So You Want to Be a Credit Card Person

Dave Ramsey would be ashamed.

For most people, debit cards are far safer than credit cards — and credit cards should only be considered when you’re truly standing on solid financial ground. In Ramsey terms, that means after Baby Step 3, with 3–6 months of expenses sitting in a fully funded emergency fund.

Credit cards are not a right of passage. They’re a responsibility. And like any financial tool, they can either reward you or completely wreck you.

Before diving into the world of revolving debt — or deciding whether you should keep the credit card you already have — you need to qualify yourself.

"Business Opportunities" MLMs: The Legal Pyramid Scheme

MLMs: The Legal Pyramid Scheme

You get a message from an acquaintance. They mention a “business opportunity.”
They’re vague about the details and insist “all your questions will be answered during the meeting.”

It’s the classic MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) pitch — using familiarity and social pressure to make a sale.

I’ve been approached many times over the years, and the playbook never changes. Knowing how to spot these scams early can save you time, money, and even friendships.

The Problem With Gift Cards

Gift cards are everyone’s favorite gift to give and receive. They look like you put in thought and effort, but without actually putting in thought and effort. In reality, it’s like giving someone shopping homework. And just like homework, it often gets neglected or put off. 

Sure, a gift card pairs nicely with a greeting card, but there are more drawbacks to gift cards than you might think. From wasted money to depreciating value, from “homework assignments” to trading in for an inferior product, gift cards aren’t always the slam dunk they appear to be. 

How Long Would It Take to Become a Millionaire?

The median post-tax take-home pay in the U.S. is around $41,600 per year. If you were somehow able to save every single dollar, it would take you just over 24 years to hit millionaire status. That sounds daunting—almost unachievable.

But what if you didn’t just save, but invested that money? With an average 8% annual return, you’d reach $1,000,000 in under 14 years. Just by adding investing to saving, you knock off a full decade.

Now let’s add another modern reality: most households today have two working parents. That means, together, you could reach millionaire status in under 9 years—if you both saved and invested every penny.

Why Time Beats Money in Building Wealth

Saving and Investing: Why Time Beats Money

Most of us know we should save and invest, but it’s easy to put it off. Between day-to-day expenses and the idea that “retirement is decades away,” saving often slips to the bottom of the list.

But here’s the truth: saving and investing early isn’t just about retirement—it’s about freedom, choices, and building a secure future.

Climbing the Mountain of Financial Freedom

Imagine financial freedom, being free from the demands of work, as a mountain. We all start at the base, looking up. For some, the journey begins right after high school. For others, it starts after post-secondary education. But either way, the mountain looms above us all.

The Hidden Costs of Vacation: Why It Feels So Expensive

 

Vacations are expensive—there’s no way around it. Between hotel stays, dining out, rental cars, excursions, and admission fees, every part of a trip tends to cost significantly more than what you’d pay at home. A hotel might run you $150 a night, while your rent or mortgage averages out to just $50 a night. Eating out on vacation? Easily $100 a day. At home, your food budget might only be $40.

But here’s the real kicker: you’re paying for both lives at once.

Bank Your Budget

Banking Your Budget

Budgets often get a bad reputation for being strict, unforgiving rules. But in reality, they’re more like flexible guidelines—tools to help you align your spending with your values, not boxes to confine you.

Take this example: you’re on vacation and set a $100 budget for souvenirs. That doesn’t mean you have to spend the full amount. Likewise, if your food budget is $50 for the day, there's no rule that says you must hit that number exactly. When I used to work on the road, I’d receive a $40 per diem for food each day. Whether I spent $20 or $100, I’d still get $40. So I started banking the extra. If I spent only $30, that meant $10 more in my pocket. Do that over a seven-day trip, and I’d have an extra $70 to enjoy—or save for something else.

Not All Spending Is Equal: Retain Value, Don’t Just Consume It

Do You Live to Work or Work to Live?

If you’re working month after month without saving anything or building anything of value, it might be time to ask yourself: are you working to live, or living to work?

You might be earning a steady paycheck, but if you’re spinning your wheels—covering bills with nothing left to show for it—you’re not getting ahead. You’re just staying afloat.

Have you ever met someone in their 40s only to discover they have nothing saved for retirement? They’ve worked for the last 20 years, earned close to a million dollars—yet have nothing to show for it. Where did the money go? How could they have saved nothing after all that effort?

Let’s take a deeper look at what it means to retain value, why it matters, and how you can shift your mindset from pure consumption to long-term wealth building.

Are Financial Advisors Worth It? Or Just Salespeople in Disguise?

Financial advisors are often synonymous with investing and budgeting. But are they genuinely helpful professionals with a vested interest in your financial future—or are they just polished sales reps dressed like helpful best friends? Are their services worth the cost, or are high fees quietly draining your investments over time? Are they truly as unbiased as they portray themselves?

Let’s take a deeper look at the industry and where modern financial services are headed.

Charity and Wealth: Where Should Generosity Flow?

Charity and Wealth: Where Should Generosity Flow?

Charity is a wonderful thing. It makes us feel good when we serve others, and it feels good to have someone care for you. The world needs more charity and kindness, but who should that charity be directed toward? Ideally, you would assume everywhere to everyone. But what about charity to the wealthy 1% or even just those who are well-off? Probably not what society would expect. People do donate to the wealthy (which I find extremely odd), but for the most part, charity flows down from those with money to those with less. It would be unethical and inappropriate to ask those living on a dollar a day to donate to the billionaire class or even the millionaire class. This is an extreme example, but this dynamic plays out in everyday life among friends, family, and coworkers.

The War on Millionaires

Dislike and disdain of the wealthy has been increasing in popularity lately. Some even find the fact that millionaires exist reprehensible. But is being a millionaire really that wealthy? Especially after inflation has eaten away at the value over the years. Around 30 - 40% of Canadian will become millionaires in their lifetime. That is a minority but hardly an improbable feat. 

Credit Cards vs. Debit Cards: Is the Pain of Spending Any Different?

Dave Ramsey recommends using a debit card for all purchases, which in Canada is as simple as tapping your card. But is that really any different psychologically than tapping a credit card? A $10 burger is still a $10 burger, whether you pay immediately or 30 days later. I would argue that the pain of spending is identical at the cash register. If you did an MRI scan, the brain’s reaction would likely be the same.

Are Landlords Parasites?

 

There is a mentality online that views landlords as parasites leeching off the hard work of everyday people. It’s a fair sentiment. You cannot opt out of housing, and buying a home to avoid renting is becoming increasingly difficult with rising home prices. Many of these critics support rent control to keep prices more affordable. But is rent control a good idea? Are landlords truly not providing any service or good for society?

Saving Till The Bitter End

The Rare Item Dilemma: When Saving Becomes Hoarding

In adventure games, players often come across rare, powerful items that provide temporary but significant advantages. These could be potions that double attack power, scrolls that summon mythical creatures, or amulets that grant brief invulnerability. Because these items are so rare, players instinctively want to save them for the perfect moment—a boss fight or a near-impossible challenge. The only problem? That moment never comes. Players are often too brave, too stubborn, or too optimistic, believing they can overcome any fight without using their precious item. So, they finish the game with an inventory full of untouched, powerful tools that could have made their journey easier and more enjoyable.

Is Charity Ever Truly Altruistic?

Charity is an interesting and often complicated topic. While the concept of giving freely to others is generally seen as a virtue, the motivations behind charitable acts can sometimes blur the line between selflessness and self-interest.

Its the Holding that is Most Important

Even with a Decent Salaries, Financial Struggles can still Persist

Earning a lot of money can certainly alleviate financial strain, but it doesn’t guarantee financial stability. When you make a high income yet struggle financially, it often means money is simply passing through your hands rather than being retained. It’s a sign of a broken financial system on a personal level—a cycle of earning and spending without building a cushion for the future.

One of my favorite shows, Seinfeld, has a memorable scene about holding onto a reservation, which I think relates perfectly to this concept. People know how to make money, but many don’t know how to hold onto it. And that, really, is the most crucial part of wealth-building—retaining and growing your money. Anyone can make money, but true wealth comes when your money starts working for you.

Why Refusing to use Coupons is Costing You More Than You Think

People love to complain how expensive everything is, and for good reason. Cost of living is higher than ever thanks to inflation. Yet when discussing coupons people tend to look down on coupons almost with disgust. They are annoying and you always don't have them when you need them. They are awkward and they do  make you feel poor.  Plus there is fine print and expiry dates which are annoying to remember. They are a pain.