40,000 vets left waiting
The number of veterans waiting to find out whether they qualify for disability benefits has continued to balloon despite repeated promises to fix the mess. New figures from Veterans Affairs Canada show almost 40,000 veterans were waiting at the end of November to hear whether their applications for financial assistance would be approved. Not only […]
Manitoba to cut sales tax
Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government included a long-promised provincial sales tax cut in its annual budget Thursday — a move that could pave the way for a possible early election. The government said it plans to cut the tax to seven per cent from eight per cent as of July 1, which will save the average […]
This is the Number 1 obstacle keeping people from buying a home
Forget student loans. Insufficient income is the No. 1 hurdle keeping many people from buying a home. More than half of the participants in a survey by Bankrate.com cited inadequate income as a barrier to homeownership. The personal finance site polled 2,668 adults between Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. In fact, when it comes to […]
Personal Finance Courses Help Students Get Better College Funding, Study Finds
Students exposed to personal finance courses in high school tend make better decisions in terms of paying for college, a Montana State University study shows. In particular, it found that those who lived in states requiring financial literacy courses to graduate from high school tended to be better at using federal financial aid, including being […]
What to Do If You Face a Financial Crisis
If you lost your job, faced a health crisis that prevented you from working, or had to pony up a large, emergency expense, would you be able to cover your expenses? Even if you have a well-stocked emergency fund, you may need to find extra money or trim expenses. And it’s always a good idea […]
5 weird tax deductions the IRS has allowed
You probably know by now that charitable deductions are tax-deductible. But how about the cost of caring for your pet? Or your kid’s clarinet lessons? In select cases, the IRS has permitted taxpayers to deduct off-beat expenses on their tax returns. Here’s the key: Those costs must meet certain conditions; they can’t just be personal […]