A cozy Canadian personal finance, running, and DIY blog — practical tools and honest advice for building wealth and living well.https://frugalnick.ca/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-gis/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-gis/GIS is a monthly benefit paid to low-income seniors who receive Old Age Security (OAS). Unlike OAS which provides partial pensions for 10-39 years of residency Fri, 19 Dec 2025 02:33:26 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/dishwasher-meta-rinse-aid-vs-heated-dry/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/dishwasher-meta-rinse-aid-vs-heated-dry/I’ve always been the guy who obsesses over utility bills — and I’m embracing it. So when a friend mentioned they use the heated‑dry setting instead of rinse aidSat, 18 Oct 2025 03:07:19 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/my-first-year-with-a-heat-pump-expectations-vs-reality/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/my-first-year-with-a-heat-pump-expectations-vs-reality/When I decided to install a heat pump last year, I had high hopes for energy savings and environmental benefits. Now, after a full year of use, I’m ready to shaMon, 22 Sep 2025 02:51:36 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/how-to-plan-a-wedding/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/how-to-plan-a-wedding/After 10 years with my SO we decided it was time to tie the proverbial knot and through this process we learned a lot about the wedding industry and (hopefully)Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:04:17 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/duel-fuel-vs-electric-heat/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/duel-fuel-vs-electric-heat/A common argument online is that heating with electricity is expensive and the better option is almost always combining a heat pump with a natural gas furnace, Fri, 19 Sep 2025 21:54:45 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/security-cameras-on-a-budget/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/security-cameras-on-a-budget/You don’t need a monthly subscription, a polished app, or a $1000 cloud-connected camera fleet to feel safe at home. The real win? A security setup that puts yoMon, 09 Jun 2025 18:13:46 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/tiered-rates-vs-time-of-use/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/tiered-rates-vs-time-of-use/This may not be applicable to every province but I live in Ontario where 96% of people are on time-of-use (TOU) even though tiered pricing has been offered for Sat, 04 May 2024 14:00:21 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/my-mom-was-wrong-about-the-dryer-and-yours-probably-was-too/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/my-mom-was-wrong-about-the-dryer-and-yours-probably-was-too/I have vivid memories of my mom absolutely livid that I ran the dryer before 7pm and these were not infrequent encounters. Growing up I was constantly reminded Fri, 03 May 2024 14:00:03 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/guide-to-a-net-zero-home/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/guide-to-a-net-zero-home/Two years ago my partner and I became home owners and moved into our first (and hopefully last) home. As our plans to start a family get closer we want to prepaFri, 03 May 2024 02:36:55 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/3-steps-to-saving-simply/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/3-steps-to-saving-simply/Many of my clients know they should be saving more but traditional canadian banks can actively work against them; high banking fees, low interest rates, and expSun, 28 Nov 2021 20:58:49 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-if-nobody-could-buy-a-house/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-if-nobody-could-buy-a-house/As a money coach I have many clients that believe owning a home is a prerequisite to retiring, either to live in "rent free" or to eventually downsize and use tSat, 18 Sep 2021 17:08:01 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/considerations-for-retirement/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/considerations-for-retirement/As I transitioned from simply managing my own finances to helping other with their financial planning I have had the opportunity to see finances through the eyeSun, 01 Aug 2021 21:30:47 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/considering-opportunity-cost/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/considering-opportunity-cost/My goal in life is to be happy and money is one of many tools that allows me and my family to do the things that bring us happiness. I am going to go over some Sun, 11 Jul 2021 00:53:24 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/rrsp-is-just-a-tfsa/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/rrsp-is-just-a-tfsa/The RRSP seems like this complex investment vehicle with all these rules and restrictions but with a couple caviets it offers essentially the same tax free growSun, 04 Jul 2021 01:16:06 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/cost-of-an-emergency-fund/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/cost-of-an-emergency-fund/An emergency fund is an amount of money that you have immediately available for  large unexpected costs and/or unexpected periods of reduced income. Many folks Sun, 27 Jun 2021 19:28:00 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/tfsa-or-rrsp-or-unregistered-investing/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/tfsa-or-rrsp-or-unregistered-investing/Not everyone can max out their registered accounts every year but with record high savings rates during COVID Canadas average savings rate is between 5-15%, so Mon, 14 Jun 2021 21:52:49 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/self-directed-investing-in-5-steps/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/self-directed-investing-in-5-steps/DIY is one of the best ways to save money, changing your own oil, bagged lunches, mowing your lawn, shoveling your laneway; but self directed investing will savSat, 29 May 2021 18:22:45 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/lifecycle-investing-passive-book/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/lifecycle-investing-passive-book/As I was researching how you could use leverage with a passive investing strategy I found the book "Lifecycle Investing"  by Ian Aryes and Barry Nalebuff. It deFri, 21 May 2021 16:57:45 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/opportunity-cost-of-minimum-balances/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/opportunity-cost-of-minimum-balances/Most big banks have fees but the reality is that many will waive those fees if you keep a minimum balance in the account, while this sounds like a deal you may Thu, 29 Apr 2021 01:23:05 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/early-tax-refund-t1213/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/early-tax-refund-t1213/Getting a big tax refund means you paid too much money to the government, these funds could have been in your investment account growing but weren’t. Big refundSun, 18 Apr 2021 20:16:06 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/save-40-on-index-mer/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/save-40-on-index-mer/"All-in-one" index funds (AIO) have become extremely popular recently as they make it dead simple to have a globally diversified portfolio that matches your neeWed, 31 Mar 2021 01:42:47 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-the-first-time-home-buyers-incentive-fthbi/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-the-first-time-home-buyers-incentive-fthbi/The "First time home buyers incentive" (FTHBI) is often confused with the "Home Buyers Plan" (HBP) but they could not be more different. To find out about the HSun, 21 Mar 2021 16:24:29 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-the-home-buyers-plan/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-the-home-buyers-plan/There is alot of confusion on what incentives are available to home buyers. One of the most powerful tools for Canadians is the "Home Buyers Plan" (HBP). WhatSun, 07 Mar 2021 18:32:26 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-to-do-when-you-fill-your-rrsp-and-tfsa/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-to-do-when-you-fill-your-rrsp-and-tfsa/So your have been a diligent Canadian and have worked hard and saved agressively to max out your registered accounts, now what do you do? 1. Unregistered inveSat, 27 Feb 2021 21:58:21 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-an-rrsp/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-an-rrsp/If you Canadian the “Registered Retirement Savings Plan” RRSP is a vital investment vehicle, while it may not be quite as valuable as your TFSA it can reduce thMon, 22 Feb 2021 22:27:28 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/how-to-make-500-000-with-your-tfsa/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/how-to-make-500-000-with-your-tfsa/I make no exaggeration in saying that the Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA) will be the single most valuable savings tool for many Canadians. If used properly it Mon, 22 Feb 2021 21:52:51 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-are-all-in-one-index-funds/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-are-all-in-one-index-funds/Your bank is probably evil and so is mine. Any of the big banks in Canada (and even the smaller ones) push their own mutual funds on financially ignorant indiviMon, 22 Feb 2021 02:20:38 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-a-tfsa/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/what-is-a-tfsa/If your a Canadian that is 18 years of age or older your most important investment vehicle is the “Tax Free Savings Account” or TFSA for short. As the name implMon, 22 Feb 2021 02:15:39 GMThttps://frugalnick.ca/blog/wealthsimple-vs-questrade/https://frugalnick.ca/blog/wealthsimple-vs-questrade/In the world of retail investing and saving, Wealthsimple and Questrade have poured millions of dollars into advertising this past year to get you thinking abouSun, 21 Feb 2021 15:41:28 GMT