Dealing with Goodbye

Marci • August 16, 2013

guest post by Ronda Payne, Girl with a Pen

This one is particularly timely today as we said good-bye to our 18 year old cat Sierra. Thank you to my friend Ronda Payne for sharing.

A few weeks ago, the amazing dog who had lived with me for 10 ½ years passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. The vet figures it was a stroke, and the fact is, my one-of-a-kind girl was almost 15.

 

Despite the fact that she’d live a full and happy life the loss left my heart cleaned and gutted for a few days, but I was surprised at how quickly I recovered. Sure, I am still sad and miss her terribly, but the mourning became manageable, almost minor.

 

Why? I wondered. I’d been inconsolable in the past when a precious four-legged companion passed away. What was different this time?

 

While I’m happy I can mourn my beautiful dog without being overcome by it, I explored why the grief in losing this special animal has been easier than expected. I came up with three reasons:

 

1. There are other pets in the house.

While multiple animal companions aren’t possible in every household, I’m lucky that we anticipated this day and added a second dog to the pack. By having another dog, and the cat, the house isn’t empty of animal love and we grieve together.

 

2. I let it out while recalling the good things.

I’m not holding back my tears. When they come, I cry fully and completely. But, when I was feeling overwhelmed by the grief, I balanced that with one of the many amazing memories I have of that fantastic dog.

 

3. I remind myself I loved her as much as I could in the time we had.

There was nothing more I could have done with that dog. I loved her as completely and fully as I possibly could. I miss her, but I have not regrets about how our time together was spent.

 

Grief is hard and losing an animal companion can take a long time to recover from. I found that by having other pets in the house, letting the sadness out while recalling the good things and reminding myself of how much love we shared, losing the dog I loved for more than a decade was just a little bit easier.

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RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan Explained: A Smart Way to Buy Your First Home

By Marci Deane • July 22, 2026
Saving for a down payment is one of the biggest challenges first-time buyers face. What many don’t realize is that the Canadian government offers a program designed to make it easier—the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) . This program allows you to withdraw money from your RRSP to help purchase your first home, without immediate tax consequences. Here’s how it works: Who Qualifies? To be eligible, you generally need to be a first-time home buyer. In practical terms, this means you must not have owned a home in the past four years, nor lived in a property owned by your spouse or partner during that time. There are also special allowances if you’re living with a disability or helping a relative with a disability. In these cases, you can use the HBP even if you’ve owned a home more recently. How Much Can You Withdraw? Under the program, you can access up to $35,000 from your RRSP as an individual. Couples can combine their withdrawals for a total of $70,000 . These funds must have been in your RRSP for at least 90 days before you take them out. Paying It Back The HBP isn’t “free money”—it’s an interest-free loan from your own retirement savings. You’ll have 15 years to repay the full amount back into your RRSP, starting in the second year after withdrawal. Each year, the CRA will send you an HBP Statement of Account outlining how much needs to be repaid. If you don’t make your repayment in a given year, that amount will be added to your taxable income. Why It’s a Smart Strategy The HBP can give first-time buyers a powerful boost toward homeownership. It helps you put together a larger down payment, which can reduce your mortgage amount and monthly payments. Just remember: it’s important to balance the short-term benefit of homeownership with the long-term impact on your retirement savings. Next Steps Thinking about using the Home Buyers’ Plan? Let’s sit down and review whether it’s the right move for you. Together, we can create a strategy that gets you into your first home while keeping your future financial goals on track. 📞 Reach out anytime—it would be a pleasure to guide you through the process.

Bank of Canada Holds Rate at 2.25% — July 15, 2026

By Marci Deane • July 15, 2026
The Bank of Canada announced today that it is holding its target for the overnight rate at 2.25%, with the Bank Rate at 2.5% and the deposit rate at 2.20%. The tone of today's announcement is notably more optimistic than previous months. Here's what's changed and what it means for you.

Let’s Talk About Getting Top Dollar for Your Property

By Marci Deane • July 8, 2026
When it comes to selling your home, most people think the first call should be to a real estate agent. But the smartest first step often isn’t with your agent—it’s with an independent mortgage professional. Why? Because your mortgage plays a bigger role in your bottom line than most people realize. Planning to Buy After You Sell If selling means you’ll also be purchasing another property, you’ll want to know exactly where you stand financially before listing. Mortgage rules change regularly, and qualifying once doesn’t guarantee you’ll qualify again. Getting a pre-approval in place ensures you know what you can afford and eliminates surprises later. On top of that, reviewing the terms of your existing mortgage could uncover options you may not have considered. For example, porting your mortgage instead of arranging a brand-new one could save you thousands. Selling Without Buying Even if you aren’t planning to buy right away, there’s still an important step: understanding the cost of breaking your mortgage. Unless your mortgage is open, penalties apply—and they can be significant. By reviewing the numbers with a mortgage professional, you might find that simply adjusting your timeline could reduce or even avoid costly fees. Navigating Life Changes In situations like a marital breakdown, it can feel like selling the family home is the only path forward. But that’s not always the case. With the right guidance and a legal separation agreement, one spouse may be able to buy out the other, keeping the home and providing stability for everyone involved. The Bottom Line Selling your property is more than just putting a sign on the lawn—it’s about creating a financial plan that protects your equity and positions you for the best possible outcome. Before you take the leap, let’s sit down and review your options. 📞 If you’re ready to talk strategy and make sure you get top dollar for your property, I’d be happy to connect anytime.