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 […]

According to the calendar, spring is here. You wouldn’t know it from the weather we’ve been having but in Vancouver the flowers and trees are blooming. Spring is an excellent time to set the path for your financial future because the holiday season is well behind us, income tax information is current and there is […]

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 […]

Juliet has been working in a retail shop for just over a year and has begun to ask herself two questions: Money is pretty tight at the end of the month and it’s tempting to use her credit card but is worried about getting bills that she can’t pay. What’s next for her? Juliet enjoys […]

Living on a tight budget can cause great anxiety and overwhelm your life. Having a plan to grow out it and into something a little more comfortable can bring a sense of relief. It’s not to say that it will be easy but it is worth it. It’s a great feeling to be confident that […]

How do you define living on a tight budget? I think most of us would agree that the phrase implies that it is a challenge to make ends meet each month. Delving a little further, I think it means having just enough or not quite enough money coming in to cover the basics. Necessities such […]

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? […]