Why you don’t need to save every spare penny
This article originally appeared in Chatelaine. Good news: You can stop feeling guilty about buying that $3.98, no-fat, half-decaf latté on your way to work each morning. It turns out that your pricey...
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Time to lock in your mortgage?
When the average discounted rate for five-year fixed mortgages recently zoomed up to 3.59%—up from as low as 2.64% in April—first-time buyers and mortgage holders took notice. In the previous few...
View Article5 things your mortgage broker isn’t telling you
1. Commission is my friend. As a borrower, you don’t typically compensate your broker. It’s lenders who shell out commissions and finders fees. A conflict of interest? Could be, especially if one...
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What to do if you’ve (just) been fired
So you’ve been laid off. Here’s what to do about it. Dismissed, downsized, dumped? There’s no easy way to hear you’re suddenly out of work. To soften the blow, we’ve pulled together six steps you can...
View ArticleHow to haggle like a pro
You wouldn’t pay $100 for a new blender if you could get it for $75 instead. But most of us would never dream of asking the salesperson for that lower price. Here’s six tips for unleashing your inner...
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Skip giving your child an allowance for chores
(Chris Ryan / Getty Images) Q: I want to give our son an allowance with no strings attached. My husband wants it to be based on doing chores. Whose approach is better? —The Kid’s All Right, Regina A:...
View ArticleHow to ask for a raise
For many of us, asking for a raise ranks up there with getting a cavity filled—necessary, but never fun. No wonder a recent PayScale survey revealed that nearly 30% of employees feel downright...
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Move or improve?
W hen my husband and I first bought our house in Guelph, Ont., 11 years ago, it was something Goldilocks surely would have approved of: not too big, not too small. Just right. Our first-born was still...
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Money for the taking
After 15 years in the corporate benefit industry, Katherine Rapp is pretty astute when it comes to predicting how many employees will show up for her volunteer sessions on workplace group benefits. If...
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How to save on baby expenses
Highchairs, sleepers, diaper bags, hooded towels… Oh boy (or girl!), the list of baby expenses never seems to end. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to spend less while still giving your new...
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Surviving baby’s first year
(Photograph by Roberto Caruso) When Jacqueline Misshula went on maternity leave last September, the Toronto-based human resources manager had the typical concerns of most first-time parents. Could she...
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How much to pay for a couch
Please don’t tell my husband, but I’ve got a serious crush on Sven. Sleek yet sturdy and offering comfort after a long day, I know that if I train the kids to treat him with care, Sven will stick...
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How much you should really spend on coffee
A few weekends ago I was hanging out in the kitchen, enjoying a morning coffee with my husband, when he suddenly yelped. “Ah, man! I think we missed the sale,” Dave said, turning to the calendar on...
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How much you should really spend on a wedding gift
Years ago, the day after we got married, my husband and I sat around with a few of our wedding guests and opened presents. There were envelopes of cash, of course, but we received a bunch of gifts...
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How much should you really spend on dining out?
So, this is embarrassing. The week before I wrote this article, I wolfed down two store-bought lunches, three coffees and a couple of muffins while rushing between meetings. (Not all at once, thank...
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How much should you spend on a mattress?
When you woke up this morning, how did you feel? Well-rested and full of energy, or like you’d been tossing and turning all night? You might have your mattress to thank. A good bed can make all the...
View ArticleHow much you should really spend on a pair of winter boots
Because Canadian winters are so long, we’re in our boots for months at a time – usually wearing them daily — so they better last. But juggling practicality and style is no easy task — is it too much to...
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