We can all agree that the last few years have been difficult. Sometimes, our financial challenges may not have been just about our income. More often than not, it’s been tied to the decisions we make about how we use our money. And those decisions can be emotional, too. For example, we take pleasure [...]
The first step to managing your debt is to understand the difference between good debt and bad debt. Good debt helps you to build on an asset, like your mortgage or to finance your education. Bad debt occurs when you borrow money to purchase an item that reduces in value over time. Credit card [...]
Chris Enns is a unique financial advisor: he also has experience on the stage as an opera singer. Unlike other advisors, he has personal experience with the cyclical highs and lows of working in the entertainment industry. That’s why we asked him for his advice on how many of our members can cope financially [...]
According to a recent study by Stats Canada published at the end of March, Canadian credit card debt has increased to $91.5 billion. That amounts to a 13.8% increase in December 2022. If you’re looking to reduce your credit card use and to bring down your debt, consider trying some of these suggestions: Set [...]
There is one thing we can always expect after the holiday season: when the festive bubble bursts, the bills arrive and we realize that we should have done a better job budgeting for the holidays. We then start the year stressed because we have new debts to manage. So here’s a reminder about our [...]
Almost on a daily basis across Canada, we are hearing news reports about how expensive life is becoming. It just seems as if today’s financial news isn’t very positive and it’s hard to know when things will improve. But there are adjustments we can do right now to manage these increases and calm [...]
If you were looking to rent a new apartment, would you know how to check your credit score? Even if you’re not looking to move, having an idea of where you stand with your creditors is another part of having a solid financial plan. The good news is that you can download a [...]
We’ve all seen the headlines: almost every part of our lives is becoming more expensive. So here’s an idea that might help you out. Try the acronym TFSN — “tidy” up, “fix” it, and just “say no” thank you. Here’s how: Tidy: Maybe you don't really need more living space, maybe it's just time [...]
Automate your debt payments Some of the best known personal finance experts recommend using the debt snowball technique to pay off debt. The idea is to list your debts from lowest to highest, and then set aside an amount of money each month to put towards the different items. The bulk of the money [...]
