7 Wealth Building Hacks To Get Rich in Canada

ByDylan Callaghan Published On:

Growing wealth can feel like trying to catch a unicorn, but lots of folks aim for it to get financial security and freedom. Accumulating riches doesn’t happen in a snap—it takes strategy, patience, and a bit of savvy knowledge.

Across the globe, people from different walks of life have shared their tips and techniques for growing their net worth.

In Canada, financial savviness is part of the culture, with individuals seeking practical ways to enhance their economic standing through tried-and-true methods and innovative hacks.

This is even more apparent in Canada due to our higher cost of living. Although we are blessed with a lot in Canada, affordability is not one of the things.

One frequently discussed approach among successful wealth builders is living within one’s means and being strategic about savings and investments. 

In addition to traditional saving and investing, more nuanced strategies have been utilized by those who have built significant wealth.

These hacks and strategies are not merely for the super-rich; they’re accessible to anyone willing to learn and apply them, laying the groundwork for a more secure financial future.

Let’s go over some game-changing hacks regarding getting your finances in order and boosting your net worth.

These 7 wealth building hacks will have you earning more, spending less, and living happier

  • Set financial goals
  • Develop a budget
  • Maximize your income
  • Invest wisely
  • Identify financial leaks
  • Avoid bad debt
  • Leverage tax-advantaged accounts

Set financial goals

Setting financial goals is essential for anyone looking to secure their financial future. It involves determining what one wants to achieve with money, both in the short and long term.

Short-Term Goals

Short-term financial goals are those that one can achieve within a few months to a year. They serve as foundational steps toward greater financial stability.

This might include saving for a vacation, creating an emergency fund, or paying off small debts for Canadians. A practical short-term goal could be to save at least 20% of one’s income monthly, which builds a financial cushion for unforeseen expenses.

I will agree; it’s getting harder to do that now with stagnant wages and rising costs of living. However, it still is possible.

Long-Term Goals

On the other hand, long-term financial goals look ahead to the future, often spanning several years or decades. These typically require more complex planning and sustained effort. 

Canadians may focus on goals such as retirement savings or paying off a mortgage. 

Crafting a clear roadmap, which might involve investing or maximizing one’s RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) contributions, is critical for achieving these ambitions.

Develop a budget

This step may seem brutally simple and pointless to include in this article. Still, I’d almost guarantee it is one that most Canadians don’t execute.

Effective Budgeting is essential for wealth building, providing a road map for managing one’s finances. Strategic approaches like the 50/30/20 rule and Zero-Based Budgeting can simplify financial planning.

The 50/30/20 Rule

The 50/30/20 rule is a straightforward budgeting strategy. It suggests allocating 50% of one’s income to necessities like housing and groceries, 30% to wants like entertainment and dining out, and 20% towards savings and debt repayment. This method ensures balanced spending and enjoying life while prioritizing financial stability.

Necessities (50%): Mortgage or rent, utilities, groceries, transportation

Wants (30%): Eating out, subscriptions, hobbies

Savings and Debt Repayment (20%): Savings account contributions, credit card payments, investments

Zero-Based Budgeting

Zero-based Budgeting requires one to allocate every dollar of income to a specific purpose, with the goal of having zero dollars left unassigned. This approach encourages meticulous tracking of expenditures and can lead to a deeper understanding of one’s financial habits.

Necessities: Up to 50%

Wants: Adjusted as necessary

Savings/Debt: Remaining until zero

Using this method, individuals may find inefficiencies and opportunities for increased savings.

Cutting unnecessary expenses

One’s journey to financial freedom can often accelerate by looking closely at their expenses. Identifying where money leaks out unnecessarily and adopting smarter shopping habits are foundational steps they can take.

Maximize your income

Regarding wealth accumulation, one’s ability to maximize income is a cornerstone. I’d argue it’s the single most crucial element. Strategic efforts to enhance earnings can significantly impact financial growth and stability.

Pursuing higher education

Investing in higher education can lead to better job prospects and, therefore, higher income. Degrees in in-demand fields such as technology, healthcare, or business are often linked to careers that offer above-average salaries and growth potential. 

For instance, a person with a Masters in Computer Science may secure software development or IT management positions, which typically earn a substantial income.

Developing multiple income streams

Creating multiple income streams is another effective way to maximize earnings. Individuals might seek opportunities to increase their income without quitting their job, such as starting a side hustle, investing in the stock market, or purchasing rental property. 

Also, freelancing or consulting in one’s expertise can provide supplemental income. This diversification ensures financial resilience and can accelerate the journey towards wealth.

Invest wisely

Investing in the stock market can be an effective way to grow one’s wealth over time. Investors should focus on diversifying their portfolios spreading out investments across various sectors and companies to mitigate risk. It’s essential to understand the performance track record of stocks. 

Real estate investment

The stock market isn’t the only place to invest. Real estate investment has historically been a sound strategy for wealth accumulation in Canada. Individuals can invest in rental properties to create a steady income stream or look for opportunities in commercial real estate.

They might also consider real estate investment trusts (REITs) as a more liquid option to get exposure to the real estate market without needing to manage physical properties directly.

Although this method is getting much more complex with rising rates and higher property values, it’s still possible to succeed in some markets.

Retirement accounts

Canadians should not overlook the power of retirement accounts such as RRSPs (Registered Retirement Savings Plans) and TFSAs (Tax-Free Savings Accounts) for long-term wealth building. 

Contributions to these accounts can grow tax-deferred or tax-free, respectively, and they often include a range of investment options like mutual funds, ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), and bonds.

Automatic contributions can also make saving for retirement more consistent and less daunting.

Identify financial leaks

The first step is for individuals to comb through their monthly expenditures to spot unnecessary spending. They should review bank statements, credit card bills, and receipts to highlight recurring subscriptions or services they no longer use. 

It can be surprising to discover how much one can save by eliminating services they forgot about or don’t need.

Shop wisely

When shopping, individuals can employ numerous strategies to stretch their dollars further. For instance, they can make a habit of comparison shopping before making any purchases to ensure they get the best deal.

Using coupons, signing up for customer rewards programs, and purchasing generic brands over name brands can lead to substantial savings. Moreover, timing purchases to coincide with seasonal sales or clearances can result in further discounts.

Avoid bad debt

Bad debt is characterized by loans that don’t generate income or appreciate. Canadians should avoid high-interest credit card debt that compounds and can quickly become unmanageable.

Investing in depreciating assets, such as vehicles or electronics, using borrowed money often results in financial loss, as the asset loses value faster than the loan can be repaid.

Debt management

Proper debt management is crucial to building wealth. It involves distinguishing between advantageous and detrimental forms of debt and employing effective strategies to pay off liabilities.

Strategies for paying off debt

Implementing a strategy for debt elimination is vital. One popular method is the Debt Snowball technique, where individuals focus on paying off their smallest debts first while maintaining minimum payments on others, creating momentum as each balance is cleared.

Conversely, the Debt Avalanche approach prioritizes debts with the highest interest rates, potentially saving more money on interest over time.

By embracing disciplined strategies for debt management, individuals can pave a solid path toward financial stability and wealth accumulation.

Leverage tax-advantaged accounts

Canadians have access to various tax-advantaged accounts to encourage saving and investing. Two notable examples are The Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and The Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA).

Contributions to an RRSP are tax-deductible, lowering taxable income, and investments grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. Alternatively, the TFSA allows investments to grow tax-free, and withdrawals are not taxed.

Maximizing contributions to these accounts can be a powerful strategy in building wealth while reducing tax liability.

Understanding Tax Brackets

In Canada, a progressive tax system determines how much tax an individual pays. Tax brackets are ranges of income taxed at particular rates, which means as someone earns more, they enter higher brackets and thus pay a higher rate on the income within that bracket.

Knowing one’s tax bracket can help in making strategic investment decisions, such as timing the realization of capital gains or taking deductions.