Personal Finance
Better Finances for a Better You
Topic: "Money Management"
← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful
information about your money.
Budgeting
12 Tips To Build A Holiday Budget That Won’t Break The Bank by True Tamplin
Learn to allocate funds wisely while keeping holiday cheer alive →Saving
11 best money-saving tips from personal finance writer Ivana Pino
The best savings strategies are about finding the right balance between caring for Future Me while ensuring Present Day Me →Saving
10 Tips for Achieving Financial Security By Investopedia
- Start Saving As Soon As You Can
- View Savings Deposits As a Bill
- Save in a Tax-Deferred Account
- Diversify Your Portfolio
- Consider All Potential Expenses
- Retirement Savings Is a Must
- Periodically Reassess Your Portfolio
- Optimize Your Expenses
- Consider Your Spouse
- Work With a Financial Planner
Infographic of the week
How Much Does it Take to Be Wealthy in America? by the visualcapitalist
The is graphic looks at data from the 2023 Modern Wealth Survey by Charles Schwab, which asks respondents what net worth is required to be considered wealthy in America.
Wealthy in America: A Closer Look →Serious stuff
All About Financial Wellness: How It Affects Your Health, and Tactics to Achieve It By Christine Byrne, MPH, RD, LDN
Read on for more about what financial wellness is, what contributes to it, and how to boost your own →Serious stuff
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), 72% of adults report feeling stressed about money, whether it's worrying about paying rent or feeling bogged down by debt.
Financial Stress: How to Cope By Elizabeth Scott, PhD →Saving
Check, please! The etiquette of splitting the tab
NPR Life Kit: Chef and food writer Kiki Aranita walks us through common dining scenarios to ensure the bill is handled fairly and smoothly. →Budgeting
‘I’ve got $7 a day to live on’: Young Americans are taking part in a viral trend called 'loud budgeting' — something Suze Orman has promoted for years. But could it work for you? by Sabina Wex
Loud budgeting for young Americans →Investing
Christine Benz’s Portfolios
This series of portfolios from Morningstar's director of personal finance Christine Benz can help investors reach their financial goals.
Morningstar's best investment portfolio examples for savers and retirees →Infographic of the week
Mapped: The Income a Family Needs to Live Comfortably in Every U.S. State by the Visual Capitalist
This was originally posted on the Voronoi app. Families in the top five most expensive U.S. states require an annual income exceeding $270,000 to live comfortably. This visualization illustrates the income necessary for two working adults with two children to maintain a comfortable lifestyle in each state.
The income a family needs to live comfortably in every U.S. State →Infographic of the week
Charted: Who Has Savings in This Economy?
The Visualcapitalist visualises the percentage of respondents to the statement “I have money leftover at the end of the month” categorized by age and education qualifications. Data is sourced from a National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE) report, published last month.
The Impact of Higher Education on Earnings and Savings →Investing
9 Best Ways to Invest $100K from TIMEstamped
If you have $100K to invest—from an inheritance, a bonus, or a lucky lottery ticket—it provides an excellent opportunity to start (or continue) securing your financial future.
You’ll have numerous investing options, and the best one for you depends on your goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon →Did you know?
CNN found that 33% of those surveyed do not know what "annual percentage rate" means. Further, 33% also believe that mortgage lenders are required to charge all borrowers the same fees.
Neontra can help you keep track of interest rates, loan amortization, and monthly mortgage payments →Infographic of the week
Chart: The Declining Value of the U.S. Federal Minimum Wage
This graphic illustrates the history of the U.S. federal minimum wage using data compiled by Statista, in both nominal and real (inflation-adjusted) terms. The federal minimum wage was raised to $7.25 per hour in July 2009, where it has remained ever since.
Nominal vs. Real Value of the U.S. Federal Minimum Wage →Infographic of the week
Decision Paralysis: The Rise to One Million Investment Choices
There were just over 30,000 managed investment products in 2002, but the choices grew rapidly in the years that followed. As of June 30, 2023, there were more than 742,000 products available.
The rise in investment products over time, and how financial advisors can help →Infographic of the week
Ranked: What People Value Most in a Financial Advisor
Are advisors putting their focus where it matters? You might think that positive reviews and recommendations would be a top consideration for people choosing a financial advisor. However, other qualities appear to be much more important.
The Qualities Investors Value in a Financial Advisor →Investing
How to Invest in Index Funds in 2024 from the Motley Fool
An index fund is an investment that tracks a market index, typically comprising stocks or bonds. Index funds generally invest in all the components of the index they track and have fund managers whose job is to make sure that the index fund performs the same as the index.
Why invest in index funds? →Serious Stuff
Wellness is a concept that has found its way into more and more corners of American life.
At its heart, wellness is about adopting practices—like exercising more and eating healthy—that help you live a better life.
These practices can also help you improve your financial life, under the rubric of “financial wellness.” This concept is about changing financial behaviours and adopting more effective money habits to secure financial stability and financial freedom.
Saving
Tips to visualize your way to better money management by Emma Edwards
Visualization can help you develop positive money habits and set you up for financial success. →Budgeting
6 Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget
- Plan Your Recipes
- Shop With a List
- Buy Frozen or Canned
- Cut Cost With Coupons
- Buy Store Brands
- Try Growing a Garden
Word of the week
Rebalancing
Rebalancing entails adjusting your investment holding to desired percentages for your stocks and bonds. Let's take an example where your target allocation is 20% bonds, 20% cash, and 60% stocks. You may now have a 70 percent stock, 10 percent bond, and 20 percent cash allocation if the stock market has done really well over the last year. You can sell some stocks and reinvest the proceeds in bonds to rebalance your portfolio, or you can add more bonds to the portfolio to restore its original balance.
How To Rebalance Your Investment Portfolio →Serious stuff
When couples move in together for the first time, many financial questions and tasks arise, leaving room for disagreement and awkwardness.
Ana Teresa Sola on financial tips for couples moving in together for the first time →Saving
Save money on streaming services. NPR TV critic and media analyst Eric Deggans shares a streaming strategy to help you get the most bang for your buck.
NPR Life Kit Podcast: Refresh your budget with these simple finance tips →Infographic of the week
Charted: Investment Preferences by Generation in the U.S.
Different generations grow up with different values and different economic realities, causing investment preferences by generation to vary across the board. The above graphic shows how different generations invest—from millennials to boomers—based on June 2023 survey data from Charles Schwab.
The Visual Capitalist: Investment Preferences by Generation →Investing
Three Investing Trends for 2024 and Beyond
Longevity, decarbonization and technology disruption could provide long-term investment opportunities.
Michael Zezas of Morgan Stanley on investing trends for 2024 →Did you know?
At one time, Queen Elizabeth II appeared on at least 33 different currencies, more than any other monarch, an achievement noted by Guinness World Records.
Neontra creates a 360° view of all your $CAD, $USD, £GBP, €EUR and ¥YEN financial activities →Investing
Why work with a financial advisor
Managing your investments can be difficult. You may not be comfortable investing on your own. A professional financial advisor or planner can help you.
Choosing a financial advisor →Serious Stuff
8 steps to helping children build good credit from Megan DeMatteo at CNBC Select
- Start early
- Teach the difference between a debit card and a credit card
- Incentivize saving
- Help them save early for a secured credit card
- Co-sign a loan or a lease
- Add your child as an authorized user
- Have them report all possible forms of credit
- Encourage them to apply for a student card
Saving
So, you splurged. Now what? The urge to splurge is universal. After the bleakness of the pandemic, people are spending more on the big and little things that bring them joy.
Stress Test Podcast: Rob Carrick and Roma Luciw speaks with Shannon Lee Simmons, a certified financial planner and founder of the New School of Finance →Infographic of the week
Holiday Survival Guide
The winter holiday shopping season is the most expensive time of year for most households. This year, spending is expected to be even higher due to rising prices. This infographic helps you start planning to shop and save for the 2023 holiday season.
How to plan and save for the 2023 holiday shopping season →Word of the week
Time Value of Money (TVM)
The idea that money that is available now is worth more than the same amount in the future is known as the time value of money, or TVM. This is due to the fact that money that is invested has the ability to grow, and the longer it is invested, the more value it will gain. Money acquired later is viewed as having less value since it has less time to increase through investments.
Model and forecast the growth of your money. Define projected growth rates & visualize likely scenarios →Infographic of the week
Visualizing the Pyramid of Global Wealth Distribution
Who controls global wealth? In 2022, the world’s millionaires held nearly half of net household wealth. Decades of low interest rates led equities and real estate values to soar, and these assets are disproportionately held among the world’s wealthiest.
The distribution of global household wealth, based on the annual 2023 UBS Global Wealth →Serious stuff
6 Estate Planning Must-Haves Everyone benefits from ensuring assets and finances are managed as they wish.
Here is an estate planning checklist of items every estate plan should include →Did you know?
According to economists, coins and banknotes make up only 8% of the world's cash. The great bulk of money in circulation today is digital.
Follow every bank note & penny - Track and analyze your cash flow →Infographic of the week
The 20 Most Common Investing Mistakes, in One Chart
No one is immune to errors, including the best investors in the world. Fortunately, investing mistakes can provide valuable lessons over time, providing investors an opportunity to gain insights into investing—and build more resilient portfolios.
20 Investment Mistakes to Avoid →Investing
What Is the Fear and Greed Index?
The Fear and Greed Index is a tool developed by CNN (yes, the news network) to help gauge what factors are driving the stock market at a given time.
Guide to the Fear and Greed Index →Serious stuff
How to talk to your parents about their money. There comes a time when it's the kid's turn to take care of mom and dad. Here's how to broach this sensitive subject with your parents.
Life Kit NPR: Yes, end-of-life planning is a tough subject. How to talk to your parents about it →Serious Stuff
5 Easy Ways to Take Control of Your Personal Finances by Kiara Taylor of Ascend
- Budget, budget, budget
- Create an emergency fund
- Be honest with yourself
- Ask for help
- Track your progress
Infographic of the week
Charted: Retirement Age by Country
The retirement landscape can look completely different depending on what country you’re in. And charting the retirement age by country reveals a lot of differences in the the makeup of a labor force, both for economic and cultural reasons.
Exploring retirement age trends around the globe →Investing
The Golden Rules of Investing
Investing can help you meet your financial goals and the better the investment decisions you make, the more chance you have of succeeding. While nobody can make the best investment decision every single time, following these golden rules could help you to get more from your investments over the long term.
Following these golden rules could really help you to InvestSmart →Budgeting
10 Budgeting Tips to Increase Your Money Management Skills, from Rachel Dalrymple
- Identify Your Purpose
- Write Down Income and Expenses
- Follow the 50/30/20 Rule
- Practice Zero-Based Budgeting
- Plan for the Unexpected
- Develop Habits That Support Your Budget
- Utilize Budgeting Tools
- Evaluate and Adjust Regularly
- Keep It Attainable
- Run Your Household Like a Business
Word of the week
The 30% Rule
How much should you pay in rent? As a general rule, housing should be no more than 30% of your total monthly income, including utilities. The 30% rule is based on how much you can reasonably spend and have money left over for everyday expenses like food, clothes and transportation.
Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see how your budget is tracking →Investing
Investing Made Simple for Beginners and Everyone Else
Managing your money for the long run can be easier than you might imagine.
The New York Times on Investing for Beginners (Paywall) →Saving
Who Should You Trust With Your Money?
Half Banked Podcast: Hosts Cadeem and Bethan break down the difference between financial advisors and planners and the red flags you should watch out for →Investing
Financial advisors agree: These are the 3 best investing tips for beginners
1. Audit your finances before you even start to invest 2. Utilize retirement accounts as much as you can 3. Know you don’t have to be an expert
If you’re just getting into investing, consider these 3 tips. →Word of the week
Financial Advisor
A financial adviser is a professional that possesses the certifications, abilities and experience to help with a number of financial matters. The term's broad definition encompasses a variety of specialities and qualifications. A financial advisor may assist you in deciding how to manage your finances for long-term goals like retirement and your children's education, purchasing a home, or more immediate goals.
Choosing a financial advisor →Infographic of the week
How Long Does it Take to Double Your Money?
At first glance, a 7% return on your investment may not seem that impressive. Yet what if you heard that your money could double in roughly 10 years?
Why it Pays to Know the Math →Infographic of the week
The Monthly Cost of Buying vs. Renting a House in America
With home prices and mortgage rates both rising, the U.S. is now witnessing the biggest numerical gap in the monthly cost between owning a home and renting in over 50 years. Americans, however, have seen similar scenarios occur since the early 1980s.
See the difference of buying vs. renting a single-family residence in the U.S. since 1970, adjusted for inflation. →Budgeting
Diving into the world of money management might feel a bit like riding down a river that’s full of twists and surprises. No need to worry - having a good plan can make this entire experience much easier.
Budgeting Tips: 5 Successful Ways to Boost Your Money →Budgeting
Understanding Bank Fees
Do you know all these bank fees?
- The number of free monthly withdrawals or transactions on your account
- Your Monthly fee
- Minimum account balance fee
- Bill payment fee
- Transfer fee
- Late payment fees
- Overdraft fee
- NSF fee
- ATM fee
- ATM network fee
- ATM non-system machine fee
Investing
Making Smart Investments: A Beginner’s Guide
- Why should you invest? - How much should you save vs. invest? - How do investments work? - How do you make (or lose) money?
See Matthew Blume of the Harvard Business Review answers →Saving
Investing against climate change - Climate change is a growing concern for many young Canadians, with some questioning where they should live, what they should be saving for and how they should invest.
Podcast: Stress Test by columnist Rob Carrick - How climate anxiety is shaping small and large financial decisions →Serious stuff
You might not realize it, but there is something called financial personality, and it can play a big role in your ability to handle and manage money.
How Your Personality Is Affecting Your Finances →Serious stuff
4 Common Money Philosophies (And What They Say About You). Struggling with your finances? Your deepest-held beliefs about money might be to blame.
Which Script Do You Follow →Investing
Motley Fool outlines Warren Buffett's investing philosophy in 9 steps
1. Look for a margin of safety 2. Focus on quality 3. Don't follow the crowd 4. Don't fear market crashes and corrections 5. Approach your investments with a long-term mindset 6. Don't be afraid to sell if the scenario changes 7. Learn the basics of value investing 8. Understand compounding 9. Research and reflect
How to Invest Like Warren Buffett →Budgeting
What Is Kakeibo? Kakeibo, pronounced “kah-keh-boh,” translates as “household financial ledger.” Invented in 1904 by a woman named Hani Motoko (notable for being Japan’s first female journalist), kakeibo is a simple, no-frills approach to managing your finances.
‘Kakeibo’: The Japanese method of saving money →Infographic of the week
Visualizing the Hierarchy of Financial Needs
Behavioural scientist Abraham Maslow wrote “A Theory of Human Motivation” in 1943, arguing that humans worldwide are influenced by a “hierarchy of needs”. This theory organizes human needs across five levels, where needs in the lower end must be satisfied before progressing onto the next level.
See the steps to creating a strong financial foundation →Investing
Financial advisors agree: These are the 3 best investing tips for beginners
CNBC Select shares three tips for any beginner investor just starting out. 1) Audit your finances before you even start to invest 2) Utilize retirement accounts as much as you can 3) Know you don’t have to be an expert
If you’re just getting into investing, read more →Serious stuff
Learn the 101 of financial literacy with a fun, dynamic guide that makes money feel empowering, financial literacy becomes a life-long habit that pays dividends.
Financial literacy 101 from the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education →Budgeting
Finance thinkfluencers vs economists
It turns out that there's a large gulf between the advice given by the authors of popular finance books and academic economists.
Budgeting
Non-essential costs are probably getting in the way of your financial goals. - Take-out food - Restaurants - Alcohol - Uber/Lyft instead of public transportation - Subscriptions Do you know how much you spent in the last three months?
Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see where your money is going →Did you know?
Canada’s Food Price Report 2023 predicts Canadian families will spend up to $1065 more on food than in 2022.
See predictions on annual food expenditures for individual consumers based on their age and gender. →Investing
The Basics of Investing
Read about some of the most common types of investments including the Canada Savings Bond (CSB), Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) and Treasury bill (T-bill).
Jargon-free investment terms →Budgeting
Why create a budget? - To accomplish a financial goal - To save money - To reduce expenses - To understand your true relationship with money better Invest the time in yourself and create sound financial practices that can last you a lifetime.
Budgeting is the first step towards financial wellness →Did you know?
The first Canadian woman to appear on a bank note was Viola Desmond. She appears on Canada's first vertical banknote issued in 2018.
Learn more about Viola and the $10 notes' unique features →Budgeting
In a 50/30/20 budget you should aim to spend your net income in this way: - 50% on your essential needs - 30% on your non-essential expenses - 20% on savings contributions/debt repayments
Neontra auto-categorizes your expenses so you can quickly see how your 50/30/20 budget is tracking →Serious stuff
Warren Buffett’s ‘secret sauce’ for investing success: Be ‘business pickers’ not ‘stock pickers’
Learn what value investing means and how it can help grow your Net Worth →Investing
Investing for Young Canadians
If you’re a young person thinking about making your first investment but not sure where to begin, you’re not alone.
RRSP, TFSA or FHSA? Young Canadians looking to invest face wide range of options →Budgeting
You know a lot more about budgeting than you probably think. Even if you’ve never done any kind of household budgeting at all, you almost certainly already have had significant experience with it.
How To Make A Budget: 5 Time-Tested Approaches →Serious stuff
The Canada Pension Plan enhancement – Businesses, individuals, and self-employed: what it means for you
How does the CPP enhancement affect you →Budgeting
You know a lot more about budgeting than you probably think. Even if you’ve never done any kind of household budgeting at all, you almost certainly already have had significant experience with it.
How To Make A Budget: 5 Time-Tested Approaches →Serious stuff
Despite labour disruptions, the tax filing deadline has not changed. Canadians should take steps to ensure their return is filed by May 1, 2023, along with payment for any balance owing.
Filing dates for 2022 taxes →Budgeting
We believe financial planning should be simple, engaging and understandable for everyone.
Why is budgeting an essential personal finance tool →Serious stuff
Tax season is upon us. Find key dates including filing and payment due dates and dates for receiving credits and benefit payments from the CRA.
Due dates and payment dates →Word of the week
GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate)
"Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) and term deposits are secured investments. This means that you get back the amount you invest at the end of your term. The key difference between a GIC and a term deposit is the length of the term. Term deposits generally have shorter terms than GICs."
Learn about the key details before buying a GIC →Budgeting
How the magic of a three-pay cheque month can give you a financial head start
There are lots of ways to play that extra payment →← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful information about your money.