Vacations aren’t cheap, but there are ways to save big money while you’re away. All it takes is a little effort before you leave. Here are six ways make your next trip easier on your wallet. Check an extra bag and save If you know you’re going to have a lot of luggage, consider paying an extra $20 up front for permission to check a second bag. If you don’t, and you get to the airport and... 

You can pay $24,000 in commissions to sell a $400,000 home. For that kind of money, the advice better be good. A few years ago, a friend of mine decided to take the plunge and buy her first condo. She asked me to accompany her to what looked like the perfect find. It was just $324,000, and it seemed to have it all: it was big and beautiful, close to transit, and it had a remarkable view—until... 

Thanks to new flat-rate realty services, you can cut commissions by $10,000 and still get the services you need. After his wife died in 2003, it took Pat O’Sullivan 379 restless nights before he finally worked up the nerve to sell his Calgary townhouse so he could move closer to his son. Once on the market, however, his home only took two days to sell. Pat, 64, was thrilled to get the full list... 

Finding out is easier (and cheaper) than you might think. Ever wondered if your neighbour’s house is worth more than yours? Curious about what the house across the street fetched when it last went up for sale? Wonder no more. You might be surprised to hear that you likely have easy access to not just the last sale price and assessment value for your house, but for any other house you’re...