Posts by Robb Engen
Earn Free Groceries With The PC Financial MasterCard and World Elite MasterCard
The PC Financial MasterCard has a bit of a cult following among certain rewards cards enthusiasts, and for good reason. This no-fee card pays 1 percent back in the form of PC Points, which can be redeemed for free groceries at any store where President’s Choice products are sold. Who doesn’t love free groceries? Indeed,…
Read MoreOur Anti-Mustachian Family Spending Report
Extreme frugality blogger Mr. Money Mustache and his family famously live on less than $25,000 a year. Of course, it helps to have a paid-off home and live in a relatively affordable town in northern Colorado. Getting around by bicycle or on foot also saves money on gas and keeps the family car-payment free. It’s…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Smart RESP Edition
A while back I wrote about how target date funds could be a smart solution for your RESP. Turns out a new robo-advisor called Justwealth had the same idea and is now offering custom Education Target Date Portfolios: “a unique investment solution that transforms itself automatically over time, eventually “maturing” in the exact year that your…
Read MoreAn Automated Solution For Generating Retirement Income
We’re often our own worst enemies when it comes to investing, which is why taking away the human element and automating decisions such as timing of purchases and regularly rebalancing will likely lead to better outcomes for investors. That makes the robo-advisor argument so compelling because it reduces the need for human intervention and sticks to your investment…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Two Income Trap Edition
The number of dual income families with at least one child has almost doubled since 1976, according to new research released this week by Stats Canada, rising from 36 percent to 69 percent. Meanwhile, the number of single income families dropped from 59 percent to 27 percent. More families are dual-income today for two reasons;…
Read MoreThe Costco Effect On Earning Credit Card Rewards
My wife and I do a lot of our grocery shopping at Costco and a few years ago signed up to become Executive Members, which means we get 2% cash back on nearly every purchase made at Costco. Last year the warehouse giant sent us a reward coupon in the mail for $176.61 and if you…
Read MoreWant A Better Deal? Just Ask
When I worked in the hotel industry at the front desk we had a policy that allowed us to discount a room by up to $20 per night if we thought the guest would walk away from the hotel and go elsewhere. The truth is that I rarely had to rent a room for less than…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Market Recovery Edition
The TSX had been in a bit of a funk since June 1st 2015 when it closed above 15,000 for the last time. Canada’s major stock market index reached its depths this January 19th when it finished the day at 11,843 – a drop of 21 percent from that June 1st high. Both my RRSP…
Read MorePersonal Finance Lessons: What To Avoid
People often ask me for tips on how to improve their finances and I’m always eager to help. But rather than focusing on mundane money saving tips or talking about where the stock market is headed, I prefer to share lessons on the kinds of products and services to avoid. By steering clear of these personal…
Read More3 Financial Priorities You Need To Address Now
It’s no secret that the roadmap to financial success starts with paying off debt, sticking to a budget, and saving for retirement. But there are other – not quite as sexy – financial priorities that often get overlooked when creating a financial plan. Indeed, I’m talking about the thrilling topic of building an emergency fund,…
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