It seems like the Canadian dollar exchange rate vs. the US dollar has been stuck around 75 cents for ever! Well, it has been at this level for at last a year and it is unlikely to change anytime soon. And with the Canadian economy not doing so well of late and job numbers being…
Our new and more effective approach to saving for 2017
Our family saving approach has been pretty effective, but we though it can get better, especially if we want to save to buy a new bigger house in the future. Seeing where house prices are heading, it will take a full and committed effort from both of us to save a good chunk for a…
Reviewing the new Tangerine Master Card: spend and earn at the same time
Tangerine now its own credit card which it brilliantly like to describe as a card that lets you ‘Spave’ (Spending + Saving) . I have been using the Tangerine cash-back Master Card for a few months now and I really like what I see. Based on my usage of the last few months, I will…
Where to find money in public? Let me give you three secret places that you are guaranteed to find money in!
What are the best places or spots to find money in the form of loose change in public? speaking from personal experience, the list of three places below is guaranteed to help you find money the next time you happen to be in one of them. Remember, take it only if the money can’t be…
Why you should skip the ATM machine and self-checkout aisles at your next trip to the bank or retail stores
The banking industry is changing. It is currently undergoing one of its biggest shifts. The future is all about technology. Your bank’s mobile app is slowly but gradually replacing your visit to your local branch. And as more people become comfortable with banking on their computers and smartphones, there will be less and less need…
How we paid off $6,500 in credit card balance in 3 months using one simple trick
There seems to be so many different creative approaches that people follow in order to pay off their credit card balance. We decided to come up with our own in order to eliminate $6,500 in credit card balance. To begin with, it is not that we weren’t already making payments to reduce and even eliminate our balance….
The one letter that confuses so many about TFSA and how to use them properly.
Do you know what TFSA stands for? ‘Tax Free Saving Account’ you say? you got it! But do you know what that means exactly? well most people think they know, when in fact they don’t. Why? the simple inclusion of the letter ‘S’ or the word ‘Savings’ throws people off. People assume and treat TFSAs…
How I simplify my charitable donations and get a bigger tax return
Charitable donations are just that: it is a way for people to donate from their money to help those in need. That is how it should be treated and not a way to get a tax advantage. However, and having said that, the government does make it possible to get a tax credit in exchange…
The shocking truth about your new year’s resolution: if you make it through January, it is a success
Is it time they renamed ‘New Year’s Resolution’ to ‘January’s Resolution’? Let me explain… Increasingly, less and less people are making any new year’s resolutions. The reason is simple: before January is even over, they will have declared it a failure and just move on without their resolution for the rest of the year. Whether…
How money I spend at the gas pump is financing my retirement
If you have a credit card, chances are you get some form of loyalty rewards for using it. Some get points, others get travel rewardss or airmiles while the latest craze is ‘cash-back’ credit card. Each has a preference and every card has certain advantages, but personally, I use the “Signature RBC Rewards Visa” ….