Before you go grocery shopping, make a list of what you need! Having a meal plan can help with this and will keep you on track in the store.
Look at the weekly flyers for the store, these can be found on their website. There might be sales on the things you need/want which may save you money in the end. 50 cents may not seem like a lot, but it can add up quickly.
Also, check the multi buy (buy one/get one half price), it may not be a deal if you don’t actually need it.
Lastly, just because something is a great deal doesn't mean you need it! However, if it is something you use often, consider buying a bunch, but check expiry dates.
Created by RBC Ventures, this app lets you link your debit and credit cards, or enter the information manually. It gets you to reflect on your spending and gives you a visual representation of your spending habits.
You can download the iOS app here for Apple devices, or the Android version from the Google Play Store.
This nifty free app helps you track your spending, make budgets and help you save. Log in through online banking so all accounts are in the same place gives you notifications for your budget limits based on your goals and pathway.
Mint is owned by Intuit, one of the biggest personal finance companies that makes the Quicken, Quicktax, and Quickbooks software, so it should be around for awhile!
Here's the Apple iOS download link, and the one for Mint for Android too.
A budget is a way to track your spending and to make sure you have enough to live on.
You can find a lot of budgeting programs online; here's one example from MyMoneyCoach.ca. Their website has a lot of really great information to help Canadian students learn more about saving, budgeting, paying for post secondary, credit cards and more.
If tracking your spending and creating a detailed budget is not your idea of fun consider the 50/30/20 rule. 50% of your income, after taxes, goes to essentials, 30% goes to wants and 20% goes to savings. Check out this Mint.com blog post for more information.
The Aboriginal Financial Officers Association of BC has created an amazing resource to help ALL students understand Banking, Savings, Credit Cards, Money Traps, Budgeting, and more. It is important to know where your money comes from and how to make the most of it.
Financial Literacy Handbook
