Pennysaverblog – Page 236 – Smart Finance and Money Saving Tips

General

Learn For Free Using Khan Academy

If you like learning, you will find some amazing free resources on the Internet for pretty much every topic under the sun. Although there are many great learning websites these days, I want to particularly mention Khan Academy, a not for profit website designed to help you learn without spending money or having to step outside your doorstep.

Khan Academy is a website that has a vast library of material covering a wide range of topics from science to accounting, to all kinds of mathematics. Just type in the subject you want and it will bring you to the related material you are looking for. You will find informative videos that are very well put together. You will almost feel like you are sitting in a classroom.

December 3, 2012

General

Save Money On Insurance

When considering most types of insurance policies, it can be easy to see if and why you need them.

You insure your car because the law says you have to. You insure your home contents because if you were burgled it would cost far more to replace everything than you would pay in insurance premiums.

It is usually pretty simple to figure out how much you want to insure these things for and for what length of time. When it comes to life insurance however, things are different.

December 1, 2012

Investing

Increase To TFSA Contribution Room For 2013

The Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) was first introduced by the Canadian government in 2009. Each year Canadians aged 18 and over could contribute up to $5000 per year into their TFSA and not be taxed on any earnings made on their contributions.

The government recently announced, however, that starting in the year 2013, Canadians will be able to contribute $5500 rather than the original $5000. They did this in order to account for inflation. This is good news for Canadians as it allows them to invest a little bit more each year without having to pay tax on their investment earnings. This is especially good news for those of you who are using your TFSA in order to save for retirement or other long term goals. The more room you have to contribute, the more you can take advantage of the tax break on investment earnings over the long term.

November 29, 2012

Debt

Holiday Expenses Can Be Expensive

With the December holidays almost upon us, many people will find themselves under financial strain as they struggle to afford all the extra costs that seem to mount up at this time of year. Could a short-term loan be the right solution for you?

Even if you’ve paced your spending and purchased some of your gifts ahead of time, there never seems to be quite enough. Maybe you have extra gifts to get for unexpected visitors; or maybe you splurged a little too much early on and now find that the last few presents are straining your finances. Food and drink can also be a major expense, especially if you’re hosting the festivities this year. If you’re travelling or helping your loved ones to get home for the holidays, this can also create extra costs – especially if air travel or a long distance trip is involved.

November 27, 2012

Taxes

How Students Can Reduce Their Income Tax

There are a number of ways that students can reduce their income tax. Below are a few things you will want to know about if you are a student in Canada.

The Tuition Tax Credit

If you have to pay $100 or more for tuition fees, you can claim a tuition fee tax credit which is equal to 15% of the tuition that you paid. Keep in mind, the tuition must be paid to a recognized educational institution and it must be for post secondary courses.

The Education Tax Credit

For each month that you are enrolled full time in a qualified post secondary institution, you can claim the education tax credit. Right now, the amount eligible each month is $60 but that is subject to change at any time, as are any of the other tax rules. You would be eligible for the education tax credit as long as the courses you are taking are related to your employment. You will not benefit from this if your employer is paying for your education.

November 26, 2012

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