Making generic resolutions is just silly, we need to pick goals that are actually attainable. Here are some common financial goals and tips to help you meet them.

Pay off debt

We would all like to pay off our debt but depending on how much we owe it may be next to impossible to pay it off in a single year. Instead, try to focus on paying a portion of the debt and set up up a repayment plan.

For example, let’s say we have $20,000 in consumer debt, maybe paying down $6,000 is a realistic number for us this year. That would mean we need to set aside $500 a month to meet our goal. Setting up a debt repayment plan and sticking to it is a much more realistic financial goal.

Make more money

This is one of those goals that we all make but it just not realistic. Getting a raise would be great, finding a higher paying job would be awesome, but both aren’t exactly easy in this economy.

Making more money isn’t out of reach, we just need to be a bit creative about how to earn that extra income. How about selling some of the crap stuff we no longer use on Craigslist or picking up a side hustle (part-time job)?

Increase my RRSP contributions

Making a larger RRSP contribution means we’ll get a bigger tax refund but how can we contribute more with so many other things going on? How about investing the tax refund we’re about to get after filing our taxes? Re-investing your tax refund every year will just help compound your contributions. This of course assumes we don’t owe money.

Another strategy is to set up an automatic savings plan through our bank so regular contributions are made immediately. If your employer offers any type of RRSP matching plan, be sure to take advantage of it.

Save more money

In theory, saving more money should be one of the easiest financial goals, even if we save just ONE extra dollar we’ve met our goal right? Technically yes but we shouldn’t be too proud about saving an extra dollar. How about aiming a little higher?

An easy way to save more money is to simply cut some of our spending. Look at your monthly bills/spending and it shouldn’t be too hard to find a few places where you can trim your expenses.

Stick to a budget

Here’s the thing about budgets, they’re impossible to stick to if we don’t have a realistic one set up. Before we can set up a budget, we need to track our spending, literally write down everything that you spend money on for a month. Once we know our spending habits it’ll be easy to make adjustments.

Also note that there are different ways to budget. Some of us prefer to use a cash-based system, whereas others prefer to always track their spending through budgeting software. Just find a system that works for you and stick to it.

Improve my financial knowledge

We all want to take better control of our finances, but those technical terms can be pretty intimidating. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, just read a book and you’ll have a much better understanding of how to make your money work for you. There’s a ton of great resources out there and if you read just one of them, you’ll probably know more about personal finances than 80% of the population.

Final thoughts

Sticking to any goal you make can be easy as long as the goal is realistic. What’s the point of setting a massive goal if you have no chance of obtaining it? You’re just setting yourself up for disappointment.

Therefore, empty cabins means reduced revenue, and that’s not something to make cruise operators smile; maximizing the dollar, pound, euro, or whatever currency you have, is their priority. Repositioning cruise deals can offer some amazing value for those who are flexible.

What is a repositioning cruise?

Generally speaking, cruising areas are seasonal, (you don’t hear of mid-winter cruises to Alaska, for example), so transitions must be made on the cusp so that ships voyaging in area ‘A’ leave there at season’s end in order to arrive in area ‘B’ in time for that season to begin.

The distance from Barcelona, (a popular Mediterranean port), to Miami, for example, is about 4,100 nautical miles, depending on the route. The bigger the ship the more fuel used, and of course that means more costs. Operators try to offset these costs by offering deals on repositioning cruises.

If you’re a traveler in, say, Europe, with plenty of time on your hands, (these cruises are not generally for the two week vacationer), it can be as cheap, or cheaper, and a lot more comfortable, to grab cheap repositioning cruises back to North America, (generally Florida if you’re coming from Europe), than it is to fly; thus you’ll find a large number of retirees among the passengers.

How to find cheap repositioning cruises

One good source is Repositioningcruise.com; you’ll need to sign up for an account but it’s free. Start by filtering out the ones that don’t appeal to you, monitor those that do, and watch the price trend. If you’re prepared to leave at virtually the last minute/week, you can get some killer prices.

It pays to shop around so take a look at Expedia and directly with the cruise lines. You also want to pay close attention to their deposit/cancellation policies. Some travel companies/lines will allow you to cancel, and rebook if prices drop(before the final date for full payment). Even if you have to pay a cancellation fee to rebook, the savings might still be worth it.

Sometimes the cruise lines might offer ‘sweeteners’ such as onboard credits, (perhaps $50-$100 that you can only spend aboard ship), gratuity reductions, or even, in rare instances, cabin upgrades to get sales going. Once in a while, you can find a deal that’s too good to pass up.

Cruisecritic.com is another great resource to learn tricks about cruising and to get expert advice.

Sample trip

From Repositioningcruise.com

15 nights departing March 16, 2015 on Holland America’s Zuiderdam

Brochure Inside $1,999
Our Inside $799
You Save 60%

Brochure Oceanview $2,199
Our Oceanview $999
You Save 55%

Mar 16 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mar 17 – At Sea
Mar 18 – At Sea
Mar 19 – At Sea
Mar 20 – At Sea
Mar 21 – At Sea
Mar 22 – At Sea
Mar 23 – At Sea
Mar 24 – At Sea
Mar 25 – Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Mar 26 – At Sea
Mar 27 – Cadiz, Spain
Mar 28 – Malaga, Spain
Mar 29 – Cartagena, Spain
Mar 30 – At Sea
Mar 31 – Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy

What kind of activities are there?

If you’ve never been on a cruise ship before, then prepare to have your mind blown. These ships offer endless entertainment including; pools, whirlpools, movie theatres, spas, casinos, clubs, karaoke, rock climbing wall, video arcades, and some even have bumper cars.

Many people don’t realize that you’re not on the ship the entire time. Depending on the cruise you select, you’ll get a few stopovers before you reach your final destination. Every stopover represents a new destination for you to explore.

What are the extra costs?

We mentioned ‘cheaper’, and it can be IF you avoid the ‘specialty restaurants’, (always available for a surcharge), and stick with the buffets and other options that are included in the fare. The cruise lines will of course attempt to get you to pay for extras, from photographs, to spa treatments and to cruise shore excursions that they have organized. Don’t forget, there’s also ‘mandatory gratuities’ in the region of $12US per person, per day.

If you want to save money during stopovers just book your own cruise shore excursions, or walk around the ports on your own. The tour companies are well aware of what time you need to be back, so the odds are you won’t be left behind.

Unlike all-inclusive beach resorts, booze is not free on cruises (some exceptions apply), but drink packages can be purchased; no cash changes hands, but everything is charged directly to your room to be paid at the end. Cruise lines prefer this credit system since psychologically we’ll spend more when we don’t see physical money leaving our wallets.

As you can imagine, if you’re not paying attention and opt for every upgrade, you can be hit with a pretty big bill at the end. Cheap repositioning cruises can be done without spending a penny extra; it’s all up to you.

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A big thank you to Eric Bundock for helping co-author this piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sR9fko5KeE&feature=youtu.be&t=17s

Who?

Okay like Star Lord you may have never have heard of Robert R. Brown, but his book Wealthing Like Rabbits shares many similarities to Guardians of the Galaxy, as in it’s full of pop culture references that takes you on adventure.

Rabbits and zombies

As we all know rabbits are pretty famous for multiplying, the earlier they start the higher their population becomes, of course the same could be said about compound interest and the zombie apocalypse according to Brown.

“Ever week England receives 110 new zombies.  This continues for the next forty years. . . on average only six out of every one hundred zombies chow down on the British citizenry annually, zombamafying them into new zombies.  How many zombies would be in England after forty years?”

“There would be  824,627 zombies in England after forty years”

Never would I have imagined comparing compound interest to zombies.  An original introduction to personal finance indeed.

It doesn’t matter

I have to admit, I love Brown’s writing/style since it’s very similar to how I view and talk about finances.

“In our increasingly materialistic world. it’s more important than ever for people to be comfortable doing what’s right for them, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Yet, far too often we see Buddys and Buddy-Lous out there spending money they don’t have on things they don’t need so that they can appear wealthier than they are in a futile attempt to keep up with those damn Joneses. Screw the Joneses! And by the way, the Joneses probably aren’t as well off as they look either. . .sadly, beneath the imitation wealth and artificial happiness there is often a lot of very authentic debt and stress.”

Appearances are deceiving, that big house, nice car, and annual vacation can all be obtained right now on credit. Listen to Brown, don’t worry what others are doing, forget what others are doing or how “rich” they appear, it doesn’t matter.

Mario mortgages

Probably my favourite chapter, Brown takes a look at the famous video game brothers as they look for homes with their bags of golden coins.  the help of the bank, Mario the more famous brother decides to buy a big home and takes on a big mortgage. Luigi however decides to purchase a modest home at a much lower price.

Brown of course breaks down the real cost of buying too much home and reminds us what the banks are all about.

“Retail banks are in the business of providing financial services or products to make a profit.  They are very good at it.  They are not in the business of ensuring that your house purchase is a smart decision for you and your long-term financial health.”

Final word
Okay I don’t want to give away anymore of the book but Brown covers a wide range of topics including: debt, credit cards, lines of credit, HELOC’s, pay day loans, opportunity costs and much more. Basically he covers topics that could apply to any one of us.

If you’re new to personal finance then this book is definitely worth picking up as an introduction to the subject. Even if you’re familiar with your finances the book is still worth checking out since Brown has an engaging style of writing.

Wealthing Like Rabbits is available online now, you’ll also be able to pick it up in Indigo later in the month. You can also follow Robert on Twitter: @wealthingrabbit

Okay, I suppose it’s possible that homeowners are taking advantage of the low interest rates and we’re investing their extra money instead of paying off our mortgages but if you recall we’re terrible investors so what exactly are we doing with our money?

We’re picking up more debt of course! The same poll found that Canadians are spending more on home renovations and vacations.  When money is cheap, we love to borrow more of it!

I’m going to assume some of us don’t like debt so here are 7 ways to pay off your mortgage faster.

Accelerate those payments

The easiest way to pay off your mortgage faster is to set your payment cycle to accelerated bi-weekly. With monthly payments we’re making 12 payments a year, but with accelerated bi-weekly we make 26 payments.

Real-life example:  A mortgage of $350,000 amortized over 25 years at a 3% interest rate will cost us $1656.36 a month.  However, by switching to accelerated bi-weekly payments we’ll pay $828.18 or $1794.35 monthly. ($828.18 X 26 payments, then dividend by 12 months)

The difference is only an additional $137.99 a month but that extra payment will cut almost 3 years off our mortgage.

Increase your payments

Every dollar we put down above our minimum payment goes directly towards the principal of our mortgage.  I would much rather pay off the principal than paying my lender interest.

Let’s use the exact same numbers as before; A mortgage of $350,000 amortized over 25 years at a 3% interest rate with an accelerated bi-weekly payment schedule will cost us $828.18.  We decide to add an additional $100 to every payment making our payments a total of $928.18.  This extra payment combined with our bi-weekly payments has now shaved almost 6 years off our mortgage!

An easy way to increase your payments without ever feeling it is to simply increase your payment whenever you get a raise.

Make a lump-sum payment

Most mortgages allow a lump sum payment once or twice a year up to a certain amount, this is a perfect opportunity to reduce your mortgage further.

But where can we find this extra money?  How about our tax refund, work bonus, employee stock plan or even cash gifts from family.  It doesn’t matter where we get the money, just find some!

Take a shorter amortization

Choosing a shorter amortization is an obvious way to reduce the years on your mortgage but it’s often overlooked.  There’s nothing stopping you from taking a 19-year amortization vs. a 20 year one, you can set it to whatever you want.  Your payments will be higher but you’ll also pay off your mortgage faster.

Renegotiate

Mortgage rates are at an all-time low but it doesn’t just benefit those of us who are currently in the market for a home.  If you’re a few years into your mortgage it’s still possible to take advantage of these low rates by re-negotiating.

Yes, we’ll have to pay a penalty fee to break our mortgage but we could potentially end up saving tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.  There are tons of lenders out there that would be happy to take our business. . . err money, so work with a mortgage broker to find the best rate and term.

Skip the renovation

If your goal is to pay down your mortgage, doing renovations can set you back. I get that people want to update their homes but just understand, but it comes at a cost. If you have a bunch of money lying around, doing renovations could immediately increase the value of your home. However, if you need to borrow cash to do those renos, you’re just increasing your debt.

Borrow less

Lenders are more than happy to lend us an insane amount but just because they offer to lend us $700,000 dollars or whatever should we take it?  NO, never take the maximum amount offered.

I don’t care what the lenders say or how much they say we can afford, this is what we need to know. Lenders don’t care about how we plan to pay for our children’s education, how we will fund our retirements, where we’ll get the money to make home repairs, or how we’ll be able to afford a vacation; they only care about us making our monthly payments.

Final thoughts

Interest rates are at historic lows and they can only go up; if you can only afford a home with a long amortization at these rates then it’s a good sign that you probably can’t afford a home.

Think carefully about how much you want to borrow.  This ain’t Trading Spaces, This is real life!

According to the poll the average household debt for Canadians now sits at $76,140, the average last year was $72,045. Most of us don’t even know how much money we have in our bank accounts so how can we realistically expect to know how much debt we have?

In Alberta household debt almost doubles those living in Ontario ($124,838 vs. $67,507).  Traditionally Alberta has been considered one of the “cheaper” provinces to live in but if Albertans are carrying twice as much debt does that really make it cheaper or is it all an illusion?

Credit Card Debt

One positive thing found in the report is that only 52% of us are now carrying a credit debt, that’s down 56% from the previous year. So we’re clear, there is nothing to be proud of when more than half of Canadians are carrying a balance on their credit cards. Any debt on your credit card is too much debt.

I don’t want to preach here but if you can’t  pay off the full balance on your credit card at the end of the month then it means you can’t afford whatever you just bought.

Interest rates are insanely high on credit cards, if you’re carrying a balance you need to make paying it off a priority. Don’t even think about your RRSP or TFSA, get rid of that credit card debt first!

Mortgage Debt

Interesting enough the survey reveals that 43% of us have mortgage debt yet it’s estimated nearly 70% of Canadians are homeowners. I wouldn’t be surprised if the difference in numbers are those home owners that are mortgage free but I find it very hard to believe that the national average for debt is only $76,140.  Based on vagueness of the report I have to assume it adds mortgage debt, credit card debt and student debt so it just doesn’t add up.  Regardless it’s really meaningless since there is no way to verify these numbers.

Yes mortgages can be considered a good debt but too many of us take on too much debt when buying a home.  My friend Robb Engen over at Boomerandecho described it best in his recent post 35 Thoughts On Turning 35.

 “Tens of thousands of dollars have been wasted because home builders and real estate agents invented terms like “starter homes” and “trading up”.  Buy a home that’ll suit you for the next decade or more.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if hundreds of thousands of dollars have been wasted when you consider how much money banks are willing to lend us for our first home. Crunch those numbers and make sure not to borrow excessively just to say you’re a homeowner. The last thing you want to be is house poor.

Final Word
Sure banks and credit card companies encourage us to borrow and spend more than we can afford but in the end, we only have ourselves to blame when we get into the debt trap. Just because money is cheap and incredibly easy to access doesn’t mean we should borrow and spend ourselves into debt.

Here’s my picks of the top free Toronto Attractions.

Nathan Philips Square

Toronto’s City Hall is the main draw here but the revitalization that’s been going on has locals coming back.   Just above all the concrete, the City Hall podium roof has turned into a public garden offering solace from the politics below.  The permanent theatre stage has live performances during many of the festivals held here and don’t forget to check out the Peace Garden which has relocated to the west side of the square.

TIFF Bell Lightbox

A must see for all film buffs, the TIFF Bell Lightbox is the official home of the Toronto International Film Festival.  Inside you’ll find a museum which celebrates all things film and if you really want to geek out be sure to check out the film archives which houses the worlds largest collection of film resources.  Sometimes the touring exhibitions are free so check the website before visiting.

St. Lawrence Market

This is my favourite free Toronto attraction; Butchers, bakers, fishmongers, you’ll find them all and much more but if you’re a tourist you’ll want to sample some of the goods right away.  Toronto is the birthplace of Canadian bacon so trying it is a must, but before you grab that peameal on a bun, scope out the lower level of the market where you’ll find even more food options for round 2.

The Beach

Located in the east of Toronto, The Beach as it’s formally known is a short streetcar ride from downtown and plays host to the International Jazz Festival every year.  The beach offers something for everyone with parks, playgrounds, bike paths, a boardwalk, volleyball nets, a skate park, and of course the beach itself.  If you need to refuel head up to Queen st. where you’ll have plenty of options, I recommend Queen Margherita Pizza and The Burger’s Priest.

Art Gallery of Ontario

Every Wednesday night this attraction is free from 6-8:30pm.  As you can imagine the Canadian collection is quite popular but with other collections including European, Photography, Modern and Contemporary there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.  It’s hard to believe but the reimagination of the building a few years back by Toronto born architect Frank Gehry  was actually his first piece done in Canada.

Kensington Market / Chinatown

“Market” is a loose term here since it’s really just streets with stores but still a popular destination where you can find just about anything including vintage clothing, spices, restaurant supplies, and even military clothing.  If you’re a foodie Kensington and Chinatown offer food from all over South America and Asia so don’t go all-in at your first stop.

Centre Island

Need a break from the city? Jump on a ferry ($4.50-$7) and head over to the Toronto islands where you’ll get the best view of Toronto.  There’s plenty to do here for the day with a small beach, bike rentals, and the Centreville amusement park for the kids.  Food options are limited so you may want to pack a lunch and have a picnic.

BATA Show Museum

Not just for those with a shoe fetish, the Bata Shoe Museum explores the history of shoes, their cultural significance and of course there’s a section dedicated to celebrity foot ware.  Thursdays from 5-8pm admission to the museum is pay what you can, $8-14 at all other times.

Niagara Falls

Free Toronto attractions don’t apply just to the city, if you’re a first-time visitor you’re going to want to make a trip to see Niagara Falls.  The attractions nearby the falls are very touristy but still a must-see for first-time visitors, if you’re feeling lucky head over to the Fallsview Casino.  Easily accessible by Megabus, Coach Canada or Greyhound, Niagara Falls is worth the trip.

This is not a post about how to avoid paying your DSC fees, but rather a story of how I got mine waived.  I honestly felt my advisor was taking advantage of me so I looked at my records to build my case.

Help from a stranger

I have openly admitted that my biggest fault was not doing my due diligence; I took what my advisor told me for his word.  I honestly believed he was looking out for me and wanted to work with me.  For a while I was happy until one day a random stranger on a message board advised me to look into my management expense ratios (MER) and DSC fees.

For those unfamiliar with an MER, it’s a percentage that is subtracted from your account regardless of your returns for the year.  An MER averages 2-2.5% which may not sound like a lot, but over the course of your lifetime it can add up to quite a bit.  A DSC gives the advisor a fat 5% commission right off the top but as the investor you are charged a percentage of your portfolio if you decide to pull out your funds early.  Check out Preet Baerjee’s new book  Stop Over-Thinking Your Money! The five simple  rules of financial success for more info on fee structures with mutual funds.

Before this message board stranger mentioned MER’s and DSC’s I had never even heard of them before.  As you can imagine I was shocked when I found out what I was really paying.  My advisor told me he was being compensated by a minimal amount, which is technically true, but not once did he ever tell me that his commission was a fraction of the MER I would be paying no matter what.  I should note that he legally didn’t have to tell me that he would be getting a higher commission by putting me in certain funds.

I found out that all the funds I was in were back loaded and if I wanted out I would be charged a DSC fee of about 5%.  My heart sank at the thought of losing that much money.  Not once was I ever told about this back end fee.

My advisor wasn’t looking out for me

For a while I was ready to eat the loss.  I felt that taking the loss was worth it to cut my ties with my advisor.  Also I couldn’t understand why I was put into back loaded funds when I had made it clear I might need my cash for a possible home purchase in the near future.  The money I was investing need to be safe.

I decided to ask my advisor this, perhaps he had a legit explanation and maybe there was something I was missing.  His response was if I was not happy with my results he could switch my funds to something with more risk.

Okay this answer made no sense, I was asking about fees and misrepresentation and he answered with something completely irrelevant.  There were plenty of earlier signs of his incompetence but it was clear he wasn’t interested in salvaging our relationship.  This would be the last time I would speak to my advisor.

I was convinced that my advisor was lining his pockets with my funds.  Now this was a serious accusation so I needed proof and the proof was in the details.

Preparing my case

I went back and found all the prepared statements my advisor had given me since we first met.  After our original meeting he presented me a plan in writing that clearly stated I was planning on buying a home.

Curious, if he knew I was planning on buying a home soon why put me in a fund that a) was heavily weighted in equities b) had a back end fee.  If he was looking out for my best interests it would have made more sense to put me in a fund that was more weighted towards fixed income and had no fees.  Sure this was my RRSP and it was long term, but again it was clear in writing that I might be taking advantage of the home buyers plan.

Since my advisor was no longer speaking with me I contacted his manager and explained the situation, right away he agreed that it made no sense that I was in a back end funds.  He was also disappointed to hear that MER’s and DSC’s were not properly disclosed.  He promised me he would look into it and asked me to send in any supporting documents I had.

I decided to check my old e-mails to see what I could find.  A quick search in my e-mail revealed more evidence that supported my suspicions.  It also gave me evidence to show that my advisor was pushing products that didn’t quite fit my profile.

Making my claim

I forwarded all these e-mails to the manager and he promised me he would get back to me shortly.  After a week he contacted me and said all the evidence I provided supported my claims and the firm would waive all DSC fees as long as I agreed to sign a waiver that I would not be seeking further compensation.  Considering I was ready to pay the fees just to be rid of this company I was more than happy to accept their settlement.

A message board stranger, research, and good bookkeeping are the reasons I was able to get my fees waived.

A few months after I had left the firm I had found out that my advisor was let go.  Turns out the internal investigation revealed that he had made some very questionable investments for other clients, all of which seemed to maximize his commissions.  I indirectly was the whistleblower.

– –

This post has been slightly modified from its original version which first appeared at canajunfinances.com a popular Canadian personal finance blog

Image courtesy: Drew Coffman via StockPholio.com

If it fails, pay inside with the cashier or tap your card at the pump. Neither asks for a ZIP code.

How to turn your postal code into a ZIP code

Use the numbers in your postal code, in order, followed by 00.

Always use the postal code on your card’s billing address, not your cottage or a friend’s address. A different postal code will fail even if it’s a real one.

Why the ZIP code trick works

US gas pumps and many US websites use the Address Verification System (AVS). It checks the ZIP code you type against the billing address your bank has on file. Payment systems commonly compare only the numbers in the address, so the numbers from your postal code can match what your Canadian bank holds.

The trick isn’t an official Visa, Mastercard or Amex policy. It’s a workaround that Canadian travellers have used for years, and results vary by card issuer, gas station and payment terminal.

Does Canada have ZIP codes?

No, Canada doesn’t have ZIP codes. Canada Post uses six-character postal codes that alternate letters and numbers, like A1A 1A1. The US uses five-digit ZIP codes, which is why American systems can’t read a Canadian postal code.

• First three characters (Forward Sortation Area): your general region, such as part of a city or a rural area. The first letter shows your province or territory.
• Last three characters (Local Delivery Unit): a specific street, block or building.

How to pay at a US gas pump with a Canadian credit card

Insert or tap your card, and when the pump asks for a ZIP code, enter your postal code’s three numbers plus 00.

1. Insert your card, or tap it if the pump has a contactless reader. Tapping often skips the ZIP prompt.
2. When asked for a ZIP code, enter the three numbers from your postal code followed by 00 (K2P 5G3 = 25300).
3. If the pump says “see cashier” or declines the card, go inside. Tell the cashier your pump number and how much you want, such as “$40 on pump 6.”
4. Fill up. If you prepaid too much inside, go back in for the difference to be refunded to your card.

Pay-at-the-pump can put a temporary hold of about $75–$150 USD on your card, which clears in a few days and is replaced with the actual amount you’ve spent at the gas station.

How to use a Canadian credit card on US websites

On US websites, choose Canada as your country if you can. If the form only takes a five-digit ZIP code, use the same trick.

1. Choose Canada from the country list, if it’s offered, and enter your real postal code.
2. If the form only accepts US addresses, enter your street address as it appears on your statement.
3. In the ZIP code field, enter your postal code’s three numbers plus 00.
4. If the payment is declined, try PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay, which don’t ask for a ZIP code, or contact the merchant.

Some US retailers won’t ship to Canada or accept foreign cards at all. In that case, a US bank account and card through a cross-border banking service, or a US shipping address service, is the more reliable option.

What to do if the ZIP code trick doesn’t work

If 00 doesn’t work, don’t keep guessing: repeated declines can trigger a fraud hold on your card.

If your card is declined everywhere, call the number on the back. The issuer may have flagged the US purchase as fraud.

Tips for using Canadian cards in the US

• Use a card with no foreign transaction fees. Most Canadian credit cards charge 2.5% on US-dollar purchases, which adds up fast on gas, hotels and shopping. Using a no foreign transaction fee credit card will save you on those charges.
• Always pay in US dollars. If a terminal offers to charge you in Canadian dollars, say no. That “dynamic currency conversion” rate is almost always worse than your card’s.
• Check your debit card. Interac-only debit cards don’t work at most US stores. A card with Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard does.
• Bring a backup card on a different network. Amex isn’t accepted everywhere, so pack a Visa or Mastercard too.
• Keep your billing address current. If you’ve moved, update your address with your card issuer before you travel, or the ZIP trick won’t match.

Final Thoughts

The postal code, plus 00 trick gets most Canadians through a US gas pump or checkout in seconds. When it doesn’t, walk inside or tap. For regular US trips, a no foreign transaction fee card saves you more than any workaround.

Frequently asked questions

What ZIP code do I use for a Canadian credit card?

Use the three numbers in your postal code followed by two zeros. For postal code K2P 5G3, enter 25300. Use the postal code on your card’s billing address. It works at most US gas pumps and websites, but not all of them.

Why does a US gas pump ask for a ZIP code?

US pumps use the Address Verification System (AVS) to prevent fraud. It checks the ZIP code you enter against the billing address your bank has on file. Because stolen cards are often used at unattended pumps, most US stations require it.

Can I enter my full Canadian postal code instead?

Usually not at a gas pump, because the keypad only accepts five numbers. Online, choose Canada as your country and enter your full postal code, with or without the space. Use the numbers-plus-00 method only when the form won’t accept letters.

Can I use any Canadian postal code with my credit card?

No. You need the postal code tied to your card’s billing address. Any other postal code, even a real one, won’t match your bank’s records and the payment will be declined.

Where do I find the billing postal code for my credit card?

It’s the address on your credit card statement, in your online banking or in your card’s mobile app. If you’ve moved, check that you updated your address with the card issuer, since the old postal code may still be on file.

How do I change the billing postal code on my credit card?

Update your address in online banking or your issuer’s app, call the number on the back of your card, or visit a branch. Changes can take up to five business days, so use your old postal code until the issuer confirms the update.

What should I do if my postal code keeps getting rejected?

Check your statement to confirm the postal code on file. Online, try entering it with and without the space. At a pump, pay inside instead of guessing, since several declines in a row can trigger a fraud block. If it keeps failing, call your card issuer.

Do Canadian debit cards work at US gas stations?

Only if your debit card has a Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard logo. Interac-only debit cards don’t work at most US merchants. Even with a Visa or Mastercard debit logo, you may need to pay inside if the pump asks for a ZIP code.

That’s a big jump from a couple of years ago. One-day tickets now top $200 on peak days, theme park parking is $35, and value resorts can pass $300 a night. The good news: Disney resort guests now park for free, kids ate free on the 2026 dining plan, and off-peak dates are still reasonable.

The budgets below assume two adults and two kids aged 3 to 9, 7 nights, and 5 park days, which is enough time to see all four theme parks without rushing.

Key numbers at a glance

• 1-day ticket: $119–$219 plus tax, depending on park and date
• 5-day ticket: roughly $600–$775 per person, or about $120–$155 a day
• Disney hotels: about $150–$450 (value), $300–$600 (moderate), $500+ (deluxe) per night
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass: $16–$45 per person, per day
• Food: $50–$100 per person, per day
• Theme park parking: $35 a day, free for Disney resort guests

While there are ways to save, this is typically a trip where families with splurge.

How much does Disney World cost for a family of four?

Expect to spend about $7,100 on a tight budget, $9,800 for a typical trip and $14,900 if you splurge. Here’s how each budget breaks down for 7 nights and 5 park days.

How much are Disney World tickets in 2026 and 2027?

A one-day Disney World ticket costs $119 to $219 USD plus tax, depending on the park and the date. Disney uses date-based pricing, so the same ticket can cost $80 more on a holiday than on a quiet weekday in January.

Child tickets (ages 3 to 9) are only $5 less than adult tickets, and kids under 3 are free.

Multi-day tickets are much cheaper per day

The longer your ticket, the less you pay per day. A 4-day ticket averages about $659 in 2026, and going all the way to 10 days adds only about $216 more. A typical 7-day ticket works out to roughly $105 a day. Of course, unless you’re a major Disney fan, it’s unlikely you’ll visit for more than 5 days.

For most families, 4 or 5 park days is the sweet spot: one day per park, plus a spare day for favourites.

How much does Lightning Lane cost?

Lightning Lane Multi Pass costs about $16 to $45 per person, per day, depending on the park and date. It replaced FastPass and Genie+ and lets you pre-book shorter lines for most rides.

Single Pass rides include TRON Lightcycle / Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Avatar Flight of Passage.

Disney resort guests can book Lightning Lane 7 days before arrival for their whole stay; off-site guests can book 3 days before each park day. While this can be an expensive added expenses, if you have no plans on returning to Disney World, it’s likely worth paying for Lightning Lanes so you can maximize your time.

Disney PhotoPass (Memory Maker)

PhotoPass photographers shoot your family at landmarks and character meets, and ride photos link to your account. Buying the Memory Maker package before your trip is cheaper than buying at the park. This is one of the first things to cut if you’re looking to save.

How much does it cost to stay at Disney World?

Disney-owned hotels cost about $150 to $450 a night for a value resort, $300 to $600 for a moderate and $500 or more for a deluxe. Off-site hotels near Disney run about $100 to $225 a night. You also need to factor in the 12.5% hotel tax in Orange County.

Rates swing widely by date. Pop Century ranges from about $205 to $450 a night, and some value rooms for March 2027 are already above $300.

What you get for staying at a Disney hotel

• 30 minutes of early theme park entry every day, at every park
• Free self-parking at your hotel and at the theme parks (a $35/day saving)
• Lightning Lane booking 7 days before arrival, instead of 3
• Free buses, boats, monorail and Skyliner to the parks
• Extended evening hours on select nights (deluxe and deluxe villa guests only)

Disney-owned resorts don’t charge resort fees which can save you $25 – $50 a night.

Off-site hotels near Disney World

Hotels 5 to 10 minutes away usually cost $100 to $225 a night, and many include breakfast. The Vineland Road corridor near Disney Springs has Marriott, Hilton and IHG properties, which you can book with points. Some include a park shuttle, but these shuttles are limited and timing may not work for your needs.

Points tip: the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin are Marriott Bonvoy hotels inside Disney World. They get early entry like Disney resorts, but they do charge a resort fee and parking.

Vacation homes

Kissimmee and Celebration rentals cost about $150 to $400 a night, from one-bedroom condos to eight-bedroom homes with private pools. Most are within a 15-minute drive of Disney. A kitchen lets you skip restaurant breakfasts and dinners, which adds up fast for a family.

How much are flights to Disney World?

Budget about $300 to $600 per person round trip to Orlando International Airport (MCO) from most of North America. Off-peak weekday flights can dip under $300; spring break and Christmas can top $600.

Flights from Canada

Air Canada, WestJet and Porter all fly nonstop to Orlando. Porter flies nonstop from Toronto Pearson, Hamilton and Ottawa, plus seasonal Halifax service, with base fares starting around CAD $195 one way. Flight-and-hotel packages can also be cheap, but add bag and seat fees before you compare.

Should you drive instead?

Driving can save $1,000 or more for a family of four, but Toronto to Orlando is about 1,800 km, roughly 18 to 20 hours each way. Budget two travel days, a hotel night and gas in each direction. The savings is significant, but the time spent driving is not ideal.

Do you need a car at Disney World?

You don’t need a car if you stay at a Disney resort; you probably do if you stay off-site. Disney buses, boats, the monorail and the Skyliner connect every Disney hotel with every park.

Car seats from rental companies cost at least $10 per seat, per day, so bring your own if you can. Airline and travel-site bundles sometimes drop car rentals to $20 to $30 a day.

How much is parking at Disney World?

Standard theme park parking costs $35 a day, and preferred parking costs $50 to $60. Parking is free for Disney resort guests, Annual Passholders, the water parks and Disney Springs.

• Standard theme park parking: $35 per day
• Preferred parking: $50–$60 per day
• Oversized vehicles: $40 per day
• Disney resort guests: free self-parking at hotel and parks
• Water parks and Disney Springs: free

One payment covers every theme park that day, so park hopping doesn’t cost extra. Staying off-site with 5 park days? Budget $175 for parking.

How much does food cost at Disney World?

Budget $50 to $100 per person, per day for food at Disney World. Quick-service entrées cost $14 to $18, table-service meals start around $30 to $40 per adult, and character dining often tops $50.

Sample daily food budget (per person)

• Breakfast: $10–$15 (or free at many off-site hotels)
• Lunch: $18–$25
• Dinner: $25–$45
• Snacks: $10–$15 per person (popcorn is about $6, a Mickey pretzel about $8.50)

You’re allowed to bring your own food and drinks into every Disney World park, as long as there’s no glass or loose ice. Packing breakfast bars, sandwiches and refillable water bottles is the easiest way to save. Many snacks, like turkey legs and pretzels, are big enough to share.

Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?

The Disney Dining Plan is only worth it if you’d eat that much anyway, or when kids eat free.

For a family of four on the 2027 table-service plan, that’s about $1,845 for 7 nights, before tips and drinks outside the plan.

How much do Disney souvenirs cost?

Plan on $200 to $800 for souvenirs, depending on your kids. Give each child a set budget before you arrive, or buy Disney gear at home before the trip.

Pin trading gets expensive fast. Buying a pin lot online before your trip is a cheaper way to start.

When is the cheapest time to go to Disney World?

The cheapest times to visit are mid-January to early February, late August through September, and early November before Thanksgiving. Tickets, hotels and Lightning Lane are all cheaper on these dates.

• Mid-January to early February: lowest ticket prices after the holidays (avoid Marathon Weekend)
• Late April to mid-May: good weather, moderate prices after Easter
• Late August to September: lowest hotel rates, but hot and it’s hurricane season
• Early November: after Halloween and before Thanksgiving

Avoid spring break, July and Christmas to New Year’s, when 1-day tickets hit $200+. Disney usually raises prices in October each year, so book tickets early for next year.

What’s new at Disney World in 2026 and 2027?

Several new rides and lands are opening, which could push crowds and prices up.

• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (Hollywood Studios): opened 2026
• The Magic of Disney Animation (Hollywood Studios): opened September 2026
• Tropical Americas (Animal Kingdom): opening 2027, with an Encanto ride and a new Indiana Jones ride
• Monstropolis (Hollywood Studios): first phase expected 2027
• Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge (new deluxe resort): expected 2027

How to save money on a Disney World trip

The biggest savings come from your travel dates, your hotel and how you pay. Food and souvenirs matter less than most people think.

1. Go off-peak. The same 1-day ticket can cost $80 less in January than at Christmas.
2. Buy 4+ day tickets. The per-day price drops sharply after day 3.
3. Weigh free parking against hotel price. A Disney value resort saves $35 a day in parking and removes the need for a rental car.
4. Use points for flights and off-site hotels. Aeroplan, WestJet Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors can cover thousands of dollars of the trip.
5. Pay with a no-FX-fee credit card. Canadians save 2.5% on every US-dollar purchase.
6. Pack snacks and water. Outside food is allowed in every park.
7. Buy Lightning Lane selectively. Use it at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios; skip it at Animal Kingdom.
8. Buy discounted Disney gift cards. Use them for tickets, food and souvenirs if your grocery or rewards program offers them at a discount.

The bottom line

A week at Disney World costs a family of four about $7,000 to $15,000 USD in 2026–2027, and around $9,800 for a typical mid-range trip. That’s a lot of money, but with off-peak dates, points and a clear daily budget, most families can bring it closer to the low end.

If you went to Disney as a kid, thank your parents. Planning more theme park trips? See my guides to the cost of Universal Orlando, Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland.

Disney World cost FAQ

How much does it cost to go to Disney World for a family of four?

A 7-night Disney World trip for a family of four costs about $7,000 to $15,000 USD in 2026–2027. Most families spend around $9,000 to $10,000 with a Disney value resort, 5-day tickets and quick-service meals.

How much is a one-day Disney World ticket?

One-day Disney World tickets cost $119 to $219 USD plus tax, depending on the park and date. Animal Kingdom is the cheapest; Magic Kingdom is the most expensive.

Is Lightning Lane worth it at Disney World?

Lightning Lane Multi Pass costs about $16 to $45 per person, per day. It’s most worth it at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios on busy days, and least needed at Animal Kingdom.

Are park hopper tickets worth it?

Park Hopper adds $65 to $105 per ticket. It’s worth it if you have fewer than four park days. First-time visitors with four or more days can skip it and spend a full day in each park.

Should I stay at a Disney hotel?

Stay at a Disney hotel if you want early park entry, free parking and a 7-day Lightning Lane booking window. Stay off-site if you want a lower nightly rate, more space or to use hotel points.

What is the cheapest time to go to Disney World?

The cheapest times are mid-January to early February, late August to September, and early November before Thanksgiving. Avoid spring break, summer and the Christmas holidays.

What is the best Disney World park?

It depends on your family. Magic Kingdom is best for young kids and first-timers. Hollywood Studios has Star Wars and Toy Story Land. Animal Kingdom has Kilimanjaro Safaris and Avatar Flight of Passage. EPCOT has World Showcase and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.