Personal Money Management
If a close relative left you $1,800,000 you’d spend a lot of time and pay a great deal of attention to the care and management of the inheritance, wouldn’t you? Well, this is what you can expect to earn during your working years if you average around $500 a week take-home pay for the first…
Read MoreHow Did You Choose Your Career?
To be honest, I just fell into my career unexpectedly. After my husband was seriously injured, I applied for a secretarial position at a local bank branch to bring in some much needed money. This “temporary” job lasted for over 25 years when I finally retired as a financial advisor. I always envied those people…
Read MoreWhat Does Your Credit Score Really Mean?
Some people are obsessed with their credit score, especially when trying to get out of debt. Your credit score is important if you plan on borrowing – to get a car loan or to buy a home, for example. I’ve sent away for my free credit report a couple of times to check for errors,…
Read MoreA Lifetime Plan For Managing Your Money
As your life changes, so do your money needs. The best way for you to save money, reduce your taxes, and get credit will depend on whether you’re just out of school, have extra income to invest or are planning for your children’s education. Here’s a money plan you can use every step of the…
Read MoreAir Miles Cash Vs. Air Miles Dream: What You Need To Know
If you’ve been on the Air Miles website recently you may have noticed a few changes to how you earn and redeem your rewards. First, there’s a new feature called Air Miles Cash. Starting March 2012 Air Miles collectors can instantly redeem the reward miles in their Air Miles Cash balance towards purchases at participating…
Read MoreHow Not To Move Back In With Your Parents
Rob Carrick is the personal finance columnist for The Globe and Mail, and has been one of Canada’s most trusted and respected financial experts for over 15 years. Carrick’s new book, How Not To Move Back in With Your Parents, hits the shelves today. This personal finance book is aimed specifically at young adults graduating from university…
Read MoreAeroplan Rewards: What Is The Best Value For Your Miles?
The Aeroplan rewards program is arguably the most popular (and reviled) loyalty program in Canada. Aeroplan members can earn miles at over 75 sponsors in the travel, retail and financial sectors. Over two million Aeroplan rewards were issued to members last year alone, including more than 1.3 million flights on Air Canada and Star Alliance…
Read MoreHow Do You Choose Your Bank?
Like most people, my first bank account was held at the financial institution my parents dealt with. Once I was out on my own I just opened an account at a bank close to where I worked. There wasn’t much choice – a plain chequing account (no fees at that time) and a savings account…
Read MoreWhy Leasing A Car Makes Sense For Young Families
The cheapest way to acquire a car is to pay cash for it up front. Unfortunately, paying for a car in its entirety is not an option for most young families. The choice then comes down to financing or leasing a car. Let me start off by saying that young families shouldn’t be fooled by…
Read MorePros And Cons Of Holding Your Mortgage In Your RRSP
One investment that is eligible to be held in your RRSP is your mortgage. You need to have enough cash, or assets that can be converted to cash, and hold your mortgage in a self-directed RRSP. You then make your mortgage payments to the RRSP instead of a financial institution. You can fund your own…
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