How to avoid some common financial mistakes when you’re new to Canada

1: Not creating a budget for life in Canada

Before coming to Canada, you want to make sure your budget works properly for your life in your home country. How can you update it to make sure it reflects your life in Canada? You have to ask yourself what’s are your current expenses? Some expenses will be familiar to you, but a new place may bring new expenses that you need to plan for.

Some common Canadian expenses include:

Monthly rent (apartment, home, condominium)
Public transit (bus, subway)
Car loan and gas payments
Heating, hydro (water), and other utilities
Warm clothing for the winter months
Insurance (home, car, health)
Groceries
Mobile phone bills (Canada has some of the highest mobile phone operating costs in the world compared to other countries)
Child care
Cable and internet

Identifying your fixed monthly expenses is the first step to understanding your personal budget. Budgeting your expenses is key to making sure you have enough money for necessary life purchases. The Government of Canada’s Budget Calculator is a tool that can help get you started and begin saving more money for your future plans in Canada! Once you have a budget in place, you can start to see how much money you can be saving each month for larger future purchases.

2: Not building your credit history

We previously shared an article diving into everything you need to know about credit. A credit history is very important for major life events. A credit score is something you will need to apply for a mortgage, get a loan, or a financing plan in Canada. Your personal credit score is the best way for money lenders to understand your financial background, assess your level of risk and determine your interest rate. Having a good credit score can also help you save money on interest rates and get approved more easily for things like cell phones, lines of credit, and car loans.

Building a good credit score can take time, so be sure and apply for a credit card before you come to Canada, or as soon as you arrive. Scotiabank offers a variety of credit cards for newcomers to help you get started on building your credit.

3: Missing bill payment deadlines

It is never a good idea to miss the minimum payment deadline on monthly bills, dues, or fees and can be very challenging to catch up once you are behind. There are some potential risks to missing payments, including:

A late-payment fee, which is added to the next month’s bill
A drop in your credit score, especially after several late payments
An increased interest rate on any future credit you may need
Your phone service could be shut off if you miss too many payments
If you are a tenant and do not pay your rent, you are at risk of being evicted

A great tool to help you stay ahead is Pre-Authorized Payments, which allows you to pay bills automatically and on time. This means you won’t have to worry about due dates or missed payments for bills such as:

Phone and internet bills
Utility bills, including bills for electricity, water, and natural gas
Gym memberships
Property taxes
Language courses
Child care
Mortgage payments
Utility payments (electricity, water, etc.)

4: Not filing taxes on time

Learning a new tax process can be overwhelming, and even people who have lived in Canada for a long time still find filing taxes confusing! Still, it is very important that you fill in and submit your tax return on time. Missing the deadline to file your taxes may result in interest or penalties.

This article outlines helpful information on filing your taxes. The Government of Canada website also offers important information and resources regarding newcomer taxes, such as what tax forms you will need, where to find help with your taxes, and credits that you and your family can benefit from.

5: Not asking for help

Sorting out your finances in a new country can be complicated. Remember, when in doubt reach out for help! Seek Financial institutes assistance like banks, and insurance companies to guide and support you and your family and see you succeed in Canada.