Advice

Renting vs. buying

There are pros and cons to both renting and owning, so we ran some numbers to give you a better idea of what each option means for your finances.

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Three questions you should be asking your contractor

Thinking about renovations? Find out what you should be asking before getting started.

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Buying a home on your own

Just because you live alone doesn’t mean you’re destined to rent for the rest of your life (unless that’s what you’re into).

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Consider this before buying your first home

A few things you should know about Canada's First-Time Home Buyer Incentive and what it means for you.

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The financial side of working from home

If you've recently shifted to WFH, chances are you may be seeing some changes in your spending habits.

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How to ace the mortgage stress test

With a little preparation, you can get top marks on your mortgage stress test when the time comes to buying your first home.

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Guide to Homebuying

Purchasing your first home is no easy task. Download this guide as your one-stop go-to resource for all things home buying.

If you’re buying your first home you need to see this

Interested in making the leap and purchasing your first home? Experts are discussing the current housing market in Atlantic Canada.

Buying rural vs. urban

One of the upsides to living in Atlantic Canada is having the choice to live in either a vibrant city or town or a beautiful rural setting.

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Local financing for local homes

Whether it’s your first house, a summer cottage, or a retirement condo, buying a home is a milestone event and a significant accomplishment.

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How to save for a down payment when you’re drowning in student debt

The thing they don’t always tell you in school? That debt can stick around long after you’ve locked in your first paid gig.

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What is a credit score?

You've likely heard of credit scores, but what exactly do they mean for you and your finances?

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How COVID-19 support affects your taxes

The pandemic has impacted many key aspects of Atlantic Canadians' lives, including their taxes.

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Tax Talk: The tax implications of COVID-19 relief programs

A few things to know about taxes and the COVID-19 relief programs.

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Are you protected? Four tips for fraud prevention this tax season

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns us to be wary of financial services and tax scams.

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How to do holidays on a dime

If your finances look a little different this holiday season, we have a few tips to help.

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Budgeting for the holidays

When the festive spirit hits, it can be hard to stick to your budget. We’ve gathered a few ideas to help have a debt-free holiday.

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Real Talk: Holiday debt

How will you manage the holiday financial hangover?

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How to actually pay off debt this year

How you can make your financial new year resolutions come true.

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Update: The impacts of COVID-19 on the Atlantic Canadian economy

These are unprecedented times and COVID-19 is a new and uncertain reality for all of us. So, we connected with the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce for an update.

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Your Two Cents – Gimme Credit: Financial relationships

Your financial relationship is one of the most personal and important relationships you can have. We have some important questions you should be asking.

Your Two Cents – Gimme Credit: How to biz

Before you dive head first into entrepreneurship, we have some helpful tips to set you up with success.

How to save money as a student

Although back to school may look different this year, one thing still stands: Money management.

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Childcare in the time of COVID-19

It’s easy to talk about planning ahead, but when the situation is so uncertain it can be even more challenging. But there are a few things you can do.

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How to afford your pet

Adding a companion to your life is an exciting time, but should be made with careful consideration for both your lifestyle and bank account.

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The breakdown: Gym memberships

A healthy lifestyle means your finances, too.

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Your Two Cents – Making the Case: Laptops

We've enlisted a team of gamers, content creators, and students to get their two cents on the computers and accessories they love the most.

Your money and the re-opening of the economy

Whether you're a small business or are interested in personally supporting local shops, credit union CEO Ken Shea shares his advice on the economy re-opening.

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Travellers' rights

Navigating these uncertain times can be a little less painful with these tips if your trip has been cancelled.

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Are subscription services worth it?

You may save a few dollars here and there on free trials, but how much are you really saving overall?

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Real Talk: How to financially survive having a kid

There’s the emotional side to literally creating life and all that entails, but what about the financial side?

Your Two Cents – Subscription auditor

Do you have any idea how much you're really spending on all your subscription services? Spider Creelman is here to tell you.

Real Talk: Elder financial abuse

Learn how to prevent and deal with elder financial abuse.

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What to do about your 2020 wedding

We spoke with a senior event planning expert on how you can still make the best of your upcoming wedding.

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3 things Animal Crossing has taught us about money

You can have a lot of fun playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but there are a few things we can learn about our personal finances, too.

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How to be a savvy online shopper

It's easy to get carried away when you can order literally everything in the world at the click of a button.

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Your Two Cents – Staying connected during quarantine

Here are a few ways you can stay connected while staying safe in quarantine.

Your Two Cents – Your finances during quarantine

A few tips on how you can look after your finances during quarantine.

How to protect yourself from scammers

With a recent increase in scams, it's important to know how to keep yourself—and your money—safe.

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A message from Atlantic Credit Unions

Take care of yourselves, your families, and your neighbours, and remember, we’re here to help.

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Five things to do for your finances right now

A lot of people are feeling anxious about their finances right now. Here are a few ways you can ease your nerves.

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COVID-19 and the Atlantic Canadian economy

This is a situation that is changing fast. If you’re unsure of what it means for you and your finances, we're here to help.

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Budgeting doesn’t have to be a bad word

Budgeting doesn’t have to be complicated. And it doesn’t have to require hours of paperwork, complicated spreadsheets, and math equations.

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The lowdown: credit unions

Credit unions go beyond financial services. They go to honesty, trust, and fairness, too.

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How to stay safe online

With fraud on the rise in Atlantic Canada, these tips can help you shop, browse, email and bank online safely.

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Money and mental health: Managing financial stress

Difficult financial situations can have significant impact on your mental health.

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What is a credit union?

You can call a credit union whatever you want, but at the core, credit unions are financial institutions.

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Five myths about credit unions, busted

Credit unions have been around for over 100 years, but not everybody knows who we are or what we do. To help, we busted five common myths about credit unions.

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Credit card basics

We’ve compiled a helpful and handy guide to some of the most common credit card terms.

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The gender gap and financial literacy

We can work together to close the gap between women and their financial future.

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The real cost of your New Year’s resolutions

We broke down three of the most common New Year’s resolutions and took a hard look at what they really mean for your finances.

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Podcast

The dish on online dating: Is it worth it to upgrade?

JLo sang it first, "Love don't cost a thing", but that was before Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. So, how much does modern love cost? And is it worth it?

Save vs. splurge

Three quick tips on saving instead of splurging.

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How to spend your tax return

It's spring! It's tax season! How will you spend your return?

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12 days of holiday gift giving

Looking for something a little different this holiday season? We’ve taken inspiration from The Twelve Days of Christmas and put a modern spin on things.

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Real Talk: Seasonal work

Atlantic Canada, as a region, has one of the highest rates of seasonal workers in the country.

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Paying for post-secondary education: Explained

How can you pay for your school?

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How to live with roommates

Living with roommates can make good financial sense—here's how.

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Glossary of Terms: Investing

Investing doesn't have to be complicated—start small, like learning a few key words.

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Preparing your finances for travel

Tips to keep in mind when preparing for travel.

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Investing 101

Investing doesn't have to be a scary word.

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Real Talk: Problem gambling

Sometimes the toughest conversations are the most important.

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Side hustlin’

A great way to gain some financial freedom is to turn a hobby into a second job. We talked with some Atlantic Canadians about their 'side hustles'.

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Benefits of the bike

Strap on your helmet and hop on your bicycle. We're breaking down the best of biking for your budget.

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Save vs. splurge: Dorm room edition

You don't have to break your budget to have the sweetest dorm in your res.

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How to eat well on the cheap

Food can take up a big chunk of your budget, here are a few tips to make your dollar go further.

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The financial pressure of the sandwich generation

It’s no secret that as a region, we’re getting older. But what if you’re in the sandwich generation?

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Anatomy of an interest rate

Interest rate. A term you’ve probably heard and likely have a general understanding of. But what exactly is an interest rate? And how is it calculated?

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Real Talk: What happens after you declare bankruptcy?

Sometimes tough stuff happens. That's why we're here to help with honest financial advice you need to get through and get on with life.

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The low-down on multi-level marketing

MLMs position themselves as ways to earn extra cash, dip your toes into entrepreneurship, and—just maybe—strike it big. So, who’s right?

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Why you should have a separate business banking account

Every business owner should also have a few experts in their back pocket.

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Financial literacy 101: Chequing versus savings

If only Bill Nye the Science Guy told us how to balance our budgets.

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Swipe Right: The real cost of dating

How do you keep your budget intact while you’re on the search for The One?

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How to successfully merge your finances with your significant other

When things get serious, it's time to have an honest conversation.

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Real Talk with Atlantic Live Stream: Financial freedom

Imagine going to pay for your gas only to learn your bank account has been drained. That's exactly what happened to our guest on this episode of Real Talk.

Real Talk with Atlantic Live Stream: Living beyond your means

Biting off more than you can chew is something we all do from time-to-time. But what happens when you get in over your head as a small business owner?

Real Talk with Atlantic Live Stream: Financially surviving divorce

Divorce is never easy—especially when it comes to dividing finances and assets.

Money Talks: An evening of financial advice and casual conversation

There’s power in financial literacy, so we brought together a group of 12 Atlantic Canadians for a casual conversation about money to show this in action.

Why you should care about the RESP contribution deadline

The RESP annual deadline is December 31—and if you have kids, there may be a few good reasons to set aside a bit of extra cash in your plan before year end.

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Real Talk: Surviving identity fraud

If you didn’t buy those new sneakers, or book that flight, or pay for that gas… who did?

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Five things you didn’t know your credit card could do

Did you know there’s also a lot of hidden perks you could be getting with the right credit card?

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The student's guide to using a credit card

Check out how a credit card can be helpful as a student!

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Why it might be time for a new credit card

A lot has changed over the last few years. Making the switch to a new card could help you get out of debt faster, while earning extra rewards along the way.

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Real Talk: Student debt

What happens to your student loans during the years post-graduation?

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10 things I wish I knew about money before I went to university/college

There’s a saying that hindsight is 20/20—so we asked 10 people who’ve been there what they wish they knew then, that they know for sure now.

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Financial horror stories

For the truly terrifying financial stories, look no further than the real-life stories ahead.

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Turkey dump your poor financial habits

This Thanksgiving weekend instead of dumping your high school sweetheart, ditch some of your poor financial habits instead.

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The low-down on interest rates

What do the Bank of Canada's interest rates mean for your wallet?

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Do you really need to upgrade?

Coming hot on the heels of the release of Apple’s latest generation of iPhone, here are some things to think about before you upgrade to a new phone.

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5 financial tips to learn from Gen Z

Gen Z has a few financial habits that every generation should take notice of.

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How to see the world: Saving for extended travel

Mark and his wife April sat down to talk to us about how they made their six-month travel sabbatical turn into a dream trip instead of just a day dream.

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Going back to school as a mature student

Education is always a good idea, but making the decision to go back after you’ve been out of the classroom for an extended period of time can be a big change.

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Real Talk: Fertility treatments

Sometimes the assumption is that when the time is right, and you’re ready, pregnancy will come naturally. But for some people, it isn’t that simple.

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Tariff Talk: What tariffs could mean for your wallet

We wanted to give you some of the basics about what a tariff is and how all this talk about them could impact you and your wallet.

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Real Talk: Divorce

We spoke with Lisa Purchase from Leading Edge Credit Union for some honest financial advice on how to get through a divorce with your finances intact.

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Should you buy or lease your new car?

Buying your first car is a major purchase—next to buying a home, it’s one of the largest purchases you’re likely to make in your life.

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Quality over quantity: Why sometimes it pays to invest

Sometimes it makes the most financial sense to invest in a quality piece rather than spending less money on something that will need to be replaced much sooner.

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How to say “No” to the bride or groom

Weddings can be expensive—and not just for the bride or groom.

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How to survive the job hunt

How are you going to spend your time between graduation and employment?

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Five things every student should know for apartment hunting

What should you be looking for in a student apartment?

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Real Talk: Serious debt

We spoke with Lisa Purchase from Leading Edge Credit Union for some honest financial advice about how to get out of serious credit card debt.

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Wedding budgeting 101

When it comes to weddings, knowing where to splurge and where to save can be tricky, so we broke down the financial basics.

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Tips for you and your budget to survive festival season

It's officially festival season! With a bit of planning, you can make it through without breaking the bank.

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How to afford your spring wardrobe

How can you budget to re-vamp your spring wardrobe?

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The FIRE Movement: Four key lessons to help your finances get lit so you can retire early!

Why are people talking about the FIRE Movement? What does it mean?

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How to be a financial super hero

Be your own super hero!

The real cost of a royal wedding

What would an Atlantic Canadian royal wedding cost?

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Treat yo'self: The most expensive thing you've ever bought

We asked five Atlantic Canadians about the most expensive, non-essential item they’ve ever bought.

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Real Talk: How to deal with unexpected expenses

Unexpected expenses happen to the best to us. How do you manage when you're hit with an unexpected expense?

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How to afford an expensive hobby

Once we make time for our hobbies, how do we make room in our budgets? We chatted with five people who seem to have it figured out!

Glossary of Financial Terms

Talking to a financial expert can sometimes feel like you’re speaking another language. We want to make your next financial discussion a little less baffling.

The financial side of pursuing an Olympic Dream

Atlantic Canadian athletes Karen Furneaux and Kaetlyn Osmond talk about the financial side to chasing a gold medal dream.

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Putting honesty, trust, and fairness to the test

The values of honesty, trust, and fairness matter to credit unions. And we wanted to prove those values also matter to Atlantic Canadians.

That’s what I like: Pop music financial advice

Pop stars and money have a long history together. In honour of the Grammy awards, we took a playful take on some financial considerations of our own.

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Real Talk: Death of a loved one

Dealing with the death of a loved one is emotional and stressful. We got some honest advice on how to deal financially when a loved one dies.

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Don’t sweat the contribution deadline: Why you should be saving all year

If you haven't been able to recently contribute to an RRSP, not all is lost. It is still the perfect time to get yourself set-up for future success.

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Financial literacy for life

Financial literacy isn’t always a part of our formal education but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take some time to learn the basics.

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Real Talk: Sudden job loss

Losing your job feels awful, but with a little bit of planning there are steps you can take to ensure you’re financially prepared to figure out your next move.

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What does it mean to be a member?

One of the biggest differences about doing your banking with a credit union is that you are a member of a credit union, not just a customer.

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Pop culture financial advice: Riverdale

In honour of the release of season two of Riverdale, we have some financial advice for some of our favourite characters to consider.

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Can’t buy me love: The real cost of romance

In honour of Can’t Buy Me Love’s 30th anniversary, we’ve prepared a brief overview of what love can really cost.

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Pop culture financial advice

Just because money is portrayed on the silver and the small screen doesn’t mean it’s always handled well.

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Registered Savings 101: Roundtable Q&A

We understand you want RRSP and TFSA straight talk.

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Date nights for life

There’s a lot of pressure to plan the perfect date night. But an evening to remember doesn’t have to break the bank.

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Terrifying financial tales

Careless mistakes will ignite quite a scare, read these terrifying financial tales if you dare…

Cats vs. dogs

It's a question as old as time itself. One that causes sharp divides. One that can make of break relationships and be a telling personality trait.

Getting the right financial advice for success

Buying a house is a major decision. It’s much more than picking the place of your dreams – it’s also about getting the best options possible to finance it.

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Member Story: Hop Creative – How to afford to travel

From the tropics of Bali, Trevor and Anna are teaching us their tips & tricks to travelling the world while staying on-budget.

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Newcomers' Guide to Banking in Canada

With a new home and a new culture also comes a whole new way of doing things—especially when it comes to banking and money.

Guide to Budgeting

Our Guide to Budgeting will help you take some of the mystery and stress out of building and maintain your budget.

Guide to Buying Your First Vehicle

Our guide has all the info you need when buying your first vehicle.

Student loans explained

It's no secret, student loans can help make your tuition payments manageable.

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Guide to Borrowing

Any time you change your financial status—in this case, by taking on debt—it’s important to understand the ins and outs and implications of your choices.