Guides
Money guides
Pick the situation, get the context, then run the numbers.
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Most-used guides for the big money calls.
15 guides
How much house can I afford in Canada?
A Canadian home affordability guide covering income, debt ratios, down payment, closing costs, stress testing, property taxes, condo fees, maintenance, and safe monthly payments.
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TFSA vs RRSP: which account should Canadians use?
A complete Canadian TFSA vs RRSP guide covering tax differences, income levels, withdrawals, retirement use cases, scenarios, and when each account fits better.
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Should I pay debt or invest?
Decide whether to pay debt or invest by comparing interest rates, guaranteed debt repayment returns, investment risk, high-interest debt, low-interest exceptions, hybrid strategies, and emotional factors.
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How much do I need to retire in Canada?
Estimate your retirement number in Canada using income replacement, annual spending, CPP/OAS/QPP, pensions, inflation, longevity, healthcare, withdrawal rates, and Coast FIRE context.
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5 guides
Housing
Buy, rent, mortgage, and Quebec closing-cost decisions.
How much house can I afford in Canada?
A Canadian home affordability guide covering income, debt ratios, down payment, closing costs, stress testing, property taxes, condo fees, maintenance, and safe monthly payments.
Hidden costs of buying a home in Quebec
Quebec home-buying costs to budget for: welcome tax, notary fees, inspection, insurance, moving, immediate repairs, utility setup, condo special assessments, and maintenance reserves.
Rent vs buy
A rent vs buy guide comparing ownership costs, rent, flexibility, maintenance, down payment opportunity cost, market uncertainty, lifestyle, and example scenarios.
How to Use a Mortgage Calculator Before You Buy
Learn how to use a mortgage calculator to test down payment, rate, amortization, and payment frequency before making a housing decision.
How to Compare Buying vs Renting Without Fooling Yourself
Use a buy vs rent framework that includes time horizon, opportunity cost, housing friction, and renter investing instead of comparing only monthly payment.
5 guides
Retirement & investing
Accounts, retirement targets, compounding, inflation, and Coast FIRE.
TFSA vs RRSP: which account should Canadians use?
A complete Canadian TFSA vs RRSP guide covering tax differences, income levels, withdrawals, retirement use cases, scenarios, and when each account fits better.
How much do I need to retire in Canada?
Estimate your retirement number in Canada using income replacement, annual spending, CPP/OAS/QPP, pensions, inflation, longevity, healthcare, withdrawal rates, and Coast FIRE context.
Coast FIRE explained
Understand Coast FIRE: what it means, how it works, why compounding matters, example age scenarios, risks, lifestyle tradeoffs, and who it suits.
Compound interest explained
A plain-English guide to simple vs compound interest, why time matters, compounding frequency, example growth tables, starting early vs late, and inflation.
Canada Inflation History by Province
Understand inflation in Canada with national CPI history from 1915 to 2025 and province-by-province annual CPI rates from 1980 to 2025.
3 guides
Debt & borrowing
Payoff order, loan cost, APR, and interest tradeoffs.
Should I pay debt or invest?
Decide whether to pay debt or invest by comparing interest rates, guaranteed debt repayment returns, investment risk, high-interest debt, low-interest exceptions, hybrid strategies, and emotional factors.
APR vs interest rate
Understand APR vs interest rate for loans, credit cards, and mortgages, including hidden fees, borrowing cost examples, and how to compare offers.
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Payoff Strategy Fits You?
Compare debt snowball and debt avalanche methods by interest savings, payoff speed, motivation, and execution risk before choosing a payoff strategy.
2 guides
Cash & career
Emergency cash and job-offer decisions.
Emergency fund in Canada
Build a practical Canadian emergency fund using one-month, three-month, and six-month strategies based on job stability, family needs, debt, and where to keep the cash.
How to Compare Job Offers Beyond Salary
Compare job offers using salary, bonus, equity, benefits, commute, taxes, and long-term upside instead of headline compensation alone.
Put it into practice
Move from the guide into a calculator or decision tool
Each guide helps you understand the trade-offs. The calculators and decision tools then help you test those trade-offs with your own numbers.