Re: "Are TFSAs and RRSPs just tax relief for high earners?"

In my experience, the answer would be a firm no. Especially in the case of seniors like myself.

I have not been a "high earner" since 2001 (and even then, "high" being relative, not even that - as in never had a salary over $50K). I am retired now, and have been officially "poor" for about a decade. My financial advisor told me not to even bother with making a contribution to my RRSP, since I don't have any income (except OAS and CPP) to offset. So, there's not much "relief" - for me in an RRSP, though they were a "relief" when I did earn my (lower-middle class?) income.

TFSAs are a godsend. They earn interest AND also Capital gains tax-free. That is a huge benefit for me and my spouse.  

I mention the capital gains exemptions in TFSAs because in the last 2 months, two of my fairly-well financially knowledgeable friends had never heard that, one of whom didn't bother starting a TFSA because he hadn't.