Can going down to one vehicle be a savings strategy?

You’ve both logged off at work for the last time – no more driving to work, getting stuck in traffic, paying for parking passes, and fueling up all the time!

But now that you’re on a lower retirement income, can your household afford to have more than one vehicle on the road? Save with SPP took a look around to figure out the pros and cons of going down to one vehicle.

The Money Crashers blog notes that the cost of running two cars, “based on 2019 calculations from AAA (in the U.S.)… could be anywhere from $12,120 to $25,114 per year.”

Could you save by going to one car, the article asks. “The answer to that question is a definite maybe,” Money Crashers reports.

First, the article explains, you’ll get some cash by giving up your second car.

As well, getting rid of an extra vehicle “allows you to reap ongoing savings year after year. The exact amount varies based on what car you have and how much you use it,” the article continues.

How much you’ll save depends on how much the second car is costing you, the article notes.

If there is a loan to pay off for the car you’re selling, you might not see as much money in your pocket from selling the vehicle. However, even so, paying off the loan could save you around $500 per month or $6,000 per year, the article explains.

Other savings – which depend on your individual circumstances – include fuel, insurance and maintenance. You will also save on registration and licence costs, the article notes.

Throw in tolls and parking and the savings can truly add up.

There can also be a downside, the article concludes.

“Giving up a car can also create new costs. You need another way to get around, and in some cases, that could mean using your remaining car more,” the article notes. You might be able to offset that through carpooling, using public transit, walking, or biking, the article adds.

The Arner Adventures blog offers up some more thoughts on the topic.

“Becoming a one-car household can be less overwhelming than you think. If you have always had your own car and are not sharing one, you may feel a sense of loss or a lack of independence,” the blog begins.

“Fear not. You truly can live without a second vehicle. Most Americans own only one car. Only 33 per cent of car owners own two vehicles,” the blog notes.

The blog authors then list their reasons for going to one car – “having two cars increased our carbon footprint,” they write. Going to one vehicle thus had environmental benefits.

“We figured we would save money significantly on auto insurance, maintenance, fuel, and auto issues as they arise. The average amount we would save a year is roughly $2,000 per year. We do not have car payments, so if you do, then add those to your savings. The relief of not having a car loan could be its own category,” the authors report.

They also say they have had “more adventures” by going to one car. Say what? Let’s read on.

“By exploring alternative transportation, we found that the Amtrak railway system is an option for us. When thinking about upcoming plans to travel, we know that we can cut our travel costs by utilizing the train system. How fun is a train ride?! It’s an adventure, we will tell you that,” the blog enthuses.

It’s an interesting topic. For sure you have to cooperate more with your partner on who needs the car to go where, and when. But the money you save can really add up.

And a nice place to stash that extra cash could be your retirement savings account.

If you lack a workplace retirement plan, and are trying to save for your retirement on your own, a great partner can be found via the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. SPP is open to any Canadian with unused registered retirement savings plan room. You can contribute any amount each year, up to your RRSP limit.

As well, you can transfer in any amount from other RRSPs you might have.

SPP then takes on the hard part – investing your precious savings dollars in our low-cost, professionally managed pooled fund. At retirement, SPP helps you turn those savings into retirement income, via such options as our lifetime monthly annuity offerings or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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Saving trends, strategies and other ideas as we sail into 2026

In this resolution-focused time of a new year, saving more is tops on the list for many of us.

But how do we eke out savings from our already-tight, post-holiday budgets? Save with SPP decided to take a look around to see how people are planning their saving strategies for 2026, focusing on new trends and ideas.

At MoneySense, there’s agreement that saving is difficult “with budgets tight and inflation driving the cost of groceries and everyday necessities higher.”

But the article suggests that making “small monthly changes can add up over the year.”

Certified financial planner Kelly Ho tells the publication that few people have a good handle on how much they make, and how much they spend. “It’s just a matter of really understanding how much money is coming in and how much is going out,” she tells MoneySense.

Once you have that nailed down, you can increase what’s left after the bills are paid through mini-cuts to your budget. Have a good look, Ho suggests, at what you are paying out in subscriptions for TV shows, music, and other services.

These invisible little costs — $10 here, $15 there – can add up to a hefty burden on the credit card, the article explains. If you cut a service – even just $10 a month – the savings can add up. “You multiply that by 12 months, multiply that over several years, plus, you know, potential investment growth. That’s a lot of money on the table,” Ho tells the magazine.

Another good idea in the article is being “intentional” about what you spend when you are on vacation. “Every single individual I’ve spoken to has underestimated the cost of travel,” she tells MoneySense. “I don’t know if many people actually keep track of what they’re spending when they’re there at their destination.” So, don’t stop budgeting just because you’re on vacation – establish a budget and stay within it.

From This Is Money in the U.K. come three more ideas.

There’s the 100-envelope challenge. You get 100 envelopes, the article explains, and number them from one to 100.

“Each week, savers pick out two envelopes at random and put the amount shown on the front into them. In 50 weeks, they would have saved £5,050 (or in Canada, that much in dollars),” the article explains – an amount that could “turbocharge” your savings.

Other 2026 trends include “no spend” and “no buy” challenges, the article continues.

“As part of the no-spend challenge, people will go through strict periods of not purchasing anything beyond absolute necessities or use up all the products or food they already own before replacing them as a way to save money,” the article tells us.

“There is a ‘no buy’ thread on social media platform Reddit where revenge savers share the savings they have made from limiting their spending,” the article continues.

“Revenge saving?” Let’s read on.

“It involves carefully tracking how much you are saving, as with normal budgeting activities,” the article notes. “But revenge saving goes a step further by deliberately not spending and taking part in savings challenges to build up a pot of savings.”

So, a savings plan enhanced by conscious non-spending challenges. Wow.

The Dallas Express, via Yahoo! Life, offers up some more strategic saving thoughts.

There’s the classic, sound idea of “automating savings transfers,” the “setting up… of automatic moves from chequing to savings right after payday – even as little as $10 or $20 per paycheque – helps `pay yourself first’ without relying on willpower.”

What about cutting back on food delivery?

Chicago certified financial planner Valerie Rivera tells the Express “after housing and childcare, the third-largest expense I often see is food delivery… Think about what would happen if you redirected $50 every month that was going to takeout and put it in a savings account.”

Final ideas from the Express including shopping more often at thrift stores, reducing electrical costs by such measures as switching to LED bulbs, and building an emergency fund.

We can add two more that worked for us. We had a variable mortgage. When interest rates went down for our second five-year term, we kept paying what we had paid before at the higher interest rate. We didn’t feel any pain but were paying the mortgage off more quickly.

Another tip, which we picked up from doing this blog, was the idea of simply taking a set percentage of your take-home pay off the top of every paycheque and putting it into savings. We started small, at three per cent, and increased the amount when we could. Then you live on the 97 per cent. It has worked.

If you are saving for retirement via the Saskatchewan Pension Plan, the idea of paying your future self first can easily be arranged. SPP permits pre-authorized contributions from bank accounts or even credit cards.

That way, you are directing savings dollars in a “set it and forget it” way to SPP, who will then grow those savings by investing them in our low-cost, professionally managed pooled fund. At retirement, you can collect a lifetime monthly income via an SPP annuity, or opt for the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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Is cooking from scratch – a way to save on food costs – making a comeback?

Long ago when we were youngsters in school, mom made us breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In those days – long before the arrival of frozen dinners and the microwave – this mostly involved cooking things from scratch.

In an era where you can have meals delivered to your door, where there are restaurants and fast-food outlets around every corner, and where there are frozen meals you can just nuke, you would think that cooking from scratch is a long-forgotten art.

But for an unusual reason – the high cost of groceries and dining out – it appears cooking from scratch is making a comeback. Save with SPP examined this trend by doing a little reading.

A Globe and Mail article from last year tells the story of Cyndy Nelly-Spence, who cuts costs in retirement by making her own yogurt from scratch, saves all her bones to make soup stock, and more.

She and her husband “also batch-cook four to six weeks’ worth of homemade cereal with oatmeal and quinoa, and cook 12 servings worth of stew or chili at a time, all of which they store in glass containers in their pantry or one of two large freezers they keep in their basement,” the Globe reports.

Making things from scratch, the article continues, ensures the couple is avoiding “ultra processed foods, which have been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases including obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease and colon cancer,” the article notes.

The Kuzina Messer Culinaire blog looks at the benefits of cooking at home versus eating out, ordering in, or buying “ready-made or boxed meals.”

“There’s something deeply rewarding about cooking from scratch. Not only does it offer countless health benefits, but it can also save money, improve your cooking skills, and bring people together in ways that pre-packaged food simply can’t,” the blog suggests.

In addition to providing you control over things you may want to avoid in your food – sugar, salt and fat – home cooking can save you money, the blog continues.

“While cooking from scratch may seem like it takes more time, it can actually save you money in the long run. Pre-packaged meals, takeout, and even some convenience foods can add up quickly, whereas buying raw ingredients in bulk and cooking at home is often much more economical,” the blog reports.

Advantages of preparing food from home include saving on food by buying in bulk, reduced food waste, and improved cooking skills, the blog notes.

The Art of Growing blog also talks of the benefits of cooking at home, from scratch.

“My biggest reasons for making homemade meals over convenience foods? Health, taste, cost, and enjoyment,” the blog begins.

“Using whole ingredients supports a healthy diet, reduces the risk of food allergies, and makes it easier to maintain nourishing, homemade meals. Even a slow cooker/instant pot recipe can be loaded with fresh ingredients and pantry staples, making a simple meal both convenient and wholesome,” the blog continues.

“Cooking from scratch gives me control. I know exactly what’s going into my meals — no hidden sugars, additives, or unpronounceable `flavour enhancers.’ I can choose organic produce, swap sugar for honey, or use the veggies growing just outside my kitchen door. It’s empowering to know I’m feeding my family food that’s both nutrient-dense and honest,” the blog’s author adds.

“Homemaking is an ongoing education — and I love that. Scratch meals are like little lessons in patience and creativity that pay off in so many ways. Over time, you develop basic cooking skills that make everything else easier — from simple meals to more complex homemade recipes like yogurt or ferments,” the blog concludes.

Many of us – lacking, perhaps, any type of retirement savings program to sign up for at work – are left figuring out how to save for retirement from “scratch.”

It can be daunting if you aren’t familiar with investing, the various types of savings vehicles, risk, volatility, and more. But don’t worry – there’s help for do-it-yourself savers.

The Saskatchewan Pension Plan is a retirement savings partner available to any Canadian with registered retirement savings plan room. Once you’ve opened your SPP account, you decide how much you want to contribute annually – any amount up to your RRSP limit. As well, you can transfer in any amount from other RRSPs you may have to consolidate your savings nest egg.

SPP does the heavy lifting – we invest your hard-saved dollars in a low-cost, professionally managed pooled fund. When it’s time to leave work behind, SPP income options include the security of a lifetime monthly annuity payment, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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Side hustles – what people are doing to increase their earning power

An often-overlooked way to increase your savings is by increasing your income through a “side hustle,” a part-time gig that lands you more cash.

Save with SPP took a look around to see what some of the top side hustles are these days.

According to BlogTO, side hustles are growing in popularity.

“Inflation, economic uncertainty, and stagnant wages have made it expensive to live in Canada, so finding side hustles is one way to earn extra income,” the blog begins. As well, the blog continues, Canadians are saving just seven per cent of their earnings, “rather than the 20 per cent rule of thumb.”

That’s why, the article notes, “nine million (28 per cent) of Canadians reported being part of the gig economy,” according to recent research from Leger.

“Nearly half of Canadians, including those earning over $100,000 in their primary jobs, said they’d be financially stressed without their side hustle. A total of 55 per cent said that income from their side hustles goes towards non-negotiable needs, and 59 per cent put their extra earnings towards savings,” the article adds.

OK – so exactly what kind of gigs are people doing?

Freelance work exists for those with graphic design skills, and “if you can fact-check, research, edit and understand Search Engine Optimization (SEO), you might want to consider remote writing or editing jobs,” the blog tells us.

Another category, the blog continues, is e-commerce, or selling things online.

“Whether you enjoy making jewellery or candles, you can turn your hobby into a passive source of income by selling your creations online. If you’re not that crafty, you could declutter your home by selling items you no longer use,” the blog reports.

Other ideas: delivery jobs, dog walking, or teaching others a skill – such as music lessons, the blog adds.

The Made in CA blog provides us with a few more ideas.

Renting out extra space, the blog explains, can be a great way to make more money.

“If you have unused space, this is a great way to make extra money in Canada. You can rent out spare rooms for short or long-term lets, basements and attics for storage, or even parking spots, especially in busy urban neighbourhoods where parking is expensive and in high demand,” the blog tells us.

Another possibility is “social media management.”

“If you enjoy creating content for social media, you might try your hand at offering your services as social media manager. Many small businesses need help with posting content and ad campaigns on social media platforms to increase brand visibility and recognition. Social media managers generally offer services such as brand strategy development, post scheduling, and analytics tracking to support businesses in growing their online presence,” the blog explains.

We already heard about dog walking as a side hustle, Made in CA also suggests pet-sitting as a way to make some extra cash.

Some final ideas from the Thrive North blog include being a “virtual assistant,” hired to work from home on helping with “scheduling, research, email and bookkeeping.”

Another idea that it is demand these days is snow removal, the blog continues. Along with junk removal or seasonal work (lawn cutting), such gigs are frequently available, the blog points out.

“The best side hustle for you will depend on your skills, available time, and income goals. Start small, stay consistent, and watch your side hustle grow into a sustainable source of financial freedom,” the blog concludes.

If you are hoping your side hustle will create more money to save long-term, you may want to consider opening a Saskatchewan Pension Plan account.

SPP is ideally suited for bits and pieces of savings. There is no fixed contribution rate, so you contribute any amount you like to grow your retirement nest egg. You can also transfer in money from registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs) you might have.

SPP will then carry out the job of investing those hard-earned dollars in our professionally managed, low-cost, pooled fund. When it’s time to turn savings into income, SPP options include the security of a lifetime monthly annuity payment, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

Join the Wealthcare Revolution – follow SPP on Facebook!

Inspiring stories tell how people got out of debt jail

Debt is a twin-natured beast. It can be used for good – to pay for a house, car, or investment you don’t have the cash to afford. It can lead to bad times when you over-rely on credit cards and lines and can barely keep up with the minimum payments.

So it’s always great to hear about a friend or family member who has stared down the beast and turned things around. Save with SPP beat the bushes for some success stories about debt reduction – folks who got their act together and slayed the beast of indebtedness.

The Making Sense of Cents blog recounts the story of Amanda, who was able to pay off $133,763 of debt in 43 months.

How, we all ask? Let’s read on.

After piling up student loans and getting behind on payments for a new car, then getting married, Amanda and her husband Dave had over $133,000 of debt.

They got rid of the new car for a second-hand one, saving on loan payments, and then went to a “zero-based budget.” They used the “cash envelope” strategy (popularized in Canada by Gail vaz-Oxlade), putting physical money in envelopes and earmarking it for specific expenses. When the money is gone from the envelope, you don’t spend any more on that category.

They “both worked to increase our income” while not increasing their lifestyle. “After three years and seven months of hard work, we were debt-free.”

So – less loans, a strict budget, earning more but spending the same.

At the Jackie Beck blog we learn how Kaysha, “newly engaged,” managed to get rid of $43,000 of debt in two years.

“She took a three-pronged approach to it: cutting back, getting support, and making more money,” the blog explains.

“Kaysha switched jobs and got promotions — doubling her income over two years — and kept her budget the same. When she got a bonus at work, she didn’t spend a single penny of it. All that went toward debt. She also did tons of random things to make extra money on the side. (At one point, she made money sampling ice cream!) During all this, she and her boyfriend also cash flowed their wedding,” the blog reports. The term “cash flowing” refers to not having to borrow money or use credit to pay for something.

So – spending a bonus on debt, side hustles, and again, the flat budget.

Next, let’s hear about Mel, who’s debt-defeating testimonial appears on the Growing Slower website.

Despite going from a two adult, two income home to a home with three people and one income, Mel and her family paid off $25,000 in six months.

They “made sure to assess every single purchase” along the way, and found these ideas helped:

• Meatless meals
• No spend challenges
• Selling things on social media sites
• Having yard sales

“Getting out of debt was a challenge, but Mel wants others to know that you can do it! The feeling of freedom, new opportunities, and big dreams that will open up to you is so amazing!,” the blog concludes.

So – shopping smart for groceries, employing fun challenges, and turning clutter into cash.

In our personal experience, the use of bonuses to fight debt and the idea of keeping the budget flat when your pay increases are very valuable tools. We decided to make getting rid of the mortgage our number one priority, and when that happened, taking care of other debts via the “snowball method” worked. We paid off our lowest debt, then put that money on the next-lowest, and continued that way.

If you can avoid having debt when you are retired and earning less money, your future you will thank you.

You’ll also receive thanks if you are able to bolster the modest government retirement benefits you’ll receive with personal savings. If you are saving on your own for retirement, the Saskatchewan Pension Plan may be just the ticket for you.

You decide how much to contribute, or transfer in from registered retirement savings plans you may have. SPP does the rest, investing your savings in a professionally managed, low-cost pooled fund.

When it’s time to log off for good, your SPP income options include a monthly annuity payment for life, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

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Ways to put an end to procrastinating – and getting things done

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, they say.

However, procrastination – putting things off until later – seems to get in the way of getting things done. A recent article by Preet Banerjea of The Globe and Mail suggests that financial procrastination “is like paying another tax,” because you are enjoying fun things in the now instead of saving for the future.

Save with SPP decided to scout around the Interweb to see how others have liberated themselves from the clutches of procrastination.

The writers at Psychology Today offer up a few tips.

First, they suggest, why not break the task up into little bite-sized pieces?

“When you break a task into smaller steps, it becomes much more manageable, and taking the first step can build momentum,” the article explains.

“For example, if you’re avoiding cleaning your garage, don’t aim to finish it in one day. Instead, focus on sorting just one corner or organizing a single shelf,” the article adds.

Another trick is to “tackle your most dreaded task first,” the magazine notes. “Say you need to call customer service to resolve a complex billing issue. This kind of task can feel exhausting before you even begin. However, if you do it first thing in the morning, you’ll free up mental space to handle the rest of your day more smoothly,” the article recommends.

An interesting one is the Two-Minute Rule, the magazine continues.

“Popularized by productivity expert David Allen, the Two-Minute Rule suggests that if a task can be done in two minutes or less, do it immediately.This rule helps eliminate small tasks that pile up,” and can feel overwhelming, the magazine notes.

The Coursera website provides a few more ideas.

Got a to-do list? Trim it down, the site suggests.

“If you begin to work with a to-do list, it’s crucial to trim where you can. There are only so many hours in the day, and if you find yourself with long lists, then some things will have to be shifted around—or dropped altogether. For starters, go through and remove anything that doesn’t need to be done that day or that week,” the site tells us.

Next, Coursera suggests, you should minimize distractions.

“Turn off your phone, stay away from social media, and make sure you’re setting yourself up to stay on-task rather than deviating to something new,” the site notes.

Be sure, the site adds, to reward yourself for completing a task.

“You can use… personal rewards as motivation, such as a break for a snack or an activity. Or, if you’re working on a more involved project, maybe your reward is something bigger, like a nice dinner when you turn in the finished product,” the site suggests.

A few more ideas come to us via the Calm blog.

Techniques “like mindful breathing and meditation” can help you manage stress and anxiety, which the blog suggest fuel procrastination.

Consider, the blog advises, getting an “accountability buddy” to help you keep yourself on track.

“Don’t hesitate to ask friends, family, or professionals to be your accountability buddy if procrastination significantly impacts your life. Getting this support and encouragement from other people may help you to stop procrastinating and can give you ideas or coping tools,” the blog notes.

Review your success with anti-procrastination tools and reflect on what worked and what didn’t, the blog concludes.

Is procrastination holding back your retirement savings efforts?

Start small, with an amount you won’t really miss, and then ramp up over time.

The Saskatchewan Pension Plan does not have a required contribution rate. That means you can decide how much you want to contribute. Contributions can be received in many ways, including through pre-authorized transfers from your bank account or credit card, or via online banking, where SPP can be set up as a bill.

No matter how your savings dollars travel to SPP, once here they are invested in a professionally managed, low-cost pooled fund. When the time comes to withdraw your contributions as income, options include a lifetime annuity or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

Join the Wealthcare Revolution – follow SPP on Facebook!

As a new year – 2026 – begins, many of us make a commitment to do something fresh and new in honour of that milestone.

Maybe it’s shedding a few post-holiday pounds, or hitting the gym more often, or learning something new.

Save with SPP took a look around the Interweb to see what sorts of things people are resolving to do in 2026.

The folks at Reader’s Digest offer up a few interesting resolutions.

How about resolving “to learn a new word every month,” the publication suggests. “One word a day keeps the boredom away (at least to us!). By learning just one word each month, you’ll be building knowledge without feeling overwhelmed,” the publication suggests.

Another interesting one is “saying `no’ more often,” the magazine continues.

“Take the time to actually focus on protecting your time and emotional well-being. By setting boundaries and refusing energy-draining activities, you preserve space for what truly matters,” Reader’s Digest tells us.

Finally, the magazine suggests we all “write a thank-you note to someone from your past.”

“Have a teacher who introduced you to your career? A childhood friend who stood by you for years? A relative who was always there to listen? Get a nice card, write down your memories of how that person changed your life, thank them and send it off,” the magazine suggests. “They will treasure your `Happy New Year’ wishes, and you’ll benefit from remembering a positive moment in your life.”

So thanks to Miss Ramsay at J.S. Woodsworth Secondary School for convincing me that learning to type would be beneficial to my future career!

Let’s click over to the Girl With Dreams site for some additional resolution ideas.

“Take a break from social media,” the site suggests. For sure, less doomscrolling ought to be a stress-reducer!

“Rather than making resolutions, set goals,” the site continues. This might be saying “lose 10 pounds by July,” rather than “try to lose weight.”

“Keep a daily check on your bank account,” is the site’s final bit of advice. This is a solid tip – you will be keeping track of what you’re spending as you’re spending, so no surprises at month end.

The Making Sense of Cents blog has lots of additional ideas.

“Learn a new language,” the blog suggests. This can be “a fun and rewarding goal for 2026,” the blog adds.

Another idea is to “read one book a month,” the blog continues. “Reading a book each month… can help you learn new things and grow as a person. Set aside time each day for reading. Even 15 minutes before bed can help you reach your goal. You could also try audiobooks during your commute or while doing chores,” the blog adds.

Let’s finish off with some saving-focused resolutions from the gang at The Motley Fool.

The blog points out that while more than half of us make financial goals each New Year’s, “only two in five stick with it.”

The blog’s research finds that “paying off debt” is a top resolution. Next comes “saving for a significant financial milestone,” such as a car, a home, or a wedding. Third is “increasing income,” and fourth (our favourite) is “saving for retirement.”

Interestingly, the blog’s research finds that boomers and Gen Xers see retirement saving as a higher priority than Gen Z folks and millennials.

If saving for retirement is one of your 2026 priorities, be sure you are taking advantage of any retirement program that may exist in your workplace.

If you don’t have such a program, the Saskatchewan Pension Plan may be of interest. It’s open to individual savers, but many organizations have chosen SPP to be their company pension plan.

However the dollars arrive at SPP, our professional investors grow them in a low-cost, pooled fund. At retirement SPP options include a lifetime annuity payment each month, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

Join the Wealthcare Revolution – follow SPP on Facebook!

While out driving the other day, we spotted a young lady waiting for the bus, decked out in wide-leg corduroy overalls and platform shoes. She could have been on her way to our high school – in 1974.

That made us wonder about things from the past that are coming back. Is this a thing? We took a look to see.

According to Grocery Coupon Guide, powdered milk – an old staple from the past – is in demand once again.

“Powdered milk is experiencing a surprising resurgence in 2025 as shoppers look for affordable, sustainable, and long-lasting alternatives to traditional dairy. Rising grocery prices, increased travel, and a growing interest in emergency preparedness have all contributed to its newfound popularity,” the publication reports.

The powdered variety of milk, the article suggests, “costs significantly less per serving than fresh milk and has a far longer shelf life.” While fresh milk last weeks, the article continues, the powdered variety can last for years.

Another thing we haven’t been hearing about for a long time – “buy now, pay later” appears to be in vogue in 2025, reports The Straits Times.

Even online shoppers, the article points out, are being given the option of paying for things in instalments. “The price of skincare products that would have cost $60 to $100 apiece upfront seemed quite reasonable after being split into smaller monthly instalments,” the article notes, adding “therein lies the appeal of buying now and paying later.”

We are old enough to remember when you could buy things on “layaway,” which basically meant you paid in instalments, and when you had paid in full, you got the item.

Another blast from the past that’s coming back, reports InStyle, are ripped jeans.

“Distressed jeans could be making a comeback in 2025 as we saw on the spring/summer runways, including Ralph Lauren,” fashion expert and stylist Naina Singla tells InStyle. “This time around, the look feels more effortless and intentional rather than overly ripped and casual,” she adds.

E! reports that wired headphones are popular again.

“Turns out, Gen Z’s latest trend isn’t about vintage jeans or claw clips: it’s wired headphones. The 2025 revival of Apple’s classic $17 EarPods proves that what’s old is new again,” the broadcaster reports. “With their clean white cords and nostalgic minimalist design, these throwback essentials are suddenly the hottest accessory of the year,” the article continues.

Will pet rocks, mood rings, lava lamps and velvet black light posters be next? Let’s hope not!

Trends may come and go, but the importance of saving for retirement seems to be a constant. If you have a workplace pension program, be sure to sign up and contribute as much as possible. If you don’t, and are having trouble figuring out how DIY retirement savings works, have a look at the Saskatchewan Pension Plan (www.saskpension.com).

SPP is a made-in-Saskatchewan retirement savings program that is open to any Canadian with registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) room. You decide how much to contribute – or to transfer in from other RRSPs you may have – and SPP does the rest. Our professional investors grow your savings in our low-cost, pooled fund.

When work is in the rearview mirror, you can turn those savings into income. Options include a monthly lifetime annuity payment or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

Join the Wealthcare Revolution – follow SPP on Facebook!

There’s a lot of uncertainty out there these days – the trade war, higher costs for essentials like food and fuel, a tougher job market.

Canadians are good at keeping calm and carrying on, so Save with SPP decided to look into exactly what we are cutting back on, given the choppy economic waters.

A recent poll carried out by the publication INsauga, located in Mississauga, Ont., got nearly 4,000 responses to the question “what’s the first thing you cut back on when money gets tight?”

Near the top of the list, the publication reports, is travel.

“More than a quarter of voters said vacations are the first to go. For many, that means skipping sunny getaways or pushing back long-awaited trips abroad,” INsauga notes.

Next, the article continues, comes entertainment.

“Live concerts, movie nights, and other entertainment events ranked high on the list of sacrifices. This shows that while people still crave experiences, they’re more likely to wait until times feel more financially comfortable,” the article explains.

Other things Canadians commonly cut back on, the article adds, are “shopping for new clothes and extras” and “streaming services.” The number one thing that gets cut, the article concludes, is “eating out, with 38.6 per cent saying restaurant meals are the first to go.”

Affordability is such a problem, reports CTV News, that some of us have “skipped paying a bill to afford groceries.” That and other surprising findings are covered off in a recent poll by Nanos Research, the broadcaster notes.

“The survey found adults under 55 were four times more likely to put off payments for their cars, credit cards and electricity bills to buy food,” the article continues. Shopper Almas Patel, 23, of Charlottetown tells CTV “`my phone bill, the rent, the groceries…my car insurance, the fuel… it all adds up.’”

“The Nanos survey found 18.1 per cent of those aged 18 to 34 said they missed a bill sometimes or often. That nearly matches the 17.9 per cent reported by those 35 to 54. The figure drops to 4.2 per cent for those 55 and older,” CTV reports. Chief Data Scientist Nik Nanos tells the network that “inflation and high housing costs are major factors contributing to the generational divide.”

According to Popwire, Americans are facing higher costs as well, prompting spending cutbacks.

Data from Empower, the article reports, shows Americans cut their spending on clothing by 20 per cent in the first quarter of this year, compared to the last quarter of 2024.

“That’s an average monthly spend of $573, down from $732, signaling that consumers are actively reducing their spending on clothes, shoes, and accessories. It seems a wardrobe refresh is taking a backseat to more pressing financial priorities,” Popwire notes.

Spending on luxury items, like “premium products and designer brands,” is down by five per cent and spending on beauty and personal care products “is getting a trim,” the publication reports.

“Over 60 per cent of American consumers anticipating spending less on beauty products, according to an L.E.K. Consulting survey from October 2025. It appears now that the desire for a simplified routine and a healthier bank account is stronger than the allure of a fully stocked cosmetics drawer,” Popwire concludes.

If you’re cutting back on luxury expenses, if it is possible, you may want to consider directing some of the savings towards your long-term goals, such as retirement. Even if money is tight today, you’ll appreciate having retirement savings when you’re older and less able to work.

A great savings partner for the long-term is the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. Open to any Canadian with registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) room, SPP invests the money you contribute in a professionally managed, low-cost pooled fund. They’ll grow your savings, and when it’s time to collect, your options include receiving a monthly annuity payment for life, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

You can even consolidate your savings within SPP by transferring any amount in from other RRSPs you may have.

Check out SPP today!

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As happy retirees, we are often asked what being retired is like. Is it, one younger friend asked, like being on vacation 24/7?

No, we said – but it is more like waking up and every day is the weekend.

That got us thinking – what do famous people say about retirement?

Let’s start with the great Gordie Howe, whose epic long career in professional hockey with the NHL, the WHA, and back to the NHL again, will likely never be matched.

The Internet Pillar site quotes him as saying “I don’t want to retire, because you stay retired for a really long time.”

He also once said “it’s not easy to retire. No one teaches you how. I found that out when I tried it the first time,” the site notes.

According to the AZquotes website there are some other interesting thoughts.

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years,” U.S. President Abraham Lincoln once said.

“You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you’re down there,” quipped the late comedian George Burns, who lived beyond age 100.

Children’s writer A. A. Milne of Winnie the Pooh fame once noted “don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.”

Southern Living provides us with a few more thoughts.

“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else,” Fred Rogers, star of Mr. Rogers’ Neighbourhood, once said.

The late actress Betty White, the publication reports, once said “retirement is not in my vocabulary. They aren’t going to get rid of me that way!”

Actor Chris Pine, the magazine notes, once said “my father calls acting `a state of retirement with short spurts of work,’” and golfer Chi-Chi Rodriguez noted that “when a man retires, his wife gets twice as much husband for half as much money.”

Comedian and philosopher Will Rogers summed retirement up this way, the magazine tells us. “Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.”

Let’s finish off with some quotes from the Lasting Quotes website.

“I can’t say I was unhappy, but I was not as happy as I am now since I’ve retired,” notes author Garrison Keillor.

“You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake,” the site quotes Bob Hope as saying.

And a final, anonymous thought – “retirement is not the end of the road. It is the beginning of the open highway.”

If there’s a theme to all these quotes, it perhaps is that while it is often hard to give up what you’ve been doing for years – decades, even – you may get a chance to be happy doing something else, for yourself, in retirement.

If you’re saving on your own for life after work, a willing and capable partner is the Saskatchewan Pension Plan. Open to any Canadian with registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) room, SPP is a voluntary defined contribution plan.

You can contribute any amount you want, up to your RRSP limit, each year – and you can transfer in any amount from other RRSPs you might have.

SPP’s job in all of this is to grow your savings in our professionally managed, low-fee pooled fund. When work’s in the rearview mirror, your retirement income options include a monthly SPP annuity payment for life, or the more flexible Variable Benefit.

Check out SPP today!

Join the Wealthcare Revolution – follow SPP on Facebook!