When navigating the realm of personal finance, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of terms, adages, and sayings. While some may be immediately clear, others can be more nuanced. Understanding the meaning and intent behind these phrases can significantly enhance your ability to manage your finances effectively. After all, enduring proverbs and sayings…
Is it just me, or do you spend a lot more money during summer than you usually do the rest of the year? There are more things to do, more places to be, and more friends to be with. This all requires more money than you would otherwise normally spend. I am not necessarily talking…
Last week, we had Part1 of our series about mind-bending paradoxes of wealth, happiness, and economics. Given the popularity of that article, we are doing a second part, delving deeper into more intriguing paradoxes that challenge our understanding of financial well-being and contentment. Let us get into it! The Stock Market Rollercoaster: The stock market…
Social media envy is real, but for me, it’s something somewhat related: I have what I like to call ‘social media curiosity.’ While not very active on platforms like Facebook, X, and others (fact: I have never had Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok accounts), the occasional times I do go online, one very common post I…
Last week, I wrote about how a simple switch of insurance providers has helped me save $100 per month. This week, and as promised in my aforementioned article, I am going to cover in more details about how I am spending this saved money. While $100 may not seem like a lot to some, when…
Recently, I did the math and realized I was saving just about 21% of my net income. While this is good considering my living situation, family expenses, and other factors, I thought it would be even better to increase my savings rate to 25%. However, without making major changes or sacrifices, I couldn’t just boost…
Emergency Fund is one of the most discussed, and often very confusing topic for a lot in personal finance. Not only do some people not have one, those who do often fail to understand its basic premise and how to best use it. First, let us try and define what an emergency fund is in…
It was a simple promotional message from a local telecom company that I would otherwise usually ignore. But I am glad I did not! Last week, I got a message about a mobile offer from Rogers. At first, I didn’t pay much attention to it, after all, I have been with my current carrier (Fido)…
Are you a financial hermit? You know, the alternative to being labeled as cheap or frugal – someone who avoids socializing, going out, or engaging in activities that involve spending money. While maintaining such financial discipline requires hard work and dedication, it can also be draining and unsustainable. Instead of embracing financial hermitage, consider more…
When was the last time you said to yourself: ‘I am spending too much; I better start saving’? On the other hand, when was the last time you said to yourself: ‘Man, I am saving too much money and need to start spending more’? The first question is not only more likely for the vast…
As I was reading Meta’s impressive and out-of-this world earning numbers, few things came to mind: Why didn’t I invest in Meta’s shares two years ago when it was still called Facebook, with prices ranging from $90 to $210? I did consider it then, but hesitation and various factors held me back. It’s a significant…
Have you fallen off and given up on your 2024 resolutions yet? Whether you have or not, we have an easy challenge for you to follow, even if the year is already close to one month old. In fact, it’s a good idea to start this one now to get back on track in case…
There is one extremely simple strategy you can use to get you up and running early in the new year, while giving your financial confidence and momentum a huge boost. The strategy is to commit to saving for something new, even if the saving goal is simple. For example, you can commit to a new…
We covered a lot in 2023 – from budgeting and paying down debt to forming good financial habits, addressing inflation, discovering new ways to save, and much more. With so much valuable information throughout the year, it might be a lot to digest. If you missed our posts or prefer a quick crash course, we’ve…
Have you experienced the exhilarating emotion of saving money, discovering that it’s not just joyous but can become borderline addictive? The journey begins with the initial thrill of saving, and as your consistency grows, witnessing your savings increase becomes an addictive delight, pushing you to strive for even greater financial milestones. Interestingly, as your savings…
Was my app glitching when the price shown on the screen was just over $12? It wasn’t unfortunately, as a McDonald’s 10 chicken nuggets meal does indeed cost that much, effectively what two burger meals would have cost a few years ago. Or how about my shock when a chicken sandwich combo for my son…
Salary increases are indeed a blessing that I never take for granted, especially in today’s uncertain economic times where job security is a luxury. Receiving a salary increase feels like a bonus, and even though there’s no assurance of it, I’ve already planned how to utilize any potential increase. Firstly, I won’t be frivolously spending…
Transforming my life, one step at a time – my decision to create a home gym has been a financial and time-saving revelation. Beyond the obvious benefits of cost-cutting and time efficiency, the home gym has become my sanctuary, offering health and fitness on demand. No more excuses, just a few steps away from stress relief or a quick workout. While not perfect, it does the job for my needs, making it a convenient and indispensable addition to my routine
When life throws you a fast curveball, having a strong “why” will help you stay focused and resilient, enabling you to adapt and keep moving forward with determination and purpose.
Your life or someone’s life may just be one advise or lesson away from being completely different. When it comes to financial management and freedom, never shy away from advising others, or accepting advise from someone else, as obvious as the advise may be
The current financial landscape offers a unique blend of opportunities and challenges. While soaring interest rates may pose concerns for mortgage holders, they also bring a silver lining in the form of historically high savings account rates.
In the realm of personal finance, being proactive holds the key to mastering your credit card journey. By anticipating and allocating for unexpected charges, you’re not just safeguarding your budget but also taking charge of your financial destiny
Embracing a lifestyle of cost-effective home practices and strategic outsourcing can yield significant financial and time savings. From establishing a home gym for convenient and affordable fitness routines to brewing your own coffee, these small changes accumulate into substantial annual savings.
Amidst the constant talk from the media about an impending recession, it is crucial to maintain a reality check and foster hope. More fear can potentially accelerate the occurrence of a recession. It’s essential to strike a balance between hope and financial vigilance.
When it comes to making substantial investments in big ticket items, a thoughtful and informed approach can make all the difference. Balancing cost considerations with the long-term value, warranties, and reviews can help you find the perfect fit for your needs and budget.
So you have laid out your financial plan, whether it involves chipping away at debt, save a large sum of money for a down payment, or pursuing another substantial financial milestone. Unfortunately, given the enormity of your plan, some big sacrifices are needed. Truth be told, this isn’t a walk in the park. You are…
Credit card rewards are often associated with travel benefits, but it’s important to recognize that they can also be used strategically to improve your financial situation. Depending on the reward system, cashback can be utilized to save money, pay off debts, or purchase registered products.
You’re cruising along with your trusty car, and everything seems fine. But let’s face it: in 5 years, you’ll eventually need to replace it. It may seem daunting to start saving for such a big purchase so far in advance, but here’s where you’re mistaken. Now is actually the best time to kickstart your savings…
Inflation has become a reality in every facet of life in the last 12 months or more, but it is nowhere as evident than at the grocery store. It is almost depressing to know that for the same budget, you are getting much less than what you used to do back in 2021 or beyond….
The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we live our lives, forcing us to stay at home and rely on technology more than ever before. While platforms like UberEats, Amazon, and TikTok were already popular, they have become ubiquitous during the lockdowns, to the point where they are now virtually synonymous with the pandemic…
The power of habit is a powerful tool when it comes to building wealth and be financially independent. By developing good financial habits, such as saving, tracking our spending, and investing, we can set ourselves up for financial success.
Imagine how banking used to be done just 10 years ago, never mind 20 or 30 years ago: If you wanted to send money to someone or pay a bill, you would usually have to go to a bank, thus wasting time and even gas driving there to do your banking. Yes online banking has…
When new money comes to you or is freed up from your budget, you are free to spend it as you like, since it is your money after all. But there are better uses for it than to just spend it. Think of this as money you never had, hence it doesn’t make sense to just blow it on useless purchases
Getting an income tax refund is great, but deciding what to do with that refund is even more important. What to do with it and how to save it, depends on personal cirmrutances, but some combination of saving for RRSP, paying down debt, general savings, would be preferable.
It is safe to say, no billionaire – and most millionaires – would have reached their level of financial success, without some form of investment. Investment doesn’t have to be about stocks or mutual funds, and may include buying land, investing in a business, real estate etc.
Albert Einstein once said “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it” . If something has the backing of arguably one of the smartest people in history, you can surely trust it! Compounding is the process whereby interest is addedto an existing principal…
We have all heard of popular sayings and expressions like “Win Win”, “Two birds with one Stone” and other similar ones. The idea here being that we should be more efficient in life, careers, finances, by doing more with less. In other words, use one hand to do two different things and 2 hands to…
As it should be clear by now, our personal budget is a way of controlling our unlimited wants to match our limited incomes. We only have so much money to spend, save and enjoy. But what if your budget just can’t accommodate your excessive spending? So much so that your paycheck doesn’t cover your spending,…
Having spare change handy is not just about convenience, it can also help with saving money and limiting the potential of over-spending. Learn how this simple psychological trip can go a long wy
Financial efficiency is key to achieving financial freedom and climbing the wealth ladder, but it seems to be lost on many on what it means.
Finding good deals on vacation packages, flights and cruises can be time-consuming and stressful, but by following some easy tips, it’s possible to have the perfect vacation at the most affordable price possible.
In 2022, I implemented a resolution to cut down on junk food spending and save that money instead. I succeeded in sticking to my goal of only buying fast food once a week, resulting in 24.5 lbs weight loss and $625 savings. Better yet, I continued this success in 2023. This resolution proves that one effective decision can have a positive impact on multiple areas of life.
There are many powerful concepts in the personal finance literature to get you to financial freedom, but none are as important as that of paying yourself first (PYF)
As inflation eats into our hard earned and saved money, it is time to fight back by making these simple but necessary cuts to our spending.
While some people still prefer the look, smell and touch of flipping through a physical book and having that cozy home library feeling, a Kindle E-Reader has a lot of benefits when it comes to space, time and money you could save
One of my goals for 2022 is to get active with push-ups. To be more specific, I set to do 10 push-ups a day and increase that by 1 extra push-up per month. So for January, I started with 10 a day and I have since increased that to 11 a day for February. For…
On October 31, 2015, I celebrated my 35th birthday. That was also the year I had became a father for the first time. Needless to say, it was a year full of milestones, changes and things to reflect on. That evening, after having taken my 6 month old son to visit relatives for his first…
Have you ever had a job, stint or contract, which is long in the rear view mirror, which you are not only happy it is in the past, but was a bad experience? We have all had these jobs and experiences. But not appreciating that job is different from gaining something out of it: if…
I am no slave to junk food. I may eat it once or twice a week, sometimes with the family. But despite it not being a daily habit, it still goes a long way towards causing damage to both my pocket and health, especially with the rising prices for food of late. So for 2022,…
If you get a significant pay raise, what do you do with the extra money? Say you get a 10% raise or $5K, assuming that works out to $175-200 per pay. Do you just spend it? Do you allocate to a category in your budget? Or do you pretend like you never got it and…
If 2020 was defined by a pandemic and lock-down, and nothing else for you, you still have time to make 2021 better and more productive year. Start by set some goals or even short term objectives.
It has been some time since I last wrote anything here and that is due to big changes that happened in my life recently : I am now a married man! My wedding was in mid August and that was followed by an exciting and lovely honeymoon in Europe, which included 4 day stay in…