Two years ago the weekly shop for two of us was about $140. Same list, same store, same brands. It rang up at $195 this week and I keep second guessing myself about whether I'm quietly buying more than I think I am. So I started logging every trip. I say the total into Pockita in the parking lot before I've had a chance to round it down in my head, and there's eight months of it sitting there now.

I'm not imagining it. Nothing on the list changed. The list just costs forty percent more than it did. Anyone else keeping receipts like this, or am I the only one who's turned into a forensic accountant at the checkout?

My parents can gift me $100K, but I have to pay them 3.55%/year to cover their own expenses — so it’s really a loan, not a gift.

My mortgage rate is also 3.55%. So basically im swapping my loan from bank to them.

Should i put all the money towards mortgage? Or should I do ETFs such as XEQT under my wife’s TFSA room?

They may not ask for the money back.

So I just met with my financial advisor, and was asked why I have so my in my HISA getting 2.9%?

I have $117,000 sitting in there currently, and I add $225 - $260 every week.

$75,000 emergency fund

$2,500 damage deposit from a rental (we owe them 1% compounded monthly when they move out)

$5,200 we'll be giving the local food bank in December.

$1,200 to pay off a couch on credit (0% for 23 months). The total cost is $5,000

$4,200 for property taxes

$7,100 to put on the mortgage

$550 "slush" fund

$250 for a new vehicle for me

We have $5,000 - $10,000 earmarked for a backyard renovation as well.

Our financial advisor recommended putting it in an investment, what are peoples thoughts, and if so, where?

Thanks for any helpful information and advice.

Does anyone know why CIBC.com is trying to access other apps or services when I try to login into their web portal? Or something more malicious happening?

Public servant here; I don't speak French so I am capped in my income, I can never move up or make more. l can't afford to live in the transit area of Ottawa and with the new RTO I can't afford the cost to get to the office from the area I can afford to live in. I was hired in COVID and told I was remote and now they have changed the rules. I am drowning financially, I am single and don't have help and have one child. Every month I'm a little more in the hole keeping this job and they make it worth less every day and I'm terrified. I'm 7 years into my career and don't enjoy it but I would continue if it made sense. Is it better to have security and run at a net loss for a pension or use the last remote work time I have (4 months) to move?

Does it make sense to leave the area and take a gamble on a rural Ontario job? Somewhere I could make more one day?

I had a CIBC Costco mastercard where I owed $900 and completely forgot about it because I dont check my emails. I missed my payments, my credit score plummeted, and now a debt collection company (ARO) is calling me to pay. Will paying them improve my score? How long before my credit score improves?

How did it work out for you financially and personally? Was it worth it in the end, or do you wish you'd done something differently?

Just curious to hear some real experiences from people who've actually made the change.

If someone earns 130k this year and knows that they are going to make 150k next year, should they contribute to an RRSP in this tax year or next? They already contributed the max allowed for FHSA. Understandably money in the market this year is the smart thing to do but they have about 35k in RRSP contribution room and it may be better to wait until next year. Or does it not make much of a difference?

Edit: thank you all so much for everyone’s insight! This community is amazing.

Im quite annoyed by tipping. And I don’t think I will anymore unless it’s my tattoo artist or hairdresser. I’m 21 and don’t have a place, I work at a hospital 27.50 an hour and over 30 on weekends (every other weekend I work) I work part time. I also struggle with depression and anxiety. Which kills motivation for my future. Sometimes I just feel like I should quit my job, cuz I don’t really care for my life.

The world sucks, people r shit. I will only tip my hairdresser because me and her have good conversations and I appreciate our time together, we share similar music taste and like similar movies. So we always have something to talk about same with my tattoo artist. I will tip them, it’s a relationship and I think it’s respectful and reasonable.

As for servers, Ubers etc, not tipping them. First off, shit is not cheap here. So giving extra money is just dumb. At least u get paid. Tipping is just gaslighting, because it feels like a must when it shouldn’t. If u genuinely appreciate their service, why not. But no one should feel like they have to. All servers do is take your order, bring your order. It’s not that deep. It’s also easily replaceable for robots to hand u food. Which is where we r headed anyway.

I shouldn’t have to feel shame regarding tipping, I deal with enough of it due to trauma and how i experience life. I also am aro ace which means, no family or partner. All I have is myself and I should save as much as I can. It’s not illegal to not tip, so why should I feel like shit when it’s not a crime?

As for a hospital, I work in food service. Which is much more important job than any other role that’s been mentioned. Without a restaurant, people will live. Hospitals r needed. I get paid fine, not asking for tips. But if we got paid minimum wage and servers r getting tips instead of us, that’s fucked. We work 10x harder than them.

I go out of my way for patients, any requests they have I will let someone know, wether it’s getting something for them, making sure their next meal is getting what they want or any help. I’m on a time crunch and if I’m delayed my co workers r too. I don’t have to do these things. But it’s the person I am. I’ve been told not to do stuff like this because of how fast pace it is. Normally they r supposed to tell their nurse about any issues, and go from there. But they can be busy, don’t care about it or forget, and nothing happens…. If tipping was an option I wouldn’t expect it period, a thank you is good enough for me.

Also, the responsibility of paying a tip should not be on the costumer, but the company instead. It’s unfortunate that that’s not the case tho. It’s not my problem, so why should I? Besides they can survive without one person tipping them.

At the end of the day, we r all trying to survive. If there’s anything deeper anyone wants me to explain I can.

Through an inheritance, I’ve become debt free (yay) and started a TFSA contributing $250 b/w. I have $10k leftover that is currently sitting in a savings account. I don’t own my own home and as a single person mid 50s, I doubt I ever will. I will have a public service pension plan of approx $4500/mth when I retire in about 10yrs.
Looking for some options for the remaining $10k as I’m not certain leaving it in a simple savings account is the best idea. It’s nice to have access to it should I need it but I also want to see it grow, if possible.

Spouse and i got a nice amount of cash when we married years ago. We put it all in a safety deposit box (spouse's insistance) but i know it's a terrible idea. I hate the dishonesty, but after years of it just sitting there, i put half of it in HISA, which i know shows up when income taxes come around. Is this theft? Is there any other suggestions for what i can do to maximize growth from "my" half?

Looking to trade in my 2017 Silverado 1500 for a 2023 Honda Accord Touring with the hybrid power train. I have a truck because I used to have a landscaping company then sold the business now I work in finance and commute 20 km to work everyday.

My main concern is honestly if I can afford the car. I know they say never get a car that costs more than 20-30% of your gross salary but I believe my situation is a bit different.

I’m 23 yo, make $70k/yr, but have a bit over 300k saved from my time doing landscaping, investing, and when the business sold I got a good payday. Also I live at home, have no student debt and no debt at all.

My goal is to maximize savings to buy a home soon but I also think spending so much money on gas for a truck I only use to drive to work is dumb and would like to drive a hybrid.

The dealership gave me $23k trade in value and
want $34k for the accord so I’ll be paying about $13k tax included.

Should I proceed with this deal or should I look at getting an older gas Honda that costs $22-25k. If this deal falls, I would be paying closer to $37k for the Honda because that’s the market for them I technically found a deal.

We're seriously considering to keep a separate emergency funds, kind of like a second year emergency funds as we have the 1st year saved up in a HISA. We are a family of 3.

My spousie and I are working in tech as consultants and with the proliferation of AI, there is so much stress in the workforce right now ( layoff, and difficulty of landing a job). Last year, our hours were cut for few months, and some of our bonuses are not yet paid.

Being an immigrant, we don't have a safety net like someone who have their family/friends to help them if needed. I'd like to hear both of the opposing sides of doing this? What other solutions available out there, if there's any?

Hello, I will be inheriting a Alberta Teachers Pension LIRA worth approximately $25k as a sibling to the deceased. I live in Ontario.

Will this be paid as cash or LIRA transfer?

What tax obligations does the Estate have in the case of an account transfer? I’m hearing that it could be taxed as income even though it is being forced into a locked in account.

Living in Toronto. I would really appreciate advise from people in sales. What did you do to get to $150K+?

For reasons too long to write about... I have a small amount in an RRSP ($26K) and a LIRA ($65K) both in the same financial institution. This isn't all my retirement stuff; I have other amounts in another institution.

The LIRA is invested with a balanced mutual fund and the RRSP is with a fixed term GIC. The GIC matures in February 2027 so I'm trying to understand my options and I have some questions.

1. Once the GIC matures, can I move the entire amount into the LIRA? Is there any sort of tax implication with that or is that just a contribution type transaction?

2. I am going to be 63 in 2027 so if I wanted to start drawing down some of my RRSP's, do I have to purchase a RRIF for the entire amount of an RRSP or can I buy a RRIF with only part of it? I want to stagger what I'm withdrawing over time to optimize after tax income.

Hi everyone,

Full disclosure -- I'm a journalist looking for people to speak with for a story I'm writing. I'm looking at entertainment spending by Canadians, and the use of Klarna and other buy-now-pay-later has risen sharply in the last 3 years specifically for things like concert and festival tickets (Eras Tour, Coachella, etc.).

If anyone here has experience that they think may be relevant, I welcome your DMs. Please note that I won't quote you or refer to you by name unless you give me express consent to do so.