
Articles by Miral Naik 57 articles
News & CommentaryBudget Management with a Roommate
According to Statistics Canada , roommate households grew 54% between 2001 and 2021! This increase means they are the fastest-growing household type…
News & CommentaryThe True Cost of Debt: What It Really Costs You (Beyond the Interest)
Everyone knows that borrowing money costs money. Beyond the interest charged, debt can take a toll in many other areas of life. Those costs can show…
News & CommentaryLate-Stage Capitalism: What is it and how to navigate it
Late-stage capitalism affects different aspects of our lives. From the things we buy and own, our work lives, and the advertisements we see. Some…
News & CommentaryThe Impacts of Overconsumption and Ways To Control Your Spending
Not long ago, our primary focus was fulfilling our basic needs. Now that many of us have those met, we’re experiencing high demand for non-essential…
News & CommentaryHow to Save Money on Kids’ Extracurricular Activities
Whether it’s soccer or baseball, swimming lessons or dance classes, extracurricular activities can be great for your kids. They give kids a chance to…
Housing & MortgagesEarly warning signs: Consumer debt climbs before mortgage delinquency
The pandemic-era days of low rates lulled many Canadians into believing that the bigger house we were longing for was within our grasp. The mortgage…
Housing & MortgagesTaking the fear out of a zombie mortgage
Imagine getting a letter in the mail today claiming you owe tens of thousands of dollars on a house loan you took out 15 years ago and forgot about.…
Budgeting & MoneyBefore You Fill the Cart: What to Consider When Back-to-School Shopping
Every year, Canadian families prepare for another round of back-to-school shopping. While it is exciting to watch children head back to the…
News & CommentaryWhat Is Surveillance Pricing? Why You Might Pay More Than Someone Else for the Same Product
Have you ever searched for a product online, then gone back later and seen a different price? Or discovered that someone else paid less than you did…
Housing & MortgagesHow Rental Market Prices Impact Renters Across Canada
Owning a piece of real estate remains out of reach for many Canadians and newcomers. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) ,…
Housing & MortgagesHow To Refinance Your Mortgage
Many Canadians today are hesitant to take out mortgages or refinance their existing loans. The share of consumers with a mortgage has steadily…
Loans & CreditCredit card churning: Should you do it?
Credit card churning is the practice of signing up for new cards for the benefits and bonuses. Sometimes, people close and then open multiple credit…
Taxes & BenefitsIs it Better to Invest in RRSP or TFSA?
Is it "better to invest in RRSP or TFSA?" That is the question. Even William Shakespeare had a hard time with this one. One of the most common…
Budgeting & MoneyEaster ideas: make it good on a budget
Easter in Canada often means a long weekend, family time, and the start of spring. Amidst the festivities, spending can quickly add up. Candy, décor,…
Taxes & BenefitsCanada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: The upgraded GST Credit
The existing GST credit is a tax-free quarterly payment. It is meant to offset some of the GST/HST paid by low- and modest-income households. This…
Taxes & Benefits2026 Income tax return guide
Income tax season is officially here. With all the work of gathering up necessary documents, filling in forms, and making payments, it can be a…
Budgeting & MoneyCreating a memorable March Break that doesn’t break the bank
For many Canadian families, March break inspires a mix of excitement and stress. On one hand, children eagerly anticipate a week of freedom. On the…
Debt ReliefMedical Debt: Private healthcare in Alberta
Alberta is currently trying to privatize healthcare services via Bill 11. Places with private healthcare tend to see high out-of-pocket costs. The…
Loans & CreditCredit Insurance: A guide
If a big part of your debt is in credit cards or loans, you may be considering credit insurance. Think of it as an optional safety net. It’s useful…
Loans & CreditClearing the air about credit card debt relief
Credit card debt is stressful. What makes it even more stressful is all the credit card debt relief advice and options. One source will say that…
Taxes & BenefitsFinancial support: How to get it and where to start from
Managing money depends on many factors in a person’s life. Everyone’s income, spending patterns, needs, and mindset are unique. There’s one thing in…
Budgeting & MoneyRetail therapy: When is it a problem, and what to do about it
Retail therapy is a way of using shopping to feel better emotionally. People sometimes turn to retail therapy to manage stress, sadness, boredom, or…
Debt RepaymentHow to pay off debt fast without feeling overwhelmed
You’re here because you’re carrying debt and are ready to get rid of it! Before we jump into building a plan to pay off debt fast, let's take a…
Budgeting & MoneySinking Fund: The simple money strategy most people overlook
Have you ever had your finances derailed by a surprise car repair, a forgotten annual bill, or a home repair that couldn’t wait? If you said yes,…
Budgeting & MoneyChristmas shopping on a budget: keep it affordable
Canadians are gearing up for the holiday season, filled with traditions and special moments. Between buying gifts, preparing elaborate meals, decor,…
Loans & CreditWaiting for payday? Smarter money alternatives
Many Canadians, especially young Canadians and single parents, face the stressful challenge of running short on cash between paycheques. When…
Budgeting & MoneyReverse budgeting: Value driven money management
The word budget tends to make people tense and think about all the restrictions a budget would mean for them. The truth is that a personal budget…
Budgeting & MoneyEarned Wage Access: A new way to handle your pay
What is Earned Wage Access? Earned Wage Access (EWA) is an innovative financial service that enables employees to access a portion of their wages…
Taxes & BenefitsOne Canadian Economy Bill: an overview
What is the One Canadian Economy Bill? Canada’s Parliament passed the One Canadian Economy Bill, known as Bill C-5, which became law on June 26,…
Taxes & BenefitsSocial Assistance Programs and Debt: What are your options?
Many Canadians rely on social assistance programs when facing tough financial times. These programs, such as Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada…
News & CommentaryGrocery Code of Conduct: All you need to know
What is the Grocery Code of Conduct? The Grocery Code of Conduct in Canada is, at this point in time, a voluntary set of written rules and…
Budgeting & MoneyTough economic climate: Getting ahead of potential financial problems
Financial problems can be stressful, especially during uncertain economic times when job loss becomes a real possibility. A little preparation can…
Budgeting & MoneyBuy Nothing: How can I make it work?
What is the Buy Nothing movement? The Buy Nothing movement has found global popularity. Its main focus is reducing consumerism and consumption. The…
Taxes & BenefitsBack taxes: What to do if you owe
If you owe back taxes in Canada, there are solutions and options available to you. In many cases, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is willing to work…
Credit HealthBuild credit through rent payments
A common way to build credit is by making consistent payments. Making mortgage payments or paying your credit card in full every month can benefit…
Budgeting & MoneyFrugal vs Cheap: where do you draw the line?
You must have heard the term “Keeping up with the Joneses”. It means comparing yourself to others in terms of lifestyle or material possessions. This…
Taxes & BenefitsLiving with disabilities: Pay equity and financial assistance
Across the globe, people with disabilities face significant financial challenges. Even in Canada, the financial disparity is well-documented. In…
News & CommentaryBuy Canadian-made products: Support the domestic economy
The USA has officially applied tariffs on Canadian-made goods. In response, Canada applied retaliatory 25% tariffs on around $155 billion worth of…
Debt RepaymentUse the Snowflake Method to pay off debt
The snowflake method is a debt repayment strategy, one of many popular strategies used to reach the goal of a debt-free life. This method involves…
Budgeting & MoneyTips to make the most of your Christmas gift card
Forty-two percent of respondents for the 2024 Holiday Shopping Survey by RCC (Retail Council of Canada) included at least one gift card in their…
Taxes & BenefitsTaxpayer accounts hacked: What does the CRA say?
Recently, scammers hacked tens of thousands of taxpayer accounts. There seems to have been a security breach at the CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) ,…
Housing & MortgagesFinancially stable without homeownership: A How-To
Is it possible? For decades, homeownership has traditionally been associated with financial stability and security. Even today, it is a goal many…
Budgeting & MoneyFinancial review: A guide
This financial review guide will take you through all the steps you can follow to do your own financial review. Starting from creating a budget, to…
News & CommentaryDrip pricing: What it is, and what you can do about it
Drip pricing is a technique where companies advertise an initial base price, and then add on different fees and charges (mandatory or optional)…
News & CommentaryLipstick Index: What’s it about and does it actually hold up?
The Lipstick Index entered popular culture in the early 2000s. Leonard Lauder, former chairman of Estée Lauder, noticed an uptick in lipstick sales…
Budgeting & MoneySoft saving: Everything you need to know
Soft saving is a new personal finance trend that’s been growing quickly and gaining popularity. It is about prioritizing your present quality of…
News & CommentaryGreedflation: How does it work and what can you do about it?
When businesses take advantage of rising inflation to increase prices beyond what is needed to cover costs, it leads to greedflation. The term itself…
Taxes & BenefitsCapital Gains Tax Canada: Changes and Impact
Budget 2024 has brought many changes including some changes to capital gains tax in Canada. It's important to keep up to date on these changes to…
Taxes & Benefits$10-a-day Childcare: Benefits and Effects
The cost of living is up, along with inflation and mortgage interest rates. The good news is that saving on childcare is no longer as much of a pipe…
Budgeting & MoneyBoost your finances with a no-spend month challenge
With inflation and the cost of living rising by the day, people are under a lot of pressure to stretch every dollar. A no-spend month can help you…
Loans & CreditConsumer protection laws for Canadian credit card holders
Canadians are dealing with cost of living increases and high rates of inflation. It is no surprise that people are turning to credit cards to help…
Budgeting & MoneyAffordable skill building for boosting take-home pay
Upskilling is a great way to increase your take-home pay. When you work on expanding your skillset, you can earn more money, and you also make…
News & CommentaryWhat’s up with tipping in Canada?
Tipping prompts are everywhere , and the default numbers on the screen are getting higher. This increase in default tip prompt suggestions has…
Debt ReliefConsumer Proposal vs Debt Consolidation - Which is Better?
Being in debt makes it a daily struggle, even for groceries or rent. The added stress also takes a toll on the mental health of many Canadians. If…
Debt ReliefWhat Types of Debt can you Consolidate?
What is debt consolidation? One of the most common and well-known forms of debt relief is to consolidate your debt. Debt consolidation helps you…
News & CommentaryFinancial Literacy: Financial protection available to Canadians
As Financial Literacy Month draws to a close, we talk about your financial rights and how you can stay protected. While it’s important to earn more…
News & CommentaryHow much debt does Canada have?
Canada’s debt has grown significantly in recent years. However, the most important thing to understand is that “debt” means different things…