5 Reasons for a variable-rate Mortgage

One of the big decisions homeowners face is whether to choose a fixed- or variable-rate mortgage. Now may be the time to go variable. A fixed-rate mortgage locks in an interest rate and the payment stays constant over the term. For new homeowners taking on a huge debt, this may help them sleep at night. Read More »

How credit score gets calculated

To get the best deal on a loan, you need some new strategies to bump up your score – and keep it there. Read More »

Recession is a great time to start a new business

Recession can bring with it opportunities as well as threats.

And even if starting up a new business when the economy is shrinking does prove to be a baptism of fire, it could strengthen you in the long run. If you survive, think how well you’ll perform when the good times return.

Here are some of the ways you can withstand a recession when you start a new business. Read More »

The 45 best ways to grow your money

When we set out to look for the 45 best ways to grow your money, we had a few criteria in mind. We wanted ideas that were widely applicable (so we weren’t interested in specialized tax shelters or tax loopholes that were only open to a favored few). We also wanted ideas that had stood the test of time (so we rejected a lot of flavor-of-the-month notions, such as buying gold futures or loading up on oil stocks). Finally, we wanted our ideas to represent the full span of personal finance, from basic notions to more advanced concepts. Read More »

10 things they won’t tell you about retirement

If you’re like many middle-aged Canadians,you used to think that you would retire at 55. Now you’re hoping for 65. Once you used to smile fondly at the retirement ads that showed laughing grey-haired couples golfing in tropical paradises. Now you have an overwhelming desire to jump out of the sand trap and smack those smug retirees with a nine iron. Read More »

Obama plan aims for 2.5M new jobs by 2011

U.S. president-elect Barack Obama has announced a plan aimed at creating 2.5 million jobs by January 2011. Read More »

What to Do With $5,000

OK, so you have $5,000 burning a hole in your pocket, and you’re itching to do something with it. Here are some ideas. Read More »