These are the gold hoops that I carted around from "cash for gold" place to place.  It was a real eye-opening experience.  I can see why people are scouring their homes and jewelry boxes for odds and sods.  It does feel like finding a wad of cash inside your home when you can trade your old gold for a cheque on the spot. 

In case you're wondering...I did NOT trade in my gold hoops -- this was just an experiment!  They are back at home on my earlobes. 

AS HEARD ON CBC RADIO: OTTAWA MORNING

I dug up this CBC News piece that I did a few months ago and thought it was worth posting here.  Who doesn't want to save money on bank fees?  I used the website featured in this story to save more than $100 on my chequing account!  Enjoy. 

AS SEEN ON CBC OTTAWA NEWS AT SIX

Talk about a touchy subject!  The thought of worrying about money when planning a funeral for a loved one seems petty, right?  But talking about funerals is something that does need to happen before it's too late. 

In my mind, pre-planning a funeral classifies as frugal because once you know what you want (or what a loved one wants) you won't get caught up in emotional buying.

Patrick McGarry is part of the Hulse, Playfair & McGarry family on McLeod Street.  It's a beautiful facility with lots of in-house services.  

But remember, you need to shop around for the funeral home that fits your needs.  Prices vary greatly from one place to the next.  Ask the right questions!

BasicCremations.com is another option for anyone who wants to keep things simple.  It's primarily an online business.  Unlike the funeral home, you can avoid sit down sessions with planners and just get right to the business of cremation.

When you have a conversation about your funeral wishes make sure to cover these basics.

1) What do you want to have happen to your body? 

   (gravesite, cremation, donation to science)

2) What kind of celebration do you want your family and friends to have?

   (visitation in funeral home, house party, no party)

3) Where do you want your remains to go?

   (cemetery, scattered)

AS HEARD ON CBC RADIO: OTTAWA MORNING

Green thumbs have united to send in frugal gardening tips! Thanks for the suggestions -- if you're reading this and have a tip of your own...please include it through the comments feature of the blog. Here's a recap of what was heard on Ottawa Morning's Frugalista column.

TABLE SALT

True: sprinkle it on your brick or stone pathways to prevent weeds from popping up. Be careful to use it sparingly so it doesn't seep into gardens. Could also work for dandelions.

COFFEE GROUNDS

True: great in your compost bin...it helps breakdown other items. Sprinkling grounds directly into your garden may effect the pH levels of the soil and the better solution is to put them in the compost and then use the compost in the garden.

COMPOST FOR SALE

The City of Ottawa sells compost through its Trail Road Waste Facility. Good deal! Details here.

PLASTIC FORKS TO KEEP CATS AWAY

True: planting plastic forks upside down in the garden will irritate cat paws and potentially keep them out of your garden. This isn't the most environmentally friendly option -- another suggestion is mothballs. Hang mothballs in bags made out of old nylons. This could deter squirrels, chipmunks, racoons and rabbits too.

EGG SHELLS

True: if you spread a layer of broken egg shells around slug-prone plants it will keep the slugs at bay. The reason this works is a little morbid...when they slide across the shells the edges cut into them and they die a slow death by de-hydration. Poor things.

VINEGAR

True: add a splash to your water features...the acidity will keep the mosquitoes away.

DIY RECYCLED UPSIDE DOWN PLANTERS

Cheap to make and sure to cheer up an dreary space (I'm a poet and didn't even know it!). Instructions here.

AS HEARD ON CBC RADIO: OTTAWA MORNING

There are two services offered by Ottawa's Community Police Centres...they are free and will help you crimeproof your living space.

1) Home Security Inspection Police representatives visit your home (house, condo, apartment, etc.) to provide a safety audit.

2) Operation Identification Borrow an electric engraver for three days to mark your personal possessions.

You can find a list of Ottawa area Community Police Centres here.

Stay safe!