Financial Guides for Canada
Guides written for Canada — its tax rules, benefits and cost benchmarks — plus the cross-border comparisons that apply wherever you live. Figures in $. Looking for another country? Browse all 110 guides.
25 articles
When to Take CPP: 60, 65 or 70
The CPP timing decision in Canada — a 36% cut at 60, a 42% increase at 70, where break-even actually falls, and how it interacts with the OAS clawback.
Read article →Land Transfer Tax by Province in Canada (2026)
Land transfer tax ranges from nothing in Alberta to five figures in Toronto. The 2026 provincial rates, the Toronto double charge.
Read article →Renting vs Buying in Canada (2026): The Real 5-Year Numbers
The honest Canadian rent-vs-buy comparison — down payment, land transfer tax, CMHC premium, the stress test and the opportunity cost of your deposit.
Read article →The True Cost of Buying a Home: 6-Country Comparison (2026)
What it really costs to buy in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland — typical prices, deposit rules.
Read article →How Much a Wedding Costs: 6-Country Comparison (2026)
Average wedding costs compared across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland — what drives the bill, and the levers that cut it most.
Read article →State Pension Age & Amount: 6-Country Comparison (2026)
When you can claim a public pension and how much you get in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland.
Read article →Graduate Salary & Student Debt: 6-Country Comparison (2026)
What graduates earn and owe in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland — starting salaries and how student debt works (or barely exists) in.
Read article →How Much Remote Work Saves: 6-Country Comparison (2026)
The real annual savings from working remotely in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland — commuting, lunches, clothing.
Read article →The True Cost of Owning a Car: 6-Country Comparison (2026)
The real 5-year cost of car ownership in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland — depreciation, insurance, fuel and tax.
Read article →Baby's First Year Cost: 6-Country Comparison (2026)
Year-one baby costs compared across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and Switzerland — birth, childcare.
Read article →Parental Leave by Province in Canada (2026)
Job-protected maternity and parental leave length by province — Ontario, BC, Alberta and more — and how it differs from federal EI benefit weeks.
Read article →FHSA: The First-Home Account That Beats Both RRSP and TFSA
Deductible going in, tax-free coming out — the $8,000/year FHSA rules, stacking with the $60,000 Home Buyers Plan, and the moves first-home savers miss.
Read article →Closing Costs in Canada: The 1.5–4% Nobody Budgets For
Land transfer tax by province, the Toronto double-tax, legal fees, the PST-on-CMHC cash sting, and the first-time buyer rebates that claw thousands back.
Read article →EI Maternity & Parental Leave Canada 2026: What You Get
EI maternity and parental benefits for 2026 — the $729/week standard and $437/week extended caps, the 600-hour qualifying rule, standard vs extended.
Read article →RRSP vs TFSA in Canada: Which Should You Fill First?
The marginal-rate decision rule, contribution room mechanics, the withdrawal traps, and the practical default order for most Canadians.
Read article →Index Funds vs. Actively Managed Funds: The 20-Year Study
Over 20 years, 90%+ of actively managed funds underperform their index. The data, the math, and what to buy instead.
Read article →The Real Cost of a Pet: Year One and Lifetime
Dogs cost $15,000–$55,000 lifetime. Cats $8,000–$25,000. The full breakdown including the veterinary expenses most new owners miss.
Read article →Life Insurance With Kids: How Much Do You Need?
10x income rule vs. DIME method vs. human life value approach — the right calculation for your specific situation.
Read article →Rent vs. Buy: The Real 5-Year Financial Analysis
The NY Times rent vs. buy calculator methodology, break-even analysis, and why "throwing money away" on rent is a myth.
Read article →How Much Emergency Fund Do You Actually Need?
The 3–6 month rule is too vague. How to calculate your exact target based on job stability, income type, and health situation.
Read article →The Real Cost of Burnout: Financial and Career Impacts
Lost productivity, job loss risk, medical costs, and the 3-year career setback most people don't quantify before it's too late.
Read article →Disability Insurance: The Cover Most People Skip
You're 3× more likely to be disabled than to die during working years. How much coverage, what type, and how to get it.
Read article →Career Change at 35: The Real Financial Cost and ROI
Income gap, retraining costs, credential costs, and the 10-year payback analysis for common career pivots.
Read article →How Much House Can You Afford? Not What the Bank Says
Banks approve you for the maximum they'll lend — often more than you should borrow. The real affordability calculation.
Read article →Debt Avalanche vs. Snowball: Which Saves More in 2026
Mathematical comparison with real numbers — and the psychology case for each method.
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