Every Money Calculator, and When to Use It

Start here before you shop. It applies the same GDS/TDS ratios and stress test a lender would, so the number is one you could actually get approved for.

Once you have a price in mind, to see the monthly payment — and how much accelerated bi-weekly payments would save you.

When you're not sure buying is the right move at all. It compares owning against renting and investing the down payment.

Before you finalise your budget. This is a cash-on-closing cost you can't roll into the mortgage, and Toronto charges it twice.

Before breaking a fixed-rate mortgage to refinance or move. The big-bank posted-rate method can multiply the penalty several times over.

Any time you're comparing a job offer, a raise, or a move between provinces — gross salary tells you very little on its own.

Before selling stocks, a rental or a cottage. Only half a gain is taxable in Canada, so the bill is usually smaller than people fear.

For quick GST/HST math, invoicing, or backing the tax out of a receipt total.

Before any TFSA deposit — especially if you've withdrawn this year, which is the most common cause of penalty tax.

Around RRSP season, to size a contribution against the refund it actually generates at your marginal rate.

If you're saving for a first home. The FHSA is the only account with both a deduction going in and tax-free withdrawals coming out.

If you have kids. The government adds 20% to your contributions — up to $7,200 per child — and most families don't capture all of it.

To see what regular contributions turn into over decades — the single most motivating number in personal finance.

When comparing GIC offers, or deciding between terms. Shows the effective annual yield after compounding.

For dividend investors sizing future income, and to see what reinvesting (DRIP) is actually worth over time.

To sanity-check a salary against history, or to see why cash sitting in a low-interest account quietly loses ground.

When you have several debts and want to know which order to attack them in — and what each strategy costs in interest.

For a single card balance, to see how much faster a fixed payment clears it than the shrinking minimum.

At the dealership, where the conversation is always about the monthly payment and never about total interest or negative equity.

To find the card that pays you most given how you actually spend — ranked by rewards minus the annual fee.

Before redeeming anything. It shows what your balance is really worth and whether transferring to a partner beats redeeming directly.

For an honest benchmark against other Canadian households, plus median net worth by age band.

When you're wondering whether a salary is actually good — or negotiating one.

To compare an hourly role against a salaried offer on equal terms, including the bi-weekly vs semi-monthly difference.

At the table, when the bill arrives and nobody wants to do the math.