Blog Posts

Jul 21

4 tips on how to stop arguing with your spouse about money

Chosen best of the web by Globe and Mail personal finance columnist Rob Carrick     One word sums it up: Disconnected. That’s how most couples are with each other when it comes to their finances. I’m not talking about having separate bank accounts – that’s just a banking preference.... read more →
Jul 04
Jun 24
May 29

Why you should pay full retail

Retail marketing scientists have mastered the art of seduction. They make a living by influencing your purchasing decisions and, on occasion, roping you into buying something you really don't need. They have a myriad of analytics at their disposal, and they’re not shy about using them to tempt you into... read more →
Feb 21

Retirement Savings: On your shoulders

My grandparents had great pensions, and my parents have OK pension plans. Me though? I have none. The most I've been offered by any employer, is a group RRSP. It used to be commonplace for employers to guarantee their employees a specific pension payout for remaining loyally employed with the... read more →
Jan 10

The true cost of a healthy diet

We're into a fresh new year which, of course, means a lot of people have started dieting this week. The health benefits of shedding some extra pounds are obvious. What's hidden, however, are the financial costs of a healthy diet. I know it from personal experience. Three years ago I... read more →
Dec 16

1 in 4 Canadians feel helpless to control holiday spending

  When making decisions about where to spend money, generosity often trumps or supersedes money concerns at this time of year. For some, it can be so difficult to go against this pattern, they actually feel helpless to control their spending, budget or not. In a recent Investors Group poll,... read more →
Dec 01

Having the best, and the damage it brings

We have a lot of decisions to make in life. Sometimes the easiest, or most reassuring way to go about making those decisions, is simply to spring for the best your money can get. Do you need to have the very best internet or cell phone package though? Maybe. In... read more →
Nov 01

Simplify, simplify, simplify

It's pretty common to think that having more will make us happy. In reality, though, the more we have, the more complicated our lives get. We are hardwired to think about the upside when we buy things. We think about how great it will be to take our new boat... read more →
Oct 01

How fixed expenses creep up

  Fixed expenses directly impact our discretionary spending ability, and our ability to save. Some fixed costs are inevitable: We need to pay down our mortgage, pay our utilities, and make good with the phone company every month. These so-called "fixed" expenses, though, have a way of creeping higher across the... read more →