Ask MoneySense We are a blended family. My husband, 50, owns a rental property with a $330,000 variable-rate mortgage and receives $3,400 a month in rent, which covers the mortgage and leaves roughly $1,000 extra. He has a $50,000 line of credit that he regularly maxes out. He also has about $200,000 in an RRSP … Read more

Deciding to expand your family is one of the most consequential choices you can make. Parenthood affects your finances, daily routines and long-term plans. In 2011, MoneySense published what it considered to be the most thorough estimate at the time of the average cost to raise a Canadian child to age 18. That analysis was … Read more

If you’ve just earned your driver’s licence in Ontario, congratulations — and be prepared for the reality of car insurance costs. Many people assume teen drivers always face the highest premiums, but the key issue is inexperience. New drivers of any age typically pay more because insurers see them as higher risk. Below are typical … Read more

Ask MoneySense I don’t quite understand how inflation indexed funds works. I thought during high inflation periods of time, like 2022, the fund should have performed well, but in reality it is the opposite. My inflation-linked bond fund had a negative return (about -15%), and even the benchmark is negative. Why is this?—Ray Inflation and … Read more

Kyle Prevost, editor of Million Dollar Journey and founder of the Canadian Financial Summit, summarizes recent financial headlines and provides context for Canadian investors. Nvidia profiting from the AI boom The old saying about the gold rush still applies: those who sold the picks and shovels often prospered more reliably than those who chased the … Read more

What is a credit score, and why does it matter for your finances? Whenever you apply to borrow money—a loan, a line of credit or a new credit card—lenders review your credit rating. Your credit score is a major part of that picture and influences the terms, interest rates and approval decisions lenders make. Resource … Read more

Food prices in Canada have risen sharply in recent years. After food inflation jumped 10.5% in 2022, Canada’s Food Price Report forecasted another 5%–7% increase in 2023. Even as grocery bills trigger sticker shock, many households still discard a significant share of what they buy. On average, Canadian families of four throw away roughly 10% … Read more

Chris Guillebeau has long taken an unconventional approach to work and life. He is the author of bestselling books about building independence and income on your own terms, including Side Hustle, The $100 Startup and The Art of Non-Conformity, and he hosts the daily podcast Side Hustle School. In his latest book, Gonzo Capitalism: How … Read more

CONCEPT: The Money Revolution pushed modern society to a point where almost everything can be sold. Skills, talents, hobbies and knowledge are monetizable, and decentralized platforms let people enter the market immediately—without banks or traditional gatekeepers. Massive economic shocks tend to accelerate change, and the pandemic delivered one of the most disruptive shocks in recent … Read more

In recent years, thousands of Canadians have launched side hustles and small businesses, many discovering new ways to earn extra income. Surveys conducted during and after the pandemic found a notable surge in entrepreneurship: a large share of newer ventures began during the pandemic, and many Canadians have continued to consider launching or expanding part-time … Read more