Diane Peters

Now is an excellent time to assess your car and look for ways to save amid the snow and cold.

Thinking of renting out your cottage? It can be a great way to earn extra money, but it’s not as simple as handing over the keys. Check out these must-know tips for preparing your property for renters, from safety to rental insurance.

Wondering how to get money for gift cards? These days, there’s a bunch of sites to swap, sell or buy cards at a discount. Check out our top picks.

Time is of the essence when it comes to steep travel discounts – sometimes the sweetest deals can be had from packing a bag and heading to the airport for whatever’s up for grabs. Here are our top last minute travel tips to help you save money – and still vacation safely.

Wondering how to start an RRSP? Check out this beginner’s guide to setting up value-earning retirement savings.

Living with Type ll Diabetes is hard enough- but those with the condition may also be subjected to higher life insurance premiums. Here are 5 steps to take to potentially lower your life insurance premiums, and save some money while living with this chronic disease.

Thanksgiving is a popular time for charitable giving. Here’s what you need to know about using your donation tax credit.

Home closing costs can cost home buyers more than they expect. Here’s what you need to know, especially as a first time home buyer.

Inflation and GDP are indicators of our economy’s health – but do you know how to interpret them? Here’s a quick crash course on knowing the numbers.

Looking to save time and money on school night dinners? Check out our tips for savvy grocery shopping and food prep.

Wondering how to flip a house? It might seem like a lucrative venture, but there are costly pitfalls to be avoided. Read on for our top flipping dos and don’ts.

Sticking close to home doesn’t have to be a drag this summer. If jet-setting or cottaging just isn’t in the budget, why not consider a staycation? Read on for ways to plan the perfect local day, and save money while you’re at it.

This time last year, the CMHC introduced sweeping mortgage rule changes that limited affordability for many mortgage and home buyers. On the anniversary of these changes, how has the housing market – and overall economy – been affected?

Smart credit card use while on vacation can make a big difference to your bill, long after you’ve returned home. Read on for ways to keep spending down, reap rewards, and stay secure while on the road this summer.

Working with a financial advisor? Here are six important areas to discuss as you create your own financial and investing strategy.

Seeking a compromise between low returns and the insecurity of the world’s financial markets is the trick when looking at GICs for your TFSAs right now.

Looking for ways to go green around the house? There are ways to be environmentally friendly for less – and they’ll even save you money over time!

Looking for ways to pay for your wedding? Your rewards credit card can help – if you know how to use it properly.

Trying to save that down payment? It’s no secret that it takes time, patience, and a solid savings strategy. Read on for 4 ways to save up, faster.

Claims can be a lot more complex and you often have to plan for tax season throughout the year.

Without travel insurance coverage, you’re on the hook for your medical bills, and they are not cheap.

Here’s an overview of some of the software programs out there you might like to try to help simplify filing your tax return.

Looking to plan a wedding for cheap? From the dress to the venue, check out these money-saving tips!

If you don’t have a degree in finance, mutual funds and their fees can be hard to understand. But don’t let that stop you from asking hard questions and pushing for more transparency with your money, and protecting your savings.  

Looking to save on your heating bill this winter? Check out our easy ways to stay toasty, without burning up your money!

Thanks to good job news in both Canada and the U.S., North American markets were up in the first week of trading for the month. But it's early days, as they say.

If you're going to brave the crowds, arm yourself with a strategic plan and an eye for true discounts.

Got a gift card you don’t care to redeem? Why not swap it in for cash? A new slew of web sites have cropped up that allow shoppers to do just that. Turn your unwanted gift cards into money, and save yourself a trip to the mall.

Stumped for the perfect gift? Consider giving donations for that hard-to-shop for person on your list. Not only is it for a great cause, but perks like tax benefits are sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Do you love setting up the ultimate Halloween fright fest for trick or treaters? Don’t spend more than you need to on Halloween decor – try out these crafty tricks and save with the DIY approach.

It may be tempting to put off a bill payment, but it comes at the cost of late payment fees and interest – and will stick around on your credit score.

Our national sport is pricey – with fees for ice team, gear, training and travel, many parents can’t afford kids hockey at all. Fortunately, there are a few ways to cut corners when getting your kids on the ice.

A 2009 PayPal study highlights some of those online quirks that drive many of us mad: it found that 56% of online shoppers abandoned their purchases due to shipping charges.

It may be normal to fret over making ends meet, but if your financial anxiety is disrupting your life, it may be time to find help. Reaching out to a financial advisor, and creating a plan to get things back on track, can restore your peace of mind.

Taking out mortgage insurance may seem like a breeze, especially compared to the lengthy process of life insurance. Turns out, you’re paying for that convenience with the quality of your coverage – and you may find yourself without any, right when you need it most.

There are some seriously steep discounts to be had just south of the border. Before you head off to cash in at the outlet malls, though, make sure you understand the rules of paying duty taxes – and how to travel into the U.S. stress-free.

Starting a family is a big deal for your life, your body and your pocketbook. Taking some time off to raise a child, fortunately, is protected by law in Canada, as is your right to have a small income while you’re caring for your baby. However, taking a maternal or parental leave means navigating a complex system full of paperwork, federal and provincial law, and rules that can be hard to understand.

You can’t put a price on healthy, active kids – but coping with the costs of competitive sports is a challenge for many Canadian families. Not only are parents shelling out thousands for gear, registration and travel, but those who take time off to support their kid’s sport may be missing out on income as well.

If you’re new to Canada, your economic challenges can extend beyond getting a mortgage or credit card. Learning the ins and outs of Canada’s financial system – and how to thrive in it – can take time. Many of the big banks have financial literacy programs for newcomers that include perks such as initial free banking.

Paying taxes may be a groan-worthy concept under the best of circumstances – but it’s a whole other ball game when you’re self-employed. No longer relegated to springtime tax season, freelancers need to keep their tax requirements top-of-mind year-round.

We know we’ve been all about the rewards credit cards lately – but that’s because they offer you so many fantastic options! But did you know there are cards out there for the sports fan, art aficionado, even the charitable giver? We take a look at some of the best niche specialty credit cards to help you find the best rate and deals – for all your interests!

It’s Round 1 of our credit card comparison! In the ring today are MBNA and Captial One, duking it out with their rewards features. Who will win? Ultimately you – when you see the great rewards you could be cashing in on.

Now that you’ve handled your debt, it’s time to take money management to the next level – and that’s ensuring your good financial standing. Make your savings work for you by exploring options such as high interest savings accounts and GICs, and learn the ins and outs of applying for loans – without hurting your credit.

After the financial meltdown of 2008, things were not 100 percent economically fantastic here in Canada, but it was nothing like in the U.S. Many of us felt pretty smug about it, really. Our unemployment levels weren’t so bad, our housing prices stayed firm and our banks were a model of efficiency and best practices.

It’s a lot of work to save money and get better service from your providers. Consider these tips if you want to make changes.

When I’m at the checkout, I often open my wallet and pause for a moment, pondering how to pay. Cash? Nope, I’m saving it unless I’m buying a pack of gum. So it’s often the debate between debit and credit card. The final tally, in many ways, is the same. I buy something, I have to pay for it, either now (debit) or later (credit). But the decision is much more complex if you look at the bigger picture.

We cover fraud from time to time on RATESDOTCA, and for a good reason. It’s all over the place, and your money and personal information are at increasing risk. Why? Because all it takes to rip someone off these days is a computer, Wifi, and a remotely clever idea. In the financial sector alone, fraud incidents are worth $650 million a year in Canada. Of that, mortgage fraud makes up $400 million.

Long before every retailer, it seems, began offering points for purchases, there was AirMiles. This versatile rewards program was launched in 1992 and lets you rack up points when you buy stuff at a wide array of places — both in-person and online — and redeem them for kitchen gadgets, event tickets and vacations.

Owning an income property or two is both a great way to make money and a real financial challenge. It’s been an excellent source of income for people over the last decade or so, as real estate prices in Canada have soared. But making money from property is a lot of work, an ongoing expense and requires some financial know-how to, in the end, make it make sense.

If you’re an investor with average knowledge of the markets, chances are you’ve put most of your money into mutual funds. Makes sense: these funds diversify your investments and put your money into a large pool with others.

Most of us who invest, or have retirement money in something like an RRSP (registered retired savings plan) or TFSA (tax-free savings account) have much of our savings in mutual funds. It’s a word we toss around all the time when we visit our bank or financial advisor. But how many of us truly know what they are?

For the last year or so, group-buying sites have been all the rage on the Net. What appeal! You sign up for a site like Groupon, Dealfind or WagJag and get access to killer discounts on a range of products and services like spa days, hotels, sports tickets and restaurants.

When you own your own business, you still might want to do things like own your own home. Imagine that! Here we take a look at the major issue facing business owners when it comes to getting a mortgage and ways you can get around them.

Post-secondary education is no longer a luxury. The best way to prepare for this probably inevitable part of your children’s young adult lives is to save. The very best way to save is through a registered education savings plan (RESP).

What if you want to buy a house with a friend or family member? On first blush, it’s a really smart thing to do. It can mean you both together can afford a house in a nice neighbourhood, instead of a tiny condo. But buyer beware. Sharing the biggest purchase and investment in your life has risks.

I could have saved us thousands of dollars over the last decade by avoiding these errors.

Inflation is basically an increase in the price of goods and services. Economists like to keep inflation at about 2-3%. That means something you buy in one year for a dollar will, at least in theory, cost $1.02 a year later.