Walletpop Canada http://www.walletpop.ca/blog Walletpop Canada http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/media/feedlogo.gif Walletpop Canada http://www.walletpop.ca/blog en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Get Help, Get Organized for Good!http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/05/13/get-help-get-organized/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/05/13/get-help-get-organized/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/05/13/get-help-get-organized/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The frost has finally had it for the season, which means it's time to open some windows and doors, and Clear Out The Clutter. The sentiment is pretty widely shared: spring cleaning (whether we do it, or just think that we should do it) is a culturally engrained thing.

As with most culturally engrained events though, there's a whole industry that exists in response, trying like mad to get you to part with some of your hard-earned dollars as part of the festivities. (Think storage tote sales.)

In and among the multitude of links to sell me something when I searched the phrase, "get organized," I found one article, thankfully, that had this very salient piece of advice:

"Hold off on container shopping... getting organized does not start out with a shopping trip."

WebMD, 10 Ways to Cut Clutter in Your Home. Retrieved May 7, 2013.


Even just getting started, though, can sometimes require professional help. Do you sometimes wonder where to start? You're not alone. Enter, the professional organizer.

Continue reading Get Help, Get Organized for Good!

Get Help, Get Organized for Good! originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Mon, 13 May 2013 12:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>clutterClutterFreeorganizationprofessional organizerProfessionalOrganizerWebMDKate McCafferyMon, 13 May 2013 12:14:00 EST​Make $300 Next Weekend (Tip: Start Now)http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/05/06/make-300-next-weekend-tip-start-now/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/05/06/make-300-next-weekend-tip-start-now/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/05/06/make-300-next-weekend-tip-start-now/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There's gold in them hills of clutter you're keeping in the basement. (Or garage. Or in the kid's rooms.) Ok, it might not be gold, but there is money to be made from a lot of the unused stuff you have taking up space at home.

There are two different kinds of garage sales though: Those where everyone leaves happy, where your house gets a good cleanout, and where you finish the day with an extra $500 in your pocket. Then there are the other garage sales that are just a lame waste of time for all involved.

Making yours one of the good ones takes work, but the task isn't complex. It boils down to three or four steps: Purge, process, piggyback if you can, and price things correctly.

Continue reading ​Make $300 Next Weekend (Tip: Start Now)

​Make $300 Next Weekend (Tip: Start Now) originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Mon, 06 May 2013 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>CraigslistEntertainmentgarage salegarage salesgarage sales this weekendGarageSaleGarageSalesGarageSalesThisWeekendKijijiPiggy-backTrivial PursuitKate McCafferyMon, 06 May 2013 13:08:00 ESTIncome Tax Explained: Know What You Owe, and Pay Lesshttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/04/15/income-tax-explained-know-what-you-owe-and-pay-less/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/04/15/income-tax-explained-know-what-you-owe-and-pay-less/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/04/15/income-tax-explained-know-what-you-owe-and-pay-less/#commentsFiled under: ,

Tax terms explainedHaving someone else do your taxes for you, or getting that help from a prepared software package, can remove the opportunity to better understand how your income is taxed. I will readily admit that, were it not for my job, I would almost certainly fall into this group. (Basic math is not my forte, to put it mildly.)
That said, it's worth putting the effort in to understand where your income comes from, and how each different source of income is taxed - not all income is generated in the same way, and it's not all taxed at the same rate either. Understanding even the basic differences between tax deductible and tax deferred, or the difference between investment income, and your employment income, could help you save a great deal of money over time.

Continue reading Income Tax Explained: Know What You Owe, and Pay Less

Income Tax Explained: Know What You Owe, and Pay Less originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Ernst & YoungFinanceRegistered Retirement Savings PlanRRSPtax saving tipstax savingsTax-Free Savings AccounttaxesTaxSavingsTaxSavingTipsTFSAKate McCafferyMon, 15 Apr 2013 08:10:00 ESTQuiz: Which Banks Spend the Most to Get Your Attention Online?http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/31/quiz-how-do-banks-get-your-attention-online/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/31/quiz-how-do-banks-get-your-attention-online/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/31/quiz-how-do-banks-get-your-attention-online/#commentsFiled under:

If you're anything like me, there's a good chance you don't often notice the advertising put in front of you, virtually every time you open a web browser. Whether you're consciously registering the message (just taking it in on a subconscious level) or not, banks spend big money to get their campaigns in front of the people they think will be most receptive to their pitch.

Think you can guess which banks are spending the most to get their message out online? How much do you think they spend to get our attention? Take our quiz to find out more!

QUIZ: How Much Are Banks Spending to Attract Business?


1. Which financial service firm spent the most, overall, to get your attention online in 2012?Answer: A. Bank of Montreal.2. How many adults reportedly used online banking services in 2012?Answer: B.3. Which financial insitution spent the most to get you worried about retirement?Answer: A. Toronto-Dominion Bank.4. Overall, which categories or services do you think financial institutions spent the most to advertise online in 2012?Answer: D. Credit cards.

Quiz: Which Banks Spend the Most to Get Your Attention Online? originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>banking onlineBankingOnlinebanksKate McCafferySun, 31 Mar 2013 16:19:00 ESTQuiz: Which of These Things is Taxable, or Not Taxable?http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/25/quiz-which-of-these-things-is-taxable-or-not-taxable/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/25/quiz-which-of-these-things-is-taxable-or-not-taxable/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/25/quiz-which-of-these-things-is-taxable-or-not-taxable/#commentsFiled under: , ,

How good is your tax knowledge? Do you know which sources of income are actually taxable, and which are not? You might be surprised. Take our test to find out more!

QUIZ: What's Taxable and What's Not?


what's taxable and what's not taxable in Canada?

1. Insurance proceeds - life insurance, disability or accident insurance, annuity payments.NOT TAXABLE.2. War pensions.NOT TAXABLE.3. Your Company's Christmas PartyTAXABLE. Surprise!4. Gambling for a living.NOT TAXABLE.

Quiz: Which of These Things is Taxable, or Not Taxable? originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Canadacanada revenue agencyCanadaRevenueAgencyCRAFinancetaxable incomeTaxableIncomeKate McCafferyMon, 25 Mar 2013 21:49:00 ESTRoll Up the Rim: The Odds of Winning a Car vs Other Unlikely Eventshttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/14/roll-up-the-rim-what-are-the-odds-of-winning/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/14/roll-up-the-rim-what-are-the-odds-of-winning/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/14/roll-up-the-rim-what-are-the-odds-of-winning/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Working from home, I'm generally not awash in the same cultural and marketing nuances that most people are subject to in their day-to-day lives. Maybe that's why the pervasiveness of Tim Horton's roll-up-the-rim contest was and is so striking to me: I left the house the other day, and traveled to another country, and still, there weren't many human interactions lasting longer than ten minutes, that didn't involve mention of those red paper cups, or what people had won (or not) in that contest.

Maybe my family and friends drink more coffee than average, but I don't think so.

This is not a lecture about the cost of take-out coffee and how it adds up over the course of a year. Instead, I was curious: Just what are the odds that you might actually win one of those grand prizes, and how do those odds compare to other lottery or gaming contests?

Tim Hortons has done a pretty remarkable thing here. Not only are they 'the talk of the town,' in virtually every single town with a franchise, but despite the contest's size, people seem to believe in their chances of winning - the contest feels smaller than it actually is.

Continue reading Roll Up the Rim: The Odds of Winning a Car vs Other Unlikely Events

Roll Up the Rim: The Odds of Winning a Car vs Other Unlikely Events originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>649CanadaDaily MirrorlightninglotteryLotto MaxoddsOntarioOntario Lottery and Gaming CorporationTim HortonsKate McCafferyThu, 14 Mar 2013 12:51:00 ESTThe Retirement Income Question - Avoid It At Your Own Perilhttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/06/avoiding-the-retirement-income-question/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/06/avoiding-the-retirement-income-question/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/06/avoiding-the-retirement-income-question/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"People haven't saved enough for retirement."

There's a lot of research talking about Canadians' lack of retirement savings. It looks like people are buying into those messages too.

Unfortunately though, the information appears to be affecting the would-be retiree's psyche, with troubling results: Half believe they'll exhaust their retirement savings in less than 10 years, but a significant number don't know for sure, and a large number of people won't even consider certain income options.

"This all suggests to me that people are trying to avoid thinking about it," says Investor Education Fund (IEF) president, Tom Hamza.

Continue reading The Retirement Income Question - Avoid It At Your Own Peril

The Retirement Income Question - Avoid It At Your Own Peril originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>housing marketHousingMarketretirementretirement incomeretirement savingsRetirementIncomeRetirementSavingsseniors housingSeniorsHousingKate McCafferyWed, 06 Mar 2013 10:30:00 ESTMoving Out: Using Home Equity in Retirement is an Emotional Landminehttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/06/moving-out-using-home-equity-in-retirement/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/06/moving-out-using-home-equity-in-retirement/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/06/moving-out-using-home-equity-in-retirement/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Do you know someone who is downsizing, specifically to finance their retirement? Perhaps they're renting out part of their home, or selling their home altogether to become renters themselves?

Be kind. It's an emotional, and difficult decision they've made - one that probably wasn't arrived upon lightly, and one they were probably driven to by real need.

Continue reading Moving Out: Using Home Equity in Retirement is an Emotional Landmine

Moving Out: Using Home Equity in Retirement is an Emotional Landmine originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>home equityHomeEquityretirementretirement incomeretirement planningRetirementIncomeRetirementPlanningKate McCafferyWed, 06 Mar 2013 09:08:00 ESTWhich Tax Bracket Are You In? (2012-2013)http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/04/what-tax-bracket-are-you-in-2012-2013/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/04/what-tax-bracket-are-you-in-2012-2013/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/03/04/what-tax-bracket-are-you-in-2012-2013/#commentsFiled under: ,

which (canadian) tax bracket are you in?Tis the season to wonder how much you'll be getting dinged by the tax man.

Most people think of the returns they'll make... A costly mentality, say tax experts who suggest consumers should actually arrange to have less tax deducted at source by their employers - you'll get less of a refund, but you won't be making an interest-free loan to the government either.

For those who do wonder how much they're paying, here are the latest rates from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the 2012 and 2013 tax years.

Continue reading Which Tax Bracket Are You In? (2012-2013)

Which Tax Bracket Are You In? (2012-2013) originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Canada Revenue Agencycanada taxCanadaTaxFinancetax bracketsTaxBracketstaxesKate McCafferyMon, 04 Mar 2013 11:48:00 ESTRevisiting Resolutions: Smarter Ways to Save $1,500http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/02/27/revisiting-resolutions-smarter-ways-to-save-1-500/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/02/27/revisiting-resolutions-smarter-ways-to-save-1-500/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/02/27/revisiting-resolutions-smarter-ways-to-save-1-500/#commentsFiled under: ,

The crowd isn't terribly bright about a lot of things. With apologies to those who try to educate using the medium (a few of you are notable and exceptional), I have to say this: Facebook probably isn't the best place to get your financial planning advice.

At the start of the year there was a savings chart being shared that encouraged people to put a certain amount of money away each week. I expect a lot of people 'liked' the thing. I know a lot of people shared it with their friends.

Continue reading Revisiting Resolutions: Smarter Ways to Save $1,500

Revisiting Resolutions: Smarter Ways to Save $1,500 originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Facebooksave moneySaveMoneysaving moneySavingMoneysavingsTwitterKate McCafferyWed, 27 Feb 2013 13:40:00 ESTNew Ways to Save on Taxes in 2013http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/02/26/new-tax-deductions-2013/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/02/26/new-tax-deductions-2013/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2013/02/26/new-tax-deductions-2013/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Every year, a new flurry of articles come out, written to help you save money, and get more back from the government when filing your tax return.

We have that list of tax credits for you here today - including one new credit for the 2012 tax year: the Family Caregiver Amount.

When thinking about these things, though, tax expert Jamie Golombek, managing director, tax & estate planning at CIBC Private Wealth Management, has this bit of advice as well: Forget 2012. Start planning now, work with a professional if need be, and set things in place ahead of time so you'll pay less tax as a family when the time comes to file your returns at this time next year.

Continue reading New Ways to Save on Taxes in 2013

New Ways to Save on Taxes in 2013 originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>canada revenue agencyCanadaRevenueAgencycanadian taxesCanadianTaxesCRAFinancetaxtax creditsTax refundTax ReturnsTaxCreditsTaxesTaxRefundTaxReturnsKate McCafferyTue, 26 Feb 2013 12:53:00 ESTBook Covers Everything You Wanted to Know About RESPshttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/12/06/the-resp-book-a-review/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/12/06/the-resp-book-a-review/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/12/06/the-resp-book-a-review/#commentsFiled under: ,

Need RESP help?

After years of writing about Registered Education Savings Plans on his award-winning Money Smarts website, Mike Holman wrote the book you need to reference.

Continue reading Book Covers Everything You Wanted to Know About RESPs

Book Covers Everything You Wanted to Know About RESPs originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>book reviewBookReviewregistered education savings planRegisteredEducationSavingsPlanRESPsKate McCafferyThu, 06 Dec 2012 14:00:00 ESTAre Online Stock Trading Courses Legit, or Snake Oil?http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/04/are-online-stock-trading-courses-legit-or-snake-oil/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/04/are-online-stock-trading-courses-legit-or-snake-oil/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/04/are-online-stock-trading-courses-legit-or-snake-oil/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There's certainly a wild array of products and experiences to be had on the cheap, sort of, if you spend enough time trolling group couponing sites.

Most are forgettable, delete-able. What can I say? The endless offers for laser hair removal just don't speak to me personally. As mentioned before too, I won't ever spend money on any mechanic-related deal ever again. (It's a personal choice. You might have better luck.) Some offers too, just aren't that great of a great deal - the prices have been inflated so the discount really doesn't mean much.

There have been one or two recent deals, however, that (for better or worse) stand out among the usual suspects: Online stock trading schools appear to have caught onto the couponing phenomenon, and have started marketing their courses to Canadian consumers, whether they have a presence in Canada or not.

My first reaction was one of disbelief. (You're kidding, right?) That feeling soon gave way to a very healthy dose of skepticism.

Continue reading Are Online Stock Trading Courses Legit, or Snake Oil?

Are Online Stock Trading Courses Legit, or Snake Oil? originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Sun, 04 Nov 2012 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Canadaday tradingDayTradingFacebookGrouponOnline TradingOnline Trading AcademyOnlineTradingSci/TechTwitterKate McCafferySun, 04 Nov 2012 14:14:00 ESTIs Your Teen a 'Conscientious Consumer' or a 'Stylish Spender'?http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/02/is-your-teen-a-conscientious-consumer-or-a-stylish-spender/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/02/is-your-teen-a-conscientious-consumer-or-a-stylish-spender/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/02/is-your-teen-a-conscientious-consumer-or-a-stylish-spender/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Financial literacy efforts are growing in popularity in recent years. Those tasked with the job of developing curriculum to teach children, however, still have a significant challenge on their hands.

This type of education simply does not exist in any formal way, or it didn't until recently - it needs to be developed, virtually from scratch, but also in a coordinated way. Then there's the task of trying to make it seem interesting.

Continue reading Is Your Teen a 'Conscientious Consumer' or a 'Stylish Spender'?

Is Your Teen a 'Conscientious Consumer' or a 'Stylish Spender'? originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>curriculumeducationeducatorsFacebookfinancial educationFinancial literacyFinancialEducationHealthSci/TechTwitterKate McCafferyFri, 02 Nov 2012 11:00:00 ESTFund Managers Fear Negative Growth: What (Another) Recession Might Mean For Youhttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/02/what-a-recession-might-mean-for-you/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/02/what-a-recession-might-mean-for-you/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/11/02/what-a-recession-might-mean-for-you/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Where did the money go? This is actually a topic of conversation that's come up in social settings in the past few months, believe it or not. It seems like people used to have a lot more of it than they do today.

With that feeling in mind, it was a little bit jarring to read that some fund managers are trimming their exposure to Canadian banks over fears that Canada could slide into a recession. (I've always been told Canadian banks are a great place to be invested.)

If we're not actually in a recession today, and things feel tight right now (hello groceries! Have you noticed how much walnuts cost lately?), what would things really be like if we were officially found to be in negative growth territory?


SLIDESHOW: 7 WAYS TO SAVE $1000 A YEAR


1. Lose the Landline2. Cut the Cable3. Double the Deductibles4. Bring the Brown Bag5. Axe the ATM Fees6. Kill the Car7. Jettison the Gym Membership

Continue reading Fund Managers Fear Negative Growth: What (Another) Recession Might Mean For You

Fund Managers Fear Negative Growth: What (Another) Recession Might Mean For You originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>money-saving tipsMoney-savingTipsrecessionsave moneySaveMoneyKate McCafferyFri, 02 Nov 2012 06:00:00 ESTGiving Teens 'The Talk' About Money Managementhttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/31/giving-teens-the-talk-about-money-management/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/31/giving-teens-the-talk-about-money-management/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/31/giving-teens-the-talk-about-money-management/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Take a room full of 600 high school students, and spend the day trying to teach them about money. Can you say tough crowd?

Across the province and around the country there is a relatively concerted effort going on to develop curriculum for students. In Ontario, for example, there's a widely integrated approach underway to develop a financial literacy program which runs from grade 4, all the way through until graduation in grade 12.

Unfortunately, a lot of the kids graduating this year and next won't have the benefit of that education. It's a gap the Investor Education Fund (IEF) hopes to fill, to some degree, with their school assembly programming. This week, the IEF is kicking financial literacy month by hosting its first-ever youth summit in Toronto.

Continue reading Giving Teens 'The Talk' About Money Management

Giving Teens 'The Talk' About Money Management originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>CanadacurriculumeducationFacebookfinancial educationfinancial literacyFinancialEducationFinancialLiteracyHealthhigh schoolHighSchoolInvestor Education FundInvestorEducationFundJames CunninghamstudentsTwitterKate McCafferyWed, 31 Oct 2012 03:00:00 ESTWho Among Us Are Debt-Free?http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/29/who-are-the-debt-free/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/29/who-are-the-debt-free/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/29/who-are-the-debt-free/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I have debt, as do most of the people I know. In fact, those I know who are actually debt-free, all seem to be a lot older than I am. Wiser? Quite possibly in some cases; undoubtedly in others.

The big part of their debt-free status, though, seems to come from this one fact: They've all been in the game for a lot longer than I have.

Continue reading Who Among Us Are Debt-Free?

Who Among Us Are Debt-Free? originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>debtdebt advicedebt-freeDebtAdviceFacebookFinanceRBCRoyal BankRoyalBankTwitterKate McCafferyMon, 29 Oct 2012 09:00:00 ESTMake More Money: Get a New Jobhttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/23/make-more-money-get-a-new-job/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/23/make-more-money-get-a-new-job/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/23/make-more-money-get-a-new-job/#commentsFiled under: ,

Although you would think a reasonable raise shouldn't be too difficult to come by for any valued employee, in reality, no matter how much companies talk about employee retention, oftentimes the only way to get a raise is to move on.

If you find yourself in this position - where the pay and the perks haven't changed much over time, and you find yourself contemplating a move to (you hope) greener pastures - do your homework, and get started today. Recruiters who follow these things closely say there's no real rhyme, reason, or means of timing the job market.

Continue reading Make More Money: Get a New Job

Make More Money: Get a New Job originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>FacebookJob SearchJobSearchMake moneymake more moneyMakeMoneyMakeMoreMoneynegotiationrecruitersrecruitingrecruitmentsalarysalary increaseSalaryIncreaseSusan RogersTwitterKate McCafferyTue, 23 Oct 2012 08:35:00 ESTMake More Money: Do an Apprenticeshiphttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/19/make-more-money-do-an-apprenticeship/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/19/make-more-money-do-an-apprenticeship/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/19/make-more-money-do-an-apprenticeship/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Just like adding more schooling to your list of credentials, completing an apprenticeship appears to be a pretty good way of ensuring you make more money over the course of your career.

The amount we're talking about is no small change either: Statistics Canada says those who actually complete their program and obtain certification for their credentials earn between 20% and 25% more than those who discontinue or leave their apprenticeship programs before completion.

Continue reading Make More Money: Do an Apprenticeship

Make More Money: Do an Apprenticeship originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>apprenticeapprenticeshipapprenticeshipsCanadaearningseducationHealthStatistics CanadaKate McCafferyFri, 19 Oct 2012 10:19:00 ESTTop 10 Ways to Save for Christmashttp://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/12/top-10-ways-to-save-for-christmas/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/12/top-10-ways-to-save-for-christmas/http://www.walletpop.ca/blog/2012/10/12/top-10-ways-to-save-for-christmas/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

stick to a budget this christmasStop for a minute and think hard about the post-holiday debt hangover you always hear about in January. Rather than sticking your head in the sand about it, or thinking that paying off those additional balances well into the new year is just something that needs to be done, start now and you may well avoid that fate altogether.

"Truth be told," says Jeffrey Schwartz, executive director of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, a lot of the strategies people can use to get to the holiday finish line without going into hock, are actually quite simple. "They're easy things," he says. "A lot of them are common sense things that people forget about - they just need to be reminded."

The non-profit credit counseling service launched an online campaign in September to help with that effort. Dubbed 100 Days, 100 Ways to Save for Christmas, Schwartz says the tips compiled will hopefully help people stay grounded, without getting sucked up into the buying, shopping, and material side of the holiday.

The following is a list of his top 10, the best tips pulled from the list, to help you stay on track as well. (You can see the complete list by checking out Consolidated Credit's Twitter feed: @Debt_Free_2Day, #100Days100Ways.)

SLIDESHOW: SMART WAYS TO SAVE FOR CHRISTMAS


1. Make a List2. Make a budget and stick to it3. Start saving in September4. Prioritize5. Cut personal indulgences6. Plan where you'll shop to avoid impulse purchases.7. Leave your credit cards at home8. Visit couponing sites.

Top 10 Ways to Save for Christmas originally appeared on Walletpop Canada on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Christmaschristmas shoppingChristmasShoppingholiday budgetingholiday shoppingHolidayBudgetingHolidayShoppingKate McCafferyFri, 12 Oct 2012 12:25:00 EST