Search found 55 matches

by crystals
17 May 2011 23:47
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?
Replies: 14
Views: 2849

Re: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?

Expedia.com and Expedia.ca may run different promotions.

I once booked a US hotel much cheaper from expedia.ca than expedia.com, something like Can$85 vs. US$100, while Can$1=US$0.93.
But this time, I found the same cruise cheaper on expedia.com than expedia.ca, something like Can$106 vs. US$100, while Can$1=US$1.03.
So for this trip, it's better to book from expedia.com, even with 2.5% credit card charge (1.5% after the 1% back)

Yes, expedia.ca is TICO registered, so if the travel provider goes bankrupt, I can get my money back. With expedia.com, probably not. But I'm willing to take the chance, since the cruise provider is a big operator.
by crystals
17 May 2011 14:40
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?
Replies: 14
Views: 2849

Re: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?

Thank you Bylo for your comment. Your are right, I do not get any benefit from using my Can$ Visa for the online booking.
However, based on my usual spending in US$ using the Visa, it probably just break even if I get a US$ credit card. So just keep my life simple.
by crystals
17 May 2011 08:03
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?
Replies: 14
Views: 2849

Re: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?

Bylo Selhi wrote:Maybe you should.
My no-fee CAN$ Visa gives me 1% money back, plus extended warranty etc. So I'm not sure there is much advantage to maintain another card.
by crystals
16 May 2011 22:54
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?
Replies: 14
Views: 2849

Re: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?

I called two Visa and one MasterCard. They all have 2.5% + exchange rate of the day.
by crystals
16 May 2011 10:10
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?
Replies: 14
Views: 2849

Which Can$ credit card to use for US$ purchase?

I do not have a US$ credit card. I'm about to pay for an online booking.
How can I find out which of my Can$ credit cards have a more favourable rate for me?
I don't need to know how the financial institution does the calculation.
All I care is, say for $2500US, which of my credit cards will eventually put the smallest number on my statement.
by crystals
17 Apr 2011 17:39
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: T1135 - Just the beginning?
Replies: 148
Views: 27433

Re: T1135 - Just the beginning?

Thanks everyone for your replies.
Studio Tax does have a check box for foreign property, but it doesn't pull in the T1135 form.
So I'll just print the form from CRA site, and send it in through postal mail after EFile.
by crystals
17 Apr 2011 00:08
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: T1135 - Just the beginning?
Replies: 148
Views: 27433

Re: T1135 - Just the beginning?

Another question re T1135. Let's say the taxpayer only owns shares cost >Can$100,000 from one corporation. Does he have to file T1135 if (a) the corporation is registered in Canada, and has no operation outside of Canada; (b) the corporation is commonly known to be Canadian, but has a substantial business outside of Canada. For example, Research In Motion (c) the corporation is commonly known to be non-Canadian, but has a substantial business in Canada. For example, Microsoft or Ford. (d) the corporation is not registered in Canadian and has not operation in Canada; The answers to (a) and (d) are obvious. Is there any room for debate in cases (b) and (c)? If one owns shares of "Microsoft", are all these shares of a US corporation?...
by crystals
16 Apr 2011 23:21
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: T1135 - Just the beginning?
Replies: 148
Views: 27433

Re: T1135 - Just the beginning?

I'm using Studio Tax for a return. Studio Tax doesn't seem to be able to include a T1135. Should the tax payer
(1) EFile everything else, print and hand fill T1135 then mail in T1135 only;
(2) Print all pages done by Studio Tax, print and hand fill T1135, then mail in everything without EFiling;
(3) Pay for a different software that has T1135 and EFile;
(4) Is there a free software that has T1135 and support EFile?
by crystals
30 Apr 2010 16:29
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: How many years to get maximum CPP?
Replies: 59
Views: 17561

Re: How many years to get maximum CPP?

you can "drop out" the period you were taking care of a young child while receiving CCTB, plus another 15% of the lowest earning years Three are 47 years between age 18 and 65. 15% of 47 years is about 7 years. What about immigrants? Say someone became a Canadian resident and get an above-average income (paid maximum CPP premium) starting from age 30. Let's say he works till age 65. Are we saying he will not be able get maximum CPP, since he wasn't paying CPP premium between age 18-30 (that's 12 years)? What about early retirement? If someone manages to get an above-average income (paid maximum CPP premium) starting from age 18, but stops working at age 50. That's 32 years of maximum CPP contribution. How much CPP will he receive...
by crystals
25 Apr 2010 09:35
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Housing Bust 2010
Replies: 747
Views: 38945

Re: Housing Bust 2010

kcowan wrote:US New Home Sales rebound 27% in March:
Then is it time to look into US REIT?
by crystals
21 Apr 2010 10:41
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Snowbird, stay put, or relocate
Replies: 114
Views: 12240

Re: Snowbird, stay put, or relocate

So you buy a prefab home from a manufacture, have it shipped to a piece of rented lot, hook it up. The lot is in a (gated) community full of snowbirds. Since the prefab is your property, like your big TV or your tent, there is no condominium management forcing you to insurance it against hurricane damage, and you figured you don’t need the insurance. Since you rent the lot to place your belonging on, you don’t own the land, therefore no property tax. No HOA fees, since you are just a tenant. You paid your rent, and therefore entitled to use any service in the common area. You decide if you want to fix any leak or crack on your prefab. No maintanence fee to anybody. You rent the lot year around, and go there a number of months a year. Do you...
by crystals
18 Apr 2010 13:42
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Snowbird, stay put, or relocate
Replies: 114
Views: 12240

Re: Snowbird, stay put, or relocate

If you suffer from SAD at all, then don't retire to Vancouver or the BC interior. I would never consider BC due to its lack of sun in the 5 winter months. How does one know if he/she will or will not suffer SAD when he/she is in 60s-80s, if he/she didn't have SAD during 20s or 30s? Is it more of a clinical thing, or psychological thing? But the best place of all is HOME That's what they are searching for, a HOME. Option 1 allows them to have two places they might possibly call home. But that's expensive. Option 2 is more economical, but they will be vacationing a few months a year. Option 3 will be a home in warmer climate, but it's warm without the sun. As you get older, the winters get colder. That's probably true. But "global warmi...
by crystals
18 Apr 2010 09:52
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Snowbird, stay put, or relocate
Replies: 114
Views: 12240

Snowbird, stay put, or relocate

Mr. and Mrs. Novice lived in BC for a few years after immigrating to Canada. They moved to GTA almost 20 years ago because of jobs. They don’t like the cold winters in Ontario, but are getting used to it. A number of years away from retirement, they are thinking through the pros and cons of the following retirement plans, and would like to get input from you. Living in a new place may not be a problem. They don’t have extended family anywhere in Canada or US. They lost almost all contact from their earlier BC new immigrant life. Their social life network in GTA is mainly derived from people from work or from parents of kids’ schoolmates; these contacts will reduce/diminish when stop working and when kids are out. It’s too early to tell wher...
by crystals
04 Apr 2010 16:21
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Sustainable Withdrawal Rates
Replies: 609
Views: 101030

Re: Sustainable Withdrawal Rates

Ok, so we have Mr. Novice and Mrs. Novice. They want to know the premium they need at age 65 to purchase an annuity for joint life. Let's say they want to have $70K to spend anunally. (everything in today's dollar). They need $80k income before tax. ($15K each no tax, $25K each taxed at 20%). Let's say they have together $30K per year from OAS, CPP, and a fuly index pension. So they would like to get an annuity that gives them $50K per year indexed payout. That's $4167 per month payout from inflation-indexed annuity. Now use this table , a joint life for 65 year olds is about $540 per month for $100K premium. That means the couple need $77.2K premium to get a monthly payout of $4167. Now use the "discount the expected payout by 25% for...
by crystals
04 Apr 2010 12:54
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Sustainable Withdrawal Rates
Replies: 609
Views: 101030

Re: Sustainable Withdrawal Rates

Shakespeare wrote:Suppose she takes $100K of RRSP money and buys an annuity with a 10-year guarantee. http://www.canadianbusiness.com/my_mone ... /index.jsp says she can get $618.27/month from Manulife.
Are these annuity payout rates indexed to inflation?
If not, is there any tool I can use to find out how much premium I need to get an annuity which guarantees a certain indexed monthly income for life?
by crystals
03 Dec 2009 10:28
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Hot water: tank/on demand; gas/elec; buy/rent
Replies: 124
Views: 9808

Re: Hot water: tank/on demand; gas/elec; buy/rent

from Reliance 15. I recently purchased a new high efficiency furnace and my contractor tells me I should switch to a power vented water heater. Is this necessary? Sometimes. Because you’ve removed the major venting appliance, you must comply with the gas codes. If your chimney is in poor shape, or needs major restoration work, you may want to switch to a power vented water heater to avoid repair costs later. However, in most cases you may have the option of lining the chimney to accommodate the water heater only venting into the chimney. This means your lower rental rate will remain the same and you will continue to power your water heater without using electricity. 16. I’ve been told that power vented water heaters are high efficiency wate...
by crystals
02 Dec 2009 14:42
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Hot water: tank/on demand; gas/elec; buy/rent
Replies: 124
Views: 9808

Re: Hot water: tank/on demand; gas/elec; buy/rent

I'm paying $20.81/mo for my current rental. It's gas power vent 40 gallon. I was told it's a high efficiency model. I called Direct Energy Home Services twice. Two different agents gave me quotes on buying a replacement from Direct Energy. Same high efficiency , gas, power vent, 40 gallon. One quote was $1520+tax, the other quote was ~$1400+tax. I checked the price of buying out my rental when it's 0-1 years old, PV50 (50 US gallon, 40 gallon) is $1140+tax. So I asked if I could have Direct Energy to replace my rental with such a model, and then buy out within days of installation. I was told that's allowed. So if I take the easy route and use Direct Energy, that is what I'll do: replace and buy out. However, I still wonder if high efficien...
by crystals
29 Nov 2009 12:57
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Hot water: tank/on demand; gas/elec; buy/rent
Replies: 124
Views: 9808

water heater rental

Like majority of Ontario home owners, our water heater is rented. Ours is from Direct Energy Home Services. I pay $20.81/mo for a 40 gallon one . Our water heater is 14.5 years old. My home insurance provider told me that water heater rental companies are obligated to replace any water heater 13 years or older with a new one with no cost and no question asked. And if I don't get it replaced, my insurance will not cover any damage caused by it. My first reaction is: I never knew Direct Energy is supposed to replace my water header over a year ago, and felt cheated by Direct Energy. Then I started to investigate buy vs. rent. Almost every poster on the web says renting makes no economic sense. Some argue: we don't rent furnace or fridge, why ...
by crystals
17 May 2009 06:50
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Home Security: How do you secure your home?
Replies: 101
Views: 2204

Is there a motion sensor system that reacts with a dog barking sound?
by crystals
15 Apr 2009 20:19
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Travel Deals
Replies: 796
Views: 27698

http://www.conquestvacations.com/ Customers who have booked and paid for their future travel using a credit card, should contact their credit card issuing institution for a refund. I didn't book any package with Conquest, but what happened to Conquest (and Zoom, JetsGo, Canada 3000...) could happen to others too. I'm looking into booking a flight with Air Canada. AC has some significant seat sales now for some overseas flights. (Conquest had some really good deals in the past few days :( ). From past experience, booking directly on AC website is cheaper than booking with Expedia, iTraval etc. I'll pay by Visa. If AC goes under before my travel date (which will be ~120 days after booking), will I be reimbursed? According to Visa purchase pro...
by crystals
02 Apr 2009 09:38
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Kiyosaki
Replies: 30
Views: 6658

Any comment about "Rich Dad"?

In general, are those free investment/financial seminars, such as this one from Rich Dad, worth my time?
by crystals
26 Mar 2009 09:58
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: 2009 Ontario budget
Replies: 86
Views: 7190

I guess it won't be $1000 for income $159999 and $0 for income $160001. So moving your income from lightly over $160K to slightly under $160K probably won't make much difference.
by crystals
18 Mar 2009 16:29
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Talking Your Way into a Better Deal
Replies: 7
Views: 534

Called a CAA in Toronto, $9.50+tax for color. Consider I spent $6.95+tax 10 years ago for black and white. I'm happy with the price, so didn't ask Wal-mart.
by crystals
16 Mar 2009 08:50
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Talking Your Way into a Better Deal
Replies: 7
Views: 534

Hi everyone, where do you get inexpensive Canadian passport photos taken?
I got my last one from CAA 5 yrs ago, $13.99. I got my second last one from CAA as well, $6.95.
I'm not a member of Costco.
by crystals
21 Feb 2009 18:51
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Cell phones and phone plans 2005-2012 posts
Replies: 776
Views: 22937

A frugal middle class family bought an answer machine a few years ago when the husband was job hunting. He doesn't want to miss any phone call.

Another frugal person bought a prepaid cell phone for his recent job hunting, since the family land phone number is shared with non-English speaking family member.

Although emails are used a lot during job hunting process these days, but one always puts a phone number on a resume.