The Smart Canadian's Guide to Saving Money : Pat Foran Is On Your Side, Helping You to Stop Wasting Money, Start Saving It, and Build Your Wealth

Canada's top consumer advocate returns with more financial advice. Canadian consumers are focused on spending and managing what money they do have wisely, but have more questions than answers on most financial topics. Television personality and consumer advocate Pat Foran shares tips and strategies about the questions and issues he sees most often, and explains how some little things can soon add up to a lot of money. Some of the topics covered include: Credit and loyalty cards, and what kind of deal they really are How much insurance is enough – and what kinds do most people need? How to shop for a vehicle, and if it's worth it to import from the US Mortgages, tax breaks, and other complicated financial decisions Getting the most bang for your buck, whether while shopping or travelling Packed with money-saving advice, this title will also include the latest information on marketplace trends, the investment climate, housing prices, interest rates, and other techniques for savings. As an added bonus, Pat has included quotes and comments from prominent Canadian businesspeople and celebrities about the best financial advice they've received in their lifetimes. Pat Foran is seen by millions of Canadians each week as the Consumer Reporter for CFTO News , and Consumer Expert on CTV's Canada AM . His "Consumer Alert" segment is currently on CFTO's noon, six o'clock and eleven-thirty newscasts, five days a week with an audience of 700,000 viewers, and he appears on Canada AM , Canada's number-one national morning show every week, dispensing financial and consumer advice. Title......Page 3 Copyright......Page 4 Table of Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 9 1 Confronting the Debt Challenge......Page 10 2 Taking Wisdom from Successful Canadians......Page 15 3 Checking In with the Wealthy Barber......Page 31 4 Living Next Door to a Millionaire......Page 35 5 Finding Out What Makes Canadian Millionaires Tick......Page 41 6 Asking Experts What the Economic Future Holds......Page 52 7 What We Learned from Black October 2008......Page 58 8 Keeping Calm During Troubled Times......Page 62 9 Calculating Your Financial Worth......Page 67 10 Monitoring Your Expenses......Page 71 11 Seeing Marriage as a Partnership......Page 74 12 Should you sign a Prenup?......Page 76 13 Setting Goals......Page 80 Part 1: Reducing Debt......Page 82 14 Attending Credit Counselling......Page 84 15 Consolidating Debt......Page 89 16 Curbing Bad Spending Habits......Page 92 17 Differentiating Good Debt from Bad Debt......Page 96 18 Establishing an Emergency Fund......Page 99 19 Hopping from Credit Card to Credit Card......Page 102 20 Bidding Farewell to Your Credit Cards......Page 107 21 Obtaining Your Credit Score and Credit Report......Page 109 22 Dealing with Collection Agencies......Page 116 23 Steering Clear of Payday Loan Services......Page 118 24 Declaring Bankruptcy......Page 121 25 Avoiding Credit Repair Agencies......Page 127 Part 2: Saving Money......Page 129 26 Tax Savings: New Rules Can Save You Money......Page 131 27 The Tax-Free Savings Account......Page 133 28 Understanding Interest Rates......Page 137 29 Choosing the Right Credit Card......Page 141 30 Getting the Best Car Insurance......Page 144 31 Buying Life and Disability Insurance......Page 153 32 Doing Your Income Taxes......Page 158 33 Hitting the Sweet Spot......Page 161 34 Trimming the Grocery Bill......Page 163 35 Click, Click, Save, Save: Using the Internet to Save Money......Page 168 36 Renting to Own......Page 170 37 Keeping Cash Register Scanners Honest......Page 172 38 Refusing Extended Warranties......Page 175 39 Unearthing Unclaimed Balances......Page 178 Part 3: Planning for Wealth......Page 180 40 Partnering with Financial Advisers......Page 182 41 Choosing a Lawyer......Page 187 42 Preparing a Will......Page 190 Part 4: Investing Wisely and Building Wealth......Page 194 43 Investing à la Andrew Cook......Page 196 44 Taking Part in Day Trading......Page 201 45 Minimizing Pricey Fees for Funds......Page 202 46 Benefiting from RRSPs......Page 204 47 Debunking Financial Myths......Page 207 48 Setting Up RESPs......Page 214 49 Participating in Company Stock Purchase Plans......Page 219 50 Owning (Not Renting) Your Home......Page 222 51 The 35-Year Mortgage—Why You Should Avoid It......Page 224 52 Managing Your Mortgage......Page 227 53 Breaking Your Mortgage......Page 233 54 Considering Reverse Mortgages......Page 237 55 Using the Equity in Your Home to Buy Real Estate......Page 239 56 Purchasing a Cottage or Chalet......Page 245 57 Taking Steps Toward Effective Home and Tenant Insurance......Page 249 58 Renovating Your Home......Page 253 59 Dodging Home Renovation Rip-Offs......Page 258 60 Selling Your Home......Page 261 61 Earning Money at Home......Page 266 62 Thinking Seriously About Cars......Page 272 63 Buying a Car in the U.S.......Page 274 64 Buying a New Car......Page 277 65 Financing at 0%......Page 281 66 Leasing a Vehicle......Page 285 67 Buying a Used Car—“Nearly New”......Page 290 68 Buying a Used Car—Four Years Old or Older......Page 293 69 Looking Out for Scams When Car Buying......Page 297 70 Asking for a Raise......Page 300 71 Changing Careers......Page 305 72 Giving to Charity......Page 308 C......Page 310 D......Page 311 F......Page 312 K......Page 313 M......Page 314 R......Page 315 T......Page 316 Z......Page 317