If you are looking at borrowing from any lender, whether it be a mortgage, car loan, credit card, or even insurance, your credit score will likely be the first thing checked when you fill out a credit application to see if you are worthy of lending to.  While income is definitely factored in for loan approval, credit score is what will decide which rate and terms you can get, or if your score is too low, even being turned away at all.  Even the slightest increase from the best rate could cost … [Read more...]

Talking finances can be a tough situation.  In one respect, you could be concealing yourself in one extreme to the other; hiding that you are secretly wealthy, or are in financial trouble.  Whether you are walking down that aisle, have been married for a decade, or are in a serious relationship where you are sharing the finances, it is better to have your affairs in order the earliest you can, so that you can focus on the goal at hand, which could be paying off debt, saving for a house, or … [Read more...]

When I turned eighteen and signed up for a credit card just because they were giving away a free shirt to the college I had just start attending that fall, I had no idea what a whirlwind of careless spending what was ahead, let alone knowing what a credit score was at the time (boy, was that company smart for soliciting ignorant beginning college students).  What I didn’t realize at the time was my current actions would affect my financial life for years to come.  Credit score is everything when … [Read more...]

I just recently had a baby girl, my first child, and it has brought a lot of thoughts to the forefront that I otherwise never considered. I've been married for 5 years now, but have only had a beefed up insurance policy for the past couple years. I hate thinking about death and mortality, who doesn't? But as my family grows and expands I've noticed that the thought of my death bothers me less and less. I really want to make sure they are protected. Knowing this is what will help me to sleep at … [Read more...]

Having the normal expenses such as a mortgage, utilities, car lease, insurance, not to mention food, gas, and spending, the last thing you want to worry about is a credit card payment if you are already struggling to get by just by meeting your normal monthly financial responsibilities.  As you continue to use you card you will see not only the balance rise, but the minimum payment that goes along with it.  If you want to avoid putting a huge chunk of your income towards your credit card, you … [Read more...]

The Canadian dollar, otherwise known as the loonie is one of the world’s most respected currencies. The Canadian economy is stable and the country’s established democratic system of governance lends further credibility to the CAD as a ranking global currency. The CAD is heavily influenced by commodity prices, notably crude oil. The Canadian economy is reliant on its rich energy resources to fuel economic growth in the country. The IMF considers the CAD to be one of the top 5 most traded … [Read more...]