This is a cooperative blog: a co/blog. We've really just started this experiment, so give a few months to get some momentum. Each of the five charter authors involved are responsible for a different set of topics, and each will post on their own schedule. We hope you enjoy the content provided here, and find it useful. The information provided is meant as opinion and editorial purposes only, and should never be taken as professional advice.

You each need a little free cash…

Archived in Relationships, Finances, Budgets | No Comments

I’m not making this up. One of my co-workers and I were discussing how Brent (my husband) and I manage our FINANCES. I thought I would rephrase it for the coblog, so here goes.

Dear Liz,

My husband and I can’t seem to agree on how to spend our FREE cash. I want to save while he wants to spend, or vice versa. He’s content buying DVDs or topping up his Starbucks coffee card on an all-to-frequent schedule, but I feel guilty spending a little of our hard-earned dough on myself. We both work and we both contribute to the family income, so it’s not easy to say “my money” or “your money” when it all balances out at the end of the month. But still… what can we do to make things a little smoother?

Short-Changed in Sherwood Park

Dear Short-Changed,

I can’t stress enough the imporance of knowing your family budget. What’s coming in? What’s going out? What’s left over at the end? But I’ve been there, and not only is a detailed budget TIME consuming, it’s not always a process for the feint of heart.

Brent and I work our budget on a hierarchy of importance. We’ve discussed and agreed upon a few basic neccessities — but then realized we were in the same boat as you and your husband. After the bills are paid, the food is on the table, and a little bit of cash is stuffed away for later what do we do with the excess. Brent wanted power tools. I wanted craft supplies and new equipment for my home gym. And, of course, we couldn’t have it all. Mix that in with Brent’s “addictions” to his morning coffee and weekly Saturday brunch (not to mention my own costly rituals) and neither of us was gaining ground on our wishlists.

And I can tell you, it was a sore point in the relationship.

Our solution was to figure out an allowance. Sounds simple right? It really is, but you need to figure out that “magic number” that will keep you both interested in the process, allow you to reach your goals, and (very importantly) not break you financially.

Our magic number is 7, and we’re not so much paying ourselves as permitting each other a “FREE-parking” ticket for our daily expenses. Each day, each of us is allowed to spend a grand total of $7 without any justification, explanation, apology or reconciliation. Seven dollars, FREE and clear but completely on the honour system. I don’t count his, he doesn’t count mine. We don’t pay it out, but we keep track — and on Sunday night the difference between what we spent and didn’t spend goes into a parallel bank account (and that is a completely different topic) that the other cannot touch.

Yes, seven bucks a day doesn’t sound like much. But over a week, a month, a few months…

What does this do for our relationship? For starters we don’t really fight about the small stuff anymore. He knows what he’s saving for, as do I. He’s cut back on his coffee budget, brewing at home more often and suddenly the weekly brunch has become a bi-weekly (or even monthly) event that can’t compare to the allure of a new set of router bits or a laser level he’s been eyeing at Home Depot.

And for me? Seven bucks per day easily becomes two hundred “FREE” dollars per month to put towards that new eliptical trainer. And Brent can’t say a word!

- Liz

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Deck Construction: Part 1

Archived in Landscape, Construction, Do-it-Yourself | 2 Comments

As the spring blossoms here in Western Canada, young homeowner’s thoughts turn to landscaping and backyard CONSTRUCTION. Yes, it’s TIME to build a deck onto that new house to increase both the functionality of your backyard and the value of your home. Everyone loves a deck; it’s a place to put your gas grill, a social sitting area for you, your friends, or just about anyone who drops by on a nice day from spring through autumn.

Grade and Drainage

The first thing you need to do when deciding to construct a deck onto a new home is check your grading rules. Where I live, there are two distinct sets of lot grade: the “rough” clay base and the “final” topsoil cover. Before constructing a deck I decided to contact the city grades and drainage department via email to find out when it was appropriate for me to begin CONSTRUCTION. Their response:

“You may build your deck anytime after rough grade approval. The grade under your deck needs to be at final grade to receive final grade approval.”

Luckily, while I haven’t received final grade approval, I do have rough grade approval and had sinc leveled the yard to where I expect final grade approval to be successful. Make sure you do this first. I can’t imagine (especially on a low deck) trying to raise the ground level five, six or even more inches once your new deck is in place. What a pain!

Piles and Ground Support

Ideally, especially in a climate zone where the ground freezes (deep) every winter and is prone to shifting, the thing to do is pour piles. If you don’t know anything about it, seek professional advice on concrete pilings. To have this work done can be expensive, however, ranging anywhere from a cheap $150 per pile to as much as $600 per pile; and you will need at least two. For my twelve-by-twelve foot deck I needed three. (Check with a building supplier for plans and exact specifications on the right number.) That said, the supplies to do it yourself (DIY) might range as little as $30 to $50 per pile, plus equipment rental. Either way (concrete truck in your backyard OR digging the hole yourself) it’s a daunting task.

First, make sure to measure. The tolerance for error on a deck pile is one half of an inch. On a twelve or fourteen foot deck, that not very much at all.

Second, measure again. You only get once chance to pour and once those piles are properly in the ground they are designed to stay put.

Third, dig deep. For a proper pile you need to go below the frost line. Where I live that is at least six feet down. I have eight foot piles that stick about a foot out of the ground; that means they are seven feet deep. They are not going to move.

Fourth, you’ll need a pile mold. I don’t know if that’s their proper name, but your recognize them at the hardware store because they look like eight foot long by (at least) ten inches diameter paper-towel rollers. Buy one for each pile: you cannot reuse these guys. Put them in your hole and make sure they are level.

Fifth, measure yet again. I can’t stress this enough. It’s still easier to redig your hole at this point than to move that pile once it’s poured.

Sixth, mix up the concrete. Get a recommendation from your local hardware store for something appropriate to your climate. You want something strong and durable, and there are different types of concrete for different jobs, climates, and seasons. Investigate before you buy. And, oh yeah: make sure you have anything you need to set in the wet concrete handy before you mix. In other words, get your galvanized steel connectors, rebar, or anything else that needs to go into wet concrete handy and ready to go.

Seventh, pour as directed. Let a little bit of concrete seep out of the bottom of the mold, pour and pack as neccessary, squeeze out the extra air bubbles and finally, make sure the top of the pile is level. LEVEL! Smooth and even. The last thing you want is a crooked deck.

Eighth, let it set and dry.

I’ll continue this explanation of my experiences in part 2.

Please remember: I’m just a guy who has done this work for myself, once. This is just my experience, so do more research before you start. I welcome any comments or updates that anyone with more experience might provide. Cheers!

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