There appears to be a pandemic generosity effect. In the last edition of this newsletter, I asked people who are financially secure in these uncertain times what ideas they had to help others who are struggling. A... read more
We need to raise our game in teaching teenagers about money and, no, that does not mean finding new ways to explain the wonders of compound interest. Equipping young people for financial success today requires... read more
When the coronavirus outbreak passes and the economy starts to rebound, we can get back to racking up travel rewards through our loyalty programs. “Right now, travel points are worth almost nothing,” says Stephen Weyman,... read more
What’s best for you and your family in the months ahead may not be good for your credit score. Remember that if you have to do something financially in the months ahead that hurts your... read more
We learned Monday that the stock market isn’t an elevator headed to the basement level. The worst week for stocks since the 2008 financial crisis was followed by a resounding bounce higher. Enjoy the respite... read more
So much for the adult supervision of our housing market. The federal government was onto a good thing when it introduced a stress test for home buyers a few years ago that demanded they be... read more
Financial stress is all about not saving enough. Income levels play a role, too, but not as big as you might think. Generational differences between, say, millennials and older people mean little. These are the... read more
The must-have accessory for all homeowners will never be featured in a TV series or in magazines about decorating. Having at least a few thousand dollars safely parked in a savings account makes both financial... read more
Karen Thomson thought a technology glitch was at fault when she tried to use her 75,000 Aeroplan miles to book a flight and found out she had only 6,138. Then Ms. Thomson looked at her... read more
By Friday, your postholiday buzz will be gone and so will a lot of your motivation to follow the New Year’s resolutions you made. For your financial resolutions, let’s see if we can buck you... read more
The basics of personal finance never change – spend less than you make and save or invest the rest. What changes, constantly, are the economic factors that influence your ability to do the right thing... read more
We have an 11-year-old car and every now and again it needs a repair. We take it to the garage, pay the bill and keep driving the car. I’m not sure there’s anything else we... read more
SUVs are flattening everything in their path, including the finances of people who buy them. In both Canada and the United States, sales of cars are declining while demand for SUVs and pickup trucks rises.... read more
A message to the 42 per cent of credit-card holders who do not pay their balance in full every month: Stop using your card and switch to debit. Credit cards have become the most popular... read more
