Plastk Blog: Credit Tips & More

Credit Tip Tuesday #96-8 Personal Finance Tips Every Canadian Should Know!

Written by Plastk #CTT | Nov 15, 2022 2:00:00 PM

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Utility bills, groceries, clothing, taxes, “mood” shopping, fun parties, and so on - You are never going to see an end to the spending list while living in.

However, the only thing you can do to live your dream life is to deal with them efficiently!

That means fixing your relationship with your personal finances.

Yes!

It’s more than just everyday spending and retirement savings. In fact, it covers every aspect of your life that will lead you to achieve financial stability.

This is why we have brought expert tips every Canadian should know for a financially contented life.

Here you go:

Personal Financing: What Is It?

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Personal financing is a lot more than being able to purchase your favorite dress from a high-end store or a tech device you’ve been eyeing for too long.

The term encompasses matters related to

So, the question is:

Why Is Managing Your Personal Finance Crucial?

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Gone are the days when you would simply receive your monthly paycheck, pay your bills, do some desired shopping, and you are done!

Things are not that simple anymore.

Instead, building a stable financial life in Canada as a newcomer or a native resident has become a bit tricky.

This is because you are supposed to deal with a lot more things than in the past.

For example, according to a government report:

  • Around 73% of Canadians have a debt to be paid.
  • Around 17% of Canadians claim that their expenses are a lot more than their monthly gross income.
  • About 40% of Canadian residents have a mortgage to pay down.
  • As a result, more and more people are struggling to manage their financial matters.

Not only this, the recent financial disruption has

  • Caused temporary layoff to 21% of Canadians
  • Increased 43% of Canadian households’ debt
  • Made 43% of Canadians believe that their money will not last long
  • Made 47% of Canadians utilize their savings to cope with uncertain times
  • Caused severe financial stress to around or more than 49% of people.

The situation does sound pretty alarming, right?

This is why being in good books with your finances will help you meet your financial goals, no matter the situation.

Moreover, with the right personal finance guide, you can protect your savings from inflation, increase your money, plan for early retirement, and so much more.

Interested much? Here are 9 helpful tips for you:

8 Personal Finance Tips Every Canadian Must Know

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Reading the above stats may have made you think, “oh, the situation sounds pretty bad; how am I gonna deal with it?”

But we are not here to get stressed out, right?

Therefore, to help you make a good start and have a good hold on your finances, we have curated some of the most practical finance tips for you.

1.   Get Your “Money Philosophy” Right

First thing first, understand your relationship with your money.

Is it something

  • Simply to pay your monthly bills?
  • For a fixed amount of grocery shopping?
  • To be able to buy a couple of dresses every month?
  • To help you get your dream car only once in your lifetime?

Or, is your money something that

  • Brings financial freedom to you?
  • Freedom to make the right choices for yourself at the right time
  • Freedom to be able to roam around the world as per your desire
  • Freedom to be able to enjoy life and not just fulfill basic necessities

The answer to these questions will help you get your vision fixed and move on to the next steps.

2.   Make Wise “Credit Card” Choices

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When it comes to enjoying the freedom provided by your money, there’s a lot of “wise” work required to make things last.

One of these “wise” works or decisions is choosing a secured credit card for yourself instead of other risky and rather expensive options.

“This credit card will help you save money and build wealth without surrounding yourself with high-interest rates, heavy installment payments, and so on.” – say experts about secured credit in Canada.

3.   “Budget” Your Way Through Tough Times

Not sure how you are going to deal with next month’s expenses in an uncertain situation?

No worries, simply budget your way using methods like zero-based budgeting or envelope system, and you are good to go!

Your budget will let you

  • Eliminate any unnecessary expenditures
  • Help you better educate your kids financially
  • Focus on the main target
  • Save whatever is left, no matter the amount
  • Save your mental peace at the end of the day

And so much more. It focuses on every financial aspect you need to look out for a better life.

4.   Get That “Bread” Already

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Grab whatever comes your way!

Yes, that’s right! No, no not the wrong way, though! Your main focus should be on whether

And so on..

To be honest, strategies like these will create a buffer zone and provide you with time to come up with viable solutions to your short and long-term financial goals.

5.   Keep Building Your “Credit History”

Not working on your credit history can be one of the bad moves from your end.

A credit lets credit agencies, lenders, etc., know your past financial standing and how you are likely to perform in the future if provided with any mortgage or other type of loan.

Not only this but focus on building a good credit history by

  • paying your taxes on time,
  • maintaining a low credit balance,
  • keeping old accounts closed,
  • and tracking your Equifax credit score.

Moreover, focusing on your credit history will make sure that it stays safe from hacking and scamming attacks.

See: 7 Strategies To Prevent Cyber-Attacks In 2023!

6.   Expand Your “Income” Profile

No longer can Canadians rely on a single income source to strive and thrive through the inflation and changing economy.

If you need a personal finance tip that will serve you in the long run, this must be it!

  • Invest in stock market,
  • Look for passive income,
  • Build your wealth,
  • Start vlogging or blogging,
  • Utilize your talent.

There’s so much you can do that can help make money. Of course, nothing illegal here. :p

The point to ponder here is that you need to look for anything and everything that can aid you in expanding your income profile.

Firstly, it will help you create a good credit profile that’s preferred by the lenders. Secondly, it can support you in securing funds.

Bonus Tips

1.   Avoid Debt Piling:

Your debt is going to skyrocket with all the overspending and mood spending.

 

So, the key is not letting your debt pile up in the first place even if you have to reduce using buy now pay later services.

2.   30-Day Rule

Another tip is to not purchase items that might add more to your debt instead of dealing with it.

And the best thing to manage your finances is the 30-Day rule.

It will restrict you from buying anything you want till the 30th day and if you still feel like having it, you surely can.

Conclusion

You know your personal finances can take over everything in your life if you are not keeping a check on them.

When done right, you are able to achieve higher financial goals, like building a good credit score, securing a pretty loan, buying your dream house, and so much more.

Therefore, it is always best to educate yourself about useful personal finance tips while living in Canada.