Since everyone is likely busy finding money to fill their RRSP’s (the deadline is March 1, 2010 to claim for the 2009 tax year by the way), people probably aren’t focusing on the TFSA’s right now. If you are a 20something and are in school and aren’t making that much money (aka you’re not getting taxed to the nines), you should think about contributing to a TFSA instead.

The TFSA’s were introduced in the since January 1, 2009 and is basically the greatest thing since sliced bread (or RRSP’s which were introduced almost half a century ago- before we were even born, shucks!)

Like RRSP’s, TFSA’s are not an investment per se, think of it like a glass jar.  It’s a container where you put your investments.  Anything that you EARN from putting stuff in this container is withdrawn tax free.

The TFSA is basically the inverse of the RRSP (DANG, Jim Flaherty- you’re not just a pretty face after all!)

• In the TFSA you invest with your after-tax hard-earned bloodsweat money, and money that is withdrawn from it is NOT taxed.
• In the RRSP, you invest with pre-tax dollars (yes, the tax refund is supposed to reflect this) and money that is withdrawn is taxed– the caveat is that most people who retire are at a lower tax bracket so they will pay less tax on the money withdrawn.

You can hold many things in the TFSA (except USD holdings- only Questrade TFTA’s allow this) and it’s the same for an RRSP.

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High Interest Savings accounts are a great way to have someplace to stash your money so it can be readily accessible.  These days, their rates are pretty much the same as GIC’s so might as well keep them here to avoid a penalty if you withdraw a GIC too early.

Some people keep loads of money in their chequing account or “savings” account at the bank so they feel good when they withdraw money from the ATM and it tells you your large balance.  The savings accounts at the bank offers what, 0.3%??  AND they make you have a minimum balance and ‘ding’ you for using too many transactions.  These are not savings accounts.  You want a real one that gives you some substance.

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