According to the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), roughly one in three couples have deceived their partners when it comes to money. 

Among the offenders, 58% hide money from their spouse. 30% hide bills or statements from their partner. 16% lie about a major purchase. 15% have a hidden bank account. 11% of those surveyed lie about how much they earn or owe.

Men were significantly more likely to say that their partner was lying about a purchase, while women were significantly more likely to say their partner was lying about income or debt.

Sound familiar?

The last two nights have been compelling TV for Canadians, if your definition of compelling TV means watching the nation’s PM squirm with a “How long do I have to let these creeps scream at me for buying fighter jets before I can squash them like bugs?” look on his face. In two different languages, no less.

Indeed, Wednesday’s French language debate marked the end of two nights of bilingual bickering, but are we any better off because of them? Does anyone feel clearer about any of the candidates’ platforms, other than the notion Stephen Harper insists on standing like he’s strangling a wide-bodied Verne Troyer as he speaks?

From a money standpoint, there’s plenty of nitty-gritty facing this election. So, going forward, which candidate do you think is most fit to run Canada’s economy?

By Gordon Powers, Sympatico / MSN Finance

In the U.S., married couples are allowed to file taxes jointly or individually. The choice is theirs, depending on which way will save them the most money. Most people file together.

Canada's tax system, on the other hand, requires each of us to report and pay tax on our own — which is why couples with disparate incomes simply have to split their earnings wherever they can, moving money from the partner in the higher tax bracket to the one in the lowest bracket. And this week's budget changes just gave this strategy a nice little boost. 

Deirdre McMurdy, Sympatico / MSN Finance

As a minority government in turbulent times, the federal Conservatives have made ample use of a series of "expert panels" to advise them on tricky policy and strategy initatives. It's a smart move for a relatively young government with limited bench strength and it also allows them to place their policy direction into the hands and mouths of respected business leaders like Red Wilson, Purdy Crawford, Murray Edwards Carole Taylor and many others who've been deployed since 2006.

Most recently, when putting together the poltically-important federal budget of January 27, the Tories - you guessed it - created a new expert panel.

By Gordon Powers, Sympatico / MSN Finance

Cash-strapped families will be able to earn an additional $1,894 before seeing their federal child benefits start to disappear, yesterday’s budget proposes.

Changes to the National Child Benefit Supplement and the Canada Child Tax Benefit translate mean that low-income families, particularly those with a single parent, get a bit of relief. But what does it mean to struggling families trying to get ahead in the worst downturn we’ve seen in a long time?

By Gordon Powers, Sympatico / MSN Finance

While yesterday’s budget didn’t target retirees specifically, older investors will certain benefit from the adjusted tax brackets, a reduced bite on RRIF payments and the increase in the senior age credit -- a small consolation for those who saw their savings vaporize in 2008. 

The biggest change is the 7.5% increase in the lowest income tax brackets, which will jump to $40,726 and $81,452 respectively, allowing retirees to withdraw a bit more income without sliding into the next bracket.

By Deirdre McMurdy, Sympatico / MSN Finance

There's no question that the Federal Budget was designed with a very close eye to building confidence among two critical constituencies: individual consumers and small businesses. Both generate a significant amount of economic activity and their rattled confidence carries a steep price.

The Tories made a bold attempt to appear "in charge," to create the sense that their tsunami of spending will skate the country's teetering economy back on side. Things like enhanced Employment Insurance benefits, we were assured in the budget, are just temporary measures. Considerations to get us all over this hump.

By Sympatico / MSN staff and Reuters

Jack Layton, leader of New Democratic Party, said it would not support the Conservative government's budget -- a position that was widely expected.

Bloc Quebecois also said it would vote against the Federal Budget unveiled on Tuesday.

By Gordon Powers, Sympatico / MSN Finance

U.S. credit card companies are working hard to ensure that customers keep up their payments, clamping down on payment deadlines, fees and grace periods, says the Baltimore Sun. The grace period is the time between your statement date and when a payment is due.

That’s because the Federal Reserve decided to revamp rules governing penalty fees and rates starting in 2010. Card issuers will then be required to send a bill at least 21 days before the due date giving card holders more time to make payment before getting hit with a late fee. And vendors won't be able to raise rates on existing card balances until a payment is more than 30 days late.

By Deirdre McMurdy, Sympatico / MSN Finance

Anyone who doubts the severity of the economic downturn - and the political importance of tomorrow's federal budget - only has to consider the following: The Conservative Party is pro-actively communicating with Canadians.

While it's been common practice for years to manage expectations around budgets and to flag any fundamental policy shifts, the usually-reticent Tories have aggressively telegraphed chapter and verse of every new regional spending program, every tax cut, every consideration that has crossed their mind. They've appointed senior ministers to fan out across the nation to help "pitch" these measures in various jurisdictions. It's bordering on TMI - Tory style.