You’ve put in the long hours and the hard work, and now your small business is off the ground. It's all worth it though, because you can finally call yourself a proud business owner. The last thing you need after all of that is to be stuck sorting piles of receipts and bills when tax time rolls around. Enter the small business credit card.

Talk of a housing slowdown seems a world away in Alberta. The province’s real estate sector is on fire, according to a new report from the Alberta Treasury Board. The agency’s in-depth review of Alberta housing found scorching demand for single-family homes, rising prices, and an outright boom in construction starts. As home sales slow in the rest of Canada, the board says Alberta real estate will be a standout performer in the years ahead.

Investors Group roiled the Canadian mortgage market this week when it announced it was cutting its 36-month variable mortgage rate to 1.99 percent, the lowest rate offered to borrowers in more than two years.  The move stunned many economists and prompted talk of a price war among lenders this summer. With all the buzz surrounding this mortgage product, we decided to dig a little deeper to make sure borrowers don’t get any surprises if they decide to sign up with Investors Group.

Thinking about getting away this summer for a much-needed vacation? Whether you’re trekking across Europe, scuba diving in the Tropics, or going on an African Safari adventure, there are a few things to think about before you start packing those bags, and travel insurance happens to be one of them.

Nobody likes high gas prices. If you’re like most drivers, you’ve probably gotten sticker shock more than a few times when taking a look at how much it costs to fill your tank. Maybe that’s when you first thought about switching to a hybrid. Some drivers have switched to hybrid vehicles for exactly that reason – to save money on gas. Most, however, have adopted these “green cars” as part of a lifestyle choice. But before making the switch, you may be wondering if a hybrid will cost you more in insurance premiums.

Guess what: the best way to establish good credit while still enrolled in school is by regularly using a quality student credit card, and finding one has never been easier!

Have you been treating the maternal figure in your family to a heartwarming Mother’s Day?  The team at LowestRates.ca wishes all families a Happy Mother’s Day today, and wishes to thank all participants who submitted financial advice from their mothers into the MyKindaMom Mother’s Day contest.

Meet Evan who learned about the consequences of speeding shortly after acquiring his G2.  Realizing that his car insurance premiums would skyrocket without being a responsible driver, Evan’s mother had her son pay his own insurance for a whole year after acquiring two speeding tickets – an experience that he says will follow him forever.