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, and also announced that, starting in 2014, customers will have access to Scotia ATMs.
RateSupermarket is back with a promotion this holiday season. They’re offering a free $100 gift card when you sign up for either the MBNA Smart Cash MasterCard, a top no-fee cash back card that gives you 5% back on groceries and gas spending for the first six months, or the MBNA Platinum Plus card, which gives you zero percent interest for 12 months on balance transfers.
This time there are more than 50 gift card options to choose from once your application is approved, so you’re sure to find something to help you pay for the holidays. Click here to learn more about this special offer.
Last month I told you about four online personal finance communities worth joining, and one of those was a Google+ community that I help moderate along with Jackson Middleton and Sandi Martin. We’ve also started a weekly personal finance hangout (video) where we’ll be having smart(?) conversations about money and managing your personal finances in Canada.
Join us live every Wednesday evening at PersonalFinanceHangout.ca. You can check out our introductory episode here.
Weekend Reading
Here are my top 10 personal finance reads from around the web this month, plus a giveaway at the end:
Worst Mutual Fund Ad Of The Year?
Canadian Couch Potato · The mutual fund industry loves to sell past performance, and it’s not above massaging the data to make that performance look even better. But every now and then an advertisement appears that sets the bar even lower. Open this article
Are you receiving as much CPP as you should be?
Retire Happy · Why would your Canada Pension Plan (CPP) amount ever be less than it should be? Isn’t CPP based on the contributions that you have made? Well, you might be surprised to learn that many people are being underpaid by CPP! Open this article
Reader Mail: $1M House – Should I Downsize my Home?
Million Dollar Journey · Heather inquired about her financial situation and how would she go about reaching her goals. She is recently divorced and raising a child. While married, she worked in the family business, but now her only income is spousal and child support payments. Open this article
Your Savings Ability is Your Golden Goose
The Passive Income Earner · In all my years of investing, nothing has grown my portfolio more than my savings. Here’s why: Open this article
Time to overhaul Old Age Security – OAS 101
My Own Advisor · While the increased age limit (to age 67) will help keep our Old Age Security program sustainable, I believe it will be a challenge to keep the program afloat with millions of baby boomers in their 60s soon. Open this article
The Beginners Guide to the TFSA
Urban Departures · The TFSA is a great savings vehicle for those looking to invest their money tax-free. It can be used to save for short and long-term goals. Open this article
Four personal finance questions I can’t answer
Brighter Life · The personal finance field is grappling with fundamental, complicated questions right now. There are no clear answers. Open this article
These 6 Behavioral Finance Mistakes May Be Ruining Your Finances!
Free From Broke · The first step to overcoming biases in your life, especially if they are psychological, is to acknowledge them. You need to be aware of what is holding you back. Open this article
Canada’s Choice – Canada’s Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards for 2013
Rewards Canada · We asked and you responded! We had 17,185 votes cast this year, over 5 times more than in 2012! Thank you Canada for coming out and voting. Open this article
MMFBT 011 – Podcast With Eva Baker
My University Money · I met Eva recently at a conference where she blew away the crowd with an insightful 5-minute presentation on “The War Against the Teenage Years”. You’ll hear Eva and I talk about what she is thinking about in regards to her post-secondary education. Open this article
$1000+ Cash HUGE Christmas Giveaway!
How To Save Money · I’m giving away $1000 of my own hard earned money in cold hard cash this Christmas in what I hope will be one of the biggest giveaways the Canadian personal finance blogging scene has ever seen. Open this article
Have a great weekend, everyone!
