Most people have a hard time executing or sticking to a budget. As a credit counsellor I talk with people every day frustrated about how their budget isn’t working for them. They want to know... Read more »
If you have a budget that is stretched too thin, an obvious but often hard step is to look for spending you can eliminate. Yet it’s no fun to go through life only buying things... Read more »
Roughly 30% of Canadians don’t pay their credit card balance in full each month. To make matters worse, only 64% of Canadians have enough in an emergency fund to tide them over for three months. That means over a... Read more »
Budgeting for bill payments and saving can be a straightforward process when you have a regular, consistent paycheque. But how do you stay on top of your finances when your income differs from one month... Read more »
Whether you are a borrower or a beginning saver, the best way to beat the bank at its own game is to learn some basics so you can make a better decision. I talk with Larry... Read more »
The best way to control your auto expenses is to buy a car you can afford. This keeps your monthly car loan payments low (since you borrow less) and ensures that you don’t over-finance. But... Read more »
When you have debt, Christmas is a stressful time. With pressure to spend on family, friends, co-workers, and maybe even your barber, the season turns into more of a financial burden than a time to... Read more »
The death of a spouse and divorce bring an emotional burden, but sadly such catastrophic events also cause financial trauma. In fact, the death of a spouse or divorce are both common reasons why people file... Read more »
If you are out of work or laid-off and need to upgrade your skills to improve your employment potential, how can you do this without incurring more debt? The Ontario government has a Second Career... Read more »
The use of computer technology to manage money continues to explode across the financial services industry. Enter the robo-planner. The question is can an online computer platform help answer common financial questions like should you... Read more »
A joint bank account is an account that allows two or more parties to each deposit, withdraw and manage funds in the account. Whether or not it’s a good idea to get a joint account with... Read more »
Current regulations allow financial advisors to sell products like mutual funds and give the appearance that they are giving you financial advice that fits your situation. The problem is embedded advisors, like those at your... Read more »
Money management is hard. That’s why so many people don’t do it. Over the years at many credit counselling sessions with clients I’ve explained budgeting, and spreadsheets, and budgeting apps, and lots of other techniques... Read more »
What is an emergency fund? An emergency fund is money that is available to meet unexpected expenses. You may be managing your current budget, but life tends to throw curveballs. Emergencies like a job loss... Read more »
You know you need to improve your financial health. You might even know what you need to do – save more, spend less, pay down debt. So why does that not necessarily translate into healthy... Read more »