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What are the advantages and disadvantages of leasing out a property or part of a property (such as a basement apartment)?
Getting on the property ladder: mortage, downpayment, fees? [UK]
i.e. is there a way to "normalize" value and future-value of compensation components such as: annual bonus, commission, pension contribution, health benefits, vacation days, company car, etc. so that when evaluating offers, I am comparing apples-to-apples?
When negotiating a compensation package with a prospective new employer, how can I determine what element is worth more?
*[**Moderator note:** A [similar question][1] was recently asked with respect to Canada. This is an important enough question warranting treatment for the U.S. as well.]* How much is college / university projected to cost in the U.S. in 18 years? If somebody were to start saving today for their young child (e.g. 1...
How much is college / university projected to cost in the U.S. in 18 years?
My husband and I signed up for a Flex Spending Account for the first time this past year. We've got about $100 left over now, in mid-November, and I've been told that money will disappear if we don't use it by the end of the year. I don't anticipate needing any visits to the doctor, and I know it can be used for othe...
How can we use up our Flex Spending Account (FSA) before the end of the year?
This is the second time in the last couple of weeks that I'm seeing the following error from [PayPal][1]. (Note: I've deliberately hidden the name of the merchant at the top.) ![PayPal error image: "You cannot use a credit card for this transaction. Please use another funding source."][2] > "You cannot use this ...
Is it true that poor decisions you make now can affect you for up to seven years? Can they negatively-affect one beyond then? What are some steps one could take to repair the damage?
What is the best way to go about cleaning up a poor credit rating?
My husband and I are both impulse buyers - not a good pair now that our combined income has been reduced! How do you stop yourself from making an impulse purchase? I need some help to improve our spending habits.
What are some tips to help avoid impulse-buying?
Leave your money at home? I don't carry cash therefore if I make a purchase I make it on plastic and have to explain myself to my spouse. It isn't that either of us is particularly brutal about it, but we have agreed that neither of us wants to waste money we don't have. The downside to my plan is that the guilt...
10 years in some states in the US. Also, items don't ever leave your credit report, but time will improve your credit score. Repair the damage? First find the damage. In the US you are entitled by law to a credit report from each of the bureaus once a year. Some folks get them all at once, some people get one ev...
For me, it would be hard to leave all forms of money at home (cash, credit card, debit card.) There are times when you simply need to have money on hand. But, here's a simple idea I have that lets you bring your cards with you, yet still puts up a hurdle to curb impulse buying. 1. Get a sheet of paper, scissors, ...
My wife and I are considering buying a home theater - plasma TV & new stereo - on Black Friday this year. We do have the cash for it, but Best Buy is offering 0% financing for up to 3 years on its store credit card. We both have excellent credit and 0% financing is almost like free money since money today is worth ...
Should I finance a new home theater at 0% even though I have the cash for it?
Complexity has mentioned some good points. I'd also like to add on the downsides: **It's not that easy to get rid of a tenant!** Imagine if your tenant passed your background check with flying colors but *then* turned out to be the tenant from hell... How would you resolve the situation? If the thought of th...
I've heard that it's never a good idea to go with payment protection plans offered by credit card companies. Is this true?
Can you provide more information about your goals for the money? If you're in the USA and looking to retire in 10 years, put it in your Social Security taxes? Okay, so that might not be $300/week exactly, but...
If you're in the USA and looking to retire in 10 years, pay your Social Security taxes? :P Just kidding. Do a search for [Fixed Rate Annuities][1]. [1]: http://www.google.com/search?q=fixed+rate+annuities
When shopping for big budget items like TV's and appliances, the resellers (e.g. Best Buy, FutureShop) will often sell an extended warranty that covers the product well beyond the manufacturer's warranty. Is this worth spending the money?
When buying expensive electronics is it worth getting the extended warranty?
A questoin that I deal with almost every day. Like most investments it comes down to.....What is the purpose for this money? If it is truly a rainy day savings account that you may need in the short term, then fixed income investments like savings accounts, GIC's, Bonds, Bond funds and Fixed Income ETF's are ideal as...
And where can I find out what companies offer them? Are there good resources for information on these plans?
How exactly do dividend reinvestment plans work?
I think [Wikipedia][1] offers a very good explanation: > A dividend reinvestment program or dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) is an equity investment option offered directly from the underlying company. The investor does not receive quarterly dividends directly as cash; instead, the investor's dividends are directly...
Charging interest by non financial institutions is [allowable][1]. There is only one definition of illegal or criminal interest and this is regarding loan sharks. [Section 347][2] of the Canadian Criminal Code makes it illegal to charge more than 60% annually. The biggest debate was whether or not "pay day" lo...
The holiday season is just around the corner. The shopping malls are especially eager – Christmas trees, lights, and decorations have been up for weeks, all to get us in the mood to *spend*, *spend*, *spend*. :-) With this special time of year comes a special budget: Many of us buy gifts for friends and lov...
What are some tips & tricks to avoid going deep into debt during the holiday season?
CBC News (in Canada) just posted an interesting article, and part of it addresses this question well: Excerpt from [Personal Finance: Your credit rating: **How and why you should check it out**][1]: > ... > **What's a credit score? And why is it so important?** Basically, it's a > mathematical formula that ...
Would I be better off with Rotman, Richard Ivey, Queens, etc. or an online MBA school such as Fredericton?
Thinking of doing an MBA: Is 80K top MBA school better than 24K online MBA school?
My wife and I made a pact with each other and my side of the family years ago that Christmas should not be about the commercialism or material things. It should be about the togetherness. So we all agreed that it's best to focus on what the holiday season is really about instead of getting sucked into consumerism. ...
I don't buy presents,except for the children, Then as Christmas eve approaches and I feel guiltier and guiltier, having nightmares about it and losing sleep...................I finally cave in and buy for all my adult children and their spouses and even adult nieces and nephews.......................by the time my Xmas...
I know someone who was recently asked to co-sign a hefty loan by a family member. I don't know what I'd do if I was put in the same position as the one asked. What are the risks? What are things to consider? Would you recommend co-signing, and under which circumstances?
Should you co-sign a personal loan for a friend/family member? Why/why not?
My personal rule is to not loan money (or co-sign) for any amount that I am not willing to give away. It can go wrong in so many ways, and having a family or friend involved means making a "business" decision is difficult. If a bank won't loan the person the money, why should I? Being a co-signer is the same as bo...
To take a higher level view of this, consider the warranty as buying insurance. They want to sell you the warranty because there's profit in it for them over the aggregate of all the warranties they sell. So ask yourself, would having to replace this item out of your own pocket cause you a significant financial bur...
As a form of investment there are contracts to buy commodities at a specific time in the future or at a specific price. How is this different from an option to buy a share?
What are futures and how are they different from options?
If I am not going to trade in my car what are other good options to convert it into cash?
What's the best way to get rid of an old car?
I've heard that giving allowance is one approach to develop an understanding of money management. What other ways are available to teach kids about the benefits of savings?
What are good games to play to teach young children about saving?
I've been to childrens' birthday parties that clearly cost in excess of $500 when the price of the venue, activity, food, cake and loot bags are factored in. I don't want to spend a lot in order to ensure my child feels like a million bucks on her special day. What are some ways that you can throw a great kids party ...
How do you make sure your child's birthday party doesn't break the bank?
I feel like I'm constantly buying clothes, shoes, boots, jackets, hats, etc. for my kids, because they grow so fast! I try to re-use via hand-me-downs, but are there other ways I could be saving money so more of what we earn goes towards our savings rather than towards items of clothing that are worn for just a few mo...
How do you save money on clothes and shoes for your family?
I would go with the 2nd option (put down as little as possible) with a small caveat: avoid the mortgage insurance if you can and put down 20%. Holding your rental property(ies)'s mortgage has some benefits: 1. You can write off the mortgage interest. In Canada you cannot write off the mortgage interest from your...
What are good games to play to teach young children about saving money?
Thinking of doing an MBA: Is an $80K top MBA school better than a $24K online MBA school?
How exactly do dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) work?
If I currently have shares in a company that has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection what impact does this have on me? Does this mean the shares stop trading? If the company successfully emerges from Chapter 11 do the shares get re-instated or are they now worthless?
What does Chapter 11 Bankruptcy mean to an investor hold shares of a Chapter 11 Company?
What does Chapter 11 Bankruptcy mean to an investor holding shares of a Chapter 11 Company?
TV and the web are filled with ads promising to give you a free copy of your credit report. Unfortunately, instead of being wholly free, they are actually free trials, which means: 1. You only get them for free once 2. You have to enter a credit card number 3. You have to opt out of a bunch of crap services yo...
How can one get their FICO/credit scores for free? (really free)
What's the best way to get cash for an old car?
What are good ways to save on maintenance/fuel and prolong the life of a car?
What is a good way to save money on car expenses?
Can you tell I'm having fun with this question? Here's [another great list][1], from Finally Frugal, which includes the above items, but also these gems: > **Avoid idling**. Now, this just annoys me. Walking past a line of idling cars at the transit center waiting for their human 'pickup', makes me crazy! It makes ...
Are there gadgets I can buy which can help me measure consumption and reduce use? What are some good habits I can get my family into starting to help reduce our costs?
How can I reduce my home's monthly electricity and water expenses?
My family plays a lot of video games (PS3 and Nintendo DSi) - are there cheaper alternatives to buying the games new? Library service of sorts? Wishful th
Are there any services/sites/organizations/clubs at which video games can be traded?
To reduce your residental water usage, you can – in rough order of cheap to more expensive – perform any or all of the following upgrades: - **Fix that leaking toilet!** Usually a new flapper is all that's required. - **Install low-flow aerators** for your kitchen and bathroom faucets. Chances are...
According the the [Canadian-US income tax treaty][1] this varies depending on the type of investment but the maximum is 15%. This can normally be claimed as a tax credit up to the maximum of 15%. If a company is withholding more tax than this it is possible to apply for a [reimbursement ][2] of the difference: >Ca...
Even in a bad market, over 30 years won't the value of Real Estate always go up? Is it always a sure bet? If not, what should an investor or buyer consider?
Is Real Estate ever a BAD investment? If so, when?
For instance, I've heard that there is a minimum 75% return-on-investment ("ROI") on bathroom and kitchen renovations - is that an accurate figure? What about the other rooms in my home? Are there rooms that just aren't worth upgrading? What are upgrades "gone bad", i.e. what mistakes should be avoided, in order...
What ROI is my return upon resale, depending on type of Home Renovation I do?
No, it can really not. Look at Detroit, which has lost a million residents over the past few decades. There is plenty of real estate which will not go for anything like it was sold. Other markets are very risky, like Florida, where speculators drive too much of the price for it to be stable. You have to be sure to b...
Real estate is always an interesting dynamic. In most cases prices have always gone up. Price is mainly a function of demand. Sometimes demand is artificially inflated over a short term period and can come down quickly due to corrections. During recessions the housing market will usually slow down. There are s...
My family plays a lot of video games (PS3 and Nintendo DSi) - are there cheaper alternatives to buying the games new? Library service of sorts? Wishful thinking?
What is my % return on investment for various home renovations upon resale of my house?
What tips and tricks do people use to keep the cost of banking down?
How can I save on banking charges?
I think these numbers are very location specific. Those house flipper tv shows loved to toss them out because they make great graphics, but they are nonetheless subjective. The only way I know how to guess the value of your home is to get comps. (What similar homes in your local region sold for recently, withing a...
I'm building a family budget. What is a realistic and reasonable amount to set aside each week for "entertainment/misc."?
How much have you been spending? I took that number and shaved a bit off so it would be a challenge but not impossible to obtain. I also tried not to limit my kid's fun because I want to save money. In out house, for our area and our idea of fun, we budget almost $200/month. That really might not do for a large...
Real estate is always an interesting dynamic. In most cases prices have always gone up. Price is mainly a function of demand. Sometimes demand is artificially inflated over a short term period and can come down quickly due to corrections. During recessions the housing market will usually slow down. There are s...
What are good tips/tricks for keeping cell phone costs low?
For instance, I'm certain that Shopper's Drugmart in Ontario, Canada does not manufacture its own shampoo, conditioner, diapers, tissue, kitchen spray, room deodorizer, etc. for its "Life Brand" products. I'd like to try some of these but am interested in who is behind-the-scenes. Does anyone know of such a lis...
Does there exist a website that lists manufacturer of generic, store-brand items?
Is it financially-beneficial (tax-wise) for couples to be married, or to remain common-law, in Canada?
I should be managing my retirement money better and one problem is the number of accounts I have... (4)... Would it be better for me to consolidate and what's involved in doing so??
What's the best way to manage all the 401K accounts I've accumulated from my past jobs??
There have been numerous "for sale by owner" signs appearing recently. This seems like a convenient way to reduce the commission charged by Real Estate agents but I have heard that this is still a "closed" market unless one already has a buyer lined up (like a friend or family member). What are the advantages and dis...
Is selling your house without an agent worth the hassle?
Further to another question I asked , if I am going to open a traditional IRA to hold funds consolidated from old 401K plans, what should I be looking at for the most flexibility? There are lots of banks and companies that offer them. Are some better than others, ex: is Fidelity any good? I don't want to make a mistake...
What kind of traditional IRA should I use to hold funds from old employer 401K plans?
In the unlikely event that a financial institution fails in Canada, what is covered by the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation? What is the limit of coverage?
What is covered by the CDIC?
Does there exist a website that lists manufacturer of generic, store-brand items? Are private label brands worth it?
I am co-owner of a business, and we incorporated federally. (Mostly to limit liability.) There is some excellent information above, and most of my wisdom I got from a trusted lawyer and accountant (find experts you trust in these two areas, they will prove invaluable in so many areas.) The one point I would add ...
The answer will vary person to person and situation to situation. But the basic concept to always consider is this: What interest rate am I paying on my debt? 10%? 18%? And what interest rate am I making on my savings/investment, etc? 3%? 7%? It won't give you a hard and fast answer, but will definitely let you kno...
We have streamlined our gift list every year in attempts to control the "stuff" factor. We used to buy for all siblings, all nieces and nephews, a draw for extended family (cousins, etc), many friends, their children, etc. I love buying gifts, giving gifts, but started to feel like I was just shopping to get it done ...
I won't discuss the current market as much as I will address the title question. Is selling your house without an agent worth the hassle? It depends on who you are. Take a good hard look at yourself and ask yourself - do I know anything about houses? the market? the paperwork involved in a sale? do I like talk...