Personal Finance

Mother’s Day is the sacred day of the year when we remember to honor our mothers, for all that they do for us and how much they mean to us.

Did you know there are 61 Banks operating in Canada? Banking is one of those life skills that nobody ever teaches you, and you’re left to sort through the barrage of banking propaganda and figure it out on your own, though most of us never really do. Of course it’s in our best financial interest…

Having and raising children: Are we asking the wrong questions? Many couples that I work with on a daily basis say things such as “When we have children…” or “We want to have kids.”  I rarely, if ever, meet a couple who actually question whether they have the temperament, lifestyle, or arguably the most important…

By Margaret H. Johnson It is with a heavy heart that I read in the Vancouver Sun today about a financial adviser who targeted as many as 484 investors, many of them seniors, in an investment scheme alleged by the BC Securities Commission to have been premised on fraud and misrepresentations.

By Margaret H Johnson If you are like me, you grew up knowing that hobbies are activities that you do that can bring fulfillment, joy, inspiration, and a sense of pride.  Whether that hobby is playing sports, reading, learning an instrument, running, volunteering with animals, crocheting – whatever it is – hobbies bring out the…

By Margaret H. Johnson I have worried for the longest time about credit ratings. There are many good reasons for my fears. To begin with credit ratings are based solely on mathematics – the days in arrears. You are judged in a moral way by being labeled with a good or bad rating. The reason…

The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) unveiled new rules for cell phone contracts in Canada. The rules allow cell phone customers to walk away from their contracts after two years without any early-cancellation penalties. If applicable, they will only be required to pay the remaining balance on their device tied to the contract. Read the…

There are many advantages that couples enjoy by sharing their finances – shared expenses, tax benefits, security, etc – which unfortunately single people cannot. However, sharing your finances with a partner is a very complicated issue, which often leads to conflict and even ending the relationship. Marriages, cohabitating couples and other shared finance relationships require…

Valentine’s day is another one of those occasions during the year that lack detailed planning. I have never seen Valentine’s Day identified as a separate expenditure on a family budget. It’s a bit like birthdays. We wait until the event arrives and make a quick decision. Sometimes this shrug of the shoulders at the last…

Due to the bank’s impersonal business practices and unnecessary fees, an elderly woman sent a hilarious revenge letter to her bank. Shown below is the actual letter that the 86 year old woman sent to her bank. Elder banking… priceless!

You can be the boss! Every business must have a financial game plan. It’s the same in daily life. No business would dream of entering a new year without some kind of financial game plan to give it an idea of how it’s been doing and where it wants to go. Treat your personal finances like…

Many people, especially women, don’t put the effort into managing their own money. We want to encourage you and offer some advice on how to manage your money for yourself, to gain control of your financial life and confidence in your future.