You may ask ‘What’s the point? I never go into my bank because I do everything online’. It would take a very long time to save enough cash to buy a car or a home and so when we do want to make a big purchase, most of us go to the bank and ask […]

Summer is here! The July long weekend is fast approaching and summer plans are well underway. Summer is loads of fun but the reality is that I don’t really look at our budget while we’re in busy enjoying ourselves. I make sure the bills get paid but that’s about it. Now that we have most […]

No one said it’s going to be easy peasy lemon squeezy but if getting rid of your mortgage is number one priority for you, then it can be done.   There are 2 strong motivating factors to pay off your mortgage as soon as possible:     No more mortgage payments = more of your […]

I worked for one of Canada’s Chartered Banks for seven years and not once did I hand a client their mortgage discharge papers. That may not seem significant but I’ve heard stories from those in our parents’ generation who worked hard to pay off their mortgages as soon as possible, in 15, 10 or even […]

Shopping for a new home is fun! But take a look past the sticker price to learn what other costs to include in your budget. Some are one-time or transaction expenses, some are an investment or upgrade and others are incremental to your existing bills. It’s a good idea to do a little research to […]

Between you and the bank, you’ll know how much you can afford for a monthly housing payment. The last post explained some of the guidelines that banks use to determine this. For you to be comfortable though, take the amount you want to spend each month and deduct any related costs such as property taxes […]

The bad news is … there is no easy way to do this. The saying ‘buy now, pay later’ rings true no matter how hard you try to ignore it. The good news is … there are steps you can take to reduce the interest you’re paying, reduce your debt and ultimately be rid of […]

Spring has arrived! The weather in Vancouver is fantastic today and it got me thinking….Debt can be such a burden. Especially if it’s invading your thoughts, interrupting your sleep or debtors are calling. Whether your debit is stressing you out or whether you just wish it would go away a little faster, spring is a […]

Now that you’re organized…the next step to Spring Cleaning Your Finances. Review your goals to ensure they’re clear in terms of priority, timeframe and amount. Check your income in your budget – is it accurate? Review your budget to ensure your regular monthly and large expenses are noted. Review your budget to confirm that your […]

It’s that in between season after RSP’s but before Tax’s. The perfect time to get organized – you’ll see the benefits immediately. Just as soon as you sit down to do your taxes or if you hand them off to someone else, they will appreciate it! To do a thorough job, it will take a […]