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, donate 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)

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.

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!

Okay, I have to admit I was a little concerned about doing this story. Spending money outside of our city makes me a bit sad. Then again, I don't have multiple mouths to feed. Some of the deals found in Ogdensburg are very hard to ignore -- especially the money you can save by using the UPS store as an American mailing address. Also, grocery stores in The Burg seem to be more competitive with one another and that translates into some big savings for consumers. Here's a list of tips if you decide to go State-side!

UPS STORE

Use the store's address as your American mailing address. The UPS location will charge you a nominal fee for picking the items up from their store. Because of NAFTA, you probably don't have to pay duty on items if they are made in America, and you show the customs people your receipt. You will have to pay Canadian tax.

2981 Ford St. Extension

Ogdensburg, NY

13669-3474

GROCERIES & GAS

There are two major grocery stores in Ogdensburg: The Price Chopper and Aldi. Details about Price Chopper's Fuel Advantage program are here.

Happy shopping!

HOMEMADE (FRUGAL) DOG TREATS

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup dry skim milk powder

300 mls. baby food = 3 small jars

Mix everything up together in a bowl.

Bake for fifteen minutes in a pre-heated oven at 350. That's it.

I use a combination of beef broth baby food (1 small jar) and turkey stew with vegetables (2 small jars). The treats turn out great everytime. Warning: these are not crunchy treats...they are the consistency of oatmeal cookies.

Useful Links:

Ottawa Dog Blog

A great resource for dog lovers in the Capital. BIG thanks to Liz, the blog creator, she allowed me to post the cute picture (above!) of Stuart the Schnoodle!

Money-Saving Tips for Pet Prescriptions*

1. Ask your vet for a written prescription

2. Ask your vet if there is a human drug equivalent

3. Shop around! Local area pharmacies do fill pet prescriptions and sometimes their mark-up rates are lower. Plus there is a gap in dispensing fees from place to place.

*I realize that there are many benefits to filling pet prescriptions at a veterinarian clinic. You receive expert advice, they know exact dosage amounts and should your pet react badly to the meds they can help. On the flipside...some pet meds are simply smaller dosages of human drugs. It pays to ask your family pharmacist if they can help meet your pets needs.

The Glebe Pharmasave Apothecary even flavours pet medication to the likes of your dog!

TIP 1

Fly out of a border city. Plattsburg, Messina, Syracuse and Buffalo seem to be popular options for Ottawans. Yes, it's a bit of a road trip but many hotels in those cities offer FREE park & fly for Canadians and discounted hotel stays. And, an added bonus...travellers say it's easier to pass through US customs via land than air.

TIP 2

If you're travelling as a family, or a group, skip the hotel. You can rent entire homes for cheaper. Check out Home Away for a list of places available across the world. Talk about house envy! Some of the digs look fantastic! Details about Lynda Milina's Ottawa property can also be found here.

TIP 3

Ask (or look) for Price Drop Protection when you book online. Lots of travel sites offer the option for free. It's up to you to follow up with them and pursue a discount. The rules may look intimidating (maybe companies want you to think it's too much of a hassle?) but following-up after your trip could save you hundreds of dollars. iTravel2000 is one of many places that offers the protection.

BONUS TIP

My colleague told me that he recently had to park & fly at the Ottawa Airport. When he picked up his car the parking attendant asked if he was a CAA Member. He is. By showing his CAA card he saved 25% off his total parking bill.

Okay, I admit it. I know nothing of renovations. The thought of a house filled with dust, broken up walls, and strange smells is not my cup of tea. But I know many of you are serious DIY'ers and you take great pride in renovating your homes. Just because the home reno tax credit is over...doesn't mean you can't find deals on reno supplies. I hope this list helps you the next time you decide to fix it up!

ReStore / Habitat for Humanity

Old kitchen sink? Donate it to the ReStore and keep it out of the landfill. Need kitchen cupboards, tile, or a vanity? Visit the ReStore and see what deals you can find on new and gently-used merchandise.

Hardwood Auction / Rideau Auctions

Attend an auction if you dare...but be sure to do your research beforehand so you bid properly. The Hardwood Flooring Auction is on March 28th, 2010. In the meantime, the liquidation auctions may also have reno supplies.

Full Circles / FREE

Find stuff, give away stuff, borrow stuff, loan stuff. There's only one rule...everything is 100% FREE. Note! If you sign up to be a member you should know that the amount of postings per day will fill your inbox quickly. Use a secondary email if you want to keep things simple.

As seen on CBC News Ottawa

The Best Chip Wagon | Bank Street near Catherine / 6 Springrolls for $3.50 (includes nguoc ngam dipping sauce!)

Grace Ottawa | 219 Bank Street / Jamaican Patties for $1.25 (regular and SPICY!)

Website featuring daily restaurant specials | www.specialstoday.ca

Aladdin Convenience & Bakery | 1801 Carling Avenue / Cheese and Beef Fatayer for under $2

CheapEats Ottawa | Book Details

La Cabana Restaurant | 848 Merivale Road / Cheese and Pork Pupusas for $2 each

And special thanks to my TWEEPS!

I wasn't able to fit all your suggestions into the story. Here's a list of cheap eats compiled from my cheap tweeps: IKEA, Pho Bo Go La, New Mee Fung, Mongolian Village, Whalesbone Sandwiches, Mello's, AYCE Sushi, The Manx, Fils Diner, The Green Door, La Bottega, Wellington Sandwiches.

Play audio

Useful Links:

Over-The-Air Digital Forum (OTA)

NetFlix

BIG thanks to Al Webb for writing in and letting me invade his living room to learn about digital antennas. Not to mention get re-acquainted with rabbit ears. This is a picture of Al's pretty TV and the quality of digital CBC.

Ottawa Dog Blog

By popular demand...here's the recipe for frugal dog treats. They have been tested, tasted, and seem to be a hit. You can use whatever flavour baby food you like (erh...whatever flavour baby food your DOG likes).

FRUGAL DOG TREATS

1 cup wheat germ *

3 jars baby food

1 T water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Drop by tablespoon onto cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool then store in fridge for up to two weeks.

*you can also use a combo of 1/2 cup wheat germ and 1/2 cup dry skim milk powder!

OTHER FRUGAL PET THINGS

-buy toys and special treats at dog charity events

-stuff a pillowcase with old socks and turn it into a makeshift dog bed

-braid three pieces of fleece together to make a rope tug toy

-poke small holes in an old toilet paper roll, drop treats inside, seal the top and bottom with masking tape and let your cat have at it!

-put coins inside an empty pop can and place the can on areas around the house that you don't want your cat to use...when they jump up on the surface the can will be knocked over and startle them...this is an effective training technique.

Useful Links:

Red Cross (Be Prepared Not Scared)

I'm not kidding...for the price of $30 I was able to assemble an emergency preparedness kit that would make my mother proud. It's not fancy but it will get the job done. I hope you'll take some of the tips here and commit to being prepared. Good luck!

Cleaning Supplies

Make your own! Air Freshener Spray: 4 cups warm water, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 tsp vanilla extract, drops of essential oil. More HERE.

Microwave Popcorn

Forget about buying bags from the grocery store...you can dit-yourself. All you need are popcorn kernels, brown paper bags, a microwave and it's like magic! More HERE.

Frugal Finances

The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada has put together a great tool that compares bank fees and services across multiple institutions. Answer some simple questions and find out if you're getting the biggest bank for your buck.
www.moneytools.ca

65 Ways to Conserve Energy at Home

Family Activity Advent Calendar

Ottawa's Specials Today (on food, drink, and entertainment)

The Good Food Box

A note about this morning's segment. We were so short on time in the show that I had to skip over lots of details. I apologize to listeners for not being more thorough on air...there just wasn't time. Please click on the links above to find out more about things we touched on.

Useful Links:

Frugal Fun Ottawa

Here it is! As promised, a picture of Kathleen and Stu with their "pick your nose" cups. I found the cups at Lost Marbles in Byward Market. They come in packs of 24 for $12.99. Not the most frugal find but definitely priceless when it comes to photo opportunities at your next party.

Useful Links:

VrtuCar Ottawa

OC Transpo Travel Planner

Carpool Group to Black Sheep Inn (need Facebook account)

ITINERARY

Friday Trip to Wakefield for a concert at the Black Sheep Inn 7 PM to 11:30 PM

Saturday Day trip to Montreal 10 AM to midnight

Sunday Trip to Lansdowne Farmers' Market + Loblaws at Billings Bridge / Dinner at Ishina's in Bells Corners

TOTALS

Public Transit = $119

VrtuCar = $129

Rental Car = $169 (including gas, excluding insurance)

Big thanks to Jith Paul and Gillian Walker for taking time to do the math! I must admit that Jith and I left the meeting ready to take a close look at what VrtuCar has to offer. But I've also heard from people who use VrtuCar and fall into the trap of using it too often for too short trips. These short trips end up costing quite a bit on a monthly basis so watch out. Thanks for listening!