Personal Finance in Canada Checklist: How To Manage Your Personal Finances

Managing money is important for all of us. As the cost of living in Canada increases, money worries are among the most common sources of stress. If you’re looking for simple ways to take control of your money and improve your financial situation, this guide should come in handy.

Tips for Reducing Spending

It’s no secret that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to save money, but there are some simple ways you can reduce spending and eliminate expenses:

• Analyse statements and track transactions.
• Look for costs you can reduce or cut out, for example, subscriptions you don’t use.
• Draw up a monthly budget to manage spending.
• Use your budget to set spending limits.
• Calculate how much disposable income you have; prioritise paying off debt to reduce interest payments.
• Transfer a sum of money to your savings account each month.
• Try to avoid using credit cards or taking out loans to cover non-essentials.
• Shop around for the best deals and offers on expenses, including utilities, groceries, household items, insurance policies, TV and broadband, and phone contracts.

Debt Reduction Strategies

The majority of Canadians are living with one of two different types of debt. Before you panic, it’s crucial to understand the difference between debts that include your mortgage, for example, and consumer debt. 

Consumer debt is debt that covers purchases and acquisitions for consumption by an individual or household. Buying an expensive car, paying for new furniture, or splashing out on an exotic vacation may be classed as consumer debt.

If you have a mortgage, are in control of your debts, cover your repayments, and don’t rely on credit cards or loans to get by, there’s no need to worry. 

If you use credit cards regularly, your balances are increasing, or you have multiple loans, there is a risk of losing control. Debts can spiral very quickly, especially if you take out loans and credit cards with high interest rates. 

There are several effective strategies for debt reduction. Here are our tips:

• Use savings before borrowing money. One of the golden rules to follow is to use savings before borrowing money. If you take out a loan, you’ll have to pay interest, which will mean that you pay back more than you borrow. Paying off loans and clearing debts using your savings will help to lower monthly payments. It will also help you to improve your credit score. 
• Try to tackle high-interest debts first. Paying interest on loans and credit cards is one of the main reasons why it’s difficult to get out of debt. If you’re paying interest every month, this will eat into your income, leaving you with less money to pay bills, cover expenses, and make a dent in your debts. Try to tackle high-interest debts first to reduce interest charges. 
• Transfer your credit card balance. Many credit card providers offer incentives for new customers, including 0% balance transfers. If you have a credit card and you’re paying interest, look for offers to transfer your balance to a card with a lower interest rate.
• Seek expert advice. If your debts are increasing and you’re at risk of missing payments, it’s crucial to seek expert advice. Finance experts and advisers can offer tailored advice and recommendations to help you manage your debts and prevent the situation from getting worse. Look for reputable firms and use online resources from trusted websites. 
• Avoid temptation. For many of us, it’s difficult to avoid temptation. If we see something we want to buy, we put it on a credit card and vow to pay it off later. The trouble is that this kind of attitude to personal finance can contribute to living beyond our means and accruing debt. If you find it hard to keep your credit cards in your wallet, cut them up, lower the limit, or give them to a friend or your partner to look after. 
• Consider credit counseling. Credit counseling is designed to provide help with finances. Working with a counselor can help you to consolidate your debts, work out a payment plan, and embrace new habits. All of this gives you more control over spending and saving. 

How To Improve Your Credit Score

Finding out your credit score is a good place to start when being proactive with managing your money. Your credit score is a rating used by banks and lenders to determine the level of risk you pose. If you have a high score, this means there is a low risk of you failing to pay money back.

If your credit score is low, this means that the lender believes you are at risk of missing payments. It’s hugely beneficial to try to improve your credit score, as this will help you borrow money and enable you to access credit and preferential interest rates. 

The average credit score in Canada is around 650, according to TransUnion, one of the main credit bureaus. This figure represents a good score. A rating of 750 or over is classed as excellent. 

If you have a low credit score between 300 and 575, you may find it hard to borrow money. If you do take out a loan, the interest rates will be much higher. Here are some tips for improving credit scores:

1. Keep up with loan and mortgage repayments.
2. Pay bills on time.
3. Pay at least the minimum repayment on your credit card each month.
4. Avoid borrowing if you are already in debt; this will increase your debt-to-income ratio.
5. Pay off credit cards in full whenever possible to build your credit history.
6. Check that your personal details are up to date.
7. Reduce consumer debts.

Planning for the Future

It’s essential to focus on the present when managing your money, especially if you have debts on top of your mortgage. However, it’s also beneficial to plan for the future. Retirement may seem like it’s a long way off, but it’s never too soon to start putting money aside.

The more you can save for your retirement, the lower the risk of financial pressures once you stop working. One of the best ways to save is to use a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP). 

An RRSP is essentially a financial agreement with the government. If you register and start paying into your plan, the government will allow you to deduct your contribution from your taxable income and save tax-free.

If you earn $80,000 per year, for example, and you contribute $10,000 to your RRSP, this sum will be deducted from your annual taxable income, meaning you will only be liable to pay tax on $70,000. You can continue to save money in your RRSP tax-free until you withdraw your funds. 

Additional services for those planning for retirement include the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS). These are monthly benefits given to Canadians when they retire. 

Personal Finance Tips for Immigrants

If you’re moving to Canada, here are some top finance tips:

• Open a Canadian bank account as soon as possible; look for banks that offer packages for new arrivals.
• Seek advice about paying taxes and investing as an immigrant.
• Explore tax-free savings options and accounts.
• Set up an RRSP.
• Start building your credit history to increase your credit score.
• Apply for a credit card; shop around for the best deals and make sure you pay off your card every month.