Melissa Cassar's Practical Money Matters http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/ Tues, 2 Aug 2011 13:39:32 -0700 Tues, 2 Aug 2011 13:39:15 -0700 Nearly two thirds of Canadians filed their tax returns electronically in 2011. Compared to those who mailed theirs out via Canada Post who can expect to wait six weeks for their refunds, returns can now take as little as eight business days for those who e-filed. If you're one of the majority who has e-filed, the time to start strategizing with the cheque you may receive is now. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/05_taxRefund.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/05_taxRefund.php Fri, 4 May 2012 13:38:20 -0700 If you're a homeowner, it doesn't take long to discover that renovations are not just a great way to protect and increase your investment, they also enable you to keep pace with the priorities of family, career and long term financial planning. Whether it is making room for a new arrival in the family, creating a home office or increasing your home's energy efficiency, these are just some of the many motivations for picking up a power tool or hiring a contractor. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/04_homeReno.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/04_homeReno.php Fri, 6 Apr 2012 13:38:20 -0700 As Spring Break approaches, families across Canada are planning vacations to take advantage of the much-needed time off. Worrying about money can take the 'fun out of the sun', so Visa Canada has provided 10 Tips to help you budget and plan wisely. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/04_springBreak.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/04_springBreak.php Mon, 2 Apr 2012 13:38:20 -0700 It is an unfortunate fact of life that in an increasingly connected world there is a chance you could fall victim to identity theft. The Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus has estimated that the crime may now cost Canadian consumers, banks, stores and other businesses more than $2 billion a year. If you are lucky enough not to have heard of this crime before, here's how it works: someone steals your personal information and then uses it to make purchases, open a bank account, apply for a loan, secure false identification or commit a range of offenses with this new alias. Perhaps the worst part of this insidious crime is that you may not know it has happened to you for weeks or months, and by that time your credit may have been seriously damaged – though that could very well be the least of your problems. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/03_identity.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/03_identity.php Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:38:20 -0700 Many people suffered blows to their credit scores, whether because they missed payments, exceeded credit limits or, more seriously, experienced a home foreclosure or even bankruptcy. Is this a big deal? Absolutely. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/03_credit.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/03_credit.php Fri, 2 Mar 2012 13:38:20 -0700 You're probably weary of being reminded to take precautions against identity theft, but here's a wrinkle you may not have considered: Identity thieves have broadened their reach by harvesting children's dormant Social Insurance Security numbers (SINs) and using them to illegally obtain jobs, credit accounts, mortgages or car loans and much worse. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/02_kids.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/02_kids.php Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:38:20 -0700 It's not uncommon to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of important decisions we need to make concerning retirement accounts, investments, college savings and other complicated financial issues. That's one reason more and more people turn to professional financial advisors to help them navigate an increasingly complex economic world. And it's not just the wealthy who require these services; many middle-class families are turning to outside financial advice as well. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/02_planners.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/02_planners.php Fri, 3 Feb 2012 13:38:20 -0700 Budgets are like diets: No single approach works for everyone; overly complicated plans rarely work for long; and sometimes it takes a few tries before you get it right. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/01_budgeting.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2012/01_budgeting.php Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:38:20 -0700 At this time of year, many people pause to reflect on what they'd like to change about their lives going forward – lose a few pounds, take a class, spend more time with the kids. Often, these goals revolve around personal finances. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/12_resolutions.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/12_resolutions.php Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:38:20 -0700 Anyone who's ever tried to lose a few pounds knows that not every diet works for every person. Similarly, it may take a few tries to find a system for managing your personal finances that you can stick to. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/12_wealthWatchers.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/12_wealthWatchers.php Fri, 9 Dec 2011 13:38:20 -0700 One interesting – albeit non-scientific – way to gauge someone's comfort level with the state of the economy is to ask how much they plan to spend on holiday gifts. In good times, people tend to spend more generously; during rough periods, they scale back. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/11_giftCosts.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/11_giftCosts.php Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:38:20 -0700 Are you financially squeezed by caring for both your children and aging parents? If so, you're part of the so-called 'Sandwich Generation'. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/11_sandwichGeneration.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/11_sandwichGeneration.php Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:38:20 -0700 As with all challenges in a marriage, often what starts as a small issue can fester and grow into a large problem, given enough time. It's not surprising that after being together a few years, some couples realize that the financial quirks they initially found amusing or simply ignored in their spouse now dominate their marital disagreements. In fact, money issues tend to top the reasons for divorce. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/10_marriage.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/10_marriage.php Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:38:20 -0700 In many families, personal financial details aren't always shared freely, especially between generations. But if you're not familiar with your parents' financial situation, you may be doing them - and yourself - a disservice. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/10_parents.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/10_parents.php Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:38:20 -0700 As summer ends and fall begins, this is a good time to examine your current financial state. Ask yourself where you want to be by year's end and how you may need to change course now in order to reach those goals – looking back on what has been spent this summer and beyond. Here are a few action steps. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/10_tuneUp.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/10_tuneUp.php Fri, 30 Sept 2011 13:38:20 -0700 Financial literacy needs to play a larger role in schools and after school initiatives. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/09_FinLiteracy.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/09_FinLiteracy.php Fri, 16 Sept 2011 13:38:20 -0700 Thanks to cherished family traditions like birthday celebrations and presents from Santa and the Tooth Fairy, today's children are often bombarded with gifts from an early age. In fact, many kids begin cashing in on their baby teeth before they've even grasped the concept of what money is and where it comes from. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/08_toothFairy.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/08_toothFairy.php Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:38:20 -0700 Between their home phone, cell phone, cable or satellite TV and Internet connection plans, many families now spend thousands of dollars a year to stay connected with the outside world. In this Practical Money Matters piece, Ms. Cassar shares a few tips for possible ways to lower your communication service costs. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/08_PhoneBills.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/08_PhoneBills.php Fri, 5 Aug 2011 13:38:20 -0700 Budget cuts have taken their toll on practically every public service, including school districts. Parents are probably already being asked to contribute more and more to fund their children's classroom and extracurricular activities. That means when it comes to personal budgeting, you have to do more with less. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/07_Backtoschool.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/07_Backtoschool.php Fri, 15 July 2011 13:38:20 -0700 Fifteen years ago, only a few million Canadians carried debit cards. Today, more than 80 percent of us use them to withdraw cash, pay bills and make purchases at stores, restaurants and other merchants worldwide. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/07_DebitCards101.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/07_DebitCards101.php Fri, 1 July 2011 13:38:20 -0700 With millions of Canadian schoolchildren starting summer vacation, cries of "I'm bored" will soon ring out across the nation. Swimming lessons and trips to the mall can fill only so many hours. Before you give up and hand over the TV remote, consider some activities that can be productive, safe and fun for kids of all ages. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/06_boredom.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/06_boredom.php Fri, 17 June 2011 13:38:20 -0700 If you've got teenagers heading off to University or College in the Fall, I hope you've done a good job educating them about the importance of personal financial responsibility and how to build a strong credit history. If not, better do it now. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/06_Credit101.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/06_Credit101.php Fri, 3 June 2011 13:38:20 -0700 One small silver lining from the recent economic downturn is that people have begun saving again. For decades personal savings rates hovered around 10 percent of after-tax income, but beginning in the late 1980s, rates steadily declined. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/05_savingSpending.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/05_savingSpending.php Fri, 20 May 2011 13:38:20 -0700 With wedding season right around the corner, a lot of soon-to-be brides and grooms are frantically nailing down their wedding and honeymoon plans. Before you marry and mingle your finances, be sure to carve out time for some candid conversations about your respective credit histories, your savings and spending philosophies, and your long-term financial goals as a couple. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/05_marriageFinance.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/05_marriageFinance.php Fri, 6 May 2011 13:38:20 -0700 With Mother's Day just around the corner, wouldn't you like to show your appreciation in a way that's more meaningful than buying your mom a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers? http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/04_moms.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/04_moms.php Fri, 22 April 2011 13:38:20 -0700 One of the first things many people trim from their budget during economic downturns is vacation. That's unfortunate because stressful times are when we most need to recharge our batteries. Taking on additional debt to finance a vacation is itself stressful, however. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/04_vacation.php http://www.practicalmoneyskills.ca/personalfinance/practicalmoneymatters/columns_2011/04_vacation.php Fri, 15 April 2011 13:38:20 -0700