How to avoid being a shopaholic When the book Confessions of a Shopaholic came out, I was the first one in Canada to buy it. You see, I have a bit of a spending problem — I love to shop. For books, for clothes, for shoes, for accessories, for beauty products and now, as the mom of two sweet boys, for everything and anything you can image a child would need or want.

Recently, I’ve begun to look closely at my spending habits, and I’m starting a painful (and insightful) journey into living a more frugal life, and learning how to say no when I can’t afford things, as hard as that is. Listening to the charismatic David Chilton (bestselling author of The Wealthy Barber and The Wealthy Barber Returns) speak at an event in Ottawa made me look at my spending habits a little differently.

Diving into his book opened my eyes even more. The idea of paying down your debt first was not something I’d given much thought to, but it makes sense. I’m someone who hates the words budget, money, saving, and fiscal responsibility, but I loved reading Chilton’s book on personal finance. The Wealthy Barber Returns also made me look at the lessons I’m teaching my children about the value of a dollar. I am being more mindful about how I treat money around them, because I’m scared they’ll think money really does grow on trees!

Here are some tips I’ve learned on how to become more fiscally responsible:

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6 budget grocery shopping tips

Trying to cut back? Start with your grocery shopping habits. Here are 6 great tips that will help you save money at the grocery store.

Grocery shopping, and the bill that comes with it, is rarely given much thought … until you get home and look closely at what you bought and how much you paid for it. Impulse purchases at the grocery store are even more frequent than those in your favourite clothing stores. (Pint of ice cream, trashy tabloid, package of gum, anyone?) Whether you’re saving up to buy your first home or worried about the looming food crisis, you’re probably looking for ways to save some money.   Here are six budget grocery shopping tips that will help put money back into your wallet:

1. Buy in bulk

Buy herbs and spices in bulk. In fact, buy in bulk whenever you can. Visit box stores like Costco or Sam’s Club to buy bigger packages. When you get home, separate things like chicken and fish so you can freeze them in individual serving sizes.

2. Support the little guy

Although written south of the border, this article from babycenter.com's Deborah Pike Olsen, provides a great deal of insight into the costs of raising a baby.

The real cost of raising a baby

You'll spend almost $10,000 on your baby's first year, according to the thousands of moms who took BabyCenter's exclusive survey.

No wonder 70 percent of new mothers told us they're more anxious about money since having a child. "The financial stress is the hardest thing in my life," says mom Sarah Carley, who has three young children. "You don't realize how much you need for your child – and how tempting it is to buy things."

Forty percent of moms said that having a baby costs a lot more than they expected. And many told us that it's the surprise bills that hurt the most. Even if you're prepared to shell out for diapers, food, gear, clothes, toys, childcare, and healthcare, unexpected or "hidden" extras may bust your budget.

Calculate the cost of your baby's first year, including gear, diapers, childcare, and more.   "It's the $20 co-pays that add up quickly when you have a child with chronic ear infections. It's the $150 co-pay for emergency room visits," says one mom. "It's when you plan on breastfeeding, but it doesn't work out and you end up buying formula."

The good news: When you have a real sense of which costs will rear their ugly head during your baby's first year, you'll be better prepared to handle them. Plus, you'll be able to worry less about your budget and spend more time enjoying your bundle of joy. Here are the most common unexpected costs associated with raising a baby – gleaned from our survey – plus how to keep them in check.

Making room for your baby

Does your monthly cell phone bill send you into shock? It doesn’t have to. Here are fourteen ways to save money on your cell phone bill.

Make Your Calls for Free

Get more mileage out of your minutes by making free calls whenever you can. Viber, Skype Mobile and Textfree are all free apps that allow you to call anyone else who has the app for free.

Track Your Talk Time

Do you go over your minutes each month? Then, it’s time to start tracking your talk time. Sign up with overmyminutes.com, (a free service) and you’ll receive an e-mail or text message to let you know when you’re about to run out of minutes.

Use the Same Plan as Friends and Family

Many cell phone service providers offer free in-network calls or allow you to choose a small group of in-network friends and family that you can call for free. So, get all of your most-called people on one plan, and you could save big.

Don't overpay on your cell phone bill. We got some quick, simple tips to save you your money :)

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Investments are tricky things. I really wish they were as simple as “Here’s some money, now make it more!” but alas, life isn’t so. There are many different types of investments out there. A very safe option is a Guaranteed Investment Cerificate or a GIC. The Globe and Mail thankfully has a handy guide as to what they are.

How do GICs work?

You may have to invest at least $500.

You agree to keep your money in the GIC for a certain amount of time, such as six months, one year, two years, or up to 10 years.

Most GICs pay you interest. A GIC may pay a higher interest rate than savings accounts, but not always.

Example: An interest rate of 3% means that you get paid $3 each year for every $100 you invest.

In most cases, the longer you agree to put your money in a GIC, the more interest you will make.

With some GICs, if you need to get your money back sooner, you won’t earn any interest. In fact, you may have to pay a fee or penalty.

Remember: With a GIC, you agree to lend your money for a set time

If you think you may need your money back early, buy a GIC that allows you to change your mind without any penalty.

Its never to late to learn about saving! We've got some tips on GIC's for you. They're a great, safe, reliable and easy!