Last Monday was hard!
After 2 weeks of doing nothing, I suddenly had a lot of things to catch up with, especially given all the projects I have for MooseMoney in 2026!
January is hard for everyone, no exception.
But it's even harder for those of us who realize we won't be able to pay our credit cards in full after checking our credit card statement!
And there are a lot of people in this situation!
In a recent poll, 90% of Canadians surveyed said they pay their credit card balance in full every month.
I suspect a lot of those Canadians to be lying... According to a recent TransUnion report, the average credit card balance of Canadians is $4,681, while the average monthly credit card spending is only $2,136.
So, on average, Canadians carry two months worth of spending on their credit card balance, but only 10% of them carry a balance? Yes, right!
Anyway, the first step to fixing something is recognizing there is a problem. If you are in this situation, don't freak out!
I have been there before and the good news is that there are solutions. One of them is getting a debt consolidation loan or transferring your credit card debt to a low interest credit card. BTW, I built a debt consolidation calculator for that.
Another one is to just aggressively repay your debt, starting with the ones with the higher interest rates. I built a debt repayment calculator too!
Julien Brault, aka JB, Co-Founder of MooseMoney.com
Recently published on MooseMoney.com
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Save Up to $18 per Month by Bundling Your Streaming Services With Telus
If you’re a Telus customer, you might want to consider cancelling your existing Netflix and Disney+ subscriptions. Right now, you can save big by stacking your streaming services with a Telus Stream+ Plan. Stream+ Basic is currently available for only $10/month for the first three months (regular price is $23/month). The best part is that the plan includes Netflix Standard with ads, Disney+ Standard with ads, and an Amazon Prime membership. Not only are you saving almost $40 over 3 months, but the regular plan fee is around $4 cheaper than purchasing the streaming channels separately.
If you prefer an ad-free streaming experience, you can pay $25/month for the first 3 months for Stream+ Premium and get Netflix Premium, Disney+ Premium, and Amazon Prime. That’s a savings of $54 over 3 months. Even the regular monthly plan fee of $43 is approximately $8/month cheaper than streaming outside of Telus.
Source: Telus
Barry Choi: New Year, New Savings!
Did you know that according to Equifax, the average Canadian household carries over $21,000 in non-mortgage debt?
With the New Year underway, many people make financial resolutions but often fail to stick to them. Here are four practical tips to help you save more, spend smarter, and reduce debt this year.
Make a Money-Saving Resolution
Instead of saying you want to save more money, set a realistic and achievable goal. For example, saving $25 a week or cooking one extra meal at home each week.
Once you reach your initial goal, consider increasing it each month so you’ll have a substantial balance by year-end. To maintain consistency, set up a recurring transfer to a high-interest savings account.
Create a Debt Reduction Challenge
List all your debts and prioritize the high-interest ones first. This is known as the debt avalanche method and helps you reduce your overall interest payments.
Any extra cash you receive, such as tax refunds or loyalty point redemptions, can go toward paying down your debt. While this goal may conflict with your money-saving resolution, paying down high-interest debt should always be your priority.
Stack Your Savings with Coupons and Loyalty Points
Physical coupons are becoming rare, but stacking loyalty points can help you save. For example, PC Optimum often offers bonus points on specific products. If those items are on sale, you could load up and earn a lot of points.
Alternatively, apps such as Checkout 51 offer cash back on select items. Even Air Miles will give you bonus miles on certain purchases, provided your Mastercard is linked to your account, and you pay with it.
Focus on Financial Wellness
For a while, budgeting apps such as Mint and YNAB (You Need a Budget) were super popular, but these days, it’s easy to find free customizable spreadsheets to help you keep track of your monthly expenses. Many bank apps will even automatically break down your monthly purchases so you can see your spending habits.
If you understand where your money is going and take the time to read a book on personal finance, you could make some adjustments that can have a lifelong impact on your finances.
Ready to Save More in 2026?
Start today! From stacking loyalty rewards to making real progress on debt, these simple habits can strengthen your financial future. Remember, every small step counts.
This guest post was authored by Barry Choi, an award-winning personal finance expert who specializes in credit cards and loyalty points.
Earn $300 and a $50 Skip Card When You Open a Free Chequing Account with Simplii Financial
Simplii Financial, an online bank, is running a very special welcome offer until January 31, 2026. New clients who open a no-fee chequing account and set up eligible direct deposits of at least $100/month for three months can earn a $300 cash bonus and a $50 Skip gift card.
What makes this offer so incredible is that, unlike most big banks, Simpliis chequing account has no monthly fees, unlimited transactions, and no minimum balance requirements. Also, the minimum direct deposit amount of only $100 is pretty achievable for most people. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to switch to an online bank, this might be it.
Source: Simplii Financial
Financial Calculator of the Week
Enter your monthly expenses and find out exactly how much money your cash back credit card is putting back in your pocket.
The CRA Is Sitting on Billions in Unclaimed Cash, and Some of It Might Belong to You
Did you know the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is holding over a billion dollars in unclaimed cash, some of which could be owed to you? According to Narcity, the CRA currently has over 10 million uncashed cheques totalling more than $1.75 billion waiting to be claimed by Canadians.
These unclaimed payments can come from sources such as tax refunds, benefit payments, and credits. Sometimes the cheque was misplaced, lost in the mail, mailed to an old address, or even thrown out by accident. Even if you’ve switched to direct deposit, old payments issued by cheque before the switch might still be sitting there uncashed.
The easiest way to check is to log in to your CRA My Account and click the “Uncashed cheques” section on the right-hand side of the main overview page. From there, you’ll see any unclaimed amounts with your name on them.
Source: Narcity
Sign-Up For a Secured Neo Mastercard & Get a $60 Welcome Bonus
Build your credit history while earning cashback with this guaranteed approval card that will help you increase your credit score.
* Limited-time offer. Only valid for new Neo customers who open their first eligible Neo credit product and make a purchase within 90 days. Limit of one offer per customer. Offer is subject to the Neo Rewards Policy and may be amended or cancelled at any time without notice.
Tim Hortons Is Offering Free 10-Packs of Timbits if Canada Wins Gold
If you needed another reason to cheer for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Tim Hortons has you covered. During next month’s Games, Tim Hortons says it will offer up to two free 10-packs of Timbits to all Tims Rewards members if Canada brings home gold.
Here’s how it works. When Canada wins its first gold medal, rewards members will be eligible for a free 10-pack of Timbits (approx. $4 value) with a minimum $5 purchase. Tim Hortons will also unlock an additional 10-pack of Timbits if Canada wins gold in men’s or women’s hockey, meaning fans could score multiple freebies during the Games.
The promotion is linked newly announced eight-year partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee, along with a three-year deal with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
The Winter Olympics run from February 6 to February 22, so if you’re already a rewards member (or thinking of signing up), this could be a fun and tasty way to celebrate Canada’s medal wins.
Source: Yahoo Finance
Cineplex Is Bringing Back $3.99 Family Movies on Saturdays
If you’re looking for an affordable way to beat the winter blues, Cineplex has a fun, family-friendly deal in January that’s hard to beat. Its Family Favourites program is returning to participating theatres across Canada beginning on Saturday, January 17th, and includes select movies for only $3.99 before tax. The discounted screenings include films like Madagascar (20th Anniversary), The King of Kings, and The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie. All great picks for kids, adults, or a cozy weekend morning out.
Ticket prices vary slightly depending on how you buy them: CineClub members get the best online rate with the booking fee waived; Scene+ members pay a small booking fee; and non-members pay a bit more when booking online. But if you buy in person at the theatre, it’s a flat $3.99 plus tax, still a fraction of regular movie ticket prices.
I love this deal because it makes a classic family activity affordable, and with a few fun films lined up, it could be a great way to spend chilly Saturday mornings with the kids (or relive some nostalgia yourself).
Source: CTV News
Side Hustle Of The Week: Mystery Shopping
Mystery shopping is one of those side hustles that sounds gimmicky until you see how well it can actually work. One shopper on Reddit recently shared how they consistently earn $350 to $500 per month, all while keeping a manageable workload (and enjoying plenty of free meals).
The key to their success is variety and planning. They focus heavily on telecom shops (e.g., Bell, Rogers, Telus) because they’re quick and easy, mix in restaurant visits that double as paid date nights, and grab retail, gym, and occasional online shops when available. Higher-paying “difficult” shops take more effort, but doing one or two each month boosts income and keeps things interesting.
Efficiency matters too. They plan routes to complete three or four shops in a single trip, which saves time and gas. Even road trips become money-makers by checking shop boards along the way. Most importantly, they only accept the number of shops they can finish the same day, to avoid burnout and ensure high-quality reports.
Mystery shopping is a legit side hustle, but the income can fluctuate month to month. Overall, it’s a flexible and reliable side hustle. If you want to get started in Canada, popular platforms include Ipsos iShopForIpsos and Field Agent, both of which regularly post paid mystery shopping opportunities. Not bad for a side hustle that fits around your life.
Source: Reddit
🚨🏷️ Moose on the Loose in Dealville
Pepsi or Coca-Cola 6-Pack, 710ML
$3.49
Holy fizz-balls, I’ve found a bubbly bargain! Right now at Real Canadian Superstore, you can pick up a 6-pack of 710 mL Pepsi or Coke bottles as low as $3.49, marked down from $5.75 (pricing may vary slightly by location). Either way, it's a refreshingly low price. This deal means each sips cost only a few cents per 100 mL, a minuscule price compared to buying single bottles on the go. Stock up while it’s on, as you never know when your herd will descend for snack time!
Little Caesars Crazy Bread
FREE with $4.99 Min. Purchase
Oh my antlers, this deal is back, and it’s still loaf-tastic. Right now, you can score a FREE order of Crazy Bread at Little Caesars when you place any $4.99+ order and use the code FREEBREAD26 at checkout. The offer runs until February 1, which gives you plenty of time to “accidentally” plan multiple pizza nights. I love that I can hit the minimum with Crazy Puffs or a Crazy Combo and still walk away with extra garlicky goodness. Bread today, budget win tomorrow!
Men's Performance Tees
$8.00
Here’s a tee-riffic find! I spotted ACX Active men’s basic short-sleeve fashion T-shirts for just $8 at Giant Tiger, a moose-tiny price for a comfy everyday shirt you can wear again and again. You can also get a $5 off coupon by signing up to receive emails from Giant Tiger (see the button at the bottom left of the webpage)! Sizes and colours might vary by location, so don’t let your favourite get snapped up by another bargain-hungry moose! Head over to Giant Tiger’s site or your nearest store to grab these before they trot away. The price is only valid until January 13.
