Take Control of Your Money in 90 Days (Canada Edition)
A practising Ontario mortgage broker shares the simple system that fixed his finances—so you can free up cash, kill debt, and get mortgage-ready.
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Joel’s 5AM Story
I didn’t start in control—I started overwhelmed. At 5AM most mornings, I was staring at bills, wondering why my income never seemed to stick. I built a simple method to stop the bleeding and get ahead. It worked for me. Then it worked for clients.
This guide is the 90-day version of what I use with real Ontario families: a few numbers, a cashflow layout that fits Canadian life, and a clear path to your first home (or your next renewal) without guesswork.
How it works (3 steps)
- Download the 10-Page Guide (free).
- Spend 30 minutes setting up the 2-account/4-bucket system.
- Follow the 90-Day Money Sprint (weekly 15-minute check-ins).
Optional: Book a 15-minute Clarity Call to pressure-test your plan.
Inside the guide
The 7 Money Numbers
Track weekly: take-home income, fixed bills, flexible spend, debt balances & rates, buffers, savings rate, and time horizon. Includes a 10-minute worksheet with Canadian examples.
2-Account / 4-Bucket Layout
Chequing + bills account and four buckets: Essentials, Flex, Debt, Future. Naming, automation dates, and overdraft-proof timing.
Debt Ladder Rule
Pick avalanche or snowball, consolidate when sensible, and stack micro-wins so momentum sticks without starving cashflow.
$200–$600/Month Cash Unlocks
Cycle-sync bills, trim wasted subscriptions, renegotiate services, optimise insurance and groceries. Expect 2–5 wins in week one.
Credit Hygiene
Pull reports, fix errors, manage utilisation, and time mid-cycle payments for pre-approval readiness.
FHSA/HBP + 12-Month Path
How to use FHSA/HBP correctly and build a realistic 12-month plan. (We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada.)
90-Day Sprint Checklist
One-page, week-by-week plan—pin it to the fridge and check items off.
What could you free up each month?
Quick estimate (private to you). Enter rough amounts:
This is a simple estimate for educational purposes only.
The 90-Day Money Sprint
Weeks 1–4
Build buckets, tally 7 numbers, quick wins for $200–$600/month.
Weeks 5–8
Execute the debt ladder, tidy credit, set FHSA/HBP if applicable.
Weeks 9–12
Automate transfers, review progress, prep docs for pre-approval.
Sceptic’s Corner — Straight Answers
Why is this free?
Will you spam me?
Are you going to sell me something?
Will this hurt my credit?
Do I need to earn a lot?
Are you affiliated with the Government of Canada?
Quick case snapshots
Family of 4
Jason (43) & Amanda (41), two kids. Net household: ~$7,800/mo. $14.6k credit card @ 19.9%, $9.2k LOC @ 11%.
What they did: Set up the four buckets, cut $135 in subscriptions, switched auto-pays to “pay-day+1,” and moved a portion of high-rate debt to the LOC. Followed the debt ladder and kept utilisation under 30%.
90-day result: Found $430/mo, paid down $8,100, opened an FHSA and started $250/mo contributions.
Single buyer
Mark (29), net income ~$4,200/mo. Score 645 with two cards at 72% utilisation; one reporting error.
What he did: Cashflow buckets, mid-cycle payments to keep both cards under 28% by statement date, filed a dispute on the error, and began $200/mo FHSA contributions.
4-month result: Score rose into the low-700s, emergency buffer started, 9–12 month timeline to pre-approval.
Renewal planner
Nadia & Chris, renewal in 8 months with expected rate jump.
What they did: Trimmed $350/mo in flexible spend, snowballed a $6,400 card, made a $5k lump-sum prepayment, and timed transfers to stabilise monthly cashflow.
Before renewal: Lower non-mortgage debt, cleaner utilisation, stronger file to discuss options and reduce payment shock.
Examples only. Individual results vary; approvals and rates subject to underwriting and change without notice; OAC.
From “I can’t keep up” → calm control
If you’re juggling kids’ sports, bills, and debt, this guide shows how to free cash without adding a second job. Results vary; examples only.
- Find $200–$600/month
Trim waste, fix bill timing, and stop overdraft fees. - Cut debt with a plan
Use the ladder to knock out balances in the smartest order. - Make money behave
2 accounts, 4 buckets. Bills get paid, stress goes down. - Keep your evenings
Weekly “Money 15” — quick check-ins, not paperwork marathons.
The “Money 15” routine.
4 buckets that run themselves.
Reading the guide never affects credit.
Get the guide — quick wins inside.
First home without guesswork
Use FHSA/HBP the right way, tidy credit, and lay out a realistic timeline—then talk pre-approval when you’re ready.
- 12-month sample path
Months 1–3: FHSA setup & first contributions • Months 4–6: utilisation tune-up • Months 7–12: docs & pre-approval. - Credit that helps you
Keep balances under 30% by statement date; fix reporting errors the right way. - FHSA + HBP, simplified
When each makes sense, how to avoid double-dipping mistakes, and what to plan for tax-wise. - Pre-approval ready
A simple document list so you’re not scrambling when rates & inventory move.
How they work together.
Utilisation & reporting tips.
What lenders usually ask for.
We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Programme eligibility and limits apply.
Get the guide — start your 12-month path.
What readers are saying
“The checklist alone paid for itself on day one. We found $280/month just by fixing bill timing and a couple subscriptions.”
“I finally understood utilisation and why my score wouldn’t move. Two mid-cycle payments made a huge difference in 8 weeks.”
“The 2-account/4-bucket layout is simple but powerful. Our cash feels organised and we’re saving for FHSA.”
Ready to start?
Grab the guide now—then book a free 15-minute Clarity Call.
“Over [X] Ontario families using this system.”
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Educational content only; not financial, tax, or legal advice. Mortgage approvals and rates subject to underwriting and change without notice; OAC. We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada. By providing your email, you consent to receive commercial electronic messages from Joel Scott / [Authorized Brokerage Name]. You may withdraw your consent at any time by using the unsubscribe link in our emails. For SMS, reply STOP to unsubscribe. Your information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.