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
For a country that worships home ownership, we have a surprisingly diverse and fast-growing population of renters. The percentage of people renting increased in every age group over the past decade, an RBC Economics report says. While young... read more
As disturbing as the past year has been in personal finance, 2023 threatens to be worse. A huge wave of interest rate increases hit this year. Next year, they really sink in. The cumulative impact... read more
At least two of the banks I deal with offer a no-cost way to check my credit score online. I say at least because I have accounts at many banks and haven’t visited them all lately. But... read more
There is no way that interest rates can rise sharply without a high degree of unfairness in how people are affected. Take borrowers and savers, for example. If you owe a lot on a mortgage, rising rates can increase... read more
