Step 3 This is probably the easiest step! Using the form you downloaded or whatever you want, consider the following questions: What do you want? Retirement, repay debt or new car When would you like it? In 1 year, 2 years or 25 years How much will it cost? Estimate is ok Writing them down […]

Step 2 A good plan is worth writing down. Dear Piggy Bank has forms for you to use. Either excel or PDF format, whichever you prefer. Take a couple minutes to download one: Dear Piggy Bank Forms. If you have a couple more minutes, gather together some of your financial information including net pay, regular […]

Step 1 What will motivate you to start 2013 with a good plan to manage your finances? Understanding and acknowledging why you want to do something is a big step forward and can keep you moving in the right direction. Do you worry about day to day finances? Do you worry about your financial future? […]

How are you doing? It’s almost impossible to become financially literate overnight but if you’ve taken the opportunity to put the basics in place, you’ll be well on your way. This doesn’t mean that it takes care of itself but I think you’ll find the amount of time you spend managing your financial affairs will […]

Once you know the ins and outs of your household finances it’s time to decide where you’d like to go, make a map, put gas in the car and get on the road. GOALS: Having a destination in mind may not be how everyone likes to travel but without specific goals, the probability of achieving […]

November is Financial Literacy Month but what does that mean to you? The last post included the definition by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada and the key message was for individuals to have enough knowledge to confidently and responsibly manage their finances. I think for many, these words come with some big and perhaps […]

This is a question that can make many of us look at our shoes or up to the sky. It is more than understanding definitions and financial tools such as debt and bank accounts. The question is whether we make good choices and have a strong handle on our financial affairs. November is Financial Literacy […]

Despite best efforts, many leave post secondary education with student loan debt and the job market isn’t always so friendly. Taking a look at some numbers can give an idea of what to expect in terms of income and expenses (including loan payments). If you can earn $22/hour or $44,000/year, this will put about $3,000 […]

Just like credit cards, once the paperwork is done student loans are out of sight, out of mind … until it comes time to repay them. It’s amazing how quickly $10,000 here and $15,000 adds up to a big, big total.

The first week of school is almost finished and all those ‘back to school’ parties can be distracting! A lot of money changes hands during the first couple weeks of school…mostly it flows in one direction, out of your hands! There are lots of big expenses as well as little ones that all add up. […]