Insurance is a very complicated concept for many of us.  Questions of how much insurance do we need, what are the most affordable rates, how long should insurance plans remain in effect – all important questions with answers that will be unique to each one of us.

Stats Canada data from 2006 through 2011 show that a greater percentage of Canadian renters devote a larger portion of their monthly earnings to their household expenses than homeowners.  The actual monthly cost in dollars for homeowners is higher than for renters, but a larger proportion of renters are devoting over one third of their earnings to keeping a roof over their heads.

Ottawa’s efforts to tighten the country’s mortgage rules last year seemed to work – for a while. Sales fell and prices stopped climbing as many Canadians found it tougher to get a loan. Many first-time buyers were particularly hard hit by the clampdown, because they had to save for a larger down payment and needed larger incomes to qualify for a mortgage.

Family members attempt to catch last minute flights home for the holiday, while shoppers on both sides of the border prepare for holiday sales.

Whether you're moving out for the first time, need more space or you're just tired of renting, before you can buy your first home, you need to find your mortgage.

November is Financial Literacy Month, and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada invites all Canadian citizens to participate and gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to make the best financial decisions for themselves and their families. 

Attention mortgage borrowers: do you have life insurance? We’re guessing the answer is probably no, and that would be a bad thing.

Whether we are processing cheques with our smartphones or tapping our credit cards without need of a pin or signature, technology brings convenience to our daily activities. And with the looming fear of credit card fraud across Canada we need to find ways to protect ourselves from electronic pickpocketing.   

The latest announcement from the Bank of Canada stated that the country’s overnight interest rate will remain locked at 1 percent for a longer period of time.