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Understanding Your TFSA Contribution Room in 2026

A Tax‑Free Savings Account (TFSA) is one of Canada’s most flexible and powerful savings tools, but figuring out your exact contribution room can feel like solving a puzzle. A clear breakdown makes it much easier. How TFSA Contribution Room Works Your available room is made up of three parts: Annual TFSA limit for the current year Unused contribution room from previous years Withdrawals from previous years (added back the following January) For 2026, the annual TFSA limit is $7,000 . Step‑by‑Step: How to Calculate Your Room Use this simple formula: [ \text{TFSA Room} = \text{Unused Room from Prior Years} + \text{Current Year Limit} + \text{Withdrawals from Last Year} ] A quick example: Unused room from past years: $18,000 2026 limit: $7,000 Withdrawals made in 2025: $4,000 [ \text{Total Room} = 18,000 + 7,000 + 4,000 = 29,000 ] That means you could contribute $29,000 in 2026 without penalty. A Few Helpful Notes Over‑contributions lead to penalties, so it’s worth...

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Loyalty Programs: How to Keep Your Points from Expiring

                                 

Canadians love their rewards programs, but keeping track of them all can be difficult. Over 90% of Canadians have joined at least one loyalty program, with the average being more than 12, according to data from one big bank. With all those loyalty programs on the go, a key challenge is to keep the accounts active. Not doing so risks having your points expire, and that’s like leaving money on the table. As a points collector, you should always be in the mindset of earning and burning your points. 

Here are some ways to keep your loyalty programs active:

  • Make some kind of transaction within a 12- to 24-month period.
  • Use apps that help by clearly displaying when your points will expire.
  • Have a co-branded credit card that allows you to earn points on your everyday purchases.
  • Make a purchase with a partner.
  • Donate your points to charity.
  • Transfer points from one loyalty program to another.

Remember, loyalty programs are ruthless. Once your points have expired, the odds of you getting them back are next to none unless you’re willing to pay for them. The easiest way to keep your loyalty programs active is to earn points. That said, if you’re constantly looking for ways to do so, it may be more trouble than it’s worth. It might be better to let your points expire and focus on the programs you regularly benefit from.



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