What are your priorities for your money? I’m not asking to be airy-fairy. It’s simply been my observation that people who know what their priorities are allocate their money in a way that ensures that their priorities are met. Speaking for myself, saving for a comfortable – and hopefully early! – retirement has been one […]
Well, 2019 is here and nearly two weeks are under our collective belts. How are you doing with those new year’s resolutions? Or as a witty little photo on Instagram called them: your casual and in-no-way-legallly-binding promises to yourself? Personally, I don’t make resolutions. Hats off to those of you who do, but I prefer […]
Cherished Readers, I have come to an uneasy decision and I’m not sure if I’m right. I used to buy units in the XDV exchange traded fund (ETF) issued by iShares. When Vanguard came to Canada, I stopped buying units in XDV and started buying units in VDY. Why did I make the switch? Both […]
Christmas 2018 has come and gone, which means that a brand new year is nearly upon us. Does anyone else wonder how an entire year can pass by quicker than two shakes of a lamb’s tail??? And does it also not seem like the holidays cost money every single year? I don’t know about you […]
This week, I read an article on the Globe and Mail website that had me shaking my head. Essentially, there’s a new trend among retailers to charge clients a membership fee to shop in their store. My first thought was WTF?!?!! It seems that Costco’s membership model is a bit too seductive for regular retailers […]
In 2019, the contribution room for the Tax Free Savings Account increases from $5500 to $6000. This is great news! There’s a big debate about whether it’s best to invest in a TFSA or in a registered retirement savings plan. I’m not going to weigh in since I’m not certified to give expert advice in […]
It’s the holiday season again! Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, people will be bombarded with advertising encouraging them to buy as much as they possibly can to prove the depth of their love for the special ones in their lives. Do you want your child to be happy? Buy a toy! Do you want your spouse […]
You are financially vulnerable. Don’t feel too bad. Most of us are. A few weeks back, I watched an interview with Elizabeth White where she talks about faking normal. In short, Ms. White is very well-educated, had a network of contacts, worked for an international organization, took an entrepreneurial risk, got caught by the […]
Recently, people near and dear to my heart bought a new home. I was more than thrilled for them since their new place is lovely and will be a perfect nest for their growing family. And as they disclosed their numbers to me, I started to think about the impact that the rising mortgage rates […]
One of the easiest ways to cut down the amortization of a mortgage is by making bi-weekly payments. A bi-weekly payment is one where, every two weeks, your mortgage lender makes a withdrawal from your bank account for the purpose of paying your mortgage. If you’re paid on a bi-weekly schedule, then there’s absolutely […]