Category: Life in Canada
-
A Sunbird’s Guide to Canada: Key Financial Tips for US Citizens
This article is for the “sunbird” (aka a “reverse snow bird”)—a US citizen owning property in Canada and spending several months here each year, but whose primary home and tax residency remain in the United States. If this describes you, you’re in a unique financial situation that requires careful planning. My goal here is to…
-
How Best to Exchange Currency (CAD and USD)
A thread that winds through many of the posts on this site is the idea of finding the balance between satisficing and optimizing, and currency exchange strategies are no exception. Below, I’ll outline some of the best ways to exchange currency between Canadian Dollars (CAD) and US Dollars (USD). There isn’t one best way, though,…
-
Moving from the US to Canada – Part 3: After You Move
In Part 1 of this series on moving to Canada we covered some of the key finance related differences between the US and Canada. Part 2 highlights some important things to consider doing before you move, and here in Part 3 we’re going to focus on actions and considerations after you’ve made the move. This…
-
Moving from the US to Canada – Part 2: Before You Move
If you’re planning to move the US to Canada and are looking for some personal finance tips, you’re in the right place. Part 1 of this series covers some of the differences between the US and Canada in terms of things like taxation, investing, banking and estate planning. Here in Part 2, we have a…
-
Moving from the US to Canada – Part 1: What’s Different?
So you’ve decided to move to Canada. Welcome! My family made the move in 2020, and we haven’t regretted it for a moment. At the same time, in the process of moving, we’ve had a lot to learn. Personal finance in the US and Canada differ in some important ways. I’ll provide an overview of…
-
Fee-Free International ATMs for EQ Bank and Wealthsimple
The Measure of a Plan has put together a page listing ATMs around the world (currently 67 bank companies in 40 countries) where Wealthsimple and EQ Bank customers can withdraw foreign currency without paying either foreign exchange fees or ATM transaction fees. Wealthsimple and EQ Bank are both good resources for crossborder folks (as they…
-
Comparing Healthcare US and Canada: A Personal Perspective
Healthcare is always a hot topic when comparing life in Canada to life in the US. I don’t claim comprehensive knowledge of either system, but I have lived with my wife and daughter in Canada for 5 years, after spending almost 40 years in the US. Here’s a comparison of healthcare in the US and…
-
Getting Refunds for Interrupted Travel in Canada
I just read an article on Savvy New Canadians about requesting and receiving a small refund (as a flight credit) from Air Canada for a recently interrupted travel plan. We found ourselves in a similar situation in January 2023 but we had a different outcome and I wanted to share our experience. Read below to…