3 things to never do in a grocery store

1. Don’t choose items from the Middle Kingdom

Items placed at eye level catch your attention first. Retailers are wise to this and typically place the most expensive items front and centre on the middle shelves.

For better prices, shift your focus: check out the top and bottom shelves. Similarly, the middle aisles are usually the ones filled with convenience foods and packaged goods. Stick to the perimeter of the store for your fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and fresh bread. Venture into specific middle aisles only on an as-needed basis. The common tactic of strolling up and down every aisle just to see if there’s anything you need is a recipe for overspending.

2. Don’t give in to the kid factor

When confronted with a toddler meltdown, you might be willing to buy anything just to stop the madness. Kids of all ages (spouses, too, occasionally) can be a challenge in grocery stores.

They distract you from your list and the prices of the items you are choosing. They get impatient, leading you to start throwing items in your cart just to get the job done. And sometimes they throw their own highly processed, over-priced favourites into the cart as well.

If you can, try to shop without the kids until they are at an age at which you can make the trip an educational and interactive experience, teaching them about food choices and price comparisons.

3. Don’t shop when you’re hungry

It’s incredible how a craving for Doritos can sneak up on you. You leave the office or finish up at the gym and you stop at the supermarket to look for ideas for dinner. By the time you get to the checkout, you’ve got all the ingredients to make a heap of baked nachos, a frozen pizza and duck à l’orange with crème brûlée for dessert. Plus two new kinds of breakfast cereal and a box of fat-free chocolate coconut bars. Hungry much?

When you’re starving, everything looks good and just the suggestion of a certain dish can stimulate an instant craving. If you find yourself stuck having to go to the supermarket on an empty stomach, grab a (lower-priced) energy bar to munch on while you shop — you can pay for it with your other groceries.

10 Best Ways to Avoid Burnout at Work

1. Regular workouts:
I usually start my day with a run or lifting weights. It doesn’t have to be a long workout and the mode doesn’t matter, but I find doing something active each morning clears my mind and provides a fresh dose of endorphins that puts me in the right physical state for the rest of the day.

2. Evening walk:
This has been a critical element, since I noticed when I got home most days I couldn’t turn off and out of habit would head for my computer. I didn’t have closure to my day, so I simply extended it. To help with this, I started going for walks each evening before heading home after work. Not long, just enough to digest the day and clear my mind. And it works.

3. Reading fiction:
I had not been a fan of fiction and when I read books they were usually business related. But now I seeks a break, with fantasy, science fiction, and other books that transport myself away.

4. One-day respite:
Recently I felt I could be slipping close to burnout again, so I now takes one day a week off from work and its electronic tether, e-mail. It’s tough, and I hold off on running errands during the week and save it for that day. I almost force myself to be off work that day so I don’t have the potential to screw it up. The break is usually a Saturday or Sunday; I tend to rotate.

5. Intellectual hobbies:
a friend of mine recently bought an espresso machine, in part because she likes coffee but also because it was something she could engross herself in as a hobby – stimulate her mind, outside of work, but more intellectually than escapist fiction. She has been learning to roast beans on a little roaster on her deck and seeking to prepare the perfect latte. It also fits her schedule – she dabbles in the hobby as he prepares her brew which I think will help her to change her focus on work.

6. Small wins:
Since so much of burnout is mental, I try to acknowledge the small wins I am having every day. I break big challenges into small tasks that I can complete and feel good about.

7. Healthy diet:
When you’re pushing hard at work you need to eat well, agree? I try my best to avoid junk food and a steady regimen of pizzas.

8. Limiting decisions:
I was talking to one of my colleagues the other day. He mentioned that he was impressed by U.S. President Barack Obama’s revelation that he wears only blue and grey suits so there’s one less decision to be made each day. He believes decision fatigue can drain you, so he similarly tries to avoid decisions by building habits, such as the apple before his workout and the nutrition bar afterwards – no need to come up with a new choice every day.

9. Date night:
My wife is busy, but we try our best to take one night a week for each other.
 10. Yearly unplugs:
Here, I urges you to take time, at least once a year, where you are away from work for more than a single day. If I go for more that a year without an unplug I feel myself close to burnout.

In short, from personal experience, I don’t want to go there again. Cheers!

How smoking at home reduces property values

A recent survey of Ontario real estate agents in Ontario found that smoking in a home could lower the value of your property by up to 30 per cent. The survey was sponsored by Pfizer Canada and besides the obvious damage by staining walls and carpets, it can leave a smell that is very hard to eliminate.

It makes sense that a home with a smoky smell or strong odour will be harder to sell as it will deter most buyers. 

Landlords are permitted to include no smoking clauses in their leases. But they can only evict a tenant who smokes if they can prove the smoking has damaged the unit or is bothering the other tenants

The Non-Smoker’s Rights Association published their own study demonstrating that the average costs for a landlord to clean an apartment is two to three times greater when it was occupied by a heavy smoker. They also quote statistics from Canadian Fire Marshals demonstrating that cigarettes, lighters and matches remain one of the top causes of residential fires.

Similar statistics are found with resale cars where the prior owner was a heavy smoker and it is difficult to remove the smell from the upholstery.

Buyers, be suspicious if you notice the fans going or electric air fresheners whenever visiting a home for the first time.

Sellers, don’t try to cover up or hide odour issues that you know about. Get rid of any foul odour before putting your home for sale, to maximize your return.

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How to Get Your Boss to Say Yes

You have this really wonderful idea but:
A.) It's a little bit out of the ordinary, so the traditional way you go about getting approvals is not going to work.
B.) Your boss has previously shown signs of being "risk adverse."

How do you get the go-ahead?

The first answer is don't ask — at least not at first.

Are we advocating the old adage that it is always easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission? Sort of. What we're saying is that your first series of actions should not create a situation where you have anything to apologize for — even if you're not acting with the boss's permission.

The way to make that happen?

1. Your initial steps should have you acting like an entrepreneur. You want to act quickly with the means at hand. (That's right — before you ask for approval.) What's right around you that you can employ?

You have to be the judge of the size of those steps. Executing it must carry no negative consequences for anyone, especially you and your boss. Then, keep taking those tiny steps for as long as you can.

As you are taking your small steps, under the radar screen, get other respected people's help and fingerprints all over it. That will do a few things for you, all of them good. You will: gain additional perspectives ("Hey, did you ever think about this?"); have access to additional resources ("Sure, we have a lot of X that we aren't using); and be introduced to other like-minded people that, quite frankly, might give you a bit of protection should you be discovered at this early stage. Again, only you know how far you can go with this. The politics of every organization are different, and you don't want to do anything that could be taken to mean you are trying an end-run around your boss.

2. At some point (again, you have to be the judge) you'll want to let your boss know what you're doing. Even then, avoid asking for approval if you can. The conversation might go something like this:

"Hey, boss. I have this idea that fits in with what the company is trying to accomplish and could make some money. I haven't a clue if it is going to work, so I'm just spending a little time during off-hours or during downtime on it. I just wanted to give you a heads-up."

This conversation:

• Keeps your boss from being surprised. (That's always a good thing.)
• Buys you time to see if the idea is actually doable. If it's not, you don't have anything to ask your boss for later.
• Gives you information. You might learn the idea is doable, but you don't want to do it. And that is a good thing to know, before you offer up the idea for formal approval. (You can suggest people who would be perfect to spearhead the initiative.)

The smart boss will appreciate your enthusiasm and initiative and maybe even try to help, or offer a suggestion or two. At the very least, she won't stop you at this point.

The dumb boss will say something like "if you have any time to spare, work on what I already assigned you to do." If this happens more than once, you probably want to transfer to another boss or job. Research has shown that a prime determinant of workplace satisfaction and performance is a supportive boss who respects you and your ideas.

Okay, you've taken some more steps. The idea is a good one and you want to be involved in it going forward and it's going to require your boss to not only sign off, but also provide some resources. What do you do?

3. Make your best prediction of what the acceptable loss is for other key players, especially your boss. You already know the first couple of steps to take. You position the idea in the context of her hot buttons, whatever they may be.

"Hey boss, you know how you are always talking about how our department has to be more innovative. Well, the thing I have been working on seems to fit with that perfectly."

From there, you want to make sure you keep your requests (at least at first) within her realm of acceptable loss. How much is she likely to be willing to risk and write off if the idea fails? How can you do everything humanly possible to keep the number at risk below that?

Implicit in this is that the next step is going to be relatively small. That's a good thing. When you are facing the unknown — and starting something new certainly qualifies — you always want to begin by taking small steps. In fact, when you have been acting on your own, and even when you are acting with the approval of your boss, you are preceding just as successful serial entrepreneurs do:

• They take a small step toward their goal.
• They pause to see what they learned from taking that step. ("Yes, it looks like it is worth continuing for now.")
• They build off of what they learned.
• The process repeats until they (and you) achieve their goal — the project is a success — or they realize it cannot be done, or they find something more appealing.

Who knows? Telling your boss that she's acting like one of the most successful entrepreneurs in history might get things to go in your favor.

10 Most Common Interview Q&A

There's no worse feeling than when you're in an interview and the interviewer asks you a question to which you don't know the answer. The best way to handle this dreaded debacle is to go into the interview prepared. Familiarize yourself with a few common difficult questions and arm yourself with answers prepared ahead of time.

Check out these tough interview questions and some suggested responses in order to avoid an interview disaster:

Tough question No. 1: "Tell me about yourself."
This is usually the opening question in an interview and it's the perfect moment for you to toot your own horn -- not to tell your life history. Your answers should be a quick rundown of your qualifications and experience. Talk about your education, work history, recent career experience and future goals.
Suggested answer: "I graduated from University X and since then, I have been working in public relations with an agency where I have generated millions of PR hits for my clients. While I've enjoyed working on the agency side, I'm looking to expand my horizons and start doing PR for corporate companies such as this one."

Tough question No. 2: "Why did you leave your last job?"
This is your chance to talk about your experience and your career goals, not to badmouth a former boss or give a laundry list of reasons for your exit. Instead, focus on what you learned in your previous position and how you are ready to use those skills in a new position.
Suggested answer: "The company just wasn't a good fit for my creativity, but I learned that organizations have distinct personalities just like people do. Now I know where I'll be a better fit."

Tough question No. 3: "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
Let the employer know that you're stable and you want to be with this company for the long haul. Keep your aspirations to take over the firm with which you are interviewing, own your own company, retire at 40 or be married with five children to yourself.
Suggested answer: "I want to secure a civil engineering position with a national firm that concentrates on retail development. Ideally, I would like to work for a young company, such as this one, so I can get in on the ground floor and take advantage of all the opportunities a growing firm has to offer."

Tough question No. 4: "What are your weaknesses?"
The key to answering this age-old question is not to respond literally. Your future employer most likely won't care if your weak spot is that you can't cook, nor do they want to hear the generic responses, like you're "too detail oriented" or "work too hard." Respond to this query by identifying areas in your work where you can improve and figure out how they can be assets to a future employer. If you didn't have the opportunity to develop certain skills at your previous job, explain how eager you are to gain that skill in a new position.
Suggested answer: "In my last position, I wasn't able to develop my public-speaking skills. I'd really like to be able to work in a place that will help me get better at giving presentations and talking in front of others."

Tough question No. 5: "Why were you laid off?"
This question will become more common as the economy continues to slow down. It's a tough question, however, especially because many workers aren't told exactly why they were laid off. The best way to tackle this question is to answer as honestly as possible.
Suggested answer: "As I'm sure you're aware, the economy is tough right now and my company felt the effects of it. I was part of a large staff reduction and that's really all I know. I am confident, however, that it had nothing to do with my job performance, as exemplified by my accomplishments. For example..."

Tough question No. 6: "Tell me about the worst boss you ever had."
Never, ever talk badly about your past bosses. A potential boss will anticipate that you'll talk about him or her in the same manner somewhere down the line.
Suggested answer: "While none of my past bosses were awful, there are some who taught me more than others did. I've definitely learned what types of management styles I work with the best."

Tough question No. 7: How would others describe you?
You should always be asking for feedback from your colleagues and supervisors in order to gauge your performance; this way, you can honestly answer the question based on their comments. Keep track of the feedback to be able to give to an employer, if asked. Doing so will also help you identify strengths and weaknesses.
Suggested answer: "My former colleagues have said that I'm easy to do business with and that I always hit the ground running with new projects. I have more specific feedback with me, if you'd like to take a look at it."

Tough question No. 8: "What can you offer me that another person can't?"
This is when you talk about your record of getting things done. Go into specifics from your résumé and portfolio; show an employer your value and how you'd be an asset.
Suggested answer: "I'm the best person for the job. I know there are other candidates who could fill this position, but my passion for excellence sets me apart from the pack. I am committed to always producing the best results. For example..."

Tough question No. 9: "If you could choose any company to work for, where would you go?"
Never say that you would choose any company other than the one where you are interviewing. Talk about the job and the company for which you are being interviewed.
Suggested answer: "I wouldn't have applied for this position if I didn't sincerely want to work with your organization." Continue with specific examples of why you respect the company with which you are interviewing and why you'll be a good fit.


Tough question No. 10: "Would you be willing to take a salary cut?"
Salary is a delicate topic. In today's tough economy though, how much a company can afford to pay you might be the deal breaker in whether or not you are offered a position.
Suggested answer: "I'm making $X now. I understand that the salary range for this position is $XX - $XX. Like most people, I would like to improve on my salary, but I'm more interested in the job itself than the money. I would be open to negotiating a lower starting salary but would hope that we can revisit the subject in a few months after I've proved myself to you."

Variable Rate Mortgages When Rates Are Rising

The homeowners have enjoyed a long period of low interest rates. To say it has been a great ride is an understatement, however there does seem to be a trend towards increasing rates. The question is, "What should I do now?"

The prime lending rate, which is used for variable mortgages, is at 3%, with current pricing for variable mortgages below prime, ranging from 2.15% to 2.85%. I will use 2.50% for variable rates as it is close to the median. Let's compare that to the 5-year fixed rate, which is currently at 4.14%.

Currently there is a variance of approximately 1.64% between fixed and variable. So, each day, week, or month that goes by, your cost of borrowing is dramatically less. There is also the opportunity cost, which would be the difference between your payments for fixed or variable. Take for example a mortgage for $200,000 on a variable rate the payment is $897.23 per month, versus the 5 year fixed rate at $1,067.27 per month. So, what can you do with the $170 difference every month? That could cover date night and a babysitter or a couple of rounds of golf. Hmmmm.

Can rates increase and diminish the variance between the terms? Yes, they can. The questions we don't have an answer to is how long will it take to equal the fixed rate, and where will rates go.

What we do know is that there have been studies over the last 15 years which show that less interest is paid with a variable rate mortgage than a fixed rate. That being said, I still go back to the nature of the individual. What is your comfort level? Can you sleep soundly at night with a variable rate, or do you need the fixed rate?

There are other methods to reduce the principal of your mortgage without taking a variable rate mortgage, contact your local mortgage specialist to sit down and discuss your options.

Monthly Home Budget Considerations

Whether you are buying your first home, trading up to accommodate a growing family, or even downsizing, one of the most important things you must do when house hunting is create a monthly budget. A budget is simple to put together and will help you avoid financial headaches in the future.

In order to create your budget, the first thing the experts will recommend us to do is make a list of all our current monthly obligations. Start with items that will likely continue after we have bought the house, such as credit card payments, student loan payments, car payments, retirement saving contributions and so on. Now add in the discretionary spending such as the latte we get every few days, the dining out with friends and the money we are setting aside for a vacation. Are there things that we are willing to give up that would free up some cash to put towards the mortgage? After looking closely at our own budget, how much do you have left over, and how much of that are we comfortable putting towards a mortgage payment?

At this point I think it’s important to introduce the term "Total Debt Service," or TDS for short. This number is the result of dividing all our monthly obligations by our gross (before tax) income.

Here is an example of a TDS calculation: Assuming the gross monthly income is $6,000 (before tax) and the monthly expenses include:

$1,500 Mortgage payment
+ $400 Property taxes & Utilities
+ $200 Credit card bill
+ $400 Car lease payment
= $2,500

Total monthly obligations $2,500/$6,000 gross monthly income = 41.6%.

TDS is important because it determines what we can afford, and lenders use this number to qualify us for a mortgage as well. Technically, the lenders has a limit of 40%, but generally the cut off point is 42% to 44%. If you are applying for a mortgage and your TDS is higher by a per cent or two, be sure you can back it up with an excellent credit score and a down payment of at least 20%.

There are a number of online calculators at your disposal and they will help to determine the maximum mortgage payment we can afford. Now ask ourselves, do we want to max out on your mortgage payment? Most online calculators do not have space to put your morning coffee in or your gym membership or the tickets you bought for TIFF. The reality is that most of us will have to sacrifice some of the fun things in life to own a home, but don't let your mortgage payment control you.

8 Best Ways to Improve Your Credit Scores

If your credit score is not as high as you think it should be, make sure that the information in your credit report is correct. If it is correct, read your report carefully to find out which factors are most likely having a negative influence on your score, and then work to improve them.

Here are the 8 best way to improve your credit scores:

1. Always pay your bills on time, especially credit card bills. Although the payment of your utility bills, such as phone, cable and electricity, is not recorded in your credit report, some cell phone companies may report late payments to the credit-reporting agencies, which could affect your score.
2. Try to pay your bills in full by the due date. If you aren't able to do this, pay at least the required minimum amount shown on your monthly credit card statement.
3. Don't go over the credit limit on your credit card. Try to keep your balance well below the limit. The higher your balance, the more impact it has on your credit score.
4. Reduce the number of credit applications you make. If too many potential lenders ask about your credit in a short period of time, this may have a negative effect on your score. However, your score does not change when you ask for information about your own credit report.
5. Make sure you have a credit history. You may have a low score because you do not have a record of owing money and paying it back. You can build a credit history by using a credit card.
6. Cancel your old cards. The older your credit history, the better. But if you stop using your oldest cards, the issuers may decide to close the accounts or stop updating them to the credit bureaus. The accounts may still appear, but they won't be given as much weight in the credit-scoring formula as your active accounts.
7. Obtain some goodwill. If you've been a good customer, a lender might agree to simply erase that one late payment from your credit history. You usually have to make the request in writing, and your chances for a "goodwill adjustment" improve the better your record with the company (and the better your credit in general). But it can't hurt to ask.
8. Correct the significant error. Your credit scores are calculated based on the information in your credit reports, so certain errors there can really cost you. But not everything that's reported in your files matters to your scores. Here's the stuff that's usually worth the effort of correcting with the bureaus:
   
   • Late payments, charge-offs, collections or other negative items that aren't yours.
   • Credit limits reported as lower than they actually are.
   • Accounts listed as "settled," "paid derogatory," "paid charge-off" or anything other than "current" or "paid as agreed" if you paid on time and in full.
   • Accounts that are still listed as unpaid that were included in a bankruptcy.
   
   

First Time Home Buyer Reality Check - Affordability

As I mentioned in my September Net Worth Udpate, I am planning to start my property hunt for the first time. So, first question comes into my mind is, "what can I afford"?

There are two types of costs in buying a home -- the initial down payment and the ongoing monthly mortgage payments. The largest one-time cost is the down payment.

When purchasing a home, there are also many one time costs and monthly expenses that I will need to budget for in addition to the expenses that I have while renting.

One-time Expenses:

Property inspection (optional), due at time of inspection
Legal fees, due at the time of closing
Legal disbursements, due at the time of closing
Property survey (sometimes provided by seller), due at the time of closing
Mortgage interest adjustment (if applicable), due at the time of closing
Home and property insurance, at closing and ongoing
Moving expenses, due on the date of move

Monthly Expenses:

Mortgage payments
Maintenance/Condominium fees
Property and content insurance
Property taxes
Utilities

Canada Auto Sales for September 2009

Here is the new auto sales statistics in Canada for September, 2009 compared to same period last year.

Acura: -45% to 1,127
Audi: +17.1% to 1,111
BMW: +50.1% to 2,402
Chrysler: -7.1% to 15,804
Ford: +24.4% to 16,140
General Motors: -23.4% to 23,568
Honda: -12.2% to 11,272
Hyundai: +30.8% to 9,282
Infiniti: -14.3% to 639
Jaguar: -24.4% to 62
Kia: +19.7% to 4,515
Land Rover: -8.2% to 179
Lexus: +11.3% to 1,504
Mazda: -3.6% to 6,520
Mercedes-Benz: +24.9% to 2,248
Mini: -16.9% to 340
Mitsubishi: +18.5% to 1,735
Nissan: -0.9% to 6,594
Porsche: +14% to 114
Saab: -48.2% to 59
smart: +3.7% to 312
Subaru: +68.4% to 2,544
Suzuki: +3.6% to 1,351
Toyota: -11.1% to 16,065
Volkswagen: -4.2% to 3,508
Volvo: -6.4% to 508

September 2009 Net Worth Update

I had to suffer a loss from trading RIM which were plunging more than 13% ahead of Friday's opening bell after the company's most recent quarterly report and forecast raised fears of slow growth on Sept. 24.

As the housing market is slowly finding its footing in the slow recovering economy, I am getting my mortgage pre-approved right now to be ready for the bargain hunting. If I can find a bargain - the property's listed price is less than 90% of the city assessed price - during this winter (usually it's the slow season), then I might be a new home owner in near future.

Here are the assets/liabilities result for September, 2009:

Assets

Vehicles: $26,000

Cash: $8,900

Savings: $14,400

TFSA: $5,100

Registered Investment Account: $24,100

Non-Registered Investment Account: $6,100

Total Assets: $84,500

Debts

Credit Card Debt: $$1,700

Total Debts: $1,700

Total Net Worth: $82,800

Started 2009 with Net Worth: $65300

Year-to-Date Gain/Loss: +26.80%

My net worth goal at the end of year 2009 is $90,000, and I still have $7,200 to make in the next 3 months.

The surprising truth about what's really in Canadians' wallets

Those who want to know how they financially stack up against others should check out MoneySense magazine's All-Canadian Wealth Test.

Despite a growing chorus of voices that say the recession is over, many Canadians are feeling downright poor these days. But MoneySense magazine's All-Canadian Wealth Test reveals that many of us are actually a lot better off than we think.

Available on newsstands across the country starting today, the Wealth Test lets Canadians determine how they stack up against other Canadians on all the key indicators of household prosperity. MoneySense research reveals whether we're earning more or less than our peers, if we're wealthier or poorer than others, and if our track record in the stock market is better or worse than most investors. Canadians can also visit MoneySense.ca where they can calculate their own net worth and compare it to people like themselves.

The good and bad news on how we stack up:

• The good news - yes, good news - is that the average household is better off today than it was nine years ago at the peak of the dot-com boom. In fact, we're 7 per cent richer in real terms in grim 2009 than we were in bubbly 2000.
  
• But there are warning signs. While the rich are getting richer, it's not clear that middle- and working-class Canadians are any wealthier.
  
• Another problem? The way we're getting rich. Rather than make moneyon the stock market or accumulate savings in the bank, a significant portion of our wealth is tied up in the rising value of our homes. Real estate now makes up an unprecedented share of our personal balance sheets. That may be fine now. But if house prices crash, look out below.
  

The All-Canadian Wealth Test also reveals that:

• The average unattached Canadian has an annual income of $37,800. The average family earns $91,500.
• The path to higher income starts with being a guy. Women make, on average, about two-thirds of what men do.
• The richest 20 per cent of Canadian households control about 69 per cent of the wealth in Canada. Meanwhile, the poorest 20 per cent controls no wealth at all. It's actually in debt.

Source: MoneySense

59% of Canadians live payday to payday

Nearly 60 per cent of Canadians would have trouble paying the bills if their paycheque were delayed by one week, a nationwide survey suggests.

The Canadian Payroll Association survey released Monday found that not only were 59 per cent of respondents living paycheque to paycheque, but they had little ability to put money away for their retirement.

"We were shocked by that number," CPA chairman Janice MacLellan said. "So many Canadians are now living so close to the line that if they miss a single paycheque, the majority will find themselves in financial difficulty."

Financial experts recommend that people should have emergency funds to cover about three months of expenses, such as rent, mortgage, utilities, other bill payments and groceries.

Of those surveyed, the younger workforce said they felt the greatest pinch. Forty-five per cent of people aged 18 to 34 said it would be difficult or very difficult to make ends meet if a paycheque were delayed, with a further 21 per cent saying it would be somewhat difficult.

Single parents were in the most precarious situation, with 72 per cent saying they would have some trouble making ends meet.

The survey also found that 50 per cent of workers couldn't save more than five per cent of their net pay for retirement — half the amount financial experts generally recommend.

About one-third of respondents said they've been trying to save more money than a year ago because of the economic uncertainty, but have been unable to do so. Another 42 per cent said they weren't trying to save more.

When it comes to remuneration, 65 per cent of employees said higher wages were most important to them, while 25 per cent cited better health benefits and 10 per cent preferred education funding.

Asked what they would do with a $1 million lottery win, 70 per cent of people said their top priority would be to pay off debt, while 35 per cent would put as much as possible toward retirement.

Surprisingly, not many people would have a celebration. Just three per cent of Canadians said they would use some of their winnings to throw a party, with Quebecers — at seven per cent — a bit more likely to do so.

And if you're a relative of a lottery winner, don't count too heavily on getting a share. Just 26 per cent of Canadians said they would give some of their winnings to family members.

The CPA survey involved more than 2,800 employees across Canada. The results are considered to have a margin of error of 2.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Source: CBC News

6 Simple Tips to Save Water Usage for Our Home

While access to clean water is not an issue for most of us, it makes sense to be more water conscious for the following reasons:

• Lower water and energy bills by reducing your metered usage.
• Enhanced drinking water quality by maintaining higher levels in our lakes.
• Less environmental impact by deferring the need to supply water from new sources and by reducing the energy and materials required to treat and deliver water.

We all can take immediate steps starting in our own households to more efficiently use water so there is enough to go around.

Be water conscious
Just like you think about saving energy by turning off your lights, switching off the power strip and charging your phone with your solar charger, you should be just as conscious about conserving water. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving, use less water when hand washing dishes, don’t use hot water to defrost food, and take shorter showers. We all know these things and mean to do them, but sometimes we forget. Program these simple changes into your daily routine and be conscious about water use.

Fix leaks
A dripping tap sends your money down the drain. If your tap is leaking one drop per second, you are wasting over 9,460 litres of water per year. You can fix this problem by replacing a simple washer. Even if you have to change the entire tap, it’ll cost less than what you’re wasting. Also, check your toilet, it might be leaking too even if you don’t hear it. You can check for a leak in your toilet by adding a few drops of food colouring to the tank. If within half an hour the coloured water has disappeared from the bowl, you’ll know you’ve got a leak.

Use low water flow fixtures
Low flow showerheads and faucet aerators save up to half of water used without compromising your shower quality and washing experience. Also, take the opportunity to install a low-flow toilet and save even more money! Since 30% of the water consumption in your home is from toilet use; the older the toilet, the greater the use. Old toilets use at least 16-20 litres per flush. However, more recent models use about six litres or, if you install an ultra low-flow head, your toilet will use as little as three litres of water per flush—a big difference for huge savings!

Wash full loads
Use your appliances efficiently by washing only full loads of dishes or clothes. Wait the extra meal to have enough dishes or another day until you have enough clothes to make running that appliance worth it. While some appliances have settings for smaller loads, most do not, and use just as much water to wash a few things as it does to wash a full load.

Replace old appliances
Energy Star rated appliances save you energy, water, and money! Energy Star rated washers use half the water and energy per load of older models. If you’re looking for a new washing machine, frontload washing systems have a much larger capacity and save a lot of water and energy. Also, take the time to look at investing in a dishwasher. This might surprise many but washing your dishes by hand in your sink uses more water than running an Energy Star rated dishwasher. Hand washing your dishes twice daily uses about 70 litres of water while a dishwasher, filled to the maximum, uses only 30 litres.

Saving water saves you money
From leaky taps and running toilets to watering your lawn, there are many things around your house that drain your money if you are not aware of them. You can be green and save water and money by following the above steps—use less and you’ll save more!

SWOT Analysis - Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ)

Canadian Natural Resources (CNR) is a significant producer of natural gas in Canada, representing approximately 10% of western Canadian output. Its undeveloped land base represents the second largest portfolio in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) and it also has an exposure to virtually every play type found in the basin. Strong market position allows the company to take advantage of economies of the scale and reduce risk. However, increased cost pressures and environmental regulations may adversely impact the company’s future net earnings, cash flow, and capital projects.

Strengths

Leadership position in Canada - The company’s production is concentrated in five North American core regions: Northeast British Columbia, Northwest Alberta, the Foothills, the Northern Plains, and the Southern Plains. In addition, the company holds extensive leases in the Athabasca region that are estimated to contain approximately 16 billion barrels of original bitumen in place. It also dominates the infrastructure in its core areas allowing it to control its cost. Moreover, natural gas remains its largest single product offering, representing 45% of its production mix in 2008. Strong market position allows the company to take advantage of economies of the scale and reduce risk.

Strong oil reserves - The company has strong oil reserves. CNR’s crude oil and NGLs proved reserves, before royalties increased from 1,123 million barrels (mmbbl) in FY2004 to 1,543 mmbbl in FY 2007, at a CAGR of 11%. Further, the crude oil and NGLs proved reserves, after royalties, also increased from 1,066 mmbbl in FY2004 to 1,358 mmbbl in FY2007. The company’s strong oil reserves give it a significant competitive advantage, especially when a large proportion of global oil fields are reaching maturity.

Strategic land base - CNR has the second largest undeveloped land inventory in the WCSB, with undeveloped net acreage in excess of 12 million acres, excluding leases at the Horizon Project. The strength of the company’s land base is a result of continued land purchases, and strategic acquisitions including the incorporation of the ACC properties that were acquired in late 2006. The vast majority of the company’s land base is positioned to utilize existing owned and operated infrastructure and also strategically positions CNR. Further, it also maximizes the benefit of new play types developed by the company and industry. This strong concentrated land base affords significant opportunities to control operating costs, along with minimizing finding and on-stream costs.

Weaknesses

Poor performance of North Sea geographic segment - The revenues and the crude oil production from CNR’s North Sea geographic segment have been witnessing a decline over the years. The revenues from North Sea declined from C$1,656 million (approximately $1,490.4 million) in FY2005 to C$1,594 million (approximately $1,434.6 million) in FY2007, at a CAGR of 1.9%. Further, crude oil production before royalties from North Sea declined from 68,593 barrels per day (bbl/d) in FY2005 to 55,933 bbl/d in FY2007, at a CAGR of 9.7%. The decline in production was due to lower than anticipated production from the Lyell Field development and water injection problems experienced during the year at the Ninian Field.

Declining natural gas reserves - The company has witnessed a significant decline in its natural gas reserves in 2008 compared with FY2006. Natural gas remains its largest single product offering, representing 45% of its production mix in 2008. The natural gas reserves, before royalties, declined from 4,613 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in FY2006 to 4,435 Bcf in 2008, representing a decline of 3.9%. Further, its natural gas reserves, after royalties, declined from 3,798 Bcf in FY2006 to 3,666 Bcf in 2008, representing a decline of 3.5%.

Opportunities

Rising demand for oil and natural gas - The strong economic growth in the developing countries will drive global oil and natural gas demand. The overall global energy demand is expected to grow about 1.6% annually to 2030. With the growing transportation sector, the demand for liquid fuels is expected to rise at a rate of 1.4% per year. Driven by increasing demand for electricity, natural gas demand is expected to increase by 1.7% annually to 2030. The projected increase in demand for liquid fuels and natural gas in the coming years would help the company boost its sales and strengthen its financial base.

Horizon Oil Sands Project - The Horizon Oil Sands Project is located 70 kilometres north of Fort McMurray, where CNR owns and operates leases covering 115,000 acres through lease arrangements with the Province of Alberta.The Horizon Project includes a surface oil sands mining and bitumen extraction plant coupled with on-site bitumen upgrading and associated infrastructure to produce synthetic crude oil. Drilling on these leases indicates an estimated 16 billion barrels of bitumen in place, with approximately 6-8 billion recoverable barrels under existing mining technologies. The Horizon Project asset is substantial and is anticipated to provide significant free cash flow in the future to CNR.

Threats

Environmental regulations - CNR’s businesses are subject to numerous laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment.The company’s associated risk management strategies focus on working with legislators and regulators to ensure that any new or revised regulations reflect a balanced approach to sustainable development. Further, specific measures in response to existing or new legislation include focus on the company’s energy efficiency, air emissions management, released water quality, reduced fresh water use, and minimization of the impact on the landscape.

Increasing cost pressures - Strong commodity prices in recent years have resulted in increased demand and costs for oilfield services. This has lead to inflationary production and capital cost pressures throughout the North American oil and gas industry, particularly related to natural gas drilling activity and oil sands developments. The strong commodity price environment has also impacted costs in international basins. Specifically, the high demand for offshore drilling rigs continues and securing rigs on commercially acceptable terms is an ongoing challenge.

Adverse weather conditions - Adverse weather conditions could pose a substantial threat to the company both in terms of curtailed activity and its potential effect on natural gas prices. Warmer than normal weather can impact the demand for natural gas, resulting in lower realized price for the company.

The Best Growth Investing Information Ever

This video contains all the fundamental information you need for growth investing during the next few years.

10 Ways to Cut Your Moving Costs

Moving can be a very chaotic and expensive task, one that needs to be accomplished very carefully. A move carried out in haste can bring about several unnecessary problems. Almost everyone looks for cheap movers. After all, most of us want to save on out of pocket expenses but there are several disadvantages of selecting cheap movers. There are professional moving companies, who offer competitive rates that are easily affordable by everyone. However, there are certain techniques or methods of preparation that can also help you minimize your expenses.

When planning your moving budget, it is very important to keep a check on the outflow of cash. This will make you better prepared to understand the unnecessary expenses. Create a budget template in Excel or Microsoft Word—this will make your calculations easier.

Decide if you will hire a professional moving company or you will do it yourself. If you are hiring a mover, collect quotes from at least three different professional moving companies and include the highest quote in your budget.

Check all the items that you are moving. This will help you evaluate if you need more insurance because the default insurance offered by movers might not be sufficient for you. Along with added insurance, find out if you require extra services.

Because of rising fuel costs and a shortage of drivers, the cost of a full service mover has risen in the past few years. Anything you can do yourself—even if seemingly small—will help cut your moving bill and give you extra money to spend on other relocation costs (like the pizza and beer for after your move).


1. Reduce your load. Get rid of household items that you no longer need. Hold a garage sale and leave books with friends, the local library or sell them to a used bookstore. Anything you can't sell, give to a local charity. Weight equals money. The less weight, the less money. It's that simple.

2. Pack it yourself. Packing services performed by the mover are expensive and could amount to 25% of the moving cost. Even if you don't want to pack it all yourself, you can always do a partial pack, and have the movers handle the rest. For example, items that are nonbreakable such as linens and bedding can be packed easily without the risk of damage. Every box you pack yourself is money in your pocket.

3. Save on packing. Luggage and carrying bags are perfect for packing sheets, towels and clothing. Also, the bottoms of wardrobe boxes are great for bulky, lightweight items. Be wary of packing tips that might save you money initially but won't protect your stuff, for example, using newspaper instead of bubble wrap. Sure, it might save a few bucks, but in the end, is breaking something worth it?

4. Drive your own moving truck
Using a full service moving company is extremely expensive. You can rent your own truck and hire movers to help load up and unload.

5. Recruit help from friends or family
If you have friends or family in the area, getting them to help you load up and/or unload is a blessing, because it saves time and money. If you’re going to recruit help, make it a fun event. Order some food, and make it a moving party.

6. Avoid the busy season. If you are using a full service moving company, avoid June, July, and August as these are the most expensive months to move because of demand for moving services. Also, try to plan your move during the middle of the month—rates are higher at the beginning and the end because of the large number of apartment leases with month-end dates. If you can be flexible with your move-in times, you can also save money because the moving company can combine shipments.

7. Get organized. Time is Money. Color-code boxes according to the room they belong in so they all end up in the same place, saving time for both you and your mover.

8. Avoid storage costs by moving into your new property immediately and make sure that you have payment ready for when the truck arrives. Any delay could result in storage-in-transit fees if your things have to be stored until they can be unloaded and after the move is paid in full.

9. Make sure you are insured. Your existing homeowner’s insurance policy might cover your move so you don't have to buy additional moving protection.

10. Your move may be tax-deductible. Keep all receipts and visit the Canada Revenue Agency's website for specific details about which moving expenses you can claim, or consult a professional accountant to maximize your tax return.

Canada Auto Sales for August 2009

Here is the new auto sales statistics in Canada for August, 2009 compared to same period last year.

Acura: +26.4% to 1,644
Audi: +89.6% to 1,058
BMW: +20.5% to 2,292
Chrysler: -6.8% to 14,393
Ford: +7% to 22,166
General Motors: -27.5% to 23,018
Honda: -21.8% to 10,574
Hyundai: +38.4% to 10,418
Infiniti: -13.6% to 604
Jaguar: -18.1% to 68
Kia: +20.6% to 4,672
Land Rover: -27.2% to 134
Lexus: +31.3% to 1,532
Mazda: -10.7% to 6,880
Mercedes-Benz: +20.5% to 1,992
Mini: -9.5% to 457
Mitsubishi: +24.9% to 1,860
Nissan: +4.2% to 7,071
Porsche: +7.1% to 120
Saab: -79.8% to 36
smart: -30.4% to 268
Subaru: +4.2% to 1,940
Suzuki: +1.3% to 1,315
Toyota: -24.2% to 16,707
Volkswagen: -5% to 3,605
Volvo: +16.3% to 527

August 2009 Net Worth Update

After I sold my car, I bought a new car using some money from my saving account and non-registered investment account. I am not a new car buyer in general, but I bought it for the following reasons,

1. Safety - As Canadian's winter could take as long as 6 months, this is my primary reason to sell my old car earlier this year, and get all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicle for safety purposes.

2. Cash Purchase Promotion - almost 10% cash back + another 10% off the original price. This justifies a bit new car depreciation cost.

3. Re-sale value - after some research, I found that Japanese AWD vehicles could hold their resale value the most.

Here are the assets/liabilities result for August, 2009:

Assets

Vehicles: $26,000

Cash: $6,000

Savings: $14,400

TFSA: $5,100

Registered Investment Account: $23,200

Non-Registered Investment Account: $8,400

Total Assets: $8,3100

Debts

Credit Card Debt: $1,600

Total Debts: $1,600

Total Net Worth: $81,500

Started 2009 with Net Worth: $65300

Year-to-Date Gain/Loss: +24.81%

My net worth goal at the end of year 2009 is $90,000, and I still have $8,500 to make in the next 4 months.

SWOT Analysis - Barrick Gold

Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick) is one of the largest gold mining companies globally, having 27 operating mines and five development projects in Canada, the US, Australia, Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Tanzania. The company's strong project pipeline ensures a steady revenue growth and has boosted investor confidence. However, changes in local and national government legislations, taxations, controls, regulations, and political or economic developments across key countries may affect the company's business prospects.

Strengths

Strong market position - Barrick is the only company in the gold mining industry that possesses an ”A” rating balance sheet. The company has the largest reserves in the industry, with 124.6 million ounces of proven and probable gold reserves, 6.2 billion pounds of copper reserves, and 1.03 billion ounces of contained silver within gold reserves as atDecember 31, 2007.

Strong project pipeline - Barrick has been progressing a new generation of projects that advanced significantly in 2008: Buzwagi in Tanzania, Cortez Hills in Nevada; Pueblo Viejo in the Dominican Republic; Pascua-Lama, Chile/Argentina; Buzwagi, Tanzania; Donlin Creek, Alaska, the US; Reko Diq, Pakistan; Sedibelo, South Africa; Federova, Russia; and Kabanga, Tanzania. A strong project pipeline ensures a steady revenue growth and has boosted investor confidence.

Emphasis on exploration - Even at times when gold prices are low, the company was conscious of not diluting the emphasis on exploration. Barrick has a motivated, discovery focused team of over 150 geo-scientists exploring approximately 100 properties in 16 countries around the world. Reserve development and replacement of production is a major priority at all sites. The company consistently funds its exploration programs throughout all gold cycles, and has a proven track record of finding ounces at both greenfield and brownfield projects.

Weaknesses

Contingencies, claims, and litigations - The company has a number of lawsuits pending against it. In June 2003, Barrick's shareholders filed a complaint in the New York district court alleging that Barrick had violated the US security laws by providing misleading and false statements about its earnings and operating results in 2002. In September 2004, Dr. Gregg McKenzie filed a putative class action complaint against Barrick and JP Morgan in the Louisiana district court. This complaint alleged that the company violated the Commodity Exchange Act and US antitrust laws and sought damages and an injunction to terminate certain trading agreements Barrick entered into with J.P. Morgan. Another similar complaint was filed against Barrick during December 2004. In September 2004, a complaint was filed in the New Mexico district court against two of Barrick’s subsidiaries, Homestake and Home-stake California. The plaintiffs sought damages, alleging that they had been exposed to radioactive and other hazardous substances.

Decreasing production levels in old mines - The old mines of Barrick’s are facing decreasing production levels. Production is declining primarily as a result of lower-grade ore processed at Eskay Creek, Goldstrike Open Pit, and Pierina and the depletion of reserves at Holt-McDermott. Declining production levels in matured mines generate lower grade ores, thereby affecting production and ultimately reducing the revenue generated by the company.

Opportunities

New development projects - The company has entered into a joint venture with Xstrata for the Kabanga nickel sulphide project in Tanzania making it similar in size and grade to the world-class Voisey’s Bay mine in Labrador. Further, Barrick and NovaGold formed a limited liability company, jointly owned by Barrick and NovaGold on a 50/50 basis, which will oversee development of the Donlin Creek project in Alaska. These new development projects would add to Barrick’s resource reserves and enable the company to generate incremental revenues

Explorations in Russia and Central Asia - Barrick is exploring properties in Russia and Central Asia. Barrick's programs are complemented by strategic relationships with Celtic Resources and Highland Gold, which helped in developing assets in Russia and Central Asia. Barrick has an equity position in Celtic Resources and also has back-in rights for up to 50% in any assets purchased in Kazakhstan and also on certain other assets Acquisitions of Cortez property in the Nezhdaninskoye project. Barrick's investment in Highland Gold enables it to participate on an
exclusive basis for up to 50% on any purchase made by Highland Gold in Russia. These relationships would help Barrick to familiarize itself with the Russian and Asian regions and
to refine its development options in these prospective regions.

Threats

International political and economic issues - Changes in local and national government legislations, taxations, controls, regulations, and political or economic developments across key countries may affect the company's business prospects.The Pascua-Lama project straddles the border between Chile and Argentina, with some of the operations to be built on the Chile side, and other parts of the project on the Argentinean side. This can throw up cross-border issues, including permits and taxes. Furthermore, if recent history is any indication, obtaining permits to develop a large-scale gold mine in Argentina will not be an easy task. International political and economic issues could, therefore, be a hindrance in the smooth functioning of the company’s various operations.

Inherent risk in the mining operations - Barrick is subject to all the inherent risks associated with the gold exploration and mining business, which include critical issues like industrial accidents, environmental hazards, unusual and unexpected formations, cave-ins, flooding and pressures, and also the risk of inadequate insurance, or an inability to obtain insurance. These apart, there are also risks of obtaining necessary permits and licenses, decreasing grades or quantities of reserves, and changes in the credit rating, all of which can hinder the business operations.

Environmental laws and regulations - Barrick’s ongoing mining operations and exploration activities are subject to extensive laws and regulations governing exploration, development, production, occupational health, mine safety, toxic substances, waste disposal, protection and remediation of the environment, protection of endangered and protected species, and other related matters. Compliance with these laws and regulations imposes substantial costs and it is expected that these costs would continue to increase in the future because of increased demand for remediation services and shortages of equipment, supplies, labor, and other factors.