The past few months have seen a barrage of financial events and changes. Like a 100 item buffet, information and choices presented by the local, national and world economies are information overload and show no sign of abating. Therefore I am introducing a new feature...
Well here we are in 2008 already. December and the Christmas season whizzed by. I was only able to get my Christmas tree a week before Christmas and decorated it only the weekend before! Let’s start 2008 on a positive note; a different take on the list of New Year’s...
This is the story of Ernest and Serenity J. Ernest is a project manager at Dubblebubble Space Corporation. His wife is a teacher. They have 2 children, Cordelia 14 and Brent 11. Since the family came back from vacation in Halifax, Ernest has been working a few late...
For almost a century Canadians have been paying personal income tax. Personal tax was started as a means of financing World War 1. Since then Canadians have been deferring (two thumbs up) evading or avoiding(big red X) paying income tax. One step to ensure that an...
Well here we are in the midst of fall. It has been such a beautiful spring and summer that I am reluctant to put my sandals in the back of the closet until next year. What has transpired in the financial realm that is of relevance? Let’s do a recap of the past...
The same cannot be said for our paycheques. It is unlikely that 99% of wage earners figure out how much they spend each month. In fact in enough instances to make it statistically significant Canadians spend more than what they earn. They go past E on the fuel gauge....
“All but the most sophisticated Canadian citizen will spend a life time paying off their debt.” Is that true? If so why? Is debt a fact of financial life? The comments from respondents were very instructive. However, the lack of response was even more eye opening....
Dear Joanne, Here I am on Deerfoot Trail again, the 100km/h freeway that cuts through our city. You say I shouldn’t complain because in Montreal gas went from $1.03 to $1.34 in a matter of hours. But I can still see the loonies and toonies flying out the...
Credit has become so much a part of our lives that we don’t even give it a second thought. Lila’s casual attitude towards her credit is due to her lack of knowledge. Credit had its beginning in the 1850s. Isaac Singer wanted to increase sales of his sewing...
Pop Quiz: Answer true or false. As of 2002 there were millions of dollars in unclaimed refunds the Canada Revenue Agency could not find owners for? Personal income tax was started in Canada as a means to finance World War One? Tax avoidance is legal? Tax evasion is... 
