Jan 31, 2009
The 2009 Budget - not enough job/green incentives
Jan 26, 2009
Jan 24, 2009
Israel-Hamas Situation
Jan 23, 2009
our planet - environmental impact
Oil Sands development - a serious problem
Apparently, producing a barrel of oil from oil sands produces 3 times the amount of greenhouse gases than from conventional methods.
Mining companies can take over your property
Apparently, this Ontario law was set at the turn or the 20th century and no one has forced a change ... yet.
PeakSaver PLUS and Energy Display
There is now a link to the PowerCost Monitor setup site.
I used it to set up our electrical energy use monitor. Follow the screen-by-screen instructions for each setting and be sure to include Sat/Sun as off-peak.
The monitor is quite useful for determining impact of an appliance (old freezer, fridge, clothes dryer, computer, etc).
13.11.19: Peaksaver PLUS and Energy Display
In Ontario, there is a program that will install a free Peaksaver PLUS thermostat (illuminated screen) in your home and provide a PowerCost Monitor.
Powerstream has included this Peaksaver PLUS offering under its Energy Management tab.
Caveat, if you have the original Peaksaver installed, they will NOT provide the newer illuminated model ... unless your thermostat is somehow broken...
Be sure you have a couple of hours available, before calling your power supplier.
Update - quite easy via the online setup above.
09.01.23: With your permission, PowerStream will install (at no cost) a programmable thermostat that allows them to briefly reduce the central air conditioning electricity usage during 'critical' peak use times – typically weekday afternoons during the hottest days of the summer, but not on holidays or weekends.
Brave New Films
Blocking Telemarketing calls
There is now a way to stop those annoying phone calls.
Go to the National Do Not Call List and register your phone number. It blocks your number for three (3) years.
While it is not known if mobile phones can/will be effected, it is probably a good idea to include your cell phone number as well.
TFSAs
Six Reasons to Contribute to The New Tax Free Savings Account (TSFA)
Although the benefits of the TSFA will be small in the short term, the long term benefits can be very significant. And here are 6 reasons why.
1. It makes good sense to open up a TSFA even if you do not make an immediate contribution to it. When you open an account your contribution room will be allowed to accumulate and if you have the money at a later date you will have the room to move it into the account. As an example, if you opened up a plan but did not make a contribution for 10 years at that time you would have over $50,000 room to shelter a one time windfall or extra cash that might be available when the mortgage is paid off or the house was sold.
2.The contribution limit is $5,000 per annum regardless of any amounts contributed to an RRSP/RPP. Those individual who have maxed out contributions to their pension plan and their RRSPs can still contribute to the TSFA.
3.Another great feature of the TFSA is that earnings within the account and withdrawals do not affect income-tested benefits such as the Canada Child Tax Benefit or Guaranteed Income Supplement. RRSP withdrawals can result in losing the Guaranteed Income Supplement and impacting the OAS clawback. While the benefits of a RRSP are debatable for low-income earners, the TFSA will provide the tax deferral benefits of a RRSP without any of the drawbacks.
4.The $5,000 limit is indexed to the CPI and will increase in multiples of $500. For example, if inflation goes up by 3% a year, after 10 years inflation will be 34% higher and the annual contribution by that time will have grown to $6,500.
5.Amounts can be withdrawn at any time and any amounts withdrawn can be subsequently re-contributed. For example lets suppose that the TSFA grew to $30,000. You could withdraw it , and then you will have $30,000 contribution room that you can put back into the plan in the future.
6. Over the years for an individual contributing to a TSFA with a combination of rising contribution level, and tax free compounding on the assets can build up sizable TSFA that can then be withdrawn with no taxes to be paid. If we assume an 8% return and 3% inflation rate and maximum contribution, after 10 years the annual contribution will then be $6,500 and the size of the TSFA will be $98,000. After 20 years, the annual contribution room is now $9,000 and the amount in the plan is $330,000. The $330,000 is earning income tax free. The full amount could be taken out or any partial amount could be taken out with no tax penalty.
Extracted from Second Opinion.
planning the Christmas party
Explaining the USA economic situation
Cook Islands native song
Recycle sites
This DOWHATYOUCAN site will help you identify where you can take the following: