Miles Brucker articles

1854581986 - Andrey_Popov - Holding Paycheck Or Payroll Check Or Insurance Cheque In Hand

I discovered my brother’s been cashing my disabled father’s pension checks. What can I legally do without destroying the family?

The discovery often starts quietly, with a missing deposit or an explanation that fails to line up. For a disabled parent, that pension represents dignity and stability, so learning that a sibling may be diverting it turns a financial concern into something painfully personal. The urge to act quickly collides with fear of fracturing the family, leaving many people stuck between urgency and restraint. Moving forward rarely starts with accusations or courtrooms. It begins with understanding how to assert responsibility carefully, protect a vulnerable parent, and preserve the chance for family relationships to endure.
January 8, 2026 Miles Brucker
Woman doing dropshipping

I tried “dropshipping” to make extra cash. Now I owe $9,000 in returns. How do I get out of this?

Dropshipping looks like the perfect side hustle—no inventory, no warehouse, just set up a store and watch the money roll in. That's what all those YouTube videos promised anyway. But when things go wrong, they go really wrong. Imagine waking up to dozens of angry emails from customers who never got their orders. Now picture those complaints turning into refund requests, chargebacks piling up, and suddenly there's a $9,000 hole that needs filling. This isn't some rare horror story—it happens more often than anyone wants to admit, and getting out requires understanding what went wrong and taking real action fast.
January 8, 2026 Miles Brucker
Man at airport

I bought my brother a plane ticket for a job interview. He used it to visit his girlfriend. Should I confront him or just move on?

Buying a plane ticket for a sibling is rarely just about the ticket. It usually represents support and a willingness to step in when someone needs help. If the reason for the trip involves a job interview, the gesture carries even more weight. It suggests hope for stability and a better future. Learning later that the ticket was used for a personal visit instead can feel jarring. The money matters, but the emotional reaction often runs deeper than the cost. Family help often relies on shared assumptions rather than formal agreements, which makes moments like this especially tricky. Speaking up could feel awkward or tense, while staying silent could allow resentment to settle in and quietly change how the relationship feels over time.
January 8, 2026 Miles Brucker
Intro image

That old credit card that you kept open is doing more than you think.

Many people don’t remember the first credit card they received, although, sitting in a drawer, it can carry more influence than expected. Long-standing accounts influence more than most people realize, as they affect trust and future options.
January 7, 2026 Miles Brucker
Dad Listening

I loaned my dad $25,000 to start a business. He bought a truck and a boat instead. How do I get my money back?

Lending money to a parent often feels safe, yet family loans carry a higher risk than most people expect, with non-repayment rates historically hovering between 14 and 20 percent. This unspoken assumption tends to follow the idea that family money is governed by family rules. When the loan was meant to launch a business, it likely felt justified, almost like an investment in a shared future. Confusion sets in quickly once that money reappears as a truck or a boat. The problem is not the purchase alone, but the realization that expectations never aligned. Before frustration takes over, slowing down and treating the situation as a financial issue that needs structure can change the entire tone.
January 6, 2026 Miles Brucker
Man looking at tax documents

I trusted my cousin to do my taxes. Now the CRA says I committed fraud. How do I fix this mess?

Many taxpayers rely on relatives to prepare their returns because it feels practical. A family member may have accounting experience and past success in filing their own taxes. They also definitely charge less than a licensed professional, so it sounds like a safe decision. The truth is that in cross-border or complex filings, that trust can turn into a serious problem. The Canada Revenue Agency holds the taxpayer legally responsible for all information submitted, regardless of who prepared the return. If the CRA later identifies unreported income, false deductions, or missing disclosures, the issue becomes the taxpayer’s liability. Understanding how this happens is the first step to correcting it quickly and limiting damage.
January 5, 2026 Miles Brucker
Fct Internal + Fb Image

It's not an illusion: Companies are stealing value from products and your purchases don't go as far as they used to.

That satisfied feeling after shopping once lasted for weeks. Today, many people find themselves back in the aisle days later, scanning receipts and cupboards, wondering how full bags emptied so fast.
January 5, 2026 Miles Brucker
Man standing in conference room

I stupidly left my coworker $500 "until payday." That was six months ago. I see him every day. How do I confront him?

A payday loan between coworkers sounds harmless until payday never arrives. Six months can feel like six years when a borrowed five hundred bucks keeps hanging over your desk like a flickering fluorescent light. You still show up, answer messages, tackle projects, and pass each other by the break-room coffee pod carousel, but the silence around the debt grows louder. The tension can feel almost physical—like the room tightens an inch every time your coworker walks in. Money issues don’t stay in wallets for long; they seep into workplace dynamics fast. That’s why a smart, steady plan protects your cash and your peace.
January 2, 2026 Miles Brucker
1859768833 -BearFotos- Portrait of employee waitress with serving tray with tips indoors

My boss makes us pool our tips but keeps a “management share.” Is that legal?

Every workplace has a moment when something feels slightly off, and the more it happens, the more your instincts start tapping you on the shoulder. Tip pooling is one of those situations that often begins quietly. At first, it sounds like a simple team effort. But then a curious detail appears. Management takes a portion for themselves and expects no one to question it. That is usually when confusion turns into frustration, and suddenly everyone wants to know whether the arrangement is fair or even legal. The answer is not always simple, yet it becomes clearer once the rules and boundaries are laid out in plain language.
January 1, 2026 Miles Brucker