Personal Finance

We would all be very wise if we could act on hindsight.  I am not too dissatisfied about the way I’ve handled our finances over the years, but here are three things I wish I had done differently knowing what I know now. 1.  I would have joined my company pension plan. When I started…

Managing your money and making sound financial decisions is difficult.  We budget and save and try to invest our money wisely, but sometimes we make choices in our everyday lives that don’t make financial sense. Related: Why Do We Save? Here are some of my miscellaneous musings. Why is it that – Single income earners…

Fees may be just a part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to simply accept them.  Fees can easily be overlooked when it’s just a few bucks, but even small fees can really destroy your budget. Fortunately, there are ways to get around these unnecessary charges with a little extra effort. Related: 35…

Q.  I don’t have a large income or a lot of investments.  How can a financial planner help me? You don’t have to be wealthy to make a financial plan.  A financial planner can help you in the following ways: 1.  Clarify your current situation A planner will provide you with a personal and financial…

One of the biggest challenges many of us face is how to save for retirement when so many other things are competing for our hard earned dollars.  How much of your income should you save for retirement? Wealthy Barber author David Chilton suggests you should save 10% of your gross income for retirement.  Any other…

“Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”  Polonius in Shakespeare’s Hamlet knew that lending money to a friend or family member often results in the loss of both the money and the relationship.  But when someone you love is in a serious bind and you have the means to help it can be impossible to…

When my husband turned 60, being the cheapskate that I am, I was eager to check out what senior discounts we could expect from our TD Bank.  I wasn’t expecting a whole lot – and that’s exactly what was offered, not a whole lot. Related: Free Chequing Account Comparison When I worked for the bank…

Maybe it’s because I work in technology but I’ve never thought of tablet computers and 3D TV’s as status symbols in today’s world.  According to this article from the UK’s Dailymail these symbols have changed significantly from 20 years ago.   It might have been enough to own a house with a 2 car garage…

Nearly half of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque.  A recent survey by the Canadian Payroll Association found 47% saying they would face financial hardship if their pay was delayed as little as one week. Living Paycheque To Paycheque One of the easiest ways to save money is on your bank fees, but it can…

In-er-tia: a property of matter where it remains at rest or in uniform motion unless otherwise acted upon; a tendency to keep things as they are. Financial Inertia: It’s easy to do nothing Despite all the advice to think ahead, set goals, work at achieving your goals, and make a life of your choosing, many people…