Where’s the best place to learn about finances?
You may have learned to dissect a fish, quote Shakespeare and name all the provincial capitals from east to west in school. But chances are when it came to financial literacy, you were on your own.
These days, there’s a growing understanding that this important life skill is noticeably absent from our high school curriculum. In Ontario, high school students will soon be required to pass a financial literacy test to graduate. It’s a start, but that still leaves most of us fending for ourselves.
A lot of Canadians actually do take it upon themselves to learn how to manage their money. According to a Government of Canada survey, 44% have studied up in the past five years, whether that’s the 22% who are reading something in print, the 16% who are looking for information online or the 9% who are getting a financial education at work. Seven percent go back to school and 5% even learn more through a not-for-profit or community organization.
We know that it can be tricky to navigate the wild world of budgeting, credit and everyday finance. That’s why we tackle some of the most common topics right here on our Life & Credit blog. Check out what people are saying about some of our articles.
What’s in a credit score?
What’s it about?
Not a lot of us know how our credit score gets calculated. This article digs into how the credit bureaus come up with your score so you can get that number going in the right direction.
What readers learned
“To control using my credit card and to pay before the due date.”
“How the credit card system works.”
How to protect yourself from credit card fraud
What’s it about?
It’s becoming more and more important to be aware of credit card fraud. And the more you learn about it, the less scary it can be.
What readers learned
“Extra resources help when I haven’t felt very secure these past couple of years.”
Recession? Really?
What’s it about?
The word “recession” has been in the air now for a minute or two. This article teaches you what a recession could mean for your finances and how best to prepare.
What readers learned
“Tips to shave down costs.”
More to learn, whatever you’re into
That’s just a few of our favourites, but why stop there? Take a browse through our back catalogue and let us know what you relate to the most!
* If Quick Check pre-approves a card, you can be sure we’ll approve your application, except in limited circumstances. Some of the reasons we may not approve your application, among others, include:
a. There’s been a change in your credit file information, personal information or financial status from the time you receive your Quick Check results to the time you apply for one of our credit cards.
b. You’re not at least the age of majority in the province or territory you live in.
c. Your application is flagged for fraud prevention.
d. You have an existing Capital One account.
e. You’ve applied for a Capital One account in the last 30 days or had an account with us that was not in good standing in the last year. In good standing means not past due, over limit, fraudulent, restricted, or part of a consumer credit counselling program or bankruptcy.
In some cases, we may not be able to open an account for you even though your application was approved. This can happen if we’re unable to verify your identity, or you don’t provide the required security funds if you’re approved for a Secured Mastercard®.