Guides · Official Canadian data
The Metrestick blog
Plain-language guides to Canadian income, taxes, net worth, and housing — built on the same official CRA and Statistics Canada data as our tools.
First tuition bill this fall? Get the RESP withdrawal order right
RESP withdrawals aren't one button — there are two kinds of money in the account, and which one you take first can decide whether grant money gets stranded. Here's the order, the $8,000 first-semester limit, and the tax math.
Read the post →The Canada Workers Benefit just reset — and half of it now arrives early
The July 10 advance payment kicked off a new Canada Workers Benefit year, with maximums up to $1,633 for singles and $2,813 for families. Here's who gets it, how the advance works, and the filing deadline that decides everything.
Read the post →Renewing your mortgage in 2026? Here's what the payment math actually says
About 60% of Canadian mortgages renew in 2025–2026, and the Bank of Canada held its rate again in July. What a five-year fixed renewal really costs — and the levers that soften it.
Read the post →OAS just went up — and the clawback math reset with it
The July 2026 quarter brings a 1.2% OAS raise and a new recovery-tax year. Here's the new monthly maximums, the income threshold that matters, and what retirees can still do about it.
Read the post →The GST credit is gone — meet the Groceries and Essentials Benefit
As of July 2026 the GST/HST credit has been replaced by the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB), paying 25% more. Here's what changed, the new maximums, and the one thing you have to do.
Read the post →Laid off with a severance package: how long does it actually last?
A severance number is a gross number. After tax — and against a real monthly burn rate — the runway it buys is usually shorter than it looks. Here's how to size it honestly.
Read the post →$400,000 sitting in cash at 65: the two mistakes to avoid
A big cash pile near retirement feels safe, but idle money and a careless drawdown order quietly cost tens of thousands. Here's the decumulation logic that protects it.
Read the post →Check the building, not just the listing, before you sign
A Toronto landlord's fine was just tripled to nearly $1M. The lesson for renters and buyers: a building's enforcement record is public — and it tells you what the listing won't.
Read the post →Co-signing a family mortgage could sink your own homebuying power
When you co-sign, the whole payment lands on your file — and it can cut what you qualify for by more than half. Here's the math nobody runs before signing.
Read the post →The condo 'bailout': would a below-market unit actually be affordable?
Governments are buying unsold condos to resell at or below cost. But 'cheaper' and 'affordable' aren't the same thing — here's the income the math actually demands.
Read the post →The 14% tax bracket is now in full effect — what it actually saves you
2026 is the first full year the lowest federal rate sits at 14%, down from 15%. Here's the real dollar figure it puts back in your pocket — and why it's smaller than the headline.
Read the post →Your Canada Child Benefit resets in July — here's what changes
Every July the CCB is recalculated and re-indexed. For 2026 that means a 2% bump, new maximums, and one thing you have to do to keep the money flowing.
Read the post →The minimum income you need to buy a Toronto condo right now
Condo prices have softened, but the income to qualify is still high — and the sticker price is only half the story. Here's the real number, including the cost everyone forgets.
Read the post →How income percentiles actually work
What it means to be in the 75th percentile, where the numbers come from, and why your province changes the answer.
Read the post →TFSA or RRSP First? A Beginner's Framework for Deciding
Should you max out your RRSP or TFSA first? A plain-language framework built around your marginal tax rate, not rules of thumb.
Read the post →What actually counts as net worth
Net worth is assets minus debts — but the details decide whether your number is honest. Here's what to include, what to leave out, and how to compare it to your age group.
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