Not everyone is ‘good’ at math but all of us should be able to do our 1,2,3’s. The post secondary school year or a trade, technical or diploma program face similar challenges in that the money flows in and outs in an abnormal pattern. This makes it difficult to budget. The traditional monthly budget doesn’t […]

To me, the Labour Day weekend will always signal the wrap up of summer, the start of a new school year, the IPE and Armstrong Rodeo. Major events! This week our 5 year old began her school career…Kindergarten. Gradual entry (2 weeks no less before the first full day) is very, very gradual but it […]

Who wants to think about budgets during the summer? Especially now that the weather has finally taken a turn for the better. Time to enjoy summer fun, weekends away, holidays, bbq’s, weddings and parties. The trick is to put enough in your budget to cover the bills so you can skip into the fall with […]

Almost everyone has access to credit these days. Teenagers and adults use credit cards, lines of credits, vehicle leases, loans and mortgages. They may be different in how they work but at the end of the day, it’s borrowed money. There are various associated fees including: Interest Cardholder fees Legal fees Transactions fees Currency exchange […]

Emergency savings, contingency fund? Who has one? How much do you have? I suspect the answers are along the lines of: What? How do I get one? How much do I need? Without any warning, an emergency such as a sick family member, job loss or car repairs can throw a wicked curve ball. Few […]

Most of us face a cash crunch every now and again and this can cause anxiety. Many of us receive a steady pay check however those who don’t have a stable source of income often wonder whether there will be enough in the account to pay the bills at the end of the month. Cash […]

The key to cash flow is knowing what’s coming in and what’s going out! For many of us, what’s coming in is fairly steady. We’ll take a look at managing cash flow for self-employed, contract or part time income next time. That leaves us with what’s going out … expenses. The most important piece of […]

Why isn’t there enough money in the bank account at the end of the month? In today’s age of debit and credit cards, it’s easy to access money to pay for things. When cash was it, there were either dollars in your wallet or not! This means that it is doubly important to have a […]

If you’re interested in simplifying your finances, it’s worth taking a look at what’s in your wallet. How many different cards and pieces of paper do you keep handy? Most things fall into 1 of 4 categories: Cards – Bank, credit, loyalty and identification Receipts Cash Reminders

Here are some quick tips to get you started with your 2010 taxes: Gather all your paperwork – 2009 taxes, notice of assessment, CRA access code, tax slips. Will you do them or will you use a tax preparer? Software or paper return? You can use the software to prepare your taxes and then print […]