Sticking to a budget is hard enough while on vacation in a foreign country. Add to that elusive fees, such as the foreign transaction fee on credit cards that tacks on a few extra dollars and cents to all purchases made abroad, and it becomes all that much harder. What is a foreign transaction fee? […]
By RateHub.ca When it comes to budgeting for your vacations, travel insurance is one of those things that’s often overlooked. It’s easy to understand why: we have publicly funded healthcare in Canada, so many people assume that benefit applies to wherever we travel in the world. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. The cost of seeking […]
Buying with credit is safer than debit Debit cards provide a convenient method to make everyday purchases without the need to carry around wads of cash. While they benefit from the safety of a PIN number and daily withdrawal limits, debit cards can become compromised and fall victim to identity theft and fraud. Debit card […]
When it comes to saving up for a down payment on your first home, it’s best to do so in a dedicated account. Because saving up for a down payment might take a few years, it’s even better to put your money in a tax-sheltered account like an RRSP or a TFSA. But which account […]
You finally managed to save enough for a down payment when you’re suddenly surprised by the unexpected costs of buying your dream home. With moving expenses, lawyers’ fees, home inspections, title insurance, renovations and repairs, many experts suggest you put aside up to 5% of the price of your home to pay the bills. Don’t […]
When it comes to buying a home, your down payment is an integral part of the equation. How much down payment for a house you pay, determines your mortgage payments, how much mortgage insurance you pay (if any), and the amount of equity you have in your home. The larger your down payment, the better. But […]
Canada’s household debt is at a record high: it’s expected to rise to 174% this year (it was at 171% at the end of 2015). This means that for every $100 of disposable income, households have debt payment requirements of $171. A recent report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that of any other G7 […]
There are dozens of rewards programs in Canada that promise to turn your everyday spending into free trips, car rentals, or swag, but which rewards program will get you the most bang for your buck? We explore the top rewards programs along with their associated credit cards in Canada to find out which program is […]
The majority of Canadians will buy a property at some point in their lives. With the housing bubble in Canada continuing to grow, all kinds of home buyers are weighing their options and making decisions. But who are these people are where do you fit? We’ve listed out the three types of home buyers, including […]
We found that many consumers have a solid knowledge how mortgages work but there is more uncertainty around closing costs. That is why we asked our friends at the financial services comparison site RateHub.ca to share with us their insights about closing costs. Closing costs are all the costs you’ll need to pay for in […]
