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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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U.S. Warns UN Agencies to Reform as It Commits $2 Billion in Aid

            US pledges $2B for UN humanitarian aid as Trump slashes funding and warns agencies to 'adapt or die'

The United States has pledged $2 billion in humanitarian assistance to the United Nations, pairing the announcement with a stark message that aid agencies must overhaul their operations to survive. Officials framed the contribution as part of a shift toward tighter oversight and greater efficiency, arguing that global relief organizations need to “adapt, shrink, or die” in an era of constrained budgets.

The new funding model channels money through a central humanitarian account, allowing Washington to direct resources toward programs it views as most effective. U.S. officials say the approach is designed to reward agencies that demonstrate measurable results while pressuring others to streamline operations.

The reduced level of support has raised concerns among humanitarian groups already grappling with rising global needs and shrinking donor commitments. Many warn that cuts of this scale could force program closures, leaving vulnerable communities without essential food, medical care, and shelter.

Despite the sharp reduction from previous years, the United States remains the largest single donor to global humanitarian efforts. But with Washington signaling that higher funding levels are unlikely to return, UN agencies now face mounting pressure to restructure their operations or risk losing even more support.


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