How to colour your own hair like a pro — and save hundreds of dollars at the salon
In my 20s, I was a new freelance writer, living on my own after a traumatic breakup and clinging to my identity as a Virgo with flaming red locks (despite my genetic blessing of a mousy dark blond). Soon, the cost of bimonthly salon appointments became too much, and I decided to try my hand at box dye. After my spin with L'Oréal Paris Féria in R48 Intense Deep Auburn, my bathroom looked like a scene out of Psycho, but I was thrilled with the vibrant outcome. Over the next eight years, I saved around $12,000 by skipping the salon, only returning to the pros when I was ready to make the technically challenging transition from red to blond.
The money I saved was no small thing. And for the many Canadians watching their grocery bills skyrocket, an extra $1,500 a year probably sounds pretty good. The swap to box dye can be tricky at first, but if you're willing to do your homework and put in the effort, you can score great results with minimal damage. Here, Vancouver master colourist Kyle Gould shares his top tips for getting the most out of at-home hair colour.
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CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Drowning in debt? 7 steps to dig yourself out
Paying off debt can feel like an uphill battle. In his column on personal finance contributor Christopher Liew explains how to assess and prioritize your debt, and shares strategies to help you pay it off more quickly (Getty Images) Christopher Liew is a CFP®, CFA Charterholder and former financial advisor. He writes personal finance tips for thousands of daily Canadian readers at Blueprint Financial. If you feel overwhelmed by debt, you're not alone. With rising interest rates, ballooning living costs and everyday expenses piling up, it can seem like an uphill battle to keep up. One missed payment turns into two, you take on extra debt, you start getting collection calls, and then a couple of unexpected life events and expenses later, you find yourself in a hole that just keeps getting deeper. The good news is that you can take control, one step at a time. You just have to have a bit of patience and consistency with the right strategies. While getting out of debt certainly doesn't happen overnight, it is achievable. How to get control of your finances In the first quarter of 2025, over 1.4 million Canadians missed at least one credit card payment, according to a report from Equifax Canada. While missing a single payment isn't the end of the world, it's typically a sign you could be beginning to fall down a slippery slope. That said, whether you're in a few thousand or tens of thousands of dollars in debt, here are some simple strategies to help you get out of the hole and get back on top. Step 1: Separate and prioritize your debts I tend to be a visual person, especially when it comes to finances. I recommend taking a big sheet of paper or a whiteboard, or a spreadsheet, and writing down: Each creditor/debt you owe and how much you have left Your payment amounts and dates How many missed payments you have with each account Going one step further, write down the interest rate for each debt that you have. This will help you identify the ones that need to be prioritized. Two common debt repayment strategies are the snowball method and the avalanche method. The snowball method suggests prioritizing and paying off small debts first, allowing you to build on small successes. This method is great if you have multiple smaller loans you're dealing with, and the sense of paying debts off one-by-one can be a great morale booster. The avalanche method suggests prioritizing larger, higher-interest debts first, before moving onto your smaller debts. This method can be great for those who appreciate delayed gratification or want to feel like they're making a meaningful impact on their bigger problems. Both strategies are solid, but which one you choose depends a lot on your current situation and what's easiest for you to stick with. Step 2: Stop adding to your debt Once you have a clear picture of your debts, you need to stop adding to them. With the exception of debt consolidation, make a commitment to stop taking out loans, using buy-now-pay-later programs, or racking up your credit cardt. At the same time, you should also start hacking your budget by finding small ways you can save on everyday expenses. Even something as simple as not drinking a $5 coffee everyday could save you over $150 per month, and that money could go straight towards paying off your debt. Step 3: Consolidate or refinance high-interest debts High-interest debts can be a major problem and are often associated with credit cards, personal loans, or payday loans. These debts often have interest payments that are so high that 80 to 90 per cent of your minimum monthly payment goes purely to interest, making it nearly impossible to make a dent in the principal balance. For these loans, I often recommend applying for a debt consolidation loan. Banks and lenders often offer consolidation loans, which allow you to combine multiple higher-interest debts into one large, lower-interest loan. This can do two important things: Lower your overall interest rate on debt Simplify your multiple monthly payments into a single larger payment Additionally, a consolidation loan could help boost your credit score, as your credit will now show that you've successfully paid off several smaller loans. Just make sure that you continue to make timely payments with the new consolidation loan. If you only have one problematic loan (such as a higher-interest auto loan, for example), your best bet may be to simply refinance the loan at a lower interest rate. As long as you have a good payment history on your existing loan, it usually isn't hard to find another lender willing to pay off the loan and give you a lower interest rate or lower payments. Step 4: Create payment goals and deadlines Like the old saying goes, a ship with no destination will never make its way to port. Without clear goals and deadlines, your debt repayment plan could fail before you begin to make any real progress. As you begin to create an action plan, I recommend creating goals and deadlines for each specific debt. This will help you stay motivated month by month, as you make consistent progress towards each goal. Step 5: Negotiate more affordable payments In the event that you're unable to refinance or consolidate certain debts or if you find yourself missing payments more often than you'd like, consider negotiating a more affordable payment. Often, credit card companies offer hardship repayment plans, which will give you an extended period of time where you'll be allowed to make smaller, more affordable payments. Your interest rate may also be temporarily lowered during this period. This can be a game changer, as it gives you time to pay off smaller debts and free up more money to pay towards higher-interest debts. To get approved for a lower payment, though, you may need to provide a good reason, such as showing that you're facing financial hardship. Step 6: Find small ways to increase your income One of the simplest strategies to get out of debt quicker is to simply increase your cash flow. You don't have to make drastic changes to your career, but some ideas that could increase your monthly income by hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars include: Asking your boss for a raise (even a $2 per hour raise could get you an extra $300 per month) Picking up a side gig like with a rideshare or delivery company for an extra few hours on the weekend Offering a small freelance service like cutting grass, moving boxes, photography, or cleaning on your weekends or days off Remember, every extra dollar you earn can add up at the end of the month. Step 7: Make extra interest-free payments when possible Periodically, you may find yourself with some extra cash. Perhaps you get a work bonus, a birthday gift, win a prize, or pull some overtime at work and get a higher cheque. One of the best ways to utilize the extra funds is to make additional payments on a debt which you've already made your monthly payment for. The extra money will go purely towards the principal balance (not the interest), which can really help you make a dent in your debt. Don't forget to reward yourself Keep in mind that getting out of debt can be a long process. Your first focus should be on catching up on late accounts, lowering your interest rates, and finding a plan you can stick with. Once you catch up where you're behind, your consistency will help you pay down debts, and your credit score will reflect your progress. As you progress in your journey, be sure to track your progress and reward yourself – even if it's just something small and affordable like buying yourself your favourite snack, checking off a box on your list, or giving yourself a well-deserved recreational day off. More from Christopher Liew:
Canada Standard
2 days ago
- Canada Standard
'Loyal to the oil' - how religion and striking it rich shape Canada's hockey fandom
Dej vu is a common occurrence in the world of sports, and the Edmonton Oilers are no strangers to repeat matchups. The Canadian team faced off against the New York Islanders in both 1983 and '84 for hockey's biggest prize, the Stanley Cup. In this year's National Hockey League finals, the Oilers will try to avenge their Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers in 2024. Edmontonians who have been "loyal to the oil," as fans say, have been waiting for redemption ever since. The Trump administration's threats toward its northern neighbor has fueled a wave of nationalism, making even more fans eager for a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup - which has not happened since 1993. With hopes pinned to Edmonton, the finals also brings renewed attention to some of Canada's biggest exports: hockey and oil. Novelist Leslie McFarlane once observed that for Canadians, "hockey is more than a game; it is almost a religion." Prayers and superstitions abound, from wearing special clothing to fans averting their eyes during penalty shots. The Oilers also evoke another aspect of Canadian society that, for some, has almost religious importance: resource extraction. In American and Canadian culture, oil has long been entangled with religion. It's a national blessing from God, in some people's eyes, and a means to the "good life" for those who persevere to find it. For many people in communities whose economies center around resource extraction, the possibility of success is valued above its environmental risks. We are scholars of religion who study sports and how oil shapes society, or petro-cultures. The Edmonton Oilers showcase a worldview in which triumph, luck and rugged work pay off - beliefs at home on the ice or in the oil field. The Stanley Cup Final offers a glimpse into how the oil industry has helped shaped the religious fervor around Canada's favorite sport. Edmonton is the capital of Alberta, a province known for its massive oil, gas and oil sands reserves. With five refineries producing an average of 3.8 million barrels a day, oil and gas is Alberta's biggest industry - and a way of life. This is especially true in Edmonton, known as the "Oil Capital of Canada." Here, oil not only structures the local economy, but it also shapes identities, architecture and everyday experiences. Visit the West Edmonton Mall, for example, and you'll see a statue of three oil workers drilling, reminding shoppers that petroleum is the bedrock of their commerce. Visit the Canadian Energy Museum to learn how oil and gas have remade the region since the late 1940s, and glimpse items such as engraved hard hats and the "Oil Patch Kid," a spin on the iconic "Cabbage Patch Kids" toys. Tour the Greater Edmonton area and see how pump jacks dot the horizon. Oil is everywhere, shaping futures, fortunes and possibility. Set against this backdrop, the Oilers' name is unsurprising. It is not uncommon, after all, to name teams after local industries. Football's Pittsburgh Steelers pay homage to the steel mills that once employed much of the team's fan base. The Tennessee Oilers were originally the Houston Oilers, prompting other Texas teams such as the XFL's Roughnecks to follow suit. Further north, the name of basketball's Detroit Pistons references car manufacturing. Teams with industry-inspired names play double duty, venerating both a place and a trade. Some fans are not only cheering for the home team, but also cheering for themselves - affirming that their industry and their labor matter. In a TikTok video from last year's Stanley Cups playoffs, a man overcome with joy at the Oilers' victory over the Dallas Stars claps his hands and hops around his living room. The caption reads, "My first-generation immigrant oil rig working Filipino father who has never played a second of hockey in his life ... happily cheering for the Oilers advancing in the playoffs. Better Bring that cup home for him oily boys." He appears to be cheering for the Oilers not because they are a hockey team, but because they are an oil team. And indeed, the Oilers are an oily team. The Oilers' Oilfield Network, for example, describes itself as "exclusively promot[ing] companies in the Oil and Gas industry," allowing leaders to connect "through the power of Oilers hockey." The Oilers' connection with industry is further underscored by their logos. The current one features a simple drop of oil, but past designs featured machinery gears and an oil worker pulling a lever shaped like a hockey stick. Simply put, "Edmonton is all oil," Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner shared after defeating the Dallas Stars to win the 2025 Western Conference Final. There is a long tradition of pairing hockey with oil - and with Canada itself. After the British North America Act founded Canada in 1867, the new nation searched for a distinctive identity through sport and other cultural forms. Enter hockey. The winter game evolved in Canada from the Gaelic game of "shinty" and the First Nations' game of lacrosse and soon became part of the glue holding the nation together. Ever since, media, politicians, sports groups and major industries have helped fuel fan fervor and promoted hockey as integral to Canada's rugged frontiersman character. In 1936, Imperial Oil, one of Canada's largest petroleum companies, began sponsoring Hockey Night in Canada, a national radio show that reached millions each week. Several years later, Imperial Oil played a major role in bringing the show to television, where the Imperial Oil Choir sang the theme song. Imperial Oil and its gas stations, Esso, also sponsored youth hockey programs across the nation. In 2019, Imperial inked a deal to be the NHL's "official retail fuel" in Canada. Connections between hockey and industry in Alberta's oil country aren't just about sponsorships. Central to both cultures is the idea of luck - historically, one of the many things it takes to extract fossil fuels. "Striking it rich" in the oil fields has become entangled with the idea of divine providence, especially among the many Christian laborers. Philosopher Terra Schwerin Rowe has written about North America's "petro-theology," explaining how many perceive oil as a free-flowing gift from God meant to be taken from the Earth - if you can find it. Oil represents fortune, and who wouldn't want to borrow a bit of that for their team? Sports are thrilling because sometimes talent, team chemistry and the home-field advantage still lose to a stroke of good luck. Oil culture pairs the idea of divine favor with an insistence on rough-and-tumble endurance, similar to hockey. Sometimes if you don't strike it rich the first time, you have to keep on drilling. The next well may be the one to bring wealth. Oil prospectors know this, but so do sports fans who maintain hope season to season. Soon fans from around the world will join Edmonton locals in rooting for the Oilers. They'll throw their hands up in despair if captain Connor McDavid enters the "sin bin" - the penalty box - or dance in celebration to the Oilers' theme, "La Bamba." Some of them will be cheering, too, for oil.
Cision Canada
2 days ago
- Cision Canada
Built Green Canada Declares June 4 National Green Building Day - Calling for Municipality and Industry Support
Join us in recognizing those building more sustainably, leading the way forward EDMONTON, AB, June 4, 2025 /CNW/ - In conjunction with National Environment Week, Built Green Canada encourages the building sector and municipalities to recognize the first Wednesday of June (June 4) National Green Building Day. The intention is to raise awareness and support for sustainable building practices—recognizing industry leaders already doing so and encouraging others who aren't as far along in their journey. Built Green Canada celebrates those building more sustainably and encourages others in the industry, including trades, consultants, contractors and the media that profile them, as well as municipalities, to recognize those building beyond code. For sustainable builders, and those supporting them, this is an opportunity to spotlight your efforts and how these benefit your homebuyers and the environment, while also setting a standard that helps progress industry. Your leadership deserves recognition. For those municipalities committed to encouraging more sustainable communities, this is an occasion to recognize your local leaders and strengthen your relationship with them. We encourage you to highlight builders in your region who voluntarily build beyond code. Ways You Can Recognize the Day: Brag about what you're doing in sustainable building through your website and socials using hashtag or just celebrate the environment and include: #NationalGreenBuildingDay and our handle, @BuiltGreenCanada. Consider using the attached graphic. Feature those in your community who are building beyond code requirements and certifying through a third party. Feature those in your office who are promoting sustainable building practices and / or sustainability practices your office employs. Email your colleagues and network about your work and / or those in your community building sustainably. Consider doing National Environment Week programming and / or socials' posts—perhaps attend an event! "We are spotlighting the incredible work industry is doing to create healthier, more sustainable built environments. A special shout out to the BUILT GREEN ® builders, who certify their builds through our holistic, third-party building programs: a made-in-Canada solution to building more responsibly. They are leaders who are voluntarily building beyond building code—focused on energy performance as well as water, waste, GHG emission reductions, indoor air quality, the improvement of home durability, and more," says Built Green's Chief Executive Officer, Jenifer Christenson. She continues, "Regardless of which programs you're working through, today is a day to recognize the cumulative impact industry is realizing through sustainable building practices." One of the most overlooked benefits of sustainable building is resiliency. As Canadians face the impact of natural disasters and the resulting devastation to homes and communities, industry is developing ways to safeguard their homes. There are measures builders and homeowners can take to prepare. Built Green encourages the integration of measures like impact and wind resistance, flooding measures, FireSmart practices and materials, emergency power supply and resiliency planning—all to future-proof builds. Built Green Canada is a non-profit organization that provides programs for single family, high density, renovations, restorations, communities, small commercial, and schools—each BUILT GREEN ® program opens another door for industry committed to sustainability and the verification that comes with third-party certification. The organization began in 2003, and has grown its representation to include Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. Builders have completed over 53,884 BUILT GREEN ® certified single family, multi-family, and high density homes, alongside communities and small commercial builds (as at December 31, 2024).
