We’re pleased to welcome Rubina Ahmed-Haq as a writing contributor to the Oaken Blog. Rubina is a highly regarded personal finance expert, and provides her thoughtful commentary for media outlets including the CBC and Global News. Rubina also writes for several magazines, and has her own website at alwayssavemoney.com. We’re especially excited to announce that … read more
There are many key milestones in life: that first job, marriage, the birth of a child – even retirement. These events all bring about changes, and can lead to lots of questions. For those actively saving and planning for retirement, these questions are typically along the lines of “how much money do I need to … read more
By his own admission, Marc is a frugal individual. He also has a long history of trying to live in an environmentally responsible manner, and it is personally important for him that his investments align with his values and ethics. Marc may have been an early advocate for what we now refer to as Socially … read more
Back in the 1980s, one of Canada’s biggest insurance companies launched an advertising campaign to promote the idea of retiring at the age of 55. It was a very clever marketing strategy, and became hugely popular. As Canadians of a certain generation will readily attest, the magic number of 55 soon lodged in people’s minds … read more
One question that every young person should ask themselves is “How do I start saving for retirement?”. And another question that many older people may ask is “Is it too late to start saving for retirement?”. Of course, if more people asked themselves the first one, far fewer would end up asking the second. Many … read more
You’ve probably heard stories about how people have been able to save astonishingly large amounts of money, simply by throwing their spare change into a jar they keep on their dresser at the end of each day. With the rise in use of electronic payments these days, this approach to saving may now be a … read more
How many times have you heard someone bragging about the great deal they got by booking their trip at the last minute? And why can’t you find similar deals? Well, we’re about to give you seven tips that can help you find your own travel deals. But first, let’s clear up a little misconception about what … read more
If you intend to contribute to your RSP this year, you still have a few weeks to get in before the deadline of March 1. For the 2016 tax year, you may contribute up to 18% of your 2016 income, to a maximum of $25,370. As always, you can carry unused contribution amounts forward, thereby … read more
In late 2015, Canada recorded an ominous milestone. For the first time, there were more Canadians over the age of 65 than under the age of 15. This aging of the Canadian population is the result of the Baby Boomer generation (defined as those born between 1945 and 1965), and its significant membership winding down their … read more
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the term “Money Illusion” is some kind of magic trick. And while it does suggest that things are not as they appear, there’s nothing magical about it. The term Money Illusion describes the tendency many of us have when we think of money in absolute amounts, and not in … read more
