For teachers who have summers off, or who are anticipating a 4-over-5 year, travel is often top-of-mind. Having weeks, or even months, off work gives you the ideal opportunity to travel out of country or for long stretches of time. But travel can be prohibitively expensive -- unless you know some travel hacks. The following tips may help bring your summer or 4-over-5 year travel dreams within your reach. Of course, their are some unavoidable expenses like visa's or, if you are travelling to New Zealand, a New Zealand eta, which isn't free. So, where can you save money? Save on transportation Airfare is usually one of the biggest costs associated with travel, but there are many ways to save. Using credit cards strategically to acquire points can help. There are lots of websites devoted to hacking travel and using points more effectively, and a quick search will turn up...
No one needs to convince a teacher about the value of education. As you already know, an education is the best investment you can make. But it's an investment that is getting more and more expensive. Tuition costs are rising and may be out of reach by the time you're children are ready. Starting to plan and save for your children's post-secondary education as early as possible is the best strategy. This handy university calculator will help you determine the cost of a university education in Canada, based on several parameters such as province, school and degree, and give you a savings goal. For more general costs, according to the Government of Canada, "A student attending CEGEP, trade school, college or university full-time today can expect to pay between $2,500 and $6,500 per year—or more—in tuition. Books, supplies, student fees, transportation, housing and other expenses will only add to that...
Holistic health and wellness is a hot topic these days as we have come to understand that lifestyle choices, nutrition, stress levels and exercise all contribute to our state of well-being. Did you know that your financial health is also part of your holistic health picture? Financial wellness is a measure of your knowledge and ability around managing money. Low financial wellness can cause stress and have a negative effect on your physical, mental and emotional health. According to a 2015 study conducted by Environics Research Group, about 45% of Canadians surveyed had a low level of financial wellness. What this essentially means is that they don't feel well prepared for emergencies, the unexpected or the future. People with a low level of financial wellness worry about covering bills, and feel stressed about paying for their children's educations, their retirement years and replacing lost income, should they or their spouse...
Top 3 reasons you need to do some estate planning Even if you don't think you have an estate, think again. An estate is simply the totality of an individual's ownership of money, real estate and personal property. These are just a few of the reasons that people are confused and are asking, "Do I need to do estate planning"? In essence, an estate plan establishes your wishes for the transfer of your money and property and the care of your children in the event of your death. As discussed in our blog post 4 Tips for Making Estate Planning Easier, an estate plan provides legal clarity. A well-rounded estate plan includes a will, named executor, power of attorney, a full list of assets and accounts and other financial details. Here are the top 3 reasons you need one. 1. Avoid unnecessary expenses and hassles Though there are no inheritance...
