Part 4 – Budgeting SUCCESS – Tips, Tools, and Resources

    In this four-part budgeting series, I used tools to track my income and spending, I’ve estimated income and expenses, I’ve compared the results to my estimates, and I have learned more about where my money comes from and where it goes. How did this go for me? It went well but not without some challenges. […]

    Guest Blog3 min read
    Part 3 – Creating my Budget

    To create your budget, you’ll need to know how much money you expect to receive next month, how much you think you will need for expenses, and how you will prioritize your spending. As I review my Expense Tracker and Income Tracker from last month, I think about the upcoming month and consider whether: any […]

    Guest Blog1.5 min read
    Part 2 – Balancing my budget needs vs. wants

    In my last blog post, I explained how I needed to review my income and expenses to get a complete picture of my finances. I tracked my income and expenses for a full month so I could see how much was coming in and how much was going out. Am I managing my money effectively? […]

    Guest Blog2 min read
    Part 1 -A simple two-step budgeting process sure to help you in 2024

    I recently experienced a reduction in my income for the first time in decades while at the same time, the cost of living in Manitoba has been going up rapidly. Grocery prices alone increased 9.1% from April 2022 to April 2023 as did gas, utilities, rent, interest rates, etc. With all these financial pressures in […]

    Guest Blog2 min read
    A Reason to Look Forward to Tax Season

    As we continue to barrel through a so-far remarkably warm winter in much of Manitoba, February fun is on the horizon in the form of cross-country skiing, ice fishing, skating, and the world-famous Festival Du Voyageur! Sure, Valentine’s Day is nice for some folks, especially if you have a sweet tooth, but the real date […]

    Family Matters Guest Blog4 min read
    Income Boosting Benefits and How To Get Them

    For families on social assistance with children, benefit income can add up to almost 40% of their annual household income. Evidence from Canada and the U.S. shows that many low-income earners can quickly increase their family’s income by as much as 50% by accessing benefits they are entitled to. TOOLS and STRATEGIES to ACCESS BENEFITS […]

    Family Matters Guest Blog5 min read
    “What will happen to my child after I’m gone?” 

    Parents of children with an intellectual disability often worry about what the future holds, and at some point have to ask the question, “What will happen to them when I am gone?” In a fast-paced world, with technology at our fingertips, we can quickly access information on a wide array of topics. But for someone […]

    Family Matters Guest Blog2 min read
    Youth panelist shares three simple steps young adults can take to get ahead financially

              Imagine you are 60-years-old, and that you have over $3-million invested, and it was growing? I mean, how would your life be? Cheerful? Calm? Stress-free and worry-free, regarding your financial future? But here is the truth, many Canadians are not on track, and may never be able, to retire comfortably. […]

    Family Matters Guest Blog Home Ownership Investing3 min read
    Four steps to take before jumping into crypto investments

    The increasing popularity of crypto assets and the ongoing media coverage of coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum have piqued the interest of many new and experienced investors alike. Whether you’re interested in investing in crypto assets or simply learning more, consider the following before jumping in: 1) Understand your risk tolerance Crypto assets are high-risk […]

    Guest Blog Investing4 min read
    Be the Change – Let’s Talk About Fraud

    I remember when my dad’s bike was stolen as a kid – from our garage. We were all shaken after the event, and couldn’t believe how close the thief got to us. After the bike was stolen, my dad did a few things to combat the situation – he told our neighbours so others were […]

    Fraud Guest Blog4 min read