Post contributed by J.J. from the Canucks Hockey Blog.

I’m sure you remember Rebecca’s posts on cheap fun and cheap things to do in and around Vancouver. Well at a birthday party last night, I saw a couple of friends, Jeddy and Windy, whom I haven’t seen in a long time. They’ve both just graduated from college and are just starting their professional lives. Recently, they launched a new website – youngbudget.ca – that is geared for folks with a limited disposable income.

I’ve created this website as a resource tool to help people such as myself, with not a lot of cash to spare, enjoy all that this city has to offer. From inexpensive nights on the town, to general money saving tips…I’m hoping you’ll find what you need here to help guide you through having fun and entertaining on a budget!

When I was a Business student at Douglas College, I remember having to work two part-time jobs to be able to pay my tuition and still enjoy the fun things that every 19 or 20-year old enjoys. Funds were tight back then and, like most college students I presume, had to make every dollar count.

I remember going to $4 movies on Tuesday nights rather than on the weekends. (They were $2.50 if I went to the theaters in New Westminster). I remember five-cent wings at Woody’s and Wing Wednesdays at Earl’s. I remember passing on the $10 cover charge at some of the downtown Vancouver night clubs and enjoying loonie nights at the Ozone instead. (That the Ozone was a mere four block stumbling distance away from home was a bonus.)

On youngbudget.ca, Jeddy and Windy share some of Vancouver’s more current (some well-known and some less-known) low-cost options.

Check out their tip on award-winning Joe Fortes as an example:

Every day, Joe Fortes offers ‘blue plate’ specials for their lunch menu. Each special is only $10! If you’ve done the whole Earls, Milestones and Cactus Club scene (although they are excellent as well), and are looking for something different… Joe Fortes will be a real treat. Enjoy the ambiance and fine dining experience at a fraction of the dining price!

Don’t feel like spending $13 to watch the new Harry Potter movie? Jeddy and Windy offer this tidbit as well:

For cheap movie tickets to the Scotia Bank Theatre (previously the Paramount Theatre), but them ahead of time at Robson Optical, located at 1132 Robson St. in downtown Vancouver. Each ticket is only $8.

There’s plenty more of these handy tips and tidbits on the site. Very handy especially if you’re trying to enjoy the city on a budget.

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You can read more by JJ on his own site, the Canucks Hockey Blog.

Blogathon: Post #12

5 hours down, only 19 more to go. WOW the time is flying by, seriously – although I still have to actually ‘wake up’ and go shower etc. but you didn’t need to know those details. I’ve had some more link love from the following:

I’m at breakfast right now with Michelle Kim, and it’s reallllly yummy – and I swear I won’t get any egg on my Macbook.

Blogathon: Post #11 – Sponsor me to keep going for the Surrey Food Bank

Thank you so much for everyone who has tuned into the blog so far and pledged for the Surrey Food Bank. I’ll put up a total around noon but so far I’m blown away by your generosity.

The following photo is courtesy of John Biehler (who has linked me in support of Blogathon). He’s a local blogger, and very knowledgeable about Macs. We first “met” when he commented on my series of “I’m a Mac newbie” posts and enlightened me about several very cool Mac applications and functions.

Photo credit: retrocactus on Flickr

Oh and did I mention he took this with his iPhone while in Kelowna? Yeah… iPhone… *so* jealous!

Blogathon: Post #10

I first met Nancy at a Blogger Meetup a while back and later on at DemoCamp. She brings a unique perspective to Vancouver blogging by way of writing about financial issues, money management, advice and case studies.

Imagine if Canadians were known for being all over their money. Engaged. Proactive. Getting out of debt. Savvy. Saving. Generous.

Nancy thinks it’s possible.

Case study: Eleanor has an income in the low 70K range from her work as an engineer. She is about 15 years away from retirement, and while she has little debt, she has no assets either. She does have a pension, but no rrsps of her own, no savings, no property. She is utterly baffled where the money goes. She does rent an $1,800/month apt in Kits (Vancouver) which she shares with her college-age son.

While successful professionally and working very long hours, Eleanor is chronically and seriously disorganized. Brilliant, yes. Competent yes. But require or suggest structure and she runs for the nearest exit.

What would you suggest to help Eleanor take control of her money so she can start building the assets she could have, with her income level?

To chime in on all the finance-related topics including guest posts by various contributors, head to Nancy Zimmerman: A Canadian Money Coach.

Blogathon: Post #9 – Sponsor me to keep going for the Surrey Food Bank

I’ve had some great post ideas submitted as well as a few contributions by fellow bloggers. I’ll kick it off with something Duane suggested. This clothing is even more snazzy than hypercolour.

With Kameraflage, now you’ll be able to plant subliminal messages on T-shirts, movies and billboards that can only be seen with digital cameras. This context-sensitive display technology, developed by Sarah Logie and Connor Dickie, works by using colors that are invisible to us but easily picked up by the silicon chips in digital cameras. [gizmondo]

Very cool, although malicious t-shirt companies could very well use this power for evil, instead of silly amusement. It’s amazing what people can do with technologies these days eh?

If you would like to suggest a story for me to blog about, and you use del.icio.us just tag the article “for:miss604” and I’ll see it in my incoming links and credit the source. Thanks!

Blogathon: Post #8 – I’m listening to the Appleseed Cast because it’s an overcast morning and it makes me feel. Just feel.