[Front Cover of How To Pay Less and Keep More for Yourself]

You might be reminded of the “hands in my pocket” commercial (or Rick Mercer’s “knee in my package” skit, as one commenter recently pointed out) when you think about our chartered banks. The banks tend to have a finger in every financial pie and some of their massive profits come directly out of the pockets of ordinary Canadians. Fortunately, financial products are one area in which you can easily and painlessly save money.

Rob Carrick, who writes a popular personal finance column for The Globe and Mail, has written this invaluable guide (aff) to help consumers save hundreds and even thousands of dollars on various financial products and services. Subtitled “The Essential Consumer Guide to Canadian Banking and Investing”, the guide shows how consumers (even those who are suspicious or uncomfortable with the internet) can save money on savings and chequing accounts, credit cards and loans, mortgages, mutual funds and investments. While I was already familiar with (and use) most of the methods suggested in the book, I would definitely recommend the book to people who are just starting out and to those who are trying to become smarter with their finances.