Category: Money Saving Tips

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Budgeting for a Mortgage

When you are buying a home, it is important to know that you will be able to manage the payments on the mortgage. You will also have to secure a down payment amount, which is usually paid out of your own pocket without the help of a loan. While your budget may cover the monthly repayments on your mortgage, you also have to allow for future outgoings for things like starting a family, purchasing a car, or home improvements.

Although a higher down payment means handing over a large amount of cash, it will also greatly reduce the interest and insurance that you pay on your mortgage loan. Any payment under 20% of the total mortgage loan amount requires that you purchase default insurance, which will add thousands of dollars to the loan.

There are two main types of mortgage – open or closed payment. An open mortgage allows you more freedom to pay off higher amounts on your loan, but usually come with a higher interest rate. Closed mortgages require that you pay a fixed amount each month; however, you may have an allowance for making over payments. In the case of over payment allowances on closed mortgages; make sure to check your limits with the lender, as they can charge you penalties – known as repayment charges – running into thousands of dollars.

Each lender has their own terms for issuing mortgage loans. It is up to you to shop around and get the best option for you. Before you do, make sure that your credit report is clean and free of errors. You can order a copy of your credit report from a credit agency before you speak to lenders, giving you time to correct any errors or making payments on defaulted debts.

If you have forecast your budget wisely, you will know which mortgage suits you best. A good rule of thumb is to opt for an open type loan if you expect to make large frequent payments to bring down your loan cost quickly. If, on the other hand, you have a tighter budget where you will only be able to pay a fixed amount each year – opt for a closed type loan.

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Christmas Shopping – Tips for Parents for Shopping on a Budget

Christmas is coming around, which means that plenty of parents are scrambling, trying to snatch up those last minute deals. If you are one of the millions of parents whose budget is stretched, don’t panic just yet. There is still time to save Christmas and start budgeting the right way for the year.

Ebay Best Buys – Ebay is a great site to find all your gifts. If you haven’t used the site before, here are a few insider tips to live by. Don’t jump on the first listed item that you see – shop around to see if other sellers have also listed the same item.  Look for sellers who have received great feedback and have verified status so you can take advantage of the best prices for quality items.

Free Shipping Prices – Remember, during the Christmas season big order outlets have a lot of stock to shift. Those items need to sell before the season’s end, so retailers will often offer free shipping as an incentive. Not only that, but you can search for free shipping coupons online for each of your favorite stores. If there are no coupons available, simply try searching “free shipping” on the site, or look for a filter that has free shipping listed as an option.

Family Christmas – Make time this Christmas for fun and games with your family. Break out the board games, watch some Christmas movies, or play your favorite Christmas songs. Sitting around the table together, sharing those special moments is worth a thousand gifts, but it won’t cost you a penny.

Prepare for Next Year – Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Plan your budget at the start of the New Year, but be realistic. Avoid buying gifts in the early part of the year, if you can. Kids go through phases; so what he liked this year may see a dramatic change by next Christmas. Regardless, the money that you budget should be considered untouchable for other expenditures.

Most of all, remember what Christmas gifting is really about – sharing, loving and appreciating what you already have. If you live it, your children will, too.

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Peg City Car Co-op. Fantastic Vehicle Alternative

Photo Credits: Peg City Co-Op

Do you wish you had access to a vehicle anytime you wanted but didn’t have to pay the monthly loan payment, insurance payment, gas and repairs? Imagine being able to drive a car anytime you needed one but also saving thousands a year on car costs? Peg City Car Co-op is here for you. This organization has 9 cars located in and around the downtown area waiting for you to pick and use anytime you need one. You pay a low hourly (plus kilometer) rate with no further charges- not even gas! They have 2 programs available for you to choose from depending on your expected car usage. One of these programs is accessible without a credit card. It’s perfect for anyone in a credit counseling program or someone without access to credit.

To learn more call 204-793-3912 or visit their website at www.pegcitycarcoop.ca.

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Student Loans: Your Saving Grace or Debt Trap?

You are 18 and all your friends are going to university so you follow the pack and sign up for some courses too. You intend to work part time so you only borrow $8000 in provincial and federal government student loans for the first year to help pay for your expenses.

In September you move out and put a deposit on an apartment. But now you need furniture so you buy some. You dip into your student loan money for both. You reason that since that you have a roommate- you can afford it.

After going to Mexico for spring break, your money runs out in late February. But you still need to get through two months of school! You increase the number of hours you work but then your marks suffer. You don’t finish your first year with straight A’s like you imagined.

Year 2- You still want to go to school but are not sure what field you want to go into. You decide to take more general arts or science course. You don’t want to run out of money again so you borrow $12,000 in student loans this time.

Year 3- Because your marks aren’t high enough to be accepted into law school, you decide to stay in university and declare history as your major and psychology as your minor. Or you dream of being a doctor and continue with your general science courses. You borrow another $12,000 in student loans.

Year 4- Ditto, and another $12,000 borrowed.

At the end of four years did you get into medical school? Or law school? Or another high paid profession?

If not, you could be in serious financial trouble. Even if you graduate with a B.A. or B.Sc., where are you going to find a job paying you enough money to be able to pay rent, your living expenses, make a car payment, PLUS your student loan re-payments. You now owe $44,000. The interest has been calculating since your last day of school and your payments are set at $444 per month. You are likely to have this payment for approximately 10 years. Unless you now have a high paying career as a result of your 4 years of education, you may struggle to pay your rent, car payment, and other living expenses for the next 15 years! What about being able to buy a house or starting a family?

Here are some tips to avoid the above scenario:

By all means choose a career that you think you will enjoy as you will be spending up to 1/3 of your life working at it. But be realistic. Ask yourself these questions:

1) Am I smart enough and do I have what it takes to successfully finish the schooling for this?
2) How much does this career pay? Some careers pay a higher salary in relation to others that required the same amount of education: 4 year Bachelor of Nursing degree, Pharmacy or Engineering degree vs. 4 year general arts or sciences degrees. If you graduate as a nurse, pharmacist or engineer your salary would likely be over $70,000 per year. With a general arts or science degree you might be lucky to find a job paying $35,000.
3) What are the job prospects in the province I want to live in? If you want to become a marine biologist but continue to live in Manitoba, find out what the job prospects truly are. In order to find work, maybe you need to become an aquatic biologist instead.
4) Choose a career where you are actually trained for a career that is in demand. Don’t study arts or science courses unless you intend to go into education or graduate with a master’s degree in that field of study.
5) Consider alternatives to university or college. You could join the military (Department of Defence). Because they require all sorts of professionals such as dentists, doctors, pharmacists, nurses, lawyers, etc., you may qualify for a program in which they pay for your schooling.
6) Reduce your expectations. If you had your heart set on becoming a doctor but your marks are not high enough, consider another medical related career such as a cardiology technician, sonographer or respiratory therapist. Or if you want to become a lawyer but your LSAT mark is too low, consider alternative career choices as a parole officer, government policy analyst or a career in human resources which deals with employment law.
7) HERE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP: Don’t make the mistake of overlooking a career as a tradesperson. It has been estimated that by the year 2020, Canada will have 1,000,000 vacant positions. The apprenticeship system usually involves six months of schooling followed by six months of practical paid work (for a four year period) which can drastically reduce the need for student loans. There are many trades that pay six figure incomes. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a university education will pay you more as this is simply not true.

Here are some general tips to avoid the student loan trap:

1) Buy everything USED. Second hand school books, clothing, furniture, equipment (including refurbished phones and computers) can save you thousands of dollars during your school years.
2) Make a monthly budget and keep track of your expenses. Be disciplined. If you struggle, instead of telling yourself ‘No’ and feeling sorry for yourself, tell yourself you can buy it once you are working full time.
3) Do not USE your student loan money to buy a car or go on a spring break trip. It should only be used for tuition and books. Do everything in your power to reduce your expenses while you are in school.
4) You are finally an adult and want to be on your own but it is in your best interest to live at home until you are finished school and working. Even if you have to pay ‘rent’ at home, it will likely be far less than if you move out. Then you’ll be paying rent, utilities, groceries, tenant insurance, cable and internet expenses, etc.
5) Do not ask (or let your parents) co-sign your student loans. As an adult you need to be
responsible for your own debt. Someday, if you are not able to repay your student loan
payments your parents will be forced to. If they are not able to make your payments their credit rating could be affected. It is also possible that their wages could be garnished.
6) If you move- always update the student loans departments with your new address. Don’t make the mistake of thinking ‘If the government can’t find me, they can’t make me pay’. If you do, two things will happen. The first is that your wages will be garnished. (They can track you through your social insurance number). You will lose up to 1/3 of your pay cheque until the debt is paid in full. The second is- you will now have a negative rating on your credit report. You may not be able to purchase a house or a car because of this. In order to rebuild your credit you will have to repay the entire student loan debt, plus the accumulated interest. It could take many years to rebuild your credit so that you qualify to buy a house or car. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can outrun your student loan debt no matter how many years have gone by.

Written by Creditaid Credit Counsellor, Laurie Boudreau.  Whether you’re a current student dealing with student loans or a recent graduate trying to make ends meet, speak to one of our counsellors today.  We have many tips to help you manage your debt.

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Money Savvy Teens – Share A Book To Help Them Learn The Basics


Learning how to manage money is part of growing up and a real skill that a teenager needs as they transition into adulthood. Unfortunately there are many bad influences out there, maybe even within your own extended family, which may be giving them the wrong messages. Teenagers often do not listen as well as they should to their parents on certain subjects, and it can be helpful to have an outside resource to reinforce good money management principles.

Money and Teens
The book Money and Teens by Wes Karchut and Darby Karchut is a great way to give your teenagers some useful financial wisdom without it coming across as a lecture from their parents. The book is written to include everything from opening bank accounts to how credit works and is a great reference, even for those who are well past the teenage years. Some money tips that are covered in the book include:

– How to check and read your credit report
– How missing a payment affects your credit
– Checking accounts and writing checks
– Protecting your financial security, i.e. PINs and login information
– How grocery and retail stores use tactics to get you to spend more
– A self-quiz to take when deciding whether you should buy something

The book is a basic guide to everything that you need to know about saving and spending money wisely. Many people in their twenties, thirties and, even, beyond may learn something they did not know from this book.

As parents, it is your job to try and give your children the skills they need to succeed. A big part of being an independent adult is learning to handle money wisely. Sharing a book like Money and Teens is a good way to solidify the lessons that you have been teaching them all along. It can be a useful guide for them to turn to as they begin to face financial challenges on their own.

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Couponing – You Don’t Need To Be Extreme to Save Money



There are many books, TV shows and online websites dedicated to showing how extreme coupon use can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars. As impressive as these savings may be, they do require an amount of time and dedication that many families cannot or are not willing to give. However, there are ways to make the most of coupon savings without making it a full-time project.

Smart Shopping
There is more to saving substantial money on groceries using coupons than just clipping out the ones that are for products that a family currently needs. The true trick to saving large amounts of money throughout the year is to change the way that a family shops, incorporating coupons into the strategy. By buying items when they are priced the lowest and adding coupons to make the price even lower instead of only buying those same items when they run out, can be a huge money saver.

Prices on all items go up and down, based on many uncontrollable factors, including seasonal changes and corporate buying patterns. Extreme coupon users know this and save their coupons to combine with low prices. By doing this on all items whenever possible, a family may get a years worth of cereal or shampoo at a fraction of the cost of buying it only as they need it.

Look at the Big Picture
To make this possible, instead of only buying what is needed for the next week or two, the bigger picture needs to be looked at. Grocery lists need to be built around savings, stock piling on good coupon deals and doing less impulse buying on wants versus needs. Although it can take a while to get a surplus of items on hand, once this becomes a habit, it can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year.

The main idea is to use coupons to save money over the long run, not just on what a family needs today. Combining coupons with sales prices to stock up on everyday items is a way every family can save using coupons, even if they are not “extreme”.

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Summer Heat Wave – Tips to Lower Cooling Bills and Save Money

Hot weather can bring big utility bills throughout the summer as we try to stay cool, wreaking havoc on a family’s budget. However there are ways to keep cooling bills lower, while still maintaining a comfortable living environment. By using a few energy savings tips, there can be a substantial savings on your summer utility bills.

Ways To Save On Cooling
The first step is making sure everything is being done to reduce cooling costs. Maintaining and managing the cooling system is one good way to lower cooling bills. Air conditioners need regular maintenance to run efficiently. Having the unit serviced with a tune-up before the hot weather hits can reduce energy costs. In addition, using a programmable thermostat is a good way to save on daily energy use. Set it to allow the heat to rise slightly, no more than ten degrees, while the family is away each day and set it to begin cooling down again when everyone is due home.

Another way to save on cooling is to use Mother Nature. Investing in whole house fans that can draw in cool air at night through open windows can be a big money saver in humid climates. Another way to keep the home cool is to consider planting trees that offer shade on west facing areas of the house that get the most hot afternoon sun.

Protecting The Cool Air
On top of saving on cooling the home, there are large benefits to protecting the cool air from escaping. Windows and doors can both allow cool air out and let hot air in. Weather stripping around doors and windows is one way to keep in the cool air. Another energy saver is closing drapes and blinds to keep the hot sun from warming air inside the home.

By making just a few small changes in daily cooling routines, there can be a large difference in the energy consumed and the amount of cooling bills through the hot months.

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Peace of Mind at Retirement

For those who are approaching retirement in the next few decades, the recent recession has changed many goals when it comes to retirement saving. While building a substantial savings for retirement through high earning investments was once the goal of many of baby boomers, a new value has been placed on the peace of mind that comes from stable, safe ways to ensure income for their retirement years.

Security Builds Peace Of Mind
The recession hit many hard, shrinking the size of their accumulated wealth and taking away the financial security that they thought was already theirs. This shock to the economy has made retirement investors more focused on keeping what they have, versus building a monumental retirement savings through higher risk investments. The change has lead to more baby boomers considering fixed rate annuities and other guaranteed investments that will protect their assets and slowly grow their retirement savings.

The quick reduction in investment values in the past decade has changed the entire mindset of those both young and old.For those approaching retirement age, there is no longer the illusion that money lost in high-risk investments can be quickly recouped. Protecting savings to ensure a steady and reliable income for retirement is more important to many than trying to grow nest eggs quickly for a more comfortable lifestyle. Younger generations have seen the backlash that has happened to their parents and grandparents, and many will proceed more cautiously when planning their own investments.

Although the lesson was financially painful for many, it was a valuable lesson to be learned for all investors. High-risk investments can be lucrative and have their place within an investment portfolio; however, the peace of mind that comes from having stability and security for retirement can be even more valuable.

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Start A Summer Savings Account for Next Year’s Summer Vacation



Summer vacations can be the highlight of the year for many families and are a great way to spend quality time together. However, these trips can cost well over a thousand dollars and can be a strain on a family budget when no money has been put aside. The best way to avoid using credit cards unnecessarily or getting behind in everyday bills due to a summer vacation is to plan ahead. By starting a savings account now for next year’s summer vacation, families will be able enjoy their time together without worrying about financial repercussions.

Make Saving A Priority
It is all too easy for money that was meant to be set aside for a vacation to be spent on other things when it is put into a bank account that is also used for other expenses. Instead, start a separate account that is specifically for the family vacation. First decide on how much the family can afford or wants to spend on the next vacation and divide that number by the months remaining before the next vacation. This will give you the amount that needs to put aside each month to reach the goal. This should be treated just like any other expense or bill and be put away before any other extras are bought each month.

Finding Extra Money
If a family’s budget is already stretched tight, it may seem hard to find that extra $100 or more to put away. If this is the case, then one of two things must happen: spend less or make more money. You may find the monthly vacation amount right in your current budget by reducing grocery costs, cutting down luxury expenses or even taking the bus instead of driving. Another way to finance your vacation savings is to find ways to earn that extra amount by getting a second job or selling unneeded items via garage sales or on eBay.

By planning ahead, families can have a great summer vacation without it causing a huge strain on their bank account. The result is less stress and a more enjoyable vacation for everybody.