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Author Archives: Kristina Tahnyak

Avatar photo About Kristina Tahnyak

Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.

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Are You Coming to The Financial Blogger Conference?

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Good Morning DINKS. I know that we may all be busy planning our summer vacations, but let me ask you a very important question…what are your plans for September?  If you are a fellow personal financial blogger, if you work in the personal finance industry, or if you just love money and personal finance then you may want to take a trip to Denver at the beginning of September.

The Financial Blogger Conference aka #FINCON12 on Twitter will take place in Denver Colorado from Thursday September 6th until Sunday September 9th.  The Financial Blogger Conference is a four day event that brings financial professionals and financial bloggers together for brainstorming and networking.

This year’s Financial Blogger Conference is being held at the Denver Grand Hyatt Hotel in Downtown Denver Colorado.  This conference a great opportunity for the financial blogging community to come together once a year to learn from each other and share our ideas with other professionals.

Last year The Financial Blogger Conference was held in Chicago and unfortunately I was unable to attend the conference.  I was sort of upset when I found out that the Financial Blogger Conference was being held in Colorado this year because I really want to visit Chicago.  However the more I search the web and the more information I read about Denver I am actually looking forward to visiting Denver Colorado for four days in September.

I have never been to Colorado but when I think about Denver I picture miles and miles of nature with green forests set in a mountainous background. Denver Colorado does look very nice in the pictures that I have seen but it turns out that there are several fun things to do in Denver Colorado. The conference is being held at the Denver Hyatt hotel which is located in a great area and it is also close to many fun attractions.  Several amenities such as great shopping, little cafes, and delicious restaurants are within walking distance of the hotel.

Why You Should Go To The Financial Blogger Conference:

– It’s a great opportunity for networking and promoting your personal finance blog

– It’s a wonderful learning opportunity to gain experience from professionals

– It’s a chance to meet new people and put a face to the names you see around the web

Fun Things To Do in Denver Colorado:

– The Cherry Creek North Neighbourhood has 16 blocks of outdoor shopping and dining

– Denver has many world class museums to visit and enjoy

– There is an amusement park in Downtown Denver

– Denver is the home to one of the nation’s most popular Zoo’s

– There is a Rafting and Zip line excursion only 30 minutes away from Denver

Facts About Denver Colorado:

– Denver Colorado is known as The Mile High City

– The population of Denver is 610,345 and the population of Greater Denver and its Surrounding Areas is approximately 3.2 million people

– Denver Colorado has 8 professional sports teams

– The highest point in Denver is exactly 1 mile above sea level (5280 feet high)

– Denver Colorado has 300 days of sunshine every year

Photo by Larry Johnson

I really want to be…

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old fountainGood Morning DINKS. Let me ask you a question, what do you want to be in life?

I don’t mean what do you want to do as a profession, I mean in your dreams and in your heart what is it that your profession will make you?

Maybe your dream profession will make you rich, maybe it will make you well travelled, or maybe it will make you famous.  Think long and hard about what you really want to be in life…maybe you are searching for personal success or maybe you are searching for personal happiness.  Whatever it is that you are searching for; I really hope that you find it.

If you had to choose ONLY two of the following ten things which two of them would you want to be?

1. Rich.  It is many people’s goal in life to be rich and wealthy.  People seem to all be working towards earning more money and having more money in their bank accounts. But why, doesn’t everything come with a price?

2. Famous.  We live in a world where celebrity lifestyles are being constantly flashed in our faces therefore the want to live in a luxurious world ruled by expensive things and everything extravagant can definitely be tempting. Would you want to live in a world with a camera constantly flashing in your face?

3. Successful.  Everyone’s idea of success is different. For some people success means reaching a target point in their career, for some people it means being a good wife or husband, and for some other people success means never having to answer to anyone else. What will it take for you to be successful?

4. Stress Free.  Most people have some form of stress in their life whether it is due to family issues, pressure at the workplace, money troubles, or difficulties in our relationship. For most people stress is just a normal constant in our lives that we all learn to deal with, could you imagine living a stress free life?

5. Happy.  Many people may enjoy their lives but how many people can honestly say that they are truly 100% happy with everything in their life? What would it take for you to be completely happy with your life?

6. Married.  Being a DINK doesn’t necessarily mean that you are married (take me as an example). Being married may be on some peoples list of things that they really want in their life. It used to be on mine, but now I am not so sure. Do you want to walk down the aisle?

7. Experienced.  As I get older I often find myself saying “If I only knew then what I know now.” Living life, trying new things, and sharing new experiences may be some people’s idea of the perfect life because experience can bring knowledge as we learn from our mistakes and change our normal routines.  Do you want to experience new things and make changes in your life?

8. Intelligent. Some people may consider intelligence to be the most valuable quality that a person can have.  This may come from a formal education in school or it may come from life experiences and learning from others past experiences.  Is superior intelligence (in general or on a specific subject) something that you really want in life?

9. Well Travelled. Seeing the world, travelling to different countries, and learning about different cultures are some peoples idea of the perfect life. Travelling may scare some people but it is also exciting for some others. Do you want to pack your suitcase and travel the world?

10. Loved.  Some people don’t care if they are admired by others, but for some other people their personal validation comes from the love of others. Life can be very lonely if we are always by ourselves. Do you want to be loved in your life?

Photo by eamoncurry

Do You Spend More Money in the Summertime?

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summertime, summer expenses, summer activities

beach chairs

It’s June, it’s hot, and it’s officially summer time.  I was recently going over my weekly budget and I realized that for the last three weeks I have consistently gone over my personal budget. Maybe I have been overspending because previous to the last four weeks I have been saving a lot and really not spending money on anything so I was getting the “urge to spend”, maybe it’s because due to my back injury and my eye surgery I haven’t been out of my house for almost a month and a half, or maybe it’s just as plain and simple as the warm summer weather makes people spend more money.

There are a variety of reasons why people spend more money in the summertime such as the fact that warm weather makes people get out of their homes more often than in the winter when it’s cold, the change in the season makes us realize that we need more summertime accessories, or maybe people spend more money in the summertime because the sunshine makes us in better moods and therefore spending money doesn’t bother us as much as it normally would.

Here are Four Reasons Why the Summertime Makes Us Spend More Money:

Going Out More.  When the weather is warmer and the sun is shining people have the tendency to get outside more often and walk around in order to get some fresh air and get out of the house after being cooped up inside all summer.  In the nice summer months an afternoon of window shopping could end up becoming a shopping spree and a lazy afternoon that would normally be spent on the couch could end up being a lunch with friends or a matinee movie.

Wedding Season.  From May until September it is wedding season and at my age (31 years old) it seems like everyone I know (except me) is getting married.  When we add up the cost of attending the engagement party, the bachelorette (or bachelor) party, the cost of wedding gifts, along with the outfits, transportation, and travelling for the actual wedding ceremony a wedding celebration can cost up to $500 or more.

Patios Are Open.  All I have to say is food and drinks make people spend money.  I don’t know why people (myself included) are obsessed with eating outside, but it seems that as soon as the summertime arrives every patio is packed with party-goers who are spending money on food and drinks.

Seasons Change.  When seasons change people readjust their living habits and when the weather gets warmer we realize that we need summer accessories such as patio furniture, a new barbeque, or an air conditioner.  Spending money on summer accessories can also include buying new clothes for our wardrobe or having our pool cleaned out while getting ready for the summer swimming season.

Summer Vacations.  Summertime is also the time when people take a few weeks off from work and book their summer vacations.  I personally don’t like to travel during the summer because there are too many tourists out everywhere and the temperature is just too hot, but apparently I am the minority.

Photo by Kamoteus

Friday Roundup: Fraud, the 90’s & Small Spaces

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Good Morning DINKS and Happy Friday.  It’s almost officially summertime and that means the outdoor summer festivals are about to start (if they haven’t already) in cities all throughout the United States and North America.  I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than being out in the sunshine with some good food, fun entertainment, great music, shopping, and the chance to meet some new people.

Many towns offer outdoor concerts in local parks along with the various festivities such as a Busker Fest or a Food Festival, and who can’t get excited out celebrating the 4th of July? I am definitely always in the mood for a good parade.

What is your favourite thing to do in the summer?

I hope you all have a great weekend. Be sure to check out these great posts that we have rounded up for you from around the web.

– Savvy Sugar helps us get our homes ready for summer in the post “5 Ideas to Decorate a Small Apartment on a Dime”

– Careful Cents encourages us to make a plan in the post “How I Became Completely Debt Free”

– Budgets Are Sexy wonders about your spending habits in the post “Could You Quit Using Money Forever?”

– Free From Broke helps us protect ourselves and our money in the post “Victim of Identity Theft? Here Are Your Next Steps to Protect Yourself”

– Business Insider makes us reminisce in the post “Everything You Remember About The 1990s Is Wrong”

Photo by Mark Hillary

Book Review: Gents with no Cents

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Gents with No CentsGood Morning DINKS.  Today we are discussing two of my favourite topics…finance and reading.

Very often publishers and authors contact us at DINKS Finance so that we can review their books on our website.  I personally love doing this because I love reading; however I very rarely read books about finance because as a Financial Planner I work in personal finance 5 days a week.  I absolutely love reading because it allows me to escape from my life and live in another city with different people in a different time.

Unfortunately since my eye surgery I haven’t been able to do a lot of reading because I can’t focus on the small print and I am unable to focus on one thing for too long; therefore it takes me forever to get through a book. Thankfully I recently found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I also found myself with a great book to read thanks to author Ron DeLegge II.

Gents With No Cents

The bear market edition of Gents with no Cents takes a look at Wall Street, its customers, financial regulators, and the media. Whether you are new to investing, if you have a personal interested in finance, or if you are an experienced wall street veteran this book is an engaging and humorous read.

Ron DeLegge is not a financial professional, he claims to be a wall street observer and that’s why the book Gents with no Cents speaks to the masses.  Ron DeLegge is a regular media reader, a personal investor , and a propaganda hater like many other people who have watched the market with anticipation over the last few years and who have lived through many wall street scandals.  This makes the book Gents with no Cents an original read because his opinions are from an outsider; they are not from a CEO who is trying to protect his annual bonus, they are not a member of the Board of Directors who is trying to protect the interests of his shareholders, and they are not a stock broker who makes a deal based on insider information from the trading floor.

I love this book because the content is raw and Ron DeLegge actually has an opinion, unlike so many other financial authors who write about mainstream information and the opinions that they feel “appeal” to everyone.  Actually in the introduction Ron DeLegge admits that he shopped his book proposal around to several different publishers who wanted absolutely nothing to do with his potentially controversial book about wall street and the people who run it along with the people who invest in it and the media who reports on it.

If you want to read a book about finance that is not boring then I suggest you pick up a copy of Gents with Cents today. You can purchase your copy directly from Amazon.

Connect with Ron DeLegge II

The author Ron DeLegge II currently writes daily articles and a monthly newsletter for ETF Guide  where he has been the editor since 2003.  He has been an on air host since 2005 and you can listen to Ron DeLegee’s podcast on iTunes.com.  You can also connect with Ron DeLegge II on Twitter, Facebook, and Linked in.

The Best Travel Deals This Summer

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travel deals, travel tips, cheap travel deals

We are now into the month of June and it’s time to start planning our summer vacations. Everyone’s idea of a good time is different and therefore everyone has a different opinion on what exactly makes a great vacation.  It is definitely nice to get away sometimes, travel to a different country, and take a vacation away from our daily routines.  However not everyone needs to leave the country in order to go on vacation. For some people taking a week or two off from work and staying home or sleeping in every day may also be an ideal vacation.

I personally love travelling, I like learning about different cultures and I like visiting new places. But I also definitely have my vacation weeks when I just want to get away from my regular life. I don’t have to travel to a warmer climate, I just have to shut off my telephone and my laptop and disconnect from the world.  Sometimes I take a vacation day from work and take the entire day to do everything and anything that I want to, I consider a day of “me time” as a vacation because it’s a rare occasion when I just do things that make me happy.

What are your vacation plans this summer?

MSN recently released an article titled “Top 10 secret travel deals”. This may be a great source to help you find your next summer travel destination.  There are a few destinations in the United States and Canada as well as various cities throughout Europe and even one in Asia.

Prague, Czech Republic – The Average Hotel Room Price is $106 per night. Prague looks absolutely like a beautiful city. Despite my heritage I have never actually been to Eastern Europe.

Bangkok, Thailand – The Average Hotel Room Price is $80 per night.  Is anyone else thinking about Stu, Allan, Doug, and Phil from The Hangover part 2? All I have to say is “Bangkok has him now.”

Ibiza, Spain – The Average Hotel Room Price is $108 per night.  If you are looking for a great party town with a beautiful picturesque backdrop then Ibiza is the place for your next vacation.

Washington D.C. – The Average Hotel Room Price is $156 per night. When we think of Washington the first thing that pops up into our mind may be “politics”, but the truth is that D.C. is so much more than The White House.

Munich, Germany – The Average Hotel Room Price is $119 per night. Beer and Sausage anyone?

Toronto, Ontario – The Average Hotel Room Price is $96 per night. Shouts out to all of the Canadian DINKS Finance readers. Plus, being so close by, it isn’t nearly as hard to find cheap flights as it may be for international vacations across the seas.

Milan, Italy – The Average Hotel Room Price is $103 per night.  I am still planning a trip to Italy with my friends and I absolutely can’t wait to be enriched with Italian culture, architecture, and food…I am especially looking forward to the food.

Vienna, Austria – The Average Hotel Room Price is $148 per night. I can’t help it but all I can think about when I hear Austria is The Sound of Music.

San Diego, California – The Average Hotel Room Price is $119 per night.  I have been to San Diego and I can attest to the fact that it is totally beautiful…as an added vacation bonus, you can walk to Mexico.

Key West and Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The Average Hotel Room Price is $164 per night in Key West and $85 in Fort Lauderdale.

Photo by Greg OConnell

Jobs That May Not Be Around Forever

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career advice, career tips, job advice

career advice, career tips, job advice

Good Morning DINKS. Today we are talking about the labour that provides our fruits.  Let me ask you a question…do you love your job? It is very possible that you love your job, it may be possible that you fell into a profession which was once high in demand and therefore it was very easy for you to find a job, however it is also very possible that your job may be a dying form of employment which is not as in demand as it used to be.  Forbes published a list of jobs and career paths that were lost in the recession and that are being phased out of the workforce thanks to advancements in technology.  Is your job on the list?

Postal Workers. Over the past few years the postal service has lost over 55,000 jobs as people are being replaced with machines and electronic mail sorters which are more cost efficient as well as more efficient production wise.  The demand for human mail sorters is expected to continue declining over the next few years.

Office and Administrative Positions.  Administrative jobs are also declining in the workforce as employees are asked to take on more tasks. Various administrative positions such as file clerks, office administrators, and various support worker positions are being eliminated. Approximately 300,000 administrative jobs have been cut in offices over the past few years and as technology advances human contact in the workplace will be eliminated. Thanks to voicemail there is no need for a receptionist and thanks to email there is no need for a mail room clerk.

Door to Door Salespeople.  With the popular pop up advertisements on the internet, the beauty of commercials interrupting our favourite TV shows, and the expensive sales pitches from our favourite stars and celebrity spokespeople door to door sales people and marketing representatives are also less in demand.

Skilled Sewers.  With technology advancements along with the popular assembly line manufacturing technique the demand for hand made goods has definitely declined over the past few years. Producing products in mass is cost efficient because the labour is cheaper for one machine than it is for several different sewing machine operators and skilled hand sewers.

Performing Artists. Over the past few years there has also been a decline in the demand for performing artists.  When people have less disposable income they spend less money on extracurricular activities such as entertainment, theatre shows, and the performing arts.  The decline in the need for people to watch live performing arts such as actors on stage, dancers in a ballet, or singers in a musical may also be due to the increase in popularity of DVDs, video games, interactive online worlds and role playing games.

On a brighter note there are two careers that slowed down during the recession, but thankfully they are making a comeback in the current job market.  If your career path of choice is in construction or finance then you will (hopefully) soon have more potential employers to choose from as these two industries recover after the recession.  As the economy recovers there is more money in circulation which means that more people are willing to invest their personal money in the market.  It also means that more people are willing to invest in new building projects.

Photo by bpsusf

Could You Live in a World Without Money?

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money tips, money advice, world without money

money tips, money advice, world without money

Good Morning DINKS. Think about what you purchased yesterday…now think about how you paid for it.  Did you use your debit card, did you use your credit card, or did you pay with cash? It is said that cash rules everything around us, so let me ask you…do you live in a world ruled by cash?

Unfortunately we don’t live in a world that is run by a barter system; we live in a world that is run by the concept of cash.  We can’t trade our old kitchen appliances for a brand new bedroom set, we can’t trade our magic beans for a cow, and we can’t trade our unwanted living room couches for a week long all inclusive vacation at a tropical resort. However, we can purchase a new bedroom set, and we can pay for our next vacation with cold hard cash.

If the almighty paper and coin cash didn’t exist we would live in a world that will be ruled by virtual money.  We would pay for our purchases with a debt or credit card, our pay would be deposited into our bank account, and then we would make bill payments through online banking.  Some of us may live like this now by paying for our daily purchases with only an electronic form of payment such as a debit or credit card; but the odds are that most of you reading this post have some paper cash or coins in your purse or wallet.

If we lived in a world ruled by virtual money we would never have to make change for our purchases, we would never have to scramble for money to make a phone call or pay a toll booth fee, and we will never have to wait in line at an ATM ever again.  If we lived in a world ruled by virtual money everywhere, every store, and every merchant would accept only debit and credit cards.

Think about your life if physical cash and coins were not in it. Would you prefer a moneyless lifestyle or would you hate living in a world that didn’t have cash?

Here are three things that wouldn’t exist in a world without cash:

Wallets.  We wouldn’t need to carry wallets and purses if we didn’t need to carry paper money and coins.  Our load would also be a lot lighter if we weren’t carrying heavy change around all the time.

Cash Budget. If there was no cash in the world then there would be no need to live on a cash budget. Many people live on a cash budget in order to stay within their personal budget and not overspend.  But if we lived in a world only ruled by virtual money and unlimited access to our debit and credit cards could you still stay on budget?

Banks.  Think about the last time that you went to your bank, actually into your bank branch…what was the reason? As a bank employee I can confirm that most people come to their bank branch to get cash, sometimes it is to get domestic currency and sometimes it is to get foreign currency. But either way bank branches would be a lot less busy if we lived in a world ruled by virtual money and not physical cash.

Photo by JMR Photography

Friday Roundup: Rock Stars, Credit Cards, & Being Passive

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Happy Friday DINKS.  I hope that you all had a great week and I am sure that you are all looking forward to the weekend.  I always look forward to the weekend, even if I don’t have plans, even if I don’t have anything to do I always look forward to the weekend.  I enjoy being able to sleep as long as I want to, I enjoy not waking up to the annoying ring of my alarm clock at 7:15 every morning, and I enjoy being able to stay in my pyjamas all day if I choose to do so.

What do you love about the weekend?

We have rounded up these great posts from around the web for your reading pleasure.  Grab a cup of tea, take a comfy seat on your couch, and enjoy these posts as part of your weekend reading.

– Credit Karma – wants to know how your Financial Karma is today in the post “Your Personal Finances Start With Your Credit Score”

– Credit Sesame – gives us three great reasons when and why we should use our credit cards and not feel guilty about it in the post “Credit Card 101: Before You Swipe That Credit Card”

– Free From Broke – helps us work on our investment strategies in the post “What is Passive Investing?”

– Enemy of Debt – explains whey debt doesn’t have to rule our lives in the post “I’m In Debt, But I Party Like a Rock Star”

– Financial Samurai – wants to know if you are average or above average in the post “The Average Net Worth For The Above Average Person”

– Money Crashers – helps us use modern technology to save money in the post “5 Best Health Apps to Save Money”

Photo by Auswandern

Which Insurance Company Do You Trust?

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insurance company, insurance premium, insurance policy

jengaOne of the most important financial decisions that we have to make in our lives is with which company we choose to buy our insurance.  Home owners insurance, tenants insurance, car insurance, and life insurance policies all protect our most valuable assets.  Therefore, which type of insurance policy we choose and with which company we choose to buy our insurance policies are very important decisions.

Some people choose to buy their insurance with their financial institution, some people choose to purchase their insurance policies with the company that gives them the lowest annual quote, some people choose to buy their insurance with a trusted company based on the recommendation of a family member or friend, and some people choose to buy their insurance policies with the company that offers the most comprehensive coverage and flexible options.

Which insurance company did you choose?

– Geico “15 minutes could save you 15% or more!” If you have a television it’s hard to think about insurance without thinking about Geico. The Geico Gecko is a loveable little lizard who encourages people to call Geico and get an insurance quote.  Geico representatives are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week by telephone to answer questions and assist clients. Geico also offers clients the option to obtain an insurance quote online as well as in person at one of their several offices nationwide. Geico’s website is easy to use with a claims center, a personal login option, as well as an information center.

– Allstate guarantees satisfaction as they claim that “You’re in good hands.” Allstate Insurance offers their services in both Canada as well as the United States. As a consumer there is something comforting about the soothing voice of the Allstate spokesperson Dennis Haysbert that I just totally love.  The Allstate website offers online tools and resources as well as the option to get a personalized quote with no obligation.  Clients can also search for an agent in their local area or get assistance by telephone. In addition to personal Insurance, Allstate also offers retirement planning and financial tools for their clients.

– Progressive insurance says that clients can save over $475 on their car insurance.  An online insurance quote takes only 6 minutes with Progressive insurance because their website is very user friendly.  When clients bundle their various insurance policies with Progressive they can save money on their annual insurance premiums. If you start a quote online or if you choose not to purchase your insurance policy right away clients can save their quote and retrieve it later.  Progressive also offers the quotes of their competitors when clients receive their own personal quote, this is a great service because it’s one stop shopping, it saves time, and it also confirms exactly how much money we are saving by choosing Progressive insurance over another insurance agency.

– Aflac confirms that “We’ve got you under our wing.” Aflac insurance offers personal individual insurance policies as well as business insurance policies. Clients can purchase and get a quote for their accident, dental, life, and hospital insurance policies online or by phone with a customer service agent.  Aflac is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. The Aflac website offers personal stories and testimonials by clients who have used and been satisfied with their Aflac insurance policies.

Photo by Saad Faruque

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