Inflation is a reality of modern life, and in recent years, it has become increasingly challenging to manage personal finances in a higher inflation environment. Higher inflation can lead to higher prices for goods and services, which can in turn make it harder to save money and plan for the future. However, there are steps you can take to successfully manage your personal finances in a higher inflation environment.
The recent tremors in the US banking system (collapse of Silicon Valley Bank - SVB) have caused some Canadians to question how developments in the US might affects their own savings. The key thing to understand is that there are BIG differences between Canadian and US banking systems.
Financial independence is an important goal that many Canadians aspire to - but achieving it can feel like an overwhelming task. However, with the right mindset and a few key strategies, it is possible to budget your way to financial independence.
We have listed several time-tested strategies below:
Now is usually the best time to consider harvesting tax losses before the year-end to manage your overall income tax situation, based on various types of earned or investment incomes.
Investors have a few weeks left to sell unwanted assets like individual stocks, mutual funds, cryptos, equity funds, bond funds and so on. The settlement date must occur within the 2022 calendar year or by December 30th. You should also be aware of how the Christmas Holiday break may affect settlement timeframes.
Balance in life is essential for well-being. Since finances are a number one stressor for most Canadians1, how you manage your money plays a key role in finding and maintaining that balance.
We've curated some savings tips to help ensure you can enjoy your life now while also saving for your future.
Self-care is a popular buzzword, and it's an important one. It refers to the deliberate choice of thoughts and actions that are good for your mental and physical wellbeing. Financial self-care means practicing this with money matters to reduce your stress and increase your optimism. It's about making concrete plans, setting goals, and consistently practicing a mindset of possibility - that moves you into place of calm empowerment where you can achieve financial well-being.
"This is the last time I'm starting a new year saddled with credit card debt," says Tiffany, a 48-year-old computer analyst. "I've said this every January for the past five years. This year, I've got to keep this promise to myself. I don't want to spend another 12 months catching up, only to fall behind all over again. I can't take this stress anymore."
When pondering the financial impacts of the Covid-19 quarantine and the resulting global economic shutdown, it helps to visualize dropping a pebble in a pool of water. As any child knows, the ripples start moving away from the point of impact until they disappear across the pond and finally dissipate, and the waters return to their calm state.
A minor fire storm of gossip and criticism hit the Toronto talk radio airwaves in early June as preparations for the Canada 150th birthday celebrations were fully underway!
The Province of Ontario, as part of the Ontario 150 tour, gave away a large grant funding (free money) with a portion going towards the rental of a large yellow duck. Reputedly the world's largest yellow duck, the six-story giant inflatable waterfowl was showcased at the Redpath Waterfront Festival from July 1st – 3rd in Toronto.
If you are concerned about your future finances, you are certainly not alone as noted in a global survey of 19,000 adult in over 19 countries (including Canada).
Nearly 68% (or two thirds) of the 1000 Canadians interviewed in the survey conducted by the Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC) said they still had concerns about their personal finances. For those in mid-life, anxiety caused by an unknown financial future is greater with a reported 79% worried, which shows it is not wise to procrastinate in your early life.
