General

Ready to Focus on What Matters Most?

It’s not about what you GET. It’s about what you BECOME. That’s the real win. But society? Oh, it’s got other plans for you. It tells you to chase the next shiny thing: ↳ the house 🏡↳ the car 🚗↳ the vacation ✈️ But here’s the kicker: the more you get, the emptier it feels. → The new car?It gets old...

Six spending personalities that can wreak havoc on your finances

Chosen best of the web by Globe and Mail personal finance columnist Rob Carrick Overspending is a common problem for many people; it creates debt, anxiety and relationship problems, even among high income earners. All too often, people’s spending habits seem to rise to meet – and exceed – their incomes. So why does this happen? What compels people to...

Why you should pay full retail

Retail marketing scientists have mastered the art of seduction. They make a living by influencing your purchasing decisions and, on occasion, roping you into buying something you really don’t need. They have a myriad of analytics at their disposal, and they’re not shy about using them to tempt you into abandoning all rational behaviour and making impulse purchase decisions –...

Having the best, and the damage it brings

We have a lot of decisions to make in life. Sometimes the easiest, or most reassuring way to go about making those decisions, is simply to spring for the best your money can get. Do you need to have the very best internet or cell phone package though? Maybe. In reality however, a lot of people overpay, without using even...

Simplify, simplify, simplify

It’s pretty common to think that having more will make us happy. In reality, though, the more we have, the more complicated our lives get. We are hardwired to think about the upside when we buy things. We think about how great it will be to take our new boat out on the lake, or spend summers at the cottage...

Your Standard of Living Bubble

No matter who you are, no matter what you do, no matter how much income you earn each year, if your debt is growing, even just a little bit, your lifestyle is not sustainable. Why? Because eventually, that debt will start eroding your lifestyle. Even before you get to that point, you will probably feel stress, or other unpleasant emotions....

Savers versus Spenders: A Matter of Perspective

Why are some of us natural savers, while others are spenders? In a way, it’s a matter of perspective. The main difference is that savers take in the big picture, while spenders only see things as they are, or as they appear to be at that moment in time. We say savers tend to have an Encompassing Perception, where spenders...

Adult Children and Money: Not Too Old to Learn New Tricks

It feels rewarding to help your children. When your adult children ask for help, they can, no doubt, be difficult to refuse. It might seem natural that you would or should help them reach certain financial goals, but when they approach you for money, you need to be careful. Obviously, every child and every situation is different: When your normally...

The “Shopaholic” Spouse

Money may not be the root of all evil, but overspending can cause a whole lot of disagreement in a marriage. It’s assumed and fair to say that the less money a couple makes, the more arguments there are likely to be. If there is shopaholic in the relationship though, even top earning couples will fight about money.