Posted on March 19th, 2010 by DebtAway
I wear 6” heels every day to work. Before you jump on me for the future damage to my feet, ankles, and legs, hear me out.
I’m short and my leg to torso proportion closely resembles a crossbred Welsh corgi and a dachshund. I buy petite short pants… and have them hemmed.
Sure, I could ‘accept my God given shape’, ‘celebrate my uniqueness’, and believe all the other feel good sayings my mother told me OR… I could wear really, really, really tall shoes and live in denial.
Denial is the name of my game.
I never thought tall shoes would save me money until my co-workers started to ask me to accompany them to lunch. With the fantastic food offerings of downtown San Diego, it’s impossible to pass up… unless you can’t walk. It’s easy to say no when walking more than three steps causes me to beg God to take me from this earth and save me from pain.
So, I kick off my shoes, put on my slippers, and toast a sandwich.
Before you insult that lady a work with the ridiculous shoes, remember… she may be saving money… or maybe she’s self-conscious about her tiny legs… or maybe it’s both.
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Posted on March 18th, 2010 by Canadian Capitalist
- The Star profiled the five venture capitalists — Jim Treliving, Kevin O’Leary, Arlene Dickinson, Robert Herjavec and Brett Wilson — who appear on CBC’s popular show, Dragon’s Den. I found Brett Wilson, who is projected as a dragon with a heart on the show to have the most colourful profile. Mr. Wilson depiction of Mr. O’Leary as the “moronic outlier of capitalism” is also spot on.
- Spain’s debt problems might trigger a perilous second phase of the global financial crisis, weakening the Euro, dragging down economic growth and spread the contagion to other large economies like Italy, says this report on Knowledge @ Wharton.
- Should you refinance your mortgage early to take advantage of today’s low rates, especially with BMO and CIBC offering competitive five-year fixed rates? Rob Carrick crunched the numbers and reported his findings.
- Canadian Couch Potato explained how to divide your portfolio between RRSP, TFSA and taxable accounts. You can always rearrange your portfolio at any time but if you want to avoid tax headaches, you are better off locating the assets properly in the first place.
- Larry MacDonald draws attention to a frequently overlooked tax credit — the disability tax credit.
- Canadian Personal Finance blog draws attention to a two recent interviews featuring Harry Markopolos, who blew the whistle on Madoff long before the Ponzi scheme unravelled.
- Mike from Four Pillars debates whether a zero-based budgeting system, where you track every penny of your income and expense is worth his time.
- Michael James grapples with a rent-versus-buy decision for his hot water heater. Years ago, I decided that it makes much more sense for us to just buy the water heater outright as well.
- Superbad advice is an entertaining new website on the seamier parts of the investment industry. In a recent post, the author who goes by the moniker Gordo wonders why fund managers go on TV offering stock pick advice.
- Million Dollar Journey finds out how capital gains within a corporation are taxed.
- Ending the Rat Race offers his take on choosing between a RRSP and a TFSA.
- It is not exactly a secret that they are a cash cow but it’s surprising how profitable extended warranties are.
- Gail Vaz-Oxlade wonders if many investors who are leveraging to invest have Clue One about the risks they are taking.
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This and That: Dragon Profiles, the Pain in Spain and More… is brought to you by Canadian Capitalist — Helping you to invest & prosper.
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Posted on March 18th, 2010 by MoneyBlogger
Dealing with a serious illness in the family is a very stressful event. I did not really understand the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) until recently, and I think everyone should be familiar with it. This law helps ensure that no worker is forced to choose between a job and his or her health or family’s needs.
In general, if you work for a business with 50 or more employees and have worked with their for at least a year, then the FMLA requires them to allow you up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave within a 12-month period in the following situations:
- to care for a new child, whether for the birth of a son or daughter, or for the adoption or placement of a child in foster care;
- to care for a seriously-ill family member (spouse, child or parent);
- to recover from a worker’s own serious illness;
- to care for an injured servicemember in the family; or
- to address qualifying exigencies arising out of a family member’s deployment.
Individual states have enacted laws that reduce the minimum business size and also expand the eligible family members, for example to include domestic partners or grandparents. The Wikipedia FMLA page offers a good summary.
Many employers will not volunteer this information to you, as it often puts them in uncomfortable and costly positions due to having to find temporary replacements and also holding your job for you. They may even put up resistance to it. Definitely read up on this law and know your rights.
If you feel you have experienced a violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor. Contacting a lawyer who works in that area would also be wise, especially if you seek damages.
What about health insurance benefits during unpaid leave?
Under the FMLA, an employer must maintain the employee’s existing level of coverage (including family or dependent coverage) under a group health plan during the period of FMLA leave, provided the employee pays his or her share of the premiums.
More reading
U.S. Department of Labor
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 Fact Sheet
National Partnership for Women & Families
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Posted on March 18th, 2010 by Canadian Capitalist
In response to a recent post on auto and home insurance premiums going up in Ontario, Cindy, who buys her insurance through the Co-Operators, commented that her auto insurance premiums went up by 9.6 percent and home insurance went up by 22 percent. When she called, there was little the insurance company could do about the auto premiums but Cindy found that Co-Operators offered a 24 percent discount on home insurance if there was no mortgage on the home. As Cindy had recently paid off her mortgage, she qualified for the discount.
Turns out, Co-Operators is not alone. When I called our insurance provider — Belair Direct — to inquire about a discount on home insurance for a paid-off home, I was told that Belair’s discount on home insurance for a mortgage-free home is 15 percent. It’s a good bet that your insurance company may also offer a similar discount. A paid-off home is a giant step forward in achieving financial independence. Who knew that holding that mortgage burning party has side perks such as a discount on your home insurance?
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Mortgage Free? Ask for a discount on your home insurance is brought to you by Canadian Capitalist — Helping you to invest & prosper.
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Posted on March 18th, 2010 by DebtAway
A friend of mine got married this weekend. He and his beautiful new bride, despite desires to keep up with the lavish weddings of friends, held a small wedding with a cheese and cracker reception. Instead of spending money on a one day celebration, they invested their money into a home.
When my husband and I married, money was no option. Meaning, my parents and I had no money – so spending it wasn’t an option. Somehow, my parents and my husband’s parents made our wedding feel like a grand affair. Maybe it was because they chose to emphasize the celebration aspect and skip the uber competitive stuffed chicken dinner with seafood appetizers and an open bar.
I loved our wedding. It was beautiful – without a huge price tag.
I’ve been to a LOT of weddings over the last few years. All were high priced sit down dinners with open bars – no doubt, they were fun. My friend who married on Sunday was the first to say no to keeping up with the Joneses.
How much did you spend on your wedding? Was it the right amount? Too much? Too little?
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