5 Money Moves to Make Before 2025 Ends

The end of the year is the perfect time to check in on your finances. Not for guilt—for strategy.

Here are five concrete money moves you can make right now, with the actual math behind each one.

1. Know Your Net Worth (Yes, Really)

Most Canadians have no idea what they're actually worth. They know their salary, maybe their chequing balance, but not the full picture.

The exercise:

List all assets (savings, TFSA, RRSP, property, car value)
List all debts (credit cards, loans, mortgage)
Subtract debts from assets

That number is your starting point for 2025.

Why it matters: You can't improve what you don't measure. Knowing your net worth gives you a baseline to track progress.

2. Attack High-Interest Debt First

If you're carrying credit card debt at 20%+ interest, that's a guaranteed 20% return on every dollar you pay off.

We ran the numbers on $10,000 CAD in credit card debt at 20% APR:

Payment Strategy	Time to Payoff	Total Interest
Minimum only ($200)	9+ years	$11,000+
$400/month	32 months	$2,800
$600/month	19 months	$1,600

Doubling your payment doesn't just halve the time—it saves you $8,200 in interest.

Calculate your debt payoff timeline →

3. Check If Inflation Is Eating Your Savings

Money sitting in a 0.5% savings account while inflation runs at 3%? You're losing purchasing power every day.

$10,000 in a low-yield account over 10 years:

Nominal value: $10,512
Real value (after 3% inflation): $7,812

You "saved" money but lost $2,188 in buying power.

***** High-interest savings accounts now offer 4-5%. Moving your emergency fund could earn you an extra $400+/year on $10,000.

See how inflation affects your money →

4. Max Your TFSA Contribution Room

Your TFSA contribution room carries forward—but are you using it?

2025 TFSA limit: $7,000 Lifetime room (if eligible since 2009): $95,000

Every dollar in a TFSA grows completely tax-free. Withdrawals are tax-free too.

Quick wins:

Move emergency fund into a TFSA savings account
Use TFSA for investments if you have a long timeline
Check your actual contribution room on CRA My Account

5. Consider RRSP Before Year-End

RRSP contributions reduce your taxable income. If you're in a higher tax bracket, this can mean significant savings.

Example on $80,000 income in Ontario:

$5,000 RRSP contribution = ~$1,500 tax refund
That refund can go right back into your RRSP or TFSA

Deadline for 2025 tax year: March 1, 2025 (but why wait?)

The One Move That Matters Most

All five moves are valuable, but if you only do one thing: automate something.

Auto-transfer $100/week to TFSA
Auto-pay extra toward your highest-rate debt
Set up automatic RRSP contributions from your paycheque

Automation removes willpower from the equation. The best financial plan is the one you actually follow.

Your December Checklist

Calculate your current net worth
List all debts with interest rates
Move savings to a high-interest account
Check your TFSA contribution room
Consider an RRSP contribution before year-end
Automate at least one money move

Run your numbers:

Small moves compound. Start now.