For a pet’s end-of-life care, owners face tough financial decisions

As Lucy grew older, her blood work started to show some abnormal results. 

By the time the 80-pound shepherd mix was turning 10, her owner Emma Gilmour wanted a diagnosis. Lucy’s veterinarian had mentioned Cushing’s disease as a possibility.

Gilmour paid close to $5,000 for further testing, including an ultrasound, CT scan and specialist consultations. Lucy had a mass on her liver close to a quarter of the organ’s size, and surgery was recommended to remove it. The mass was close to arteries and, if those arteries burst, Lucy could die. 

The surgery was another $10,000.

From Uniqlo to Zara, clothing brands try to win over Gen Z with a needle and thread

NEW YORK (AP) — Encouraging customers to mend worn clothes instead of buying new ones might seem like a self-defeating sales strategy. But in-store repairs and sewing workshops are becoming essential retail services for clothing brands as they try to appeal to young consumers who want to save money and the planet.

While luxury fashion houses and select specialty retailers like Patagonia have offered product repairs for decades, the concept has caught on. Jeans giant Levi Strauss & Co., casual wear chain Uniqlo and budget retailer Primark are some of the apparel companies hoping to win over Generation Z shoppers with a needle and thread.

Levi's created a handstitching course for high school students after determining that many Gen Zers lacked the sewing skills to match their interest in thrift store shopping and sustainability. Employees spend 90 minutes instructing teenagers on four tasks: sewing on a button, hemming, patching a hole and fixing a tear.

The Wear Longer program, which the San Francisco-based company is expanding across the U.S., builds on the repair and customization services Levi's offers at hundreds of stores worldwide.

Prospective prophets profit

Investing generally involves a prophetic take on the future.

After all, investors are wagering that asset prices’ values will increase over time.

Yet prediction markets kick prognostication up several notches. These online platforms move beyond just financial assets to an assortment of world events: elections, sporting events and whether the latest blockbuster will break box office records.

At least, that is what the world’s largest prediction market platforms — Polymarket and Kalshi, both based in the United States — offer.

Here’s when you might be able to apply for lower property taxes

Owning a home comes with a long list of expenses that go beyond a monthly mortgage, whether that's replacing an old roof, paying for home insurance or keeping up with climbing property taxes.

While many costs are fixed, experts say there might be some wiggle room on property taxes to get the amount lowered or a potential refund. But first, you need to know if there is merit for an appeal.

"Taxes are one of the biggest expenses associated with owning property," said Raymond Williams, vice-chair for the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Property Tax Association.

But he said: "It's important to know that it can change, you can reduce them, and it's just being aware of all the programs and options available."

Slow housing market largely ends need for buyers to write personal letters to sellers

In a hot housing market with fierce competition and bidding wars, some buyers have resorted to writing a letter describing how much they love a property in hopes of swaying a seller to choose them as the winning bidder. But now, a softening housing market has changed the role of those personal letters.

Insurance costs have been surging due to extreme weather brought on by climate change — and it’s likely to get more expensive

Floods, hail and wildfires are increasingly common features of North American summers.

Adding to collective dismay, these natural disasters are the common denominator behind sticker price shock for homeowners seeing insurance premiums jump higher annually.

“Home insurance has steadily been rising since 2019,” says Matt Hands, vice-president of insurance at Ratehub.ca.

A recent report from Statistics Canada shows home and mortgage insurance premiums have risen 45 per cent on average over the last six years. That is more than double overall inflation over that span.

From travel passes to eSims, here’s how you can avoid high roaming fees on vacation

Costs can quickly add up on an overseas vacation, from lavish meals to airfares and accommodation, but staying connected can sometimes be the biggest source of bill shock for travellers when they arrive home.

Maxed-out credit cards? Here are different options to dig out of the debt

For Canadians juggling multiple maxed-out credit cards, the instinct in a moment of panic is usually to try to fix everything at once. Yet financial experts say that instinct is not one to follow, and it's often the reason debt problems drag on longer than they need to.

Banks seek to implement AI tools for customers … who love them until they don’t work

Few consumer-facing industries illustrate the potential and pitfalls of artificial intelligence more than the financial services sector.

Generative AI — the technology powering chatbots that can seemingly think and provide reasonably correct, if not insightful, answers to our questions — is arguably a wonder of the modern world.

The potential for providing financial advice is indeed palpable. Then again, it’s not hard to imagine the technology running amok especially with people’s money.

A recent report on digital banking services provides insight on the risks and opportunities.

How to make the most of an internship, even when the position is unfulfilling

For young people wanting to get a leg up in the labour market, an internship is often a way to get an edge. 

But not all internships are the same. Some employers make great use of their interns, giving them valuable work experience. Other times, interns find themselves stuck getting coffee. Even if you find yourself in that latter situation, experts say there are ways to make the most of your time at the company.

Dan Richards, a professor at the Rotman School of Management, says one of the most important things an intern can do is build relationships with their co-workers. 

A few years ago, Richards said he was advising a student during his summer internship at a bank who was determined to be the "most productive intern they've ever had." He arrived early, stayed late and worked through lunch.   

Read this before you break up with your Big Six bank

Canada's banking regulator has been streamlining its bank licensing framework, giving consumers greater choice when it comes to who they want to bank with. But consumers shouldn't just switch banks on a whim.

Being appointed executor or power of attorney presents unique challenges few laypeople are prepared for

These important jobs may not be the most onerous on the planet, but for the uninitiated, they probably involve more twists and turns than anticipated.

Fans, basements, BBQs: experts offer ways to reduce your summer electricity bill

Easy, affordable tips to lower electricity bills when summer's sweltering heat kicks in and you're looking to air conditioning for comfort.

Consumer spending up, but income not keeping pace for many: BCG report

TORONTO - A new report says Canadian consumer spending has grown across income groups, but only those in the top 20 per cent of earners saw their income growth fully match and support their higher spending.

The Boston Consulting Group report looked at household spending and income growth between 2021 and 2025.

It says that outside of the top 20 per cent, households covered their increased spending by relying more on savings, rising portfolio values and borrowing.

"For the middle 60 per cent of earners, the traditional bedrock of commercial demand, income growth covered just 57 cents of every dollar of new spending," the report said.

Resale 101: Items collecting dust in your house could be turned into cash

There’s money hiding in your closet and old, forgotten drawers. It might not look like cash — it could be retro technology, a vintage handbag, an old guitar. But if it’s in good condition, someone will likely buy it.