It’s that time of year again, yard work (if you have a yard) and property taxes. Vancouver, like many other places bills property taxes for the beginning of July…a whopping bill and that’s after the advance payment made in February! The bill arrived yesterday and because our bank collects and pays the property taxes on […]

We look forward to summer…a lot. Blue skies, sunshine and vacation. Here are some ideas to have a fun summer without blowing the budget: Activities: Purchase a multi-day or multi-use pass Parks and community centers Discount programs (on-line, coupon books) DYI rather than a tour Accommodation: Book far in advance Purchase in advance Pre-pay Discounts […]

Do you expect a tax refund? What will you do with it? It may not be a lot of money but a little can go a long way, especially if you have a plan! How about splitting it between a couple of things? A little for you, some to savings and some to pay down […]

How many accounts do you have? How many differenct banks do you bank at? What about credit cards, loans and investments? Spreading around your business is one thing but it can be tricky to manage. Fewer arrangements and relationships to manage will help to keep your money management simple. Here are some suggestions: 2 Major […]

If you took Making Your Money Management Simple – 1 to heart, you are now organized! This post is about paying bills on time and in no time. Our household bills all seem to naturally fall due towards the end of the month. This is okay as I sit down once per month and set […]

Our lives are busy enough, who wants more administrivia? Keeping track of bills and money can be kept to a minimum with a few simple strategies. The next few posts will include suggestions and tips to manage bills, banking, investments and debts.

The nice weather is starting! There is still enough time to plant some seeds for your financial future. Here is a list of common financial goals: Purchase a home Purchase a new vehicle Annual vacations (or perhaps a big trip every few years) Retirement Pay down debt Emergency fund Kids’ education fund The list above […]

In the last post, I suggested completing your taxes in stages. This post includes some tips around the details and making it a smooth process. We are reliant on others to provide much of the information that we need to complete our taxes and there are several ways to complete your taxes. Which do you […]

It’s that time of year again and taxes will be due before you know it. It’s a rare breed that enjoys doing their taxes and even as an accountant I don’t look forward to it. I’ve found that if I break the job into smaller and more manageable tasks. It is easier to tackle the […]

Do these 2 topics make you uncomfortable? If the answer is yes, do you typically procrastinate? Why do the alarm bells go off in February? If all the media attention hasn’t brought it to your attention, the following might: You will receive most of your income tax slips in February The deadline to contribute to […]