How to go about securing the best savings strategy in Canada.
Latest News
Gas Prices Are High. Would a Federal Tax Break Make a Difference at the Pump? Jul 3rd
With U.S. president Joe Biden calling on Congress to pause federal taxes on gas and diesel for three months to help Americans, some Canadians are wondering if a similar initiative may offer a temporary reprieve from high prices north of the border.
As of May, gas prices in Canada are up 48 .... More »
Best FHSAs in Canada: Where to get the new first home savings account Jun 5th
First home savings account (FHSA) highlights
The FHSA is a type of registered account that allows you to contribute up to $8,000 annually, up to a lifetime limit of $40,000, to save for the purchase of your first home.FHSAs became available on April 1, 2023. However, availability is currently limite.... More »
What’s my RRSP contribution limit for 2021? + MORE Jan 16th
If you’re like many Canadians, you’re hoping you’ve paid enough tax in 2021 and may even be looking forward to a hefty tax refund. (The deadline for filing this year is April 30, 2022, which is on a Saturday, by the way. So you actually have until May 2, 2022 to file.) You can help ensure that.... More »
Is it best to own a first home as an income property or primary residence? May 30th
Q. I would like to know whether it is better, financially speaking, to own my first house as an income property, or as my primary residence in Ontario. I am single, living with my parents, earn a steady income and have $80,000 in savings. I’ve already purchased a new-construction freehold townho.... More »
Detox your spending and experience better financial health + MORE Jan 2nd
Using your creativity and resourcefulness to stop spending for a week on anything but essentials will give you more savings and less stress; you win both ways, Lesley-Anne Scorgie writes..... More »
What the Bank of Canada Rate Increase to 1.5% Means for Canadian Home Owners and Home Buyers
– ratesupermarket.ca
From personal loans to mortgages, simply put, it’s now more expensive and more difficult for Canadians to borrow money.
At the beginning of 2018, new mortgage rules raised the bar for qualification. Under federal law, all financial institutions are now required to put any new applicants under a strict “stress test”, regardless of their down payment amount. Borrowers have to prove they can still make payments at the greater of two options: either the five-year benchmark rate published by the Bank of Canada (currently 5.34 per cent), or the contractual mortgage rate plus two percentage points. Otherwise, those borrowers will not qualify for a mortgage.
And in recent news, the Bank of Canada raised its overnight lending rate to the highest level in almost ten years; the target is now 1.5 per cent. Commercial banks responded right away by raising their prime rate to 3.7 per cent. This means if you have a variable rate mortgage or have borrowed money from a line of credit, it is going to get more expensive to service…