your-money

It’s been a bad week for marriage in Hollywood. Dexter stars Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter called it quits - now super couple Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds announced they’re throwing in the towel too.

When I was growing up, the U.S. dollar was always much higher than the lowly loonie. Things I bought in the States would seem cheap initially, until I’d get my Visa bill and realize that all those bargains were just an illusion.

There was a great blog post on drinking by Sarah Treleaven last week — I’ve got admire a gal with the courage to admit she enjoys a good drink, and often! My husband and I fall into the same camp — we love wine. At night, after the kids are in bed, we both enjoy a glass while we cook together. It’s a time to relax, bond and talk over the events of the day.

Last week I read this column by Amy Keyishian, a married freelancer living in San Francisco with her unemployed husband and two kids. Unable to find full-time work, the couple has been struggling since 2008 to make ends meet.

Holiday tipping is a contentious issue in our house. My husband, a self-proclaimed el-cheapo, isn’t big on tipping. He thinks it should be reserved for excellent service only. Me: I think tipping at holiday time is a way to say thanks to people who help out through the year – and with two kids under four and a business to run, we rely on a cadre of people to make sure life runs smoothly.