Don’t Leave Money on the Table: 10 Common Deposits You Should Always Collect - Part. 1

Deposits may seem small in the moment, but over time they can quietly add up to a meaningful amount of money. Whether it’s a rental deposit, a prepaid service deposit, or a refundable fee on an everyday purchase, one smart money habit is to always make sure you collect your deposits back whenever you’re entitled to them.

A lot of people forget about deposits because they’re busy, they move, they change banks, or they simply assume the refund will happen automatically. That assumption can cost money. The better rule of thumb is this: treat every deposit like money you still own until it is clearly returned or officially used up.

Why Collecting Deposits Matters

Deposits are often temporary, but they are still your money. Many people hand over deposits for housing, utilities, equipment, services, or subscriptions and never follow up when the money should come back.

Collecting deposits back matters because:

• It protects your cash flow.

• It prevents small losses from becoming repeated losses.

• It builds better money habits.

• It helps you stay organized with bills, moves, and contracts.

Even a $50 or $100 deposit can be worth recovering if you deal with several of them each year. Over time, those refunds can cover groceries, gas, a utility bill, or part of your savings goal.

Common Deposits People Deal With

Most adults interact with deposits far more often than they realize. Here are common refundable deposits people encounter in their daily and monthly lives:

1. Rental security deposits

Paid when starting a new lease (apartment, basement suite, condo, or house). Often refundable if there is no damage beyond normal wear and tear and the unit is left clean.

2. Utility deposits (electricity, gas, water, internet, cable)

Some providers require a deposit if you have no credit history, no prior service, or if you’ve had late payments in the past. Usually refundable after a set period of on‑time payments.

3. Phone, internet, or streaming deposits

Certain mobile plans, internet providers, or bundled services may charge a refundable deposit for equipment or service.

4. Moving and rental truck deposits

Companies that rent trucks, trailers, or storage units often require a security or damage deposit, which should be refunded if the vehicle or unit is returned in good condition.

5. Bottle, can, and recycling deposits

In provinces with bottle‑return programs, you pay a small deposit on cans and bottles that you can reclaim at depots or grocery‑store return counters.

6. Equipment or event deposits

Refundable deposits for tools, furniture rentals, event equipment, or concert gear may be common if you work in events, trades, or creative industries.

7. Reservation and booking deposits

Some restaurants, venues, travel bookings, workshops, or event‑planning services take a refundable deposit to secure a date. If you cancel early or meet the terms, that deposit should come back.

8. Membership or service deposits

Gyms, clubs, co‑working spaces, storage units, and some online services sometimes require a deposit that can be returned if you cancel properly.

9. Phone, laptop, or device deposits

Some phone‑upgrade plans or financing offers require a deposit for the device, which can be refunded if the contract is fulfilled or the device is returned on time.

10. Online marketplace or rental‑platform deposits

Sites and apps that let you rent items or participate in peer‑to‑peer exchanges may hold a security deposit that should be released once the item is returned undamaged.

Each of these deposits can look small on its own, but taken together they can add up to hundreds of dollars in refundable money that people never reclaim. Some deposits are refundable only if certain conditions are met, while others are automatically returned after an account is closed or a service ends. The key is knowing which ones you paid, what the refund rules are, and when to follow up.

Whats Tax Free? According To The CRA

The CRA generally treats most employer-provided benefits as taxable unless a specific exemption applies. Common tax-free employer-provided items include certain work-related allowances, reimbursements for eligible business expenses, and some non-cash benefits that the CRA specifically excludes.

Common tax-free items

• Reimbursements of legitimate employment expenses. If your employer repays you for eligible work expenses you had to pay under your job contract, that reimbursement is generally not taxable.

• Certain non-cash benefits that the CRA excludes by rule. The CRA says benefits are generally taxable unless specifically excluded in the Income Tax Act or under CRA administrative policy.

• Some allowances tied to specific employment conditions. The CRA notes that some allowances and benefits may not be taxable depending on the exact circumstances and the specific benefit category.

• Benefits that are the only form of pay in some cases. The CRA says if a non-cash or near-cash taxable benefit is the only remuneration, there may be no amount to withhold tax from, even though the benefit can still be taxable.

Important distinction

A benefit can be taxable but not deducted at source, and that does not make it tax-free. For example, tips are generally employment income, and the CRA says they may need to be reported depending on how they are controlled and paid.

Ember Fund Update, The Free To Mine Bitcoin App Has Changed

Ember Fund once was one of the best ways to earn free Satoshis for free. Users could create accounts and earn daily, so long as they logged in each day and clicked through the app to get it mining in the background. With the recent update however, there are only ten free mining days per month. To earn additional days users are required to play in app games or place wagers of various events to level up.

While Ember Fund remains one of the very few places Satoshis can be earned for free, the changes are a significant change in an already low (but free) earning potential. With this update, users may need to seriously consider time for value.

Video: How to Outwork Everyone By Doing 1% Better

 

This 13-minute video by Codie Sanchez breaks down micro decisions—tiny, automatic choices that shape your income, freedom, and progress without you realizing it. She uses real-world examples like UPS avoiding left turns to save billions and Michael Phelps' obsessive habits to show how small, repeated actions compound into massive results.

Fold App, Bitcon and Giftcards In Canada 2026

2026 has been a year of significant cut backs and draw down of rewards, and reward based apps. Its a trend continued since 2025. Platforms across industries are becoming more and more stringent on what they are willing to give users in return usage or spending.

There are multiple reasons for the cut backs in rewards. In the case of Fold, its Canadian cryptocurrency regulation thats firmly pulling them away from the Canadian market. This is unfortunate for Canadians for a few reasons; Fold is a great source of BTC/ Satoshi cash back rewards on all kinds of everyday spending. They also did offer small Satoshi reward daily for using their spin feature. But lastly this signals the strictness in regulation of cryptocurrency that has now and will continue to limit small opportunities for everyday people, Fold was a signal of flexibility and opportunity.

*Get in touch with Fold now if you are a Canadian holding and amount in BTC for a transfer to your primary wallet!

Video: Why a weaker dollar is key to U.S. plans to rebalance global trade

 

This video from BNN Bloomberg features Kevin Hebner, Managing Director at TD Epoch, discussing why a weaker U.S. dollar is a central goal of the current U.S. economic agenda and how it aims to rebalance global trade.

Scene Points. When, Where and How To Use Them

Using Scene+ Rewards strategically can easily add hundreds of dollars in free travel, groceries, and entertainment each year, especially if you’re in Canada and already shop at partner brands or bank with Scotiabank. With a bit of planning, you can turn everyday spending into a steady stream of points and perks.

What Scene+ Rewards Is

Scene+ is a flexible Canadian rewards program that lets you earn points on groceries, dining, entertainment, shopping, banking, and travel, then redeem those points like cash discounts. In most cases, 100 Scene+ points are worth about $1 off, making the program easy to understand and compare against cash-back offers.

You can earn points:

• By shopping at Scene+ retail partners (Sobeys, Safeway, FreshCo, IGA, Thrifty Foods, etc.)

• At Cineplex, The Rec Room, and Playdium for movies and entertainment

• On travel booked through Scene+ Travel (powered by Expedia)

• With eligible Scotiabank debit and credit cards that offer accelerated earn rates

Best Ways to Earn Scene+ Points Faster

To maximize Scene+, you want to stack where you shop with what card you use.

1. Use the right credit card at the right merchants
Many Scotiabank cards offer bonus multipliers on select categories:

• Up to 6X Scene+ points per dollar at Empire grocery stores (Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, Thrifty Foods, etc.) with certain premium cards

• Around 5X points per dollar on groceries, dining, and entertainment with some cards​

• 3X points per dollar on travel booked through Scene+ Travel, hotels, and car rentals

• At least 1X point per dollar on all other purchases

If you’re in BC, running all your Safeway / Thrifty Foods runs through a high-earning Scene+ card is one of the fastest ways to rack up points.

2. Always swipe/tap your Scene+ membership at partner stores
Even without a credit card, you can earn base Scene+ points just by scanning your card or app:

• Points on groceries at Empire-affiliated stores

• Points on movie tickets and concession at Cineplex (often 5 points per dollar on tickets and eligible food/drink)

• Points at The Rec Room and Playdium for games and food

3. Combine debit + credit where it makes sense
If you have a Scene+ debit card, you can earn 1 point per $5 on everyday purchases; pairing that with a Scene+ credit card for big categories (groceries, dining, travel) helps you earn faster overall.

4. Take advantage of welcome bonuses and promos
Some Scotiabank cards offer tens of thousands of bonus points if you:

• Spend a minimum within the first 3 months

• Keep the card active and hit annual spend thresholds

These bonuses can be worth hundreds in travel or statement credits, so timing a new card around big expenses (moving, renovations, insurance, etc.) can supercharge your Scene+ balance.

Smart Ways to Redeem Scene+ Points

Because Scene+ points are close to a “cash equivalent,” the main optimization question is: what gives you the most real-world value?

1. Travel redemptions (often the best value)

• Use Scene+ Travel (powered by Expedia) and redeem 100 points = $1 off flights, hotels, and car rentals

• Some setups let you redeem against eligible travel purchases you’ve already made, effectively turning points into a retroactive discount

Travel is usually where you get close to the full 1 cent per point value, making it a solid primary goal if you travel at least once or twice a year.

2. Groceries and essentials

• Redeem 500 points for $5 off eligible grocery purchases at partner stores like Sobeys, Safeway, and Thrifty Foods

• Since groceries are non-negotiable spending, this is a reliable way to turn points into direct budget relief

If you’re stacking 5–6X points on grocery spend, redeeming back into groceries is almost like a targeted cash-back loop.

3. Movies and entertainment

• Redeem 100 points per $1 off Cineplex tickets, and 500 points per $5 off food and drinks at participating locations

• Great if you go to the movies often or hit The Rec Room regularly

For a social / date-night angle, Scene+ essentially turns your regular spending into free tickets and snacks a few times a year.

4. Statement credits and other options

• You can redeem points as a credit against the balance on eligible Scotiabank Scene+ credit cards, often in 5,000-point / $50 chunks or similar structures

• Gift cards and retail redemptions are available, usually at similar or slightly lower value than travel/groceries, so prioritize those only after you’ve covered higher-value options