The way of things in Canadian personal finance is that it can takes years for a new vehicle like the First Home Savings Account to achieve mass popularity. Let’s skip that whole getting-to-know-you thing with the FHSA.... read more
It’s one thing to understand the importance of a budget – it’s another to actually follow a budget. The budget is one of the most basic personal finance tools. It’s a monthly tally of your income and... read more
Canada’s annual inflation rate fell to 5.2 per cent in February, the biggest drop since the early stages of the pandemic, although grocery prices are still climbing by more than 10 per cent. Financial analysts had been... read more
To be mercenary about the demise of Silicon Valley Bank, it’s the break people buying a home or renewing a mortgage have been waiting for. The global financial system has been shaken by the failure of... read more
Almost every Canadian has a bank account and there are branches everywhere – banks are so ubiquitous most of us don’t give them much thought. But knowing how banking works can help you make, and... read more
The easiest win in personal finance can be found in the interest rates paid on risk-free savings right now. Interest rates climbed steadily last year, and they’re now expected to hold more or less steady... read more
It seems most urgent for parents to help their adult children get into the housing market when real estate prices are soaring. But now is actually an opportune moment to consider offering money for a... read more
While inflation has massively increased the cost of a postsecondary education by driving up prices for tuition, food and rent, at least one thing has not kept pace with soaring education expenses: registered education savings plans. The... read more
My wife and I were at a Swiss Chalet not too long ago for dinner before a movie and they were too full to accommodate us. I am not kidding. With close to all the... read more
Debt, says Toronto insolvency trustee Steve Welker, is like quicksand. “You dip your toe in just a bit, you’re fine for a while, then your car breaks down or you lose your job, then suddenly you’re... read more
There’s no easy way to buy a new car. They’re expensive, and the process is stressful and time-consuming. The good news is there have never been more resources available to help buyers make informed decisions. A... read more
Paying your student loan is no fun. Every month, money that could’ve been used towards regular expenses, investments or feel-good purchases is pulled away from your account. But is there a right amount of money... read more
We on the Globe and Mail personal finance team have our favourite contacts – the people we like to talk to the most because they offer value for our readers in clarity, insight and integrity.... read more
The greatest hits in personal finance – or rather, to personal finance – this year were like punches to the face. Why linger over a year of blows? The reason is that we’re heading into... read more
Do personal finance writers ever change their minds about the right things to do? For sure. Several years back, I reversed course on young adults having credit cards before they started working. I now think... read more