After a slump in consumer prices during the pandemic, they’ve come roaring back as demand increases and supplies of some goods get scarce. Here’s what you need to know. WHAT IS DRIVING INFLATION? Probably the... read more
The federal Liberals have finally found the hammer in their housing affordability toolbox. We can debate how directly responsible they are, but the Liberals have presided over what could very well turn out to be... read more
The biggest mistake in personal finance is basing your plans for the future on what’s happening now. Periods of stability and quiet do happen in finance, but not lately. We have seen some unusually fast-moving... read more
My smartphone ate my wallet, and I couldn’t be happier about it. In the past six months, I have migrated a lot of my banking, investing and monitoring of reward cards to my phone. My... read more
My recent shout-out asking for examples of inflation produced a full shopping list full of examples. We know inflation is on the rise – we started the year with prices rising 1 per cent year over year... read more
Opening the economy is going to be very educational for recent first-time home buyers. The pandemic was the worst thing ever to happen to Canada’s housing market if you’re a buyer. But let’s not ignore... read more
It took a pandemic to do what infinite personal finance advice never could. Successive economic lockdowns have boxed people into spending less than they make by a big margin. We’re living below our means, which... read more
A certain four-letter word comes up a lot when financial planners address young adult clients who fear they will never own a house. The word is rent. R-e-n-t. Say it with me and then... read more
The rapid acceleration in housing prices is causing tremendous stress to the personal finances of individual households and the nation as a whole. If it’s not vaccinations dominating conversations these days, it’s housing. The national... read more
Almost everything in real estate has changed since the federal banking regulator opened the door early last year to easing a mortgage rate stress test applied to home buyers. The pandemic arrived, interest rates plunged... read more
At 25 years of age, Liz and Tom have a $1.2-million house in Toronto and a mortgage of nearly $750,000. Tom earns $80,000 a year plus overtime as a skilled tradesman; Liz earns $66,000 a... read more
In a hot housing market, it means nothing that you have a household income of more than $200,000 and a down payment of $450,000. A 33-year-old buyer named Greg learned this lesson in early 2021.... read more
Olympic levels of eye-rolling have been set in motion by the recent adventures of young adult investors. The investing establishment thinks very little of what Gen Z and millennial investors are doing with their commission-free... read more
It has been a tough year for the under-20 crowd. Lockdowns, fluid class schedules and cancelled extracurriculars are now the norm. And there are the masks – so many masks. As a teen in 2021,... read more
A year as financially bizarre as 2020 can only be followed by a period of readjustment. So prepare yourself for some surprises on the way back to normalcy – or at least to a new... read more
