Search found 2330 matches

by Insomniac
14 Jul 2023 17:46
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: CBSA passport checks off the jetbridge returning to Canada. Frequency? Delays? Targeted/Random?
Replies: 3
Views: 412

Re: CBSA passport checks off the jetbridge returning to Canada. Frequency? Delays? Targeted/Random?

Yes, I experienced this on a flight from Beijing to Vancouver. This was many years ago. I believe they were looking for passengers without the proper ID (passport/visa). If they found anyone like that, they would not be allowed off the plane and they became the airline's problem. Anyway, they were not interested in a couple of Canadians returning home and we were waved through quickly.
by Insomniac
08 Jul 2023 22:16
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Property Tax
Replies: 44
Views: 17431

Re: Property Tax

It depends on what one wants. Tax base provides for better streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, bike paths, rec centres, lighting, plows, sanders, and a host of other things. One could live off the grid with no services at the other extreme for a very low tax rate. That's the promise. Reality is not the same. I lived in Langford before and after incorporation. The mayor's attitude was "the developers know what's best" and the muppet councillors gave him their votes. Langford is now "Surrey on the Island". Our increased taxes subsidised the developers and all we got was traffic congestion. Yuck! I really think public officials who made poor decisions like that should be punished for their misjudgment. Too many politicians...
by Insomniac
30 Jun 2023 19:10
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Happy Canada Day Weekend!
Replies: 16
Views: 659

Re: Happy Canada Day Weekend!

OK, you are forgiven.
by Insomniac
30 Jun 2023 18:17
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Happy Canada Day Weekend!
Replies: 16
Views: 659

Re: Happy Canada Day Weekend!

Yes! You can fly the flag this weekend without people thinking you are an anti-vax, freedom convoy supporter.

Lucky for me that my great grand parents came here looking for a better life.
by Insomniac
29 Jun 2023 09:43
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Property Tax
Replies: 44
Views: 17431

Re: Property Tax

Yes, the user fees are increasing so the authorities can say they are keeping taxes low.

We will soon be getting another user fee of about $300 added to our annual tax and fees bill. This is for garbage collection. A "staff report" says that the public service can do it better than the private service. So our local gov't is putting our current private contractor out of business. :x
by Insomniac
28 Jun 2023 13:22
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Recommendations (or warnings) on which bank to choose as my executor and POA?
Replies: 33
Views: 1387

Recommendations (or warnings) on which bank to choose as my executor and POA?

ScrapPaper wrote: 27 Jun 2023 19:00
(2) Do you have any recommendations (or warnings) on which bank to choose as my executor and POA? Their fee structures vary somewhat, and seem to be calculated in different ways, which I find hard to understand and compare. So it's going to be a tough choice for me, but one I must make quite quickly. If anyone has been through this decision process themselves, I'd welcome your insights and suggestions. If there's no big difference between the 5, then what was your deciding factor?
Can no one answer this?

Split from Best Bank Account for Seniors -- admin
by Insomniac
27 Jun 2023 16:24
Forum: Retirement, Pensions and Peace of Mind
Topic: Directing How Your Inheritance Is Used?
Replies: 13
Views: 1149

Re: Directing How Your Inheritance Is Used?

What about using a Testamentary Trust?
by Insomniac
25 Jun 2023 22:59
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: Possible downsides of condo ownership
Replies: 15
Views: 1765

Re: Possible downsides of condo ownership

Lots of info on this web site for you to read. The condo smarts columns are particularly interesting:

https://choa.bc.ca/resources/newspaper-columns/
by Insomniac
24 Jun 2023 15:48
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Best Credit Card (2021 - 2025)
Replies: 515
Views: 33150

Re: Best Credit Card (2021 - 2025)

The Alaska (MBNA) Mastercard gave you an annual companion fare deal and free checked bags. That's gone now.

Alaska is a reliable air line. Best way to fly out of YYJ, IMO.
by Insomniac
24 Jun 2023 15:42
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Cellphones 2023 and onwards [and plans]
Replies: 87
Views: 5411

Re: Cellphones 2023 and onwards [and plans]

I bought my wife a Nokia phone using the KaiOS. It's like an old school phone. Very easy to use. Has buttons! No Apple! no Android!

https://www.kaiostech.com/explore/devices/
by Insomniac
22 Jun 2023 20:00
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: Best Credit Card (2021 - 2025)
Replies: 515
Views: 33150

Re: Best Credit Card (2021 - 2025)

Letter in the snail mail today from MBNA. My MBNA Best Western Platinum Plus Mastercard will be replaced by a MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard in September.

Don't really care about the Best Western * part although we used the points we had accumulated on a road trip to California earlier this year. Got 2 free nights at BW Plus hotels and a half price rate at another.

Big change is in the insurance. No more Rental car coverage or other travel insurance. All they are providing now is mobile device insurance.

I want the travel insurance especially the rental car coverage without paying an annual fee. So, l suppose it's time to look for another card.

* Looks like the Alaska Airlines card is no longer available too.
by Insomniac
13 Jun 2023 15:49
Forum: Under the Mattress: Protecting Your Money
Topic: High interest savings, GICs and MMFs (2023)
Replies: 1056
Views: 87814

Re: High interest savings, GICs and MMFs (2023)

Unwise wrote: 13 Jun 2023 14:24 Yes, the F series from Scotia are also available at Qtrade.
Yes, no problem buying F series at QTrade. If you try to buy the A series, a "please call us" message pops up and the trade does not go through. I suppose that if you call, they will help you understand the difference and make the right choice.
by Insomniac
13 Jun 2023 15:39
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: Transfering funds at Maturity
Replies: 4
Views: 579

Re: Transfering funds at Maturity

It's possible that BMO may put a hold on the funds. It's in your account, but you cannot transfer it out for 3 to 5 days. However, since the money is going to BMOIL, the hold may be waived. (I'm not a BMO/BMOIL customer, so I don't know for sure)
by Insomniac
11 Jun 2023 22:34
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Good and/or Underrated Movies and TV shows
Replies: 2489
Views: 97892

Re: Good and/or Underrated Movies and TV shows

We are watching two French series Tropiques Criminels and Astrid et Raphaelle. The Google translated subtitles are not very good. The series may be shown on an English network with decent subtitles some day; the early series are available. Of course, there is no guarantee that the current series will be picked up.

I'm hoping that AI will lead to better subtitles.
by Insomniac
30 May 2023 13:12
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Electric Cars
Replies: 601
Views: 39601

Re: Electric Cars

Now coming up to the second anniversary of the purchase of our Lexus hybrid. We are happy with it - so far no issues at all.

Our car has the V6 hybrid and it's fast. While driving down to California in January, I had to remind my wife to slow down. She was occasionally doing over 90 mph in 70 mph zones on the freeway. Luckily, we didn't get a ticket.

I figure that we save about 3 litres / 100 km over the Acura we traded in. So, maybe saving $700 / year in fuel. Whatever.
by Insomniac
25 May 2023 12:52
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: What are you doing just in case the US defaults?
Replies: 22
Views: 1321

Re: What are you doing just in case the US defaults?

Reminds me of the "fiscal cliff" fiaso. I bought same VFV at a bargain price. :thumbsup:

This time I'm doing nothing.
by Insomniac
20 May 2023 23:27
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: flying in comfort - business class?
Replies: 82
Views: 3897

Re: flying in comfort - business class?

Travelling first class with Alaska isn't that great. However, not having to sit next to a potentially oversized stranger in undersized seats makes the extra cost worth it.

Alaska's lounge is not a first class lounge. They let anyone with an Alaska credit card in so it can be more pleasant to wait in the departure lounge. I need to find out if you can use an Alaska first class ticket to get into a real first class lounge with a "partner" airline.
by Insomniac
03 May 2023 00:20
Forum: Property: Owning, Renting, Managing, Investing and Mortgaging
Topic: How much has your home insurance risen?
Replies: 170
Views: 45309

Re: How much has your home insurance risen?

Still shopping around and getting more info. It seems that cost of earthquake coverage has nearly tripled. That's if you can get it as some companies are no longer offering it at all. They are also estimating construction costs are up 30%. Materials and labour are both up. No kidding - I bought a sheet of plywood and some lumber a few days ago - ouch! So, I'm giving up on the earthquake coverage. My mortgage co required it but my mortgage was paid off years ago so I'm not forced to buy it. Even if I bought it, the deductible would have been about $75K. I have reinforced the floor with steel plates where the columns meet the beams. Brick decorative facing and chimney is vulnerable. I could replace the brick facing with Hardie Plank. The chim...
by Insomniac
30 Apr 2023 11:56
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Calgary Arena
Replies: 13
Views: 709

Re: Calgary Arena

So... Edmonton fans will be subsidising Calgary fans. :lol:

(I shouldn't laugh since all BC taxpayers will be subsidising Surreys police force :( )
by Insomniac
27 Apr 2023 19:17
Forum: Financial Planning and Building Portfolios
Topic: General Pension Options
Replies: 15
Views: 1148

Re: General Pension Options

The "level" option means the pension goes down at 65 when presumably your CPP starts.
by Insomniac
27 Apr 2023 11:55
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: File before strike!
Replies: 73
Views: 4069

Re: File before strike!

adrian2 wrote: 27 Apr 2023 11:53
AltaRed wrote: 27 Apr 2023 10:10 The computers are immune to human failings.
Wait until the computers get unionized! :twisted:
In many cases, gov't IT services are contracted out to private companies. Don't know if that's the case here but I wouldn't be surprised.
by Insomniac
25 Apr 2023 17:11
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: Question about instalments
Replies: 54
Views: 2572

Re: Question about instalments

deleted - not relevant to OP's question
by Insomniac
21 Apr 2023 15:37
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Working From Home
Replies: 43
Views: 2159

Re: Working From Home

20 years ago I pushed our company to allow WFH. The union was dead set against it*. Now we have a union demanding it. What a difference a pandemic makes.

*The union was worried that workers would not take required breaks, do not have ergonomically correct workstations at their home, the boss would be calling them at home, it would be unfair to those who can't work at home since they don't have high speed internet, it would be unfair to those who have to be at the office such as receptionists and executive secretaries, ... :roll:
by Insomniac
19 Apr 2023 12:12
Forum: Community Centre
Topic: Google Chrome
Replies: 205
Views: 8088

Re: Google Chrome

From the same article:
Users who run other Chromium-based web browsers should pay attention to updates for their browsers, as these are also affected by the security issue. Expect updates for Edge, Brave and other browsers soon.
by Insomniac
18 Apr 2023 10:48
Forum: Taxing Situations
Topic: File before strike!
Replies: 73
Views: 4069

Re: File before strike!

In writing from CRA on my NOA:
To avoid additional interest charges please pay by May 2, 2023.