles. Boil until almost all the water is gone, stirring the noodles often. (Or just cook the noodles and strain; it just makes more dirty dishes.) Add one seasoning packet and can of soup, stir, then add hot sauce and/or cheese to taste.

Divorced and Homeless Ramen (mostly posted this because of the title)
Ingredients:
Maruchan Chili-flavor (Spicy) Ramen (2 packets, because you’re hungry, very very hungry)
Creamy Peanut Butter (two big tablespoons worth)
Boil noodles until cooked.


At this moment, bust open the two hot chili-flavor packets onto the ramen. Then, using the fork, dig out a big wad of peanut butter (about two tablespoons but why measure) and use fork to stir peanut butter, chili-flavored-salt, remaining hot water, and ramen all together. Very soon the water/seasoning/peanut butter will have merged into a tasty, nutritious sauce, that’s darn good with those ramen noodles. Guaranteed to cheer you up for 10 minutes.

And some really weird ones...

Sweet and Spicy Coke Ramen
Ingredients:

1 pack Texas Beef Ramen (or regular beef, or asian - but Texas Beef is best)
1/2 to 3/4 can Coke (not diet)
1 pack salted peanuts
1 Beef stick (aka Slim Jim) –Optional–

Cook noodles. Crush the peanuts inside the bag. Add about 2/3 of the peanuts and eat the rest while you’re “cooking”. Drain water from noodles, then add seasoning packet and coke. Add peanuts and optional sliced beef stick or summer sausage. Add more coke to achieve the right amount of sauce and balanced flavor.

Cheesy Ranch Ramen
Ingredients:
2 packages of any flavor ramen (your not gonna use the packet anyway)
1 cup ranch dressing
1 cup shredded cheese ( I prefer cheddar, to each his own)
a pinch of parsley (optional)
a pinch of basil (optional)
salt and pepper to taste



Take out the ramen packets and while the noodles are still in the packages crush the ramen up, don’t turn it into dust, but in many, many pieces. Now put the ramen in a pot and fill the pot with water to cover the noodles. Cook them like the package says. Drain the noodles with a fork, I wouldnt suggest a strainer, seeing how the noodles would fall out.
Put the drained ramen back on the stove and under low heat add the cheese and ranch dressing and stir until the cheese is melted and add any seasonigs you please.



Hyperactive Candied Choco-Ramen
Ingredients:
1 block of Ramen (a package? lol)
¼ cup Brown Sugar
¼ cup Chocolate Sauce (Hershey’s… or whatever)
Powdered Sugar
Optional: ½ teaspoon Vanilla
Optional: Whipped Cream


This Ramen recipe is quite a sugar overload. Your mouth will be pleased and it will keep you up all night. Great for dessert (and for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!). Highly recommended: A tall glass of milk to wash down the intense ‘Hyperactive Candied Choco-Ramen’.
Preparation:
1. Fill pot with 2-3 cups of water, and mix in ¼ cup of Brown Sugar. Also, if available, a ½ teaspoon of Vanilla (too much vanilla would make it tastes crazy… like Godzilla… be careful).
2. Cook Ramen block when sugar-water boils. Cook until soft and quite ‘noodley’.
3. Strain Ramen until most water has left the pot and gone down the drain.
4. Pour in a few dashes of Brown Sugar, and ¼ cup of Chocolate Sauce. Make sure to mix it well, until the noodles are a nice golden-brown color.
5. Dump Choco-Ramen onto a plate, preferably NOT a paper plate. Then sprinkle as much powdered sugar as you desire upon the Choco-Ramen. This makes it look cool, and taste more awesome.
6. If you’re super-fancy, try adding a large mountain of Whipped Cream upon your Choco-Ramen creation.

Buying Ramen Noodles;

Mr. Noodles are often priced at about $0.25 a package. Check out Shoppers Drug Mart this week. A case of 12 is $2.49 (works out to about $0.20 a package).

Read More

Where to Find Jobs - Part 1

So you can totally know how to write an awesome cover letter or resume but if you can't find any jobs to apply for then those other things are irrelevant.

This is the first blog post on finding a job. 

It's important to remember though that it's often said that almost 80% of jobs aren't advertised or posted, so make use of the people you know; network, ask your professors, your parents, friends or family friends. They just might be able to help you get a job this summer or even after graduation.

Job opportunities;

One of my favourite websites is Talent Egg. You can also like them on Facebook and you will get updates of recent jobs on your newsfeed.

Check city/provincial websites;

City of Guelph

City of Toronto

City of Mississauga

City of London

City of Waterloo

City of Kitchener

Government of Ontario (this site is updated almost every week, beginning soon)

If the city you're from isn't listed here just Google it, it won't be too hard to find

Application deadlines will be very soon for these jobs. Make sure to check these dates.

University websites

University of Guelph

University of Waterloo

Western University

McMaster University

Also Google "your university name" student job opportunities

Most universities/colleges will have a student job board.

This list obviously can't have all the jobs available on it, but it's a starting point. 

Good luck with any jobs you apply for!

___________________________________________________________________

Image: http://www.bluegrasschapter-ai.org/image/template/job_board.jpg

Read More

Textbooks for the New Semester: A How to Guide

How to buy textbooks

The first week of the new semester consists of lineups, and lots of them as well as buying textbooks for all of your courses. Here are a few tips I like to follow when it comes to buying textbooks and saving money - since they are so expensive!

• Check out the University’s main bookstore, take your schedule and find out all the textbooks you need for the semester. These are the textbooks you will actually need since most often the professors have told the university bookstore what the required books are for their courses
• While at the bookstore, find out the editions of the books, how much they cost and figure out if there are any additional e-books or codes that you need to purchase
• Make sure to write all of this information down somewhere, now you’re ready to check out online classifieds
• Which classified site you use depends on your university, but these are most often the best way to get deals on textbooks
• Make sure to get the price that you want, within reason obviously, barter negotiate a little bit with the people selling these textbooks
• Make sure to have a lot of cash on you during the first week of school in order to pay for the textbooks you wish to purchase
•  Find a convenient location for the both of you to meet and purchase your textbooks, it’s usually best to meet on campus

How to sell your textbooks

Another way to fund the purchase of textbooks for the current semester of school is to sell your textbooks from the previous semester. This requires a bit of time and effort but you will make a ton more money than if you were to trade them in when your university bookstores do buy backs.

Go on the most used classified site for your university and post your textbooks, make sure to provide a lot of contact information (or as much as you’re comfortable with) to make it as easy as possible for potential buyers to reach you and ask questions.

Make sure to post as much information as possible including;

·         Title of the textbook

·         Authors name

·         Edition

·         Condition of book, if there isn’t any highlighting make sure to emphasize this!

Determine a price for your textbooks based on the prices listed for similar books on the classifieds, as well as using the prices listed at your school bookstore as a guideline.

• Price high based on the condition of your textbook and/or scarcity of similar textbooks
• Price low to sell quickly or because the textbook isn't in great condition

If you have any questions make sure to post comments on this blog post. I will be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.

Helpful online classifieds

www.kijiji.ca

www.craigslist.ca

Ontario

University of Guelph

www.thecannon.ca

Nationwide

http://www.locazu.com/buy-sell-trade-exchange-textbooks

Read More

Saving money on...Beer

Nothing says Christmas break like hanging out with the family, sitting in front of the TV or sharing a (few?) drinks with friends.
So check this site out, and see what's on sale this week at your local beer store. Since we get ripped off in Ontario no matter what, might as well save a bit when you buy your beer.

Beer Deals Canada

Read More

Cheap Students

Simply put, students don't have much money to spend, and I am no exception to that. Through my experiences as a Canadian university student, I hope to create something that provides a little help on how to get more from your money while at university.

Look forward to posts that cover a wide variety of ways to save, from housing to textbooks to saving money at the bar to budgeting.

Read More