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What to Do with Your Tax Refund: 5 Smart Moves for Canadians

  Tax Season · Personal Finance By MoneySavings.ca Editorial Team • May 7, 2026 • 7 min read Tax season is wrapping up across Canada, and for millions of Canadians, that means a refund cheque — or a direct deposit — is on its way. The average Canadian tax refund hovers around $1,800. That's real money. The question is: what's the smartest thing you can do with it? It's tempting to treat a tax refund like "found money" and splurge. But here's the truth — that refund was your money all along. The government was just holding it for you, interest-free. So before it quietly disappears into day-to-day spending, let's look at five moves that will make it work harder for you. $1,800 The average Canadian tax refund — enough to make a meaningful dent in debt, pad an emergency fund, or kick-start your TFSA for the year. 1 Pay Down High-Interest Debt First If you're carrying a balance on a credit card, this should be your very first call. Most Canadian credit car...

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How to Boost Your Fitness with 30-Second Movement Snacks

If you want to get fitter and healthier this year, you don’t need to spend hours at the gym or follow a strict diet. You can improve your well-being by adding some simple movement snacks to your daily routine.

Movement snacks are short bursts of activity that you can do throughout the day, such as climbing stairs, doing squats, or stretching. They can help you increase your energy, improve your mood, and enhance your cardiorespiratory fitness.

According to a study by McMasters University, even 20-second intervals of vigorous stair climbing, done three times a day, three days a week, can improve your fitness by 5% in six weeks. That’s a significant benefit for a minimal time investment.

To make movement snacks a habit, you can use a technique called habit stacking, which involves linking a new behavior to an existing one. For example, you can do some push-ups while waiting for your coffee to brew, or some lunges while brushing your teeth. The idea is to make movement a natural part of your day, rather than a chore.

Of course, movement snacks are not a substitute for regular exercise, which is essential for your overall health and wellness. But they can be a great way to supplement your workouts, or to get started on your fitness journey. So why not give them a try and see how they make you feel? You might be surprised by the results.

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