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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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Tips for building your 2024 investment plan


As we enter the new year, it’s a good time to reevaluate your investment strategies and prepare for the evolving market conditions. Here are some tips to help you build a successful investment plan for 2024:

  • Reevaluate your investment strategies: Experts suggest that now is a good time to reevaluate your investment strategies and prepare for the evolving market conditions. Although Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem has said it is too early to consider rate cuts, the central bank could begin cutting interest rates as early as April or May, according to forecasts from TD. Falling interest rates will be the story of 2024, so it’s important to invest accordingly.
  • Consider low-cost dividend-focused index funds: Investing in low-cost dividend-focused index funds can help you generate passive income at a low cost for life.
  • Be cautious with GICs: Last year, many investors chose to park money in savings or a short-term Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC), earning risk-free returns of 5 per cent or more. Although it was an effective strategy in a high-interest-rate environment, GIC rates are already falling, and completely opposite market forces are starting to take shape. Canadians looking to simply protect their cash in 2024 could be in for a “rough year,” potentially missing out on greater gains elsewhere.
  • Prepare for the evolving market conditions: With the market conditions evolving, it’s important to prepare for the changes. Falling interest rates will be the story of 2024, so it’s important to invest accordingly.


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