Personal Finance

Better Finances for a Better You

Topic: "Financial Literacy"

← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful information about your money.

Serious stuff

Financial literacy is one of the most important skills you can develop in your life, but it can often be daunting and overwhelming. There is a new free Financial Literacy course on Khan Academy. From understanding interest rates to navigating the stock market, this course breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-understand lessons that will empower you to take control of your money.

Take your finances to the next level with the practical tips and step-by-step guidance from Khan Academy →

Word of the week

Financial Resilience

Financial resilience is the ability to withstand life events that impact one's income and/or assets.

Steps Toward Financial Resilience →

Serious stuff

Ontario students will soon be required to pass a financial literacy test as part of a number of changes coming to the requirements needed to earn a high school diploma. Education Minister Stephen Lecce says students will learn home economics such as managing a household budget and how to protect themselves against financial fraud. He says students will need at least 70 per cent on the financial literacy test in order to graduate and it will first be offered in Grade 10 math.

Ontario requiring high school financial literacy test by The Canadian Press →

Budgeting

Tips to teach budgeting for kids

  1. Let your kids earn their money
  2. Discuss wants and needs
  3. Set savings goals
  4. Offer your kids a savings incentive
  5. Let your kids learn from mistakes
Teach your kids how to save money early. Discover helpful tips about how to teach kids budgeting skills →

Word of the week

Financial Literacy

Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. The earlier you start, the better off you will be, because education is the key to success when it comes to money.

Financial Literacy: What It Is, and Why It Is So Important →

Word of the week

Cost of Borrowing

The total cost for you to borrow money. This includes the principal amount of the loan, interest, fees and any other costs associated with the loan.

Keep track of all your debt and the true cost of borrowing →

Investing

What is the stock market and how does it work?

Investing in the stock market is a good way to build wealth over time, but it can feel a little intimidating to get started.

The Stock Market, explained →

Word of the week

Credit Score

"Your credit score is a three-digit number that comes from the information in your credit report. It shows how well you manage credit and how risky it would be for a lender to lend you money. Your credit score is calculated using a formula based on your credit report. Note that you: - get points if you use your credit responsibly - lose points if you have trouble managing your credit Your credit score will change over time as your credit report is updated."

Learn more about your credit score →

Investing

9 easy steps to start investing in Canada:

1. Assess your risk tolerance 2. Choose Your Investing Style 3. Decide How Much You Can Invest 4. Pick the Right Kind of Stock Investments 5. Choose a broker 6. Open the right investment account 7. Diversify Your Stocks 8. Keep a Steady Eye on Your Portfolio 9. Invest Consistently for the Long-Term

How to Start Investing in Canada: 9 Steps to Success →

Word of the week

Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

An ETF is essentially a basket of investments such as stocks or bonds. In this sense they’re similar to mutual funds, but unlike mutual funds, shares of ETFs can be traded throughout the day on an exchange, much like an individual stock.

Learn about the benefits of ETFs →

Serious stuff

Take this self-assessment quiz to figure out how your financial literacy skills and knowledge measure up compared to other Canadians.

Financial literacy self-assessment quiz →

Word of the week

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It's the yearly interest rate you pay on a loan or credit card. However, a credit card's advertised APR isn't the true interest rate because it compounds daily.

Learn how to calculate the effective APR to find a credit card's true interest rate →

Word of the week

Compound Interest

Compound interest is the interest on savings calculated on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods.

Discover the magic of compounding and why it's important to increasing wealth →

Quote of the week

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."

- Benjamin Franklin

Word of the week

GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate)

"Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) and term deposits are secured investments. This means that you get back the amount you invest at the end of your term. The key difference between a GIC and a term deposit is the length of the term. Term deposits generally have shorter terms than GICs."

Learn about the key details before buying a GIC →

← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful information about your money.