January 16th, 2025
Jack Prenter
January 16, 2025
January 16th, 2025
Good morning. The Canadian government is sending out its first carbon rebate of 2025. See who’s eligible and how much you can expect to get.
Today’s Email:
🏡 Rent Or Buy? Make The Right Financial Choice For Your Future
💡 Money: A Terrible Master But An Excellent Servant
💳 Boost Your Credit Score
🚗 Federal EV Incentive Ends—What Rising Prices Mean For Canadians
🌡️ 2024 Was Hottest Year Ever; Could 2025 Break The Record Again?
🤝 Ford Calls For Unity As Alberta Premier Breaks
HOUSING
Rent or Buy? Make the Right Choice for Your Finances
Deciding whether to rent or buy a home is one of the most significant financial decisions you'll make. It's not just about finding a place to live—it impacts your long-term financial health, savings, and even your lifestyle flexibility.
Yet, many Canadians overlook this crucial choice, assuming that buying is always the better option or that renting is just a temporary solution.
Why It Matters
You’ll spend more money on housing in your lifetime than any other purchase. It’s not even close. That means that making the right decision has the potential to save you tens of thousands of dollars.
The cost difference between renting and buying can vary dramatically depending on your location, current market conditions, and personal financial situation.
In some areas, renting may be more affordable in the short term, allowing you to save for a larger down payment or invest in other opportunities. In other regions, buying a home could be more cost-effective over time, building equity and providing stability.
Take Control of Your Financial Future
Don't leave such a pivotal decision to chance. Understanding the true cost of renting versus buying in your specific area is essential to making an informed choice. Using a Rent vs. Buy Calculator provides a personalized analysis based on your circumstances, helping you see the bigger financial picture.
Take the guesswork out of your housing decision. Use a Rent vs. Buy Calculator today and ensure you're making the most financially sound choice for your future.
MONEY MANTRA
“Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant”
This quote means that when you let money control your decisions and priorities, it can lead to unhappiness and greed. However, when you manage money wisely and use it as a tool, it can greatly enhance your life and enable you to achieve your goals.
SAVING
Daily Deals
Tackle dirt and grime effortlessly with this versatile floor mop kit, which includes 1 mop, 5 wet pads, and 14 dry cloths. Rated 4.5 stars with over 78,000 reviews, it’s now 17% off at $19.98, down from $23.99—a trusted cleaning companion for your home.
Add sleek, modern storage to any room with these 15" acrylic shelves, perfect for books, décor, or bathroom essentials. Rated 4.7 stars and an Amazon’s Choice product, this set is now 27% off at $18.99, down from $25.98—functional and stylish storage at a great price.
Elevate your coffee game with this mini whisk, perfect for creating foam for lattes, cappuccinos, and more. Featuring a stand for easy storage, it’s rated 4.5 stars and now 13% off at $12.99, down from $14.99—a small gadget with big impact.
Stay supported and stylish with this padded, push-up sports bra ideal for workouts, yoga, or running. Rated 4.2 stars and available in multiple sizes, it’s 24% off at $18.89, down from $24.99—fashion meets function.
Stay warm and protected this winter with this unisex wind-resistant fleece balaclava. Perfect for skiing, hiking, or commuting, it’s rated 4.3 stars and now 10% off at $17.99, down from $19.99—a must-have for cold-weather adventures.
Keep cozy in style with these soft, fluffy earmuffs designed for women. As the #1 bestseller in women’s earmuffs and rated 4.4 stars, they’re now 10% off at $23.36, down from $25.95—a fashionable way to beat the chill.
CREDIT
Boost Your Credit Score: A Canadian's Guide to Mastering the Numbers
Your credit score isn’t just a number—it’s a VIP pass to better interest rates, easier loan approvals, and even smoother rental applications. If yours isn’t where you want it to be, don’t worry.
Improving your credit score is entirely doable, and the steps are simpler than you might think. Here’s how you can polish that three-digit number:
1. Know Your Starting Point
The first step is understanding where you stand. In Canada, you can check your credit score for free through platforms like Borrowell, Credit Karma, or your bank’s online tools. These scores typically range from 300 to 900. A score above 660 is considered good, while 760+ puts you in excellent territory.
Bonus Tip: Request your full credit report from Equifax or TransUnion for free once a year. It’s a great way to spot errors or unauthorized activity, without having to pay a penny.
2. Pay Your Bills on Time, Every Time
Your payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score, making it the single most important factor. Late or missed payments can knock your score down quickly.
Set reminders or enable autopay for recurring bills like credit cards, utilities, or loans.
If you miss a payment, pay it as soon as possible—some creditors won’t report late payments until they’re over 30 days past due.
3. Lower Your Credit Utilization Ratio
This ratio measures how much of your available credit you’re using. Ideally, you want it below 30%.
Example: If you have a $10,000 credit limit, keep your balance below $3,000.
If your balances are creeping up, aim to pay them down aggressively or ask your lender for a credit limit increase (but don’t increase your spending).
4. Build a Mix of Credit
Having different types of credit can show lenders you’re responsible across the board. A mix might include:
Credit cards
Car loans
Student loans
A line of credit
Important: Only take on new credit if you genuinely need it. Avoid opening accounts just to "look good" to lenders.
5. Don’t Apply for Too Much Credit at Once
Each time you apply for a new credit card or loan, a “hard inquiry” is recorded on your report. Too many inquiries in a short time can make you seem credit-hungry and lower your score temporarily.
If you’re shopping around for a car loan or mortgage, try to do it within a 2-week window. Multiple inquiries for the same purpose during this period are usually treated as one.
6. Keep Old Accounts Open
The longer your credit history, the better it looks to lenders. Even if you don’t use an old credit card anymore, keep it active with an occasional small purchase.
7. Dispute Errors
Mistakes on your credit report can hurt your score. If you find errors—like accounts you didn’t open or payments incorrectly marked as late—contact the credit bureau to dispute them. They’re required to investigate and correct inaccuracies.
8. Practice Patience
Improving your credit score takes time. Positive changes might not reflect immediately, but consistent good habits can lead to significant improvement over months or years.
NEWS
Today’s Headlines
🌿 Federal EV Incentive Ends, Prices Rise for Canadians
Canadians looking to go electric in 2025 face sticker shock as the federal iZEV rebate program abruptly ends. This program offered up to $5,000 for EV buyers, but funds ran out early. While provincial incentives remain in some regions, like up to $4,000 in BC and $5,000 in New Brunswick, some provinces lack rebates altogether. Experts warn the program's end may slow EV adoption, jeopardizing Canada's goal of 100% zero-emission car sales by 2035.
🔥 2024 Sets Record as Hottest Year Ever; 2025 May Follow Close
Last year was officially the hottest on record, surpassing 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for the first time. While 2025 is forecasted to be slightly cooler due to weak La Niña conditions, above-average global temperatures are expected to persist. This highlights the urgency to act as Canada edges closer to breaking the Paris Agreement’s critical warming benchmark.
🇨🇦 Ford Calls for Unity as Alberta Premier Breaks with Premiers on Trump Tariff Response
Ontario Premier Doug Ford emphasized the need for national unity in responding to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. Following a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers, Ford stated, “Country comes first,” criticizing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for refusing to sign a joint statement condemning the tariffs.
🤖 Robots Power Manitoba Students’ Future in STEM
The Morris School Robotics Team is gearing up for an international competition, the only Manitoba team to compete. Students are learning coding, problem-solving, and teamwork by designing award-winning robots. The program, made possible through loaned STEAM resources, inspires students to pursue careers in science and technology in an increasingly competitive world.
🦊 Coyote Caught Cooling Off in Chicago Grocery Store
Shoppers got a wild surprise when a coyote sought refuge in a grocery store cooler. The animal has been safely relocated by wildlife experts. No word yet on whether it was shopping for snacks or just chilling.
MENTAL GYMNASTICS
Riddles & Puzzles
Connect2 (Unusual Sports & Their Country of Origin):
Here’s how to play: Each full term is split into two parts—one part is numerical, and the other is alphabetical. Your goal is to match one word from the left column with one from the right to form a complete, logical term. For example, 1. Yin can be matched with a) Yang to make "Yin Yang."
Cheese Rolling . . . . . . . . . a) Spain
Sepak Takraw . . . . . . . . . . b) Japan
Bossaball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . c) Italy
Bo-taoshi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . d) Malaysia
Calcio Storico . . . . . . . . . . e) England
Two Truths and a Lie:
Medusa was originally a mortal woman.
Hawaiian has only 13 letters.
Nuclear power plants emit silver dust particles.
Unscramble (Types of Gemstones):
Thasmety
Rishapep
Squoturie
Tropide
Zanettani
ANSWERS
Connect2:
Cheese Rolling . . . . . . . . . e) England
Sepak Takraw . . . . . . . . . . d) Malaysia
Bossaball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a) Spain
Bo-taoshi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . b) Japan
Calcio Storico . . . . . . . . . . c) Italy
Two Truths and a Lie:
Medusa was originally a mortal woman.
Truth. In Greek mythology, Medusa was originally a beautiful mortal woman. According to some versions of the myth, she was transformed into a Gorgon by Athena as a punishment for being assaulted by Poseidon in Athena's temple. After this transformation, Medusa gained the infamous ability to turn anyone who looked at her into stone.
Hawaiian has only 13 letters.
Truth. The Hawaiian alphabet consists of 13 letters: the vowels A, E, I, O, U, and the consonants H, K, L, M, N, P, W, along with the glottal stop, represented by an apostrophe-like symbol (‘) called an ʻokina. This simplified alphabet reflects the phonetic structure of the Hawaiian language.
Nuclear power plants emit silver dust particles.
Lie. Nuclear power plants do not emit silver dust particles. These plants are designed to contain radioactive materials within secure, sealed systems to prevent harmful emissions. Any radioactive byproducts, like uranium or plutonium waste, are carefully managed and stored. Silver dust is not a byproduct of nuclear energy processes. This claim is a myth or misunderstanding.
Unscramble:
Thasmety - Amethyst
Rishapep - Sapphire
Squoturie - Turquoise
Tropide - Peridot
Zanettani - Tanzanite
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