Film buff? Or spent too much on late fees?
Videomatica dvd’s by mail is your answer. Packages start at $11.95/month. The website doesn’t disclose the exact pricing, because there are so many permutations and combinations possible, but users say it’s a super steal.
We know when it comes to travel “free is good” and since many of of our clients are big fans of Westjet, we are offering $10 Petro Canada gift cards for every Westjet ticket booked. Just go to our home page at www.informedtraveller.com., find the Westjet link, and book your flight. Then email us the information of your flight and where you want us to send that gift card!
In the end, a number of changes happened over several weeks so that plan got re-worked entirely. I did ease my financial situation and create breathing space for myself, however, I was able to do that using only a portion of my RRSPs rather than paying off my whole debt entirely from RRSPs.
I decided to split the debt load by redeeming half the total in RRSPs in Dec/06, intending to redeem the other half in Jan/07. This was because I wanted to split the tax burden across 2 taxation years, otherwise I would’ve had all that “income” added to my 2006 earnings and would have paid more tax in the end. I redeemed the 1 st half in December as planned & applied it to my debt.
Over the Christmas/New Year break, it became apparent to me that my partner and I were conceivably going to begin living together in the coming months. Add to that the knowledge by the end of March my next contract was coming up for renewal with the possibility for a salary increase (basic cost of living) and the potential for some contract work was floating around out there too. When I speculated on all of this I realized that these things were all significant enough changes that I might not need to redeem my RRSPs to pay off the 2 nd half of my debt load.
I decided I would wait for a few weeks to see how all of it panned out before I made any decisions. Simply lowering my debt by half had already created some much needed breathing room. I decided I would use one of Nancy’s suggestions to withdraw the amount of my minimum debt payment out of my RRSPs each month, rather than all in one chunk, giving me freed up cashflow in my bank account and letting my RRSPs work for me as they continued to earn interest until I needed to withdraw them. That meant if anything improved through the year, I might not end up taking all the money from my RRSPs.
As it turned out, an improvement in the position at my full-time job, together with some increases in pay and other benefits on my contract were more than I anticipated, then my partner and I did end up moving in together (thereby greatly diminishing my monthly living expenses for things like rent, utilities, etc that we now share) and additionally, I got an unexpected outside contract that allowed me to earn extra unexpected income (my last blog entry). This all amounted to a substantial improvement in my financial situation that should have me out of debt before the end of this year without having to use any further RRSP monies. HALLELUJAH!!!!
From an investment standpoint it was not ideal to redeem the RRSPs, although the psychological payoff has been HUGE. The amount on the statement for my line of credit (my one & only debt) is quite manageable when I look at it now. Plus, watching it diminish as I make monthly payments triple or quadruple the size of what I was previously able to manage before all of this change happened, is VERY rewarding. I’ve also quadrupled the amount of savings I was setting aside and contributing to an investment club as well - also in amounts higher than anticipated.
So as I said in an earlier blog, “Shift Happens” and thanks heavens for that, what a total morale booster!
You’re a debt-phobe, he’s got ten credit cards maxed out.
You’re a saver, she’s a spender.
You think life is to be lived, he thinks the cheap bottle of wine is just fine.
What do you do when you and your partner have strong differences around money?
This is a tough issue, and it can take years to create a financial M.O. that both parties can live with.
Here are some ways to start working as a team.
1. Take heart. Different ways of handling money can lead to a stronger economic unit than two people who have similar vulnerabilities. Differences usually include different strengths. Forging an M.O. based on differing strengths can ultimately be more successful than two spendthrifts who get along well, as they sink financially.
2. Let go of judgment. When our partner’s financial conduct is threatening to us (and let’s face it: our financial well-being is extremely close to the bone!), it’s easy to point angry fingers. While understandable, this entrenches each person into the position of Judge versus Wrongdoer. The tension is exacerbated, and diminishes the chances of growing together as a financial team.
Try this. At a time and place when you are each relaxed, engage in a judgement-free exploration of each other’s financial behaviour. What drives them? Did your partner’s family lose everything, so now she is unwilling to risk a penny? Or perhaps did one grow up with a lot of money but a lot of bitterness, so now ‘material possessions’ seem empty and undesirable? Very likely, you will discover something that you can relate to, and your temptation to judge will be tempered by understanding and compassion. From there, you can consider possible solutions to your conflicts.
3. As a couple, write out the strengths (yes, the strengths) the other person brings to the table. This can be challenging depending on how far down the road you are, but give it your very best try – as long as you can be sincere. Share your list with your partner, then together, write a combined list of your strengths as a couple. This exercise is based on the business principles of “Appreciative Inquiry,” ie., building on strengths is more effective than repair-based models of organizational improvement. Let there be some joint positive energy around this. Celebrate your combined strengths. Place the list where you both can see it. Elicit the best from one another.
This may not be an easy path to negotiate. It touches on our basic survival instincts - our ‘rice bowl’, as Steven Covey puts it. It will call for diplomacy, patience, forgiveness and courage - at the times we seem least to have them. Have hope. Consider these exercises a beginning point towards forging yourselves into a money team. You may need extra resources - a couples’ counselor, a seminar on conflict resolution, and above all, time. Avail yourselves of them! Money, like so many other aspects of relationship, can ultimately become a place of confidence, safety and even intimacy together, with dedicated attention and care.
TORONTO, ONTARIO–(CCNMatthews - April 27, 2007) - Coach Canada, one of the largest motor coach operators in Canada, is slashing prices to offer super low fares between Toronto and Montreal. With available one- way fares as low as $10 plus taxes through the www.coachcanada.com website, passengers can begin booking on April 28th for departures as early as May 8, 2007.
Here’s a great new deal: 800-FREE-411 is a free way to call 411 without the $1 charge! The only downside is you have to listen to a 20 second commercial but I think it’s worth it!
Thanks, Lisa - www.evolvingfashion.ca
Buffy - each season now on sale for $29.99, FutureShop.
Stargate - each season (1-4) now $18.99 (usually $44.99) at Future Shop.
Future shop - rock bottom price on Flash Drives - $49.99 (usually at least double this). Kingston. 4GB.
Thanks for the tip, Sarah, SM Computers!
