I never thought I would write about the boring topic of RRSPs in this newsletter.
Barry Choi's column included in this issue of the newsletter is dedicated to it, so the only reason I'm also writing about it here is that few online brokers are currently running promos where they give you free money for opening an investment account (wether it's a RRSP or not) with them.
Qtrade actually offers the best deal I could find for people with limited savings. Currently, they will give you $250 if you open any type of account with Qtrade by April 30 and deposit at least $1,000. That's a 25% return, and it does not take into account your tax return (assuming you open an RRSP or FHSA account) and your actual stock market return!
I found the account opening process pretty straightforward, so if you have $1,000 lying around, this deal is too good to pass up.
If you have another $5,000 lying around, open an account with Moomoo. Those guys will give you $300, which amounts to a guaranteed 6% return, if you open any account with them and deposit $5,000. They also offer a 6% annual interest rate on uninvested cash, but only for one month.
The process with Moomoo was a bit less streamlined than with Qtrade. For one, you really need to download their mobile app, since many features are not offered on the desktop app, and they don't even have a web app. Also, the process to activate the welcome offer is not straightforward at all, so I ended up having to call their customer service a couple of times.
Julien Brault, aka JB, Co-Founder of MooseMoney.com
Make a credit card payment every time you get paid
Making a credit card payment weekly or bi-weekly, on payday, keeps your average credit card balance lower. This prevents high balances from spiking your credit utilization rate and lowering your score. In Canada, utilization accounts for 30% of your score, so try keeping it as low as possible. Ideally, you want to keep your utilization below 30% but, if you can, keep it under 10%.
For more credit score boosting tips, check out my 7-Day Credit Score Boosting Email Course.
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A bigger GST credit is on the way (and a one-time grocery credit)
Last week, the federal government announced that it is boosting the GST/HST credit to help Canadians with rising grocery and essential costs. Starting in July 2026, most eligible low and modest-income households will see their regular quarterly payments increase by about 25% for the next 5 years.
Before the increased quarterly payments begin, a one-time grocery top-up payment will be scheduled for spring 2026 (by June). This extra amount will be about 50% of what you normally receive in a year under the current GST/HST credit. For individuals, that could be up to $267; for couples, about $349; and for larger families, up to about $717, depending on income and family size.
You don’t have to apply for either payment, as the Canada Revenue Agency will send them automatically if you’re eligible. Just make sure you file your 2024 tax return to get the one-time credit, and your 2025 return to qualify for the boosted benefit starting in July.
Source: CTV News
Pizza Pops recall sparks proposed class-action lawsuit
Did you recently become ill after eating Pizza Pops products? If so, you may be in line to join a proposed class-action lawsuit. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), over 20 Canadians have been linked to a potential E.coli contamination from Pizza Pops. The affected products have since been recalled.
The law firm handling the class-action lawsuit is encouraging anyone in Canada who may have become ill after consuming the recalled Pizza Pops to submit their details on its website. Of course, the lawsuit still needs to be certified in court, but if you take action now, you may be eligible for compensation if and when a settlement is made.
Source: Daily Hive
Barry Choi: RRSP season is here, but does it really matter?
With the Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) deadline less than a month away, you’ve probably noticed the surge in ads urging you to contribute before time runs out. But here’s the part that rarely gets said: RRSP season isn’t nearly as important as it’s made out to be. The urgency is mostly a marketing tactic designed to push you into investing on a deadline.
There Is No Real Deadline
The RRSP contribution deadline is set for 60 days after the start of each calendar year. If that date falls on a weekend, it automatically shifts to the following Monday. This year, the deadline is March 2.
But here’s what often gets overlooked: the deadline only matters if you want your contribution to count toward your 2025 tax return. You can add money to your RRSP at any point throughout the year, which means there’s no real rush.
Monthly Contributions Win Every Time
Setting up automatic monthly contributions is often a smarter approach than scrambling to make a lump‑sum deposit. By using this strategy, you don’t need to worry about market fluctuations, and because the amount is already built into your budget, it’s much easier to stay consistent.
Employer Benefits Should Come First
Before worrying about RRSP season, it’s worth making sure you’re maximizing any benefits your employer already offers. That includes things like pension plans, RRSP matching programs, and employee stock plans.
These benefits usually offer far greater value than anything you could contribute yourself, because employer contributions are effectively free money
If You’re in Debt, RRSPs Can Wait
High‑interest debt, such as credit cards or personal loans, can quietly erase any gains you’d make in an RRSP. In most cases, paying down that debt first is the stronger financial move. Cutting those interest charges is essentially a guaranteed return.
Don’t Own a Home? The FHSA Might Be Better
For first‑time buyers, the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) is arguably the most powerful account in Canada. You get the tax deduction of an RRSP and the tax‑free withdrawals of a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA). If buying a home is on your radar, the FHSA should be your first stop, not the RRSP.
RRSPs are a great tool, but they’re not the only option. Your financial plan should work year‑round, not just in February.
This guest post was authored by Barry Choi, an award-winning personal finance expert who specializes in credit cards and loyalty points.
Canada is saying goodbye to frozen juice this April
The frozen juice can is officially a goner. Minute Maid, Five Alive, and Fruitopia are all being discontinued in Canada by April 2026. Between these big names leaving and other brands like Old South already gone, you won't be seeing those frozen cylinders in stores much longer. Companies are moving away from them because everyone is switching to bottled juices.
If you want to save some money, now is the time to stock up. Frozen concentrate is relatively cheaper than the bottled versions because you're not paying for the shipping cost of the water. Indeed, a $2-$3 can allow you make 1.5 liter of juice. Just a heads-up: don’t buy more than you can drink in a year, since it's not recommended to keep frozen juice concentrate more than 12 months in your freezer.
Source: CBC
Earn $500 with CIBC's new chequing account offer
Until March 17, 2026, CIBC is offering new customers $500 in cash if you open a CIBC Smart Account and complete the qualifying steps outlined on its special offer page.
To qualify for the $500 bonus, you must open a CIBC Smart Account and meet the required qualifying actions within the promotional period. This includes setting up at least one recurring direct deposit along with one of the following: 2 recurring debits, 2 online bill payments of at least $50 each, or 5 eligible Visa Debit purchases. If you meet the conditions, CIBC will deposit the $500 cash bonus into your account 7 months after you open the account.
The CIBC Smart Account offers unlimited transactions and other benefits, and while there is a monthly fee of $16.95, the $500 offer is higher than most other bank account cash offers we’ve seen. This makes it an attractive option if you’re in the market for a new chequing account and can fulfill the qualifying steps. I should note that you must be 25 or older to qualify for this offer. However, CIBC has smaller cash offers available to students and youth.
Source: CIBC
Check out my Ontario bankruptcy calculator
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Cineplex is bringing back $3.99 Family Favourite movies in February
Cineplex is bringing back its Family Favourites movie program for February 2026, giving families an affordable theatre option with a lineup of popular films on select Saturdays. Under the program, participating Cineplex locations will show family-friendly movies for $3.99 plus tax at the theatre box office, making it one of the more budget-friendly ways to catch a film on the big screen.
The February schedule includes a mix of popular titles across four Saturdays: The Smurfs on February 7, How to Train Your Dragon on February 14, The LEGO Movie on February 21, and Rocky’s Cat-astrophe on February 28. These showings are part of Cineplex’s Family Favourites lineup, aimed at providing fun, all-ages entertainment each weekend.
If you book online, CineClub members pay $3.99 with no booking fee, Scene+ members pay slightly more with a small fee added, and other customers pay a booking-fee price on top of the $3.99 ticket.
For families looking for an inexpensive weekend activity this month, the Family Favourites program delivers a chance to enjoy big-screen versions of classic and current animated films without the usual ticket price.
Source: Daily Hive
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Someone on Reddit is making over $4,000/month doing grocery delivery with Instacart
This week’s side hustle success story comes from a grocery delivery worker on Reddit who makes money with Instacart, a gig app that pays you to shop for and deliver groceries to customers. Think Skip The Dishes or Uber Eats, but for groceries.
In this case, the person said that they consistently earn $1,100 to $1,300 per week, or roughly $4,400 to $5,200 per month. While they live in the U.S., the platform is also available in Canada. For them, it’s enough to cover rent and bills comfortably, with money left over each month.
That said, most people won't make nearly that much money from Instacart. This person states they work 40-50 hours per week, so they've clearly made it their full-time gig. But the beauty of gig apps like Instacart is the flexibility. You get to decide when and how often you work.
According to the Redditor, it helps to live in an area with steady demand and less competition. Also, maintaining a higher shopper tier unlocks better-paying batches. Your tier is kind of like your shopper rating, and is based mostly on how many batches (groups of orders) you complete over a set period, your customer rating, your cancellation rate, and your on-time performance.
How Instacart works
Instacart (and other grocery apps) work by allowing shoppers (that's you) to claim orders in the app, shop for items in local grocery stores, and deliver them to customers. Your pay will vary by order, distance, tips, and availability.
Realistically, earnings can range from a few hundred dollars per month to full-time-level income, depending on how often you work and where you live.
To get started, you apply through Instacart, pass a background check, download the app, and begin accepting batches. It’s a flexible, low-barrier side hustle, but results depend on you being consistent and working hard.
Source: Reddit
Old El Paso is giving away $10 grocery store gift cards
Old El Paso is running a promotion where you can get a $10 grocery store gift card when you buy two participating Old El Paso products in a single transaction and upload your receipt at oldelpasogiveaway.ca. After your receipt is validated, you'll receive the gift card by mail. The offer is available while supplies last and is limited to 5 per person or per household. What makes this offer especially good is that you can buy those Old El Paso kits for $3.77 each at Walmart, which means you only need to spend $7.54 to get a $10 gift card. In other words, you can get paid almost $2.50 for eating free tacos!
Source: Old El Paso
