Whether you’re meeting someone new or celebrating an anniversary, great date ideas are always useful. Dating can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. Timbercreek has some fun and cheap summer date ideas for you to enjoy with someone you love or someone new.

A Walk In The Park

A stroll in the park is possibly the easiest and cheapest of all date ideas.  If the weather is working in your favour it can be a beautiful way to spend the day. Best of all, if you’re nervous you don’t have to look at each other constantly. Up the romance factor by bringing a blanket, some cups and something to drink. Sunset is a great time for your stroll.

Wine Tasting Event

In Ontario, the LCBO offers an affordable range of wine tasting events that range from $30 to $100. They also have beer and scotch tastings, as well as longer term 4 week courses. A wine or beer tasting is social, public, and gives you something to talk about with your date. The events are often held in the nice LCBO buildings (like Toronto’s Summerhill location).

Brunch

Meeting at night for the first time is often ill advised. A classic brunch out is a cheap and delicious date option not to be overlooked. Brunch is really popular in Canada so you’ll have no shortage of restaurant options to choose from. Check out the best places in Toronto for brunch here. 

Happy Hour Drink(S)

It’s hard to beat happy hour -- another inexpensive daytime date option to consider. Most pubs offer it and more and more craft beer bars are adding it to their rosters. Grab a seat and enjoy a $5 beer or a half price glass of wine with your date. Worst case scenario, you get a cheap drink out of it.

Street Festival

In summer, festivals and street events are great options for cheap dates. Many of these events in big cities are free and allow you to walk through a number of big city blocks that are closed to traffic. These fun events usually come with a ton of cheap or free food, beverages, and entertainment. There’s always lots to do and you won’t be locked into a full restaurant meal or long event.

Jazz Show

Live jazz, while not for everyone, is sophisticated, interesting, and fun to listen to and watch. Because it’s improvised you’ll get to hear something unique with every show. Going to a concert is a great date idea and takes the pressure off of making witty conversation. If the music is bad it also gives you something to commiserate over. Normally less than $20, a jazz show is a great way to spend a date.

Coffee

Who doesn’t like coffee? A coffee date is almost guaranteed to be cheap --  even at Starbucks where it’s only $4 for a latte. Best of all it gives you the option to sit and talk, or walk and talk. Coffee dates can be short and sweet, or be a starting point for a longer date. The best thing about them is their flexibility and low cost.

Timbercreek hopes this list of cheap date ideas has inspired you to get out there. For more information about Timbercreek Communities in your city, please visit our website. 

Summer is finally here and it’s time to get your apartment into shape for the season. Timbercreek Communities has some simple and beautiful apartment decorating ideas for summer. Let’s let the sun shine in!

Lighten Up

Think of your apartment as a summer rental and see it in a whole new light. Pull back the curtains and let the light in. Replace heavy curtains with something light, sheer and breezy.  In fact, stow away anything that makes your space feel heavy or dark. This includes thick throw rugs that may be cozy in winter but feel hot and oppressive during the summer months. It’s summer - let your floors go naked!

Bring the Beach Home

You may not be able to spend every summer day at the beach, but you can give your Timbercreek home a beachy feel by displaying sea shells in a small pail or by planting small succulents in a larger shell.

Set a Summer Table

Add a splash of summer colour to your table by setting out some colourful flatware. Mix and match bright tropical, floral or nautical-themed dishes and towels with your everyday plates and bowls for a fun and seasonal setting. For a simple summer centrepiece, fill a bowl with fresh, bright fruits - like oranges and lemons.

Flower Power

One of the easiest and most effective ways to add some colour and elevate the mood of any room in your home is with flowers. Fresh cut or potted flowers add a simple summertime feeling and have been proven to enhance positive emotions!

Seasonal Slipcovers

It may not be practical to have a separate set of furniture for summer and winter, but you can make if feel like you do. You can instantly change the look and feel of your living room by slipping on some striped or colourful summertime slipcovers.

Summer can feel short lived. Timbercreek hopes these simple apartment decorating ideas help you make the most of the season and keep the summer feeling going for as long it can. To find your home with Timbercreek Communities please visit our website.

Tenant contents insurance is an often overlooked necessity. The Toronto Star claims “contents insurance is something most renters don’t put too high on their list of priorities.” The Insurance Bureau of Canada says that as of 2011 only half of all renters had it. Many renters don’t bother to get it because it amounts to an extra bill. Timbercreek understands the importance of tenant contents insurance, and hopes you’ll take these factors into consideration when it comes to protecting yourself and your belongings.

It Protects Your Stuff

One of the main reasons to get tenant contents insurance is it helps you to replace your things if they are damaged or destroyed in your home. While mementos and collectible items may be irreplaceable, most other things we have are. Most people think that their belongings aren’t worth insuring but that’s usually not the case. Imagine coming home after work or a party to find all your clothes gone, bed and sheets no longer there, even dishes, cutlery, spare towels, shoes, gym stuff, laptop, the works?  That’s a big bill to cover. While the likelihood that it would all disappear or be destroyed at once is small, that’s exactly what fires and floods do, robberies too.

Landlords Have A Right To Ask For It

Barrie-based paralegal April Stewart says contents insurance isn’t required under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act. However, landlords do have the right to insist on seeing proof of insurance prior to accepting a tenant or a sublet. This law is almost motivation enough to get it.  Having insurance works in your favour when you are looking for a new place in a competitive market like Toronto or Vancouver. Learn more here.

You Could Be Liable

If a fire starts in your apartment through a fault of your own, you could be liable for damage to your apartment, and any others that might be affected.  While it’s the law for landlords to provide smoke alarms for tenants, and have varying levels of general house insurance, that doesn’t mean it’ll cover you if something happens. Consider too that if a fire starts in your apartment that isn’t your fault, but you don’t have your smoke alarm on, active, powered up, etc., then you might be held responsible even though the fire was caused by a purely mechanical or age related problem in your home.

You probably didn’t know that if someone hurts themselves inside your home, there’s a chance you could be held responsible. While friends wouldn’t (likely) sue for tripping on the carpet, some random person at a party, the internet guy, a neighbour who needs something, a student, or a friend of a friend might. While chances are slim, depending on your lifestyle and frequency of entertaining, being covered for this eventuality is a plus.

Living Expenses Coverage

Many contents insurance plans have a provision for extra living expenses (like hotels, rent, food, etc.) in the event of a fire or accident that forces you out of your home. Typically you will get up to 20 percent of the contents amount if there is a fire and if you have to leave the building. Having to find a place to stay in the aftermath is not fun -- another reason to consider contents insurance.  Read more here.

Timbercreek hopes this article gives you some valuable insight into tenant contents insurance for renters. For a generally small fee you can protect yourself and your belongings, and have some piece of mind. For more information about Timbercreek Communities in your city, please visit our website.

Summertime is officially grilling season. Not everything you grill has to have grazed on grass or been grain fed. Timbercreek Communities wants to share some recipes for meatless meals you can grill this summer!

Grilled Eggplant and Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich with Halloumi

These delicious Grilled Eggplant, Roasted Red Pepper and Halloumi Sandwiches are a tasty way to enjoy some summer produce while you fire up the grill! Halloumi is a firm Greek cheese (from Cypress) that can stand up to the grill. This is one serious grilled cheese you'll never forget.

Grilled Tofu Tacos with Avocado Cream

Looking for a great gluten-free vegan meal to throw on the grill this summer? Try these Tofu Tacos! The tofu is marinated with chipotle and paprika for a smokey, summertime flavour that pairs perfectly with a tangy red cabbage simple-slaw and a cooling, avocado cream with lime. If you really want to go all-out, you can make your own corn tortillas (it’s easy!).

Seitan Negimaki

These Seitan (pronounced: say-tan) Negimaki are beautifully grilled vegan teriyaki rolls stuffed with vibrant scallions marinated in a simple (and simply delicious) hoisin and mirin marinade. They are juicy and delicious -- the perfect blend of savoury and sweet. You’ll never miss the meat!

Grilled Portobello and Peach Burger

You may never have thought to put them together, but you’ll be glad you did when you try this Grilled Portobello and Peach Burger. The texture and flavour are amazing. The combination of beefy herb-marinated portobellos and sweet peaches is perfect -- especially when combined with creamy guacamole and sweet potato fries.

Cilantro-Lime Marinated Veggie Kabobs with Barley Kale Salad

If you want a versatile grilled veggie meal and you’re not really into following recipes, then these Cilantro-Lime Marinated Veggie Kabobs with Barley Kale Salad are for you. This is a rough recipe, a guide. Simply use whatever veggies you have on hand and add some cheese if you’re in the mood (try feta, goat, or a little queso fresco). The non-recipe comes together quickly and the skewered veggies are fun to toss on the grill.

Timbercreek hopes these grillable vegetarian recipes make you want to fire up the grill. These meatless meals are tasty, easy to make and filling! To find your home with Timbercreek Communities across Canada, please visit our website.

150 years ago, Canada became a Nation. 2017 marks a major milestone in our country’s history. And while celebrations have been under way since January, this summer is when the real parties will kick off. You don’t need to go far to find something happening -- almost every city in the country has put together a range of events to celebrate. From appreciating Canada’s vast natural landscape, to music and the arts, there’s something for everyone. Check out these great ways to celebrate our country’s 150th from Timbercreek.

Go to a National Park

Parks Canada has stepped up to help ring in our 150th by offering free admission to National Parks across the country.  From BC to Newfoundland, our Nation’s vast landscape is free to explore for one year only. Check out the Parks Canada website for availability and regulations as the Discovery Pass covers park entrance, but not all fees like camping and guided tours. Learn more here.

Get Active

Challenge yourself with the ParticipACTION 150 Play List. It was created from the results of over 465,000 votes from people across Canada and includes 150 physical activities that make us uniquely Canadian. The Play List is a challenge to Canadians in communities, schools, workplaces, and even abroad to see how many different activities they can complete in 2017. Learn more here.

The Maritimes

Confederation happened in three stages starting in 1864. While it was initiated by the potential union of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI, those provinces actually waited to join the rest of Canada until the third leaders’ meeting in 1867. As such the maritimes has a rich past and important role in the country’s history.  The east coast is also just a sensational part of the country, both in terms of natural beauty and cultural heritage. From New Brunswick’s flowerpot rocks to the Bay of Fundy, Halifax, and PEI’s red sand beaches, there’s a lot to do and see.  And, like across the rest of the country, there are no shortage of events and celebrations to make the most of our 150th in the Maritimes. Learn more here.

Stay In Town

There are fun activities to enjoy right in your own hometown this year if you want to celebrate Canada’s 150th close to home. Check out your city’s website for events and ideas. Most cities coast to coast are offering a wealth of spectacles all year long.

Get out, enjoy and celebrate the great white north for its 150^th!

For more information about Timbercreek Communities in your city, please visit our website.