Posts by Robb Engen
30-Something Hates Debt, Worries About Lack Of Savings
A former colleague stumbled upon this blog recently and sent an email asking for some guidance on his financial situation. David (name has been changed) works in the public sector in Alberta and is a married father of three young children. Here’s what he wrote: I am one of those folks who abhors debt of…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Because Money Edition
We recorded episode three of the Because Money video podcast on Wednesday and welcomed special guest Kerry K. Taylor, the blogger behind Squawkfox.com, to the program to discuss frugal Christmas gifts, the “one toy in, one toy out” rule, and money saving tactics at the grocery store. You’d think after three episodes I’d be a…
Read MoreFirst Time Home Buyer: HBP Or TFSA?
It can be a challenge for first time home buyers to come up with a down payment. With soaring Canadian real estate prices, crippling student loan debt, and low starting salaries, it can take years to save the required minimum down payment. Canadians do have some options to help them buy their first home. This…
Read MoreReader Challenge: Take A Day Off To Work On Your Finances
Many of us suffer from financial inertia because we can’t seem to find the time or desire to deal with our money problems. We put off decisions that, with some careful planning and research, could save us hundreds of dollars per year. So what if I told you that you could save $1,000 or more…
Read MoreScore One For Active Management? Check Out These Index Beating Funds
The top mutual funds have trounced the Canadian index this year, which again opens up the debate of whether active management can outperform a passively managed portfolio after fees. Fans of passive investing say it’s nearly impossible to beat the market over the long term, and equally as difficult to pick the investments that will…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Tangerine Edition
Most of us were curious what would become of ING Direct Canada after it was purchased by Scotiabank last year. Scotia has kept its hands off so far, but one thing we knew for sure was that ING soon had to change its name. Last week the online bank unveiled the new name, Tangerine,…
Read MoreI Can’t Afford It
My favourite chapter from David Chilton’s, The Wealthy Barber Returns, is the one where he offers four words of advice to someone who was spending too much money going out with friends. Chilton said, “Sometimes when people ask you to do something, you’ll have to reply, ‘I can’t afford it.’” It sounds so simple, but…
Read MoreWould You Buy Your Groceries Online?
Amazon, the online retail giant, started selling groceries on its website last week. The line-up consists of over 15,000 non-perishable grocery and gourmet food items, including well-known brands such as Kellogg’s, Pepsi, Campbell’s, and Knorr. At first glance, it’s difficult to see how Amazon can compete on price once they factor in the cost of…
Read More7 Stocks With Double Digit Dividend Growth
Last month we looked at the Canadian dividend aristocrats, a list of companies that have increased dividends each year for the past five years. The list of stocks is a good starting point for dividend investors, but it also reveals a number of flaws when looking to invest in a company. Some companies grow their…
Read MoreTime To Shop For A New Travel Rewards Card
Travel rewards were thrown into the spotlight this summer when TD Bank and CIBC fought for the right to issue Aeroplan credit cards. While the battle raged on, other banks and card issuers were busy enhancing their rewards programs and coming up with offers to entice new customers. What it all means for consumers is…
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