Skip to main content

Featured

We Built a Budget Planner Spreadsheet for Canadian Households — Here's What's Inside

  If you've been reading our RRSP/TFSA/FHSA and household budgeting pieces, you already know the line we keep coming back to: a plan is only as good as your ability to actually track it. So we built something to close that gap. Introducing the Canadian Budget Planner It's an editable spreadsheet — not a course, not a subscription, just a tool you can start using today — built specifically around how Canadian households actually budget. What's inside: Monthly Budget tab — Planned vs. Actual across Housing, Transportation, Debt, Food, Personal and more, with totals and your savings rate calculated automatically RRSP, TFSA and FHSA contributions get their own line — treated as a required part of the budget, not whatever's left over at the end of the month Annual Overview tab — a 12-month view with an auto-updating income-vs-expenses chart and a savings-rate chart, so you can see your trend across the year Just fill in the blue cells — every total, difference, and percen...

article

Four Money Tips You Might Be Missing Out On


Saving money for retirement and other goals can be challenging, especially in times of economic uncertainty. You might be familiar with some common money advice, such as creating a budget, paying off high-interest debt, and investing in a diversified portfolio. But there are some other money tips that are often overlooked, but can make a big difference in your financial future. Here are four of them:

1. Automate your savings. One of the easiest ways to save more money is to make it automatic. You can set up a direct deposit from your paycheck to your savings account, or use an app that rounds up your purchases and transfers the change to your savings. This way, you don't have to think about saving every month, and you can avoid the temptation to spend the money instead.

2. Increase your savings rate gradually. Saving a large percentage of your income might seem daunting, but you don't have to do it all at once. You can start with a small amount, such as 5% or 10%, and then increase it by 1% or 2% every year or whenever you get a raise. This way, you can adjust to living on less income without feeling too much of a pinch.

3. Negotiate your bills. Many people don't realize that they can save money by negotiating their bills, such as cable, internet, phone, insurance, and even medical bills. You can call your service providers and ask for a lower rate, a discount, a waiver of fees, or a better plan that suits your needs. You can also use online tools or apps that can help you negotiate your bills for a small fee or a share of the savings.

4. Track your net worth. Your net worth is the difference between your assets (what you own) and your liabilities (what you owe). Tracking your net worth can help you see your progress toward your financial goals, and motivate you to save more and spend less. You can use a spreadsheet, an app, or a website to calculate and track your net worth on a regular basis.

Comments