Community News
7 Tips to Keep Holiday Spending in Check

The holiday season shouldn’t be stressful – but the reality is, whether you need to prepare for a visit with the in-laws, host a large family dinner or check a number of items off of a wish list, the time and financial crunches can take their toll.

These tips can help you keep your holiday spending in check – as well as your stress levels.

Make a list and check it twice

Plan a budget ahead of time – and stick to it.

  • There are plenty of online budget calculators to lend you a hand if you aren’t sure where to start.
  • Although it may look good on paper to have a small budget, if your budget is unrealistic you are more likely to go over it.
  • Try to anticipate all the costs, including the little things.

Don’t forget to track your spending and keep it in check with your budget. If you go over in one budget line, try to make up for it by under-spending elsewhere.

Be a savvy shopper

Planning in advance and sticking to a shopping list can make all the difference during the holiday season.

  • Look for sales, use coupons and take advantage of free shipping for online purchases – planning ahead can help you to avoid last-minute purchases that are outside of your budget. You can cut down on express shipping charges if you don’t leave that last-minute online purchase until too late.
  • When watching for sales, be wary of signage that is put out to draw you in – just because it’s marked as a sale doesn’t mean it’s a good deal!
  • Plan your shopping trips and avoid the extras. It’s nice to treat yourself once in a while, but if you’re getting coffee or food at the mall each time you go, those costs can add up. Eat before you go out on your shopping excursion and take snacks with you for when you’re feeling a little peckish.

Reconsider your gift giving

Consider changing your gift giving habits – cut back on your list if you can, introduce the idea of a Secret Santa for your family instead of buying gifts for everyone or suggest a group gift to charity.

If you’re sticking to a list, check off everything you buy and then stop shopping. Going off-list can have a significant impact on your budget.

You could also consider homemade versus store-bought gifts. If you’ve got time and creative skills, giving homemade gifts can help to cut down on your budget. Plus, it’s very personal and comes from the heart!

Practice smart party planning

A potluck dinner is a great way to cut down on the stress and costs of hosting a family dinner or party. If you’re hosting, plan to make the main dishes and ask others to contribute sides, salads, desserts, etc.

If you don’t have the option to share the work and the spread out the financial contribution, keep track of all that you spend so that you can budget effectively for your next party.

Remember that decorations may add ambiance, but they are optional. Cutting back on decorations for your holiday party can translate into significant savings.

Travel wisely

Many people go home for the holidays – and travel companies are well aware of that.

  • Plan travel as far in advance as possible or look for seat sales and use discount fare-finding sites.
  • If you’re going by car and not going far, try carpooling.
  • Budget for spending money during the trip as well – buying food and drinks at convenience stores in airports and gas stations on the road can add up quickly, so consider buying less expensive (and healthier) snacks for the journey.
  • Ask if the hotel you’re staying at offers discounts, for example for CAA members. Book in advance or use cost-saving sites to find your accommodations for less. Or stay with family (if you can handle it)!

When possible, purchase a little bit at each paycheque to avoid a large payment all at once. This will also help to prevent the “holiday hangover” of seasonal debt.

Natural Product Review

So you want radiant skin, thicker hair and stronger nails? Not to mention, stronger joints and bones? Meet collagen. Collagen is a complex structural protein that maintains strength and flexibility throughout the body. Super Collagen+C is made up of the collagen peptides Type 1 and 3 which support collagen in skin, hair, nails, muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. Super Collagen+C is enzymatically hydrolyzed, providing an amino acid ratio with a low molecular weight for maximum bioavailability and utilization by the body. When Super Collagen is taken internally, the body receives the raw materials it needs to supplement the collagen found in all of these areas and may act as a messenger to trigger the synthesis of new collagen fibers. Vitamin C is added to provide optimum supplementation of your dietary collagen needs. Super Collagen+C is free of Soy, wheat, lactose, starch, yeast, artificial flavors and gluten.

Have you tried Cupping?

Cupping has recently gained attention at the Rio Olympics. It is an ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine practice with writings found dating back 3500 years ago. It is simply a plastic cup with a valve; a hand pump is used to remove the air creating suction on the skin. This expands the blood vessels below the skin, increasing circulation and reducing pain, and it also triggers the lymphatic system. A round bruise may form and is usually painless and will disappear in a few days. As seen at the Olympics, athletes enjoy the benefits of cupping. The professional athletes used them to relieve tight muscles and reduce pain. Anyone can enjoy the benefits, from increasing blood flow to help your natural healing, to helping reduce fatigue and release stress. What does it feel like, you may wonder? It feels like it looks, slightly uncomfortable, but should not be painful.

Do You Foam Roll?

Foam rolling is a method of self-myofascial release performed with a piece of cylindrical foam of various sizes and densities. The technique can also be implemented with a tennis or lacrosse ball. It is done by rolling the foam roller or ball under the muscle group of choice, with the goal of massaging ‘trigger points’, which can help relax overactive muscles. An overactive muscle can lead to strength imbalances, which may lead to pain and dysfunction. Your physiotherapist can guide it’s use as a tool to help treat a multitude of injuries including shoulder or back pain and muscle strains. It has become more popular recently as it has been found to decrease post exercise soreness when performed pre and post exercise, as well as on days of rest. Foam rollers can be purchased for a relatively low price, making it a cost effective way of managing aches and pains.

Dan Girardin, Physiotherapist MPT, BESS,

www.prairietrailphysio.ca

Timing of Medications

It is important to understand clearly when to take medications and how to take them. Some prescription drugs have to be taken on an empty stomach while others are taken with food – check with your pharmacist to ensure you know what that means – (how long before or after a meal do you wait)? This helps with the appropriate absorption of the drug. Some medications should not be taken with other drugs as this can lead to reduced effectiveness. The timing of medications is also important regarding when to take them – morning vs. evening – to alleviate side effects. As well, it is key to follow the instructions on the number of times per day to take the medication. When you are prescribed new medications, ask your pharmacist to fully explain these medications so you have a good understanding of them. A full medication review of all your prescription drugs and over the counter products can further help you to see how they work together.

Urgent Need for Plasma Protein Therapies

 

Urgent and Ongoing need for Plasma Protein Therapies

Did you know that a large number of patients depend on protein therapies derived from human plasma and blood donors in Canada? Donors are required because large volumes of plasma, the liquid portion of blood are required to treat a wide variety of diseases.

For example:

  • 1200 plasma donations are required to treat one patient with hemophilia, a bleeding disorder.
  • 130 donations to treat one patient with primary immunodeficiency, condition where people can not make functional antibodies to fight infections.
  • 900 donations are required to treat one alpha-1 patient, a disorder that affects the lungs.

These therapies replace missing or defective proteins in patients with rare disorders so they can lead healthier and otherwise normal lives. They typically require on-going infusions throughout their lives as they are chronic diseases so plasma is always required.

Bill Bees, Vice- President, Plasma Technology
www.plasma.prometic.com

 

 

Examples of diseases and their products are outlined in the table below:

 

Disease Product Description of Condition
Hemophilia A Factor VIII Bleeding Disorder caused by a lack of Factor VIII clotting factor. Affects 1 in 10,000 people.
Hemophilia B Factor IX Bleeding Disorder caused by a lack of Factor IX clotting factor. Affects 1 in 25,000 people.
Von Willebrand Disease Von Willebrand Factor VIII Bleeding disorder due to a defective Factor VIII gene. Affects 1.2 million people worldwide.
Antithrombin Deficiency Antithrombin III Bleeding disorder due to a defective ATIII gene.
Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) Immune Globulin Intravenous or subcutaneous Genetic disorder where insufficient or defect immune globulin is produced, leading to susceptibility to infections.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) Immune Globulin Intravenous Autoimmune disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system of both children and adults. Can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Immune Globulin Intravenous Autoimmune disorder that affects blood platelet levels leading to bleeding disorders.
Kawasaki Immune Globulin Intravenous Primarily affects children under 5-years of age leading to heart disease.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) Alpha-1 Protease Inhibitor Also called genetic emphysema that affects lung function.
Burns, Shock, Trauma, Major Surgery Albumin The major plasma protein is used for fluid replacement for a variety of disease conditions.
Infectious diseases like:

Rabies

Tetanus

Varicella Zoster

Hepatitis B

 Hyperimmune globulin directed against a specific virus or bacteria Used for treating ore preventing a variety of infectious diseases.
Hereditary angioedema C1-esterdase inhibitor A rare and potentially life threating condition characterized by acute attacks of swelling of face, airway, stomach and extremities.

 

Clean Eating – Turkey and Sweet Potato Curry

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp finely chopped ginger;
2 Tbsp finely chopped garlic;
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes;
2 Tbsp curry powder;
2 tsp garam masala;
1 cup plain greek yogurt;
1 lb cooked turkey breast, chopped;
1 Tbsp cooking oil;
1 yellow onion, chopped;
2 tomatoes, chopped;
1 lb sweet potatoes, chopped;
1 cup chickpeas;
1 Tbsp brown sugar.

Directions: Put ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, curry powder, garam masala and yogurt into medium bowl and stir to combine. Set aside. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook until translucent. Reduce heat; slowly add curry sauce being careful not to boil. Stir in turkey, tomato, sweet potato, chickpeas and sugar; cook until heated through. Serve with basmati rice or toasted pita bread. Delish!

Book Club – Always Hungry?

Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells, And Lose Weight Permanently by Dr. David Ludwig. Renowned endocrinologist, Dr. David Ludwig, explains why traditional diets don’t work and presents a new plan to help you lose weight without hunger. “Always Hungry?” turns dieting on its head with a three-phase program that ignores calories and targets fat cells directly. The recipes and meal plan include delicious high-fat foods (like nuts and nut butter, full-fat dairy, avocados, and dark chocolate), healthy proteins, and natural carbohydrates. The result? Fat cells release their excess calories, and you lose weight and inches without battling cravings and constant hunger. This is dieting without deprivation. This helpful book reveals a liberating new way to tame hunger and lose weight for good. Available at your local bookstore.

Exercise for Mental Health

After a long day of work, or chasing children, or just trying to fit life into your schedule, the last thing you might think about is being active. However, staying active is part of a healthy lifestyle, and it has the added benefit of helping us feel happy. When we are active, our brain releases a chemical called serotonin. This chemical helps us feel happier. Feeling down? Start with a low-intensity activity such as walking. Bring the dog or your family along to share the experience. Other great activities include biking, doing yard work, swimming, and throwing a ball around. Still having a hard time fitting in being active? Try to add a little bit of activity to your work routine, especially if you have an office job. Stand at your desk instead of sitting. Take time during the day to stretch. Remember, small changes over time can make a big difference!

Start Healthy Eating Habits Early

Eating healthy is sometimes easier said than done nowadays. We are surrounded by grab-and-go foods filled with preservatives, colors and artificial flavours. Involving kids in the food buying process and having easy healthy snacks such as fruits, veggies, cheese and crackers available also helps keep food battles to a minimum. For a healthy digestive system – have predictable meal and snack times, do not use dessert as a prize for finishing a meal, don’t force them to clean their plates as this causes the natural feelings of fullness to stop, which leads to overeating at meals and when bored. Kids should decide if they’re hungry, what they will eat from the foods served, and when they’re full. There is no need to snack at random times and realize that if they are not hungry, they can wait until the next snack or meal time.

Save Your Sanity by Saving for September

If you’re anything like the typical parent, summer brings not only the promise of family fun but also the prospect of family funds slipping away come September. What can you do to avoid overspending and save your sanity before school starts? One solution is to jumpstart your planning and purchasing by starting the process as soon as possible. Here are three tips: 1. Visit your kids’ school and class websites to see if supply lists are already posted. If so, great! If not, try to anticipate what the needs will be. Then watch for sales throughout the summer and buy a little at a time. 2. Set and stick to a budget before you head out and reuse anything you can from last year. 3. Remember out-of-school activities will come with a registration fee (as will many school-related but out-of-classroom clubs and teams) so account for that in your planning.