You are not alone – there is help for you!
Creditaid on CBC Radio One
On Thursday, July 15, Alex Freedman from ‘Up To Speed’, CBC Radio One’s afternoon program, interviewed Creditaid’s President, Brian Denysuik to discuss the state of personal finances in Manitoba. Listeners heard how consumer debt is a problem for many individuals and how it is driven by the desire and need of instant gratification. Brian provided some tips on how people can gain control over their finances.
Also, one of the main topics discussed was “The Building Futures Project” – a joint initiative between the Manitoba Department of Education and Canadian Foundation for Economic Education. This project integrates a basic economic and financial education into the compulsory core K–12 curriculum in Manitoba. The goal is to effectively prepare Manitoba youths for their financial future. Target implementation date is September 2011 for the early and middle school years and 2012 for senior years.
Thank you to CBC Winnipeg, ‘Up to Speed’, Alex Freedman for having us on!
If you don’t ask – you don’t get – so don’t be afraid to ask!
Have you ever wondered how some people can get great deals on products and services? These savvy individuals are armed with negotiation skills. Angela Self from Smart Cookies offers up few ideas to sharpen your negotiating tools and increase your chances of getting a good deal through Research, Motivation, Timing and Outsourcing.
No Arm, No Legs, No Worries
Here is a man, Nick Vujicic, who’s attitude towards life is so powerful and awe-inspiring. He shows that through persistence, learning and a positive attitude, how we can tackle life’s challenges no matter how big or small they may be.
Transaction Register – Best Practice
We have learned the importance of good record keeping as being the key to managing expenses. In our final installment, we provide you with tips on how to keep track of your expenses with the Transaction Register.
Managing your Account with Transaction Register
- Before you write a cheque or make a deposit, fill out your register. Always describe the source or use of your money.
- When you use the ATM, record the transaction in your register.
- Keep your balance up to date to prevent spending more than you have available.
Click here to watch a video on how to track expenses.
This may seem very basic to some however the majority of people are not doing it and are having trouble figuring out where all their money is going. So go ask your financial institution for a transaction register and start recording today!
What is a Transaction Register?
As we had discussed in our previous post, the Transaction Register is that nifty tool that can help you manage your finances. It is a form that comes with cheques for the purpose of tracking and balancing a chequing account. There are specific fields included in the transaction register designed to record detailed information to help track spending and balance account.
Record expenses such as:
- payroll deposits
- cash withdrawals and Interac purchases
- mortgage payments, car payments etc
- pre-authorized debits and the date they will come of out your accounts
- bills you pay Internet or telephone banking
Watch this video to learn more about the specific fields in the transaction register.
Forgotten Transaction Register
Today is the start of our Transaction Register series. Over the week we will be provide information on The Forgotten Transaction Register, What is a Transaction Register? and How to use a Transaction Register.
The Forgotten Transaction Register
Many Canadians today have fully embraced electronic payments and have retired their cheques. Canadians get paid by direct deposit; have pre-authorized payments for car, mortgage, and life insurance; cash withdrawals from ATM’s and make retail purchases with their Interac card.
These are numerous transactions that some of us may find a challenge to keep track of. Even though we have convenient access to on-line banking or telephone banking, some still find it difficult to record their transactions – how does one really know how much money is in their bank account and where it is going? Has that post-dated bill payment been deducted from the balance I see in my account?
If we reflect back to the cheque world we were provided with a “Transaction Register”. This was that little book where you recorded the balance of your account, you wrote down all the cheques and all the pre-authorized debits as well as any cash you withdrew from your account. Once upon a time we actually balanced our bank account to this register, a process that seems to have gone by the way side. The “Transaction Register” is actually still available today, but only if you use cheques – it is the best little budgeting tool available.
Plastic World
Canadians are living in a plastic world.
Canadians are finding it increasingly difficult to do without credit cards because businesses aggressively discourage consumers from paying with anything other than plastic.
Read More at the Financial Post
Credit Fraud
Did you know that thousands of Canadians claim fraud every month?
Learn how to protect yourself – Smart Cookie, Angela Self provides excellent tips! Click to read The Globe and Mail article.
Smart Cookies
Smart Cookies in Winnipeg
Sandra and Katie from Smart Cookies were recently in Winnipeg promoting their new book – The Smart Cookies’ Guide to Couples and Money: Earn More, Argue Less.
During the book signing, Sandra and Katie shared their passion, enthusiasm and positive energy towards helping people take control of their finances. Brian Denysuik, President of Creditaid had the pleasure of meeting two of the Smart Cookies.
Click here to visit Smart Cookies and sign up to receive free saving tools and tips. They have awesome tools to help you learn about financial management. Creditaid has added the Smart Cookies books to their library and are made available free to clients they support through their commitment to helping to turn peoples financial life around.