Fixed Income Essentials: Practical Ways to Keep More of Your Money
A calm, easy-to-read guide to programs, discounts, and tools that help Canadians living on a fixed income make life a little easier.
Programs in Your Province
Select your province or territory to see benefits, rebates, and assistance programs available where you live.
Select a province or territory above to see available programs
Programs Many Canadians Miss
These federal programs are available across Canada. Many people don't know they're eligible.
Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (CGEB)
Tax-free quarterly payments for low and modest incomes — formerly the GST/HST credit
Canada Workers Benefit
Refundable tax credit for low-income working individuals and families
Climate Action Incentive
Quarterly payments to offset carbon pricing in eligible provinces
Disability Tax Credit
Non-refundable tax credit for eligible persons with disabilities
Canada Housing Benefit
Federal-provincial benefit to help with rent costs
Canada Dental Care Plan
Dental coverage for eligible uninsured Canadians
Free Tax Clinics
Free tax preparation for modest income Canadians
Canada Child Benefit
Tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18
Earn & Save More
Free apps and tools that put money back in your pocket without any upfront cost.
Grocery Cash-Back Apps
Earn cash back on everyday grocery purchases
Receipt Scanning Apps
Scan receipts and earn points or cash
Gas Savings Apps
Find the cheapest gas and earn fuel rewards
Browser Cash-Back Extensions
Automatic savings while you shop online
Loyalty Points Optimizers
Maximize value from existing loyalty programs
Free Credit Monitoring
Track your score at no cost
Round-Up Savings Tools
Automatically save spare change from purchases
Building Credit on a Fixed Income
Practical, low-risk ways to build or maintain good credit — no debt required.
How to Build Credit Without Debt
Practical ways to establish credit history safely
Authorized User Strategy
Build credit by being added to a trusted person's card
Secured Cards (Educational Only)
Understand how secured cards work for building credit
How to Lower Your Utilization
Keep your credit utilization ratio healthy
How to Check Your Credit Score Free
Free ways to monitor your credit in Canada
Monthly Money Stretchers
Small, practical habits that add up to real savings over time.
- Review all recurring subscriptions monthly and cancel what you don't use
- Call your phone and internet providers annually to ask for loyalty discounts or better rates
- Choose a no-fee bank account or credit union to avoid monthly banking fees
- Pay credit card balances in full each month to avoid interest charges
- Use a simple budgeting app or spreadsheet to track spending weekly
- Redeem loyalty points before they expire — check your balances quarterly
Fixed Income Essentials PDF Pack
A calm, printable guide with everything on this page — keep it handy or share with someone who might need it.
Includes:
- Provincial programs list for your province
- National programs you may be missing
- Monthly money-stretcher checklist
- Credit-building basics
- "Questions to ask before signing anything"
Educational use only. No personal information required.
Data from Official Sources
Sourced directly from Canadian government and regulatory bodies.
Related Resources
Senior Money Guide (55+)
Benefits, discounts, and programs for older adults
Earn & Save Hub
Complete directory of cash-back apps and government benefits
Credit Reports and Disputes
Step-by-step guides to understanding and improving your credit
Budget Planner Calculator
Free tool to track income and expenses