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what about budgeting for credit card payments if you have them? Maybe to budget for "minimum payment", it might be tough to justify if you are jobless, but if you don't meet that minimum payment it will only get worse with interest (and potentially harm credit rating and lower chances of getting help if you struggle...
What services do you use to research European stock markets?
When I gathered all my 2009 receipts in preparation for my Income Tax filing, I came across a large number of expenses incurred for my pets. Are these expenses tax-deductible?
Can vet / veterinary bills be considered deductions (tax-deductible) for Income Tax purposes, in Canada?
Is there a value that can be assigned to my time, i.e. an hourly rate, so that I can be given a receipt to remit to CRA come Income Tax Filing time? I live in Canada.
If I volunteer to give back to my community, is there a monetary amount assigned to my time, to act as an Income Tax Deduction?
I was recently the victim of credit card fraud. My number and some of my info was compromised and subsequently used to run up about $500 worth of online charges within a week's time. This was on my Bank of America VISA Debit card. I reported this to Bank of America after verifying I still had the card in my possessi...
As part of [introducing the HST this July 1st, 2010][1], the government of Ontario promised to issue special HST rebates to people meeting certain criteria, in order to ease the transition to the new tax. - Who will receive the special HST rebates? - How much are the special HST rebates worth? - When will the s...
Ontario special HST sales tax transition rebate cheques: When and how much?
Can vet / veterinary bills be considered deductions (tax-deductible) for Income Tax purposes [Canada]?
It may seem silly, but I wonder if I've got a bank account out there in which I have unclaimed money. Wouldn't that be cool? How can I check?
Is there a (legitimate) website on which I can check to see if I have any unclaimed money from past bank accounts?
Because I know you can draw cheques from a savings account, so what gives?
What's the difference between a Chequing account and a Savings account?
There is very little difference these days between account types. The fee structure and interest paid is different, but the actual mechanics, and as noted by others, the coverage by deposit insurance is identical. So look at how much money you have in the account(s) you have; are you maximizing the interest that ...
I've seen software packages at Office Depot and such, and am considering using one. What are some pros/cons?
Can I write my own will, or do I need a lawyer to draw one up for me?
Many I meet are very salesy. Makes me wonder if they are truly after my best interests? Banks seem so aloof and laissez-faire. The kind of attitude that sends the message that they don't care if I take my business elsewhere (which leaves me with the impression that they are the best deal around).
What value does a mortgage broker bring? Can they get you a better deal than your bank can?
IANAL, nor do I play one on TV. I have listened to lawyers on this topic, on radio shows, and the consensus seemed to be that the software packages are good for simple needs, and are certainly better than nothing. While you are at it, don't forget the power(s) of attorney! You should likely have both medical and...
Are condo fees going to go up when the HST goes into effect? If so, are there any exemptions to this?
Will I need to pay HST on condo maintenance fees?
I'm wondering what the rules are regarding HST and a purchase of a condominium. 1. When buying a new construction condominium, would I need to pay HST? 2. What about for existing (re-sale) condo's? I've heard new constructions below a certain value are exempt from HST... but its conflicting information so far.
I never had a car before, but I'm starting to feel the need of having one. Fortunately, I can bike to work, and would only use the car on weekends (and very occasionally on weekdays). Additionally, I'd rarely make long trips, so I'd expect a <2k miles per year usage. One problem is that, once I never had a car, t...
What is the best option for an occasional driver in the USA?
Now that spring is here this becomes an option. Is it more cost effective to wash a car at home (increasing water utility expense) or to pay to have it washed at a car wash? Also which is more environmentally friendly?
Is it more cost effective to wash a car at home or take it to a car wash?
I heard that the cheapest and best way to invest is to track an index - buy an index fund. This is good, because the costs are cheaper than other funds and it provides better returns than most actively managed funds. Are there any cheap and good performance investment strategies that I can consider?
What other investing strategies exists apart from tracking an index?
This is an impossible question to answer as there is no one size fits all answer. This can depend on your investment goals and personality. You will need a completely different strategy for money you might need in a few years than retirement money in 20 or more years. Your personality will also have a huge impact....
My uncle wants me to invest money in buying shares...... After using basicallymoney for quite sometime now i would like to ask this question to my fellow users.... - Is it wise to invest money on Share market? - Is there any age limit to start into share market? - pros and cons when choosing to do so?
Is it wise to invest money on Share market?
I remember hearing that income tax was specifically created to finance the war effort during World War I. Is this true? If so was it originally intended to be a temporary measure?
Is it true that Income Tax was created to finance troops for World War I?
Related to a comment on this question: [http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1256/is-it-true-that-income-tax-was-created-to-finance-troops-for-world-war-i][1] Does it ever make financial sense to turn down a raise at your job? It was mentioned for tax reasons it did no good, but would not getting a raise have o...
Why would you ever turn down a raise in salary?
Is there any reason I should ever take out a loan when I have that money in saving? **Example:** I have 20k in a house fund, and I want to spend 8k to buy a car?
A loan or a self loan?
This may seems like a far-fetched conspiracy theory, but this has happened to me twice now... Scenario goes like this: My insurance policy covers X but not Y (or X has a lower deductible than Y). I get healthcare services provided to me for X. Eventually the bill comes in and it is considered a Y service due to the CPT...
Could my insurance company be giving my healthcare providers kickbacks?
I would use that money to buy a car instead of taking out a loan to buy the car. It does however prompt the question: What do you want more a house or a car?
The way I usually make this decision is to answer the following question: > Do I think that I can earn a better > return on my savings than the interest > rate I would get on the loan? Yes= Get a loan No= Use the savings If you have your savings in a fixed income investment like a CD or bond, then it is...
Part 2 first: resale is exempt [31. Will there be HST on the purchase of new homes and resale homes?][1] The new homes is a little messier [Rebate Description][2] goes into some detail. Effectively if the home is $400,000 or less, then a government rebate should offset the HST, to effectively be back to where you w...
It's wise to invest in the stock market if it's the best alternative. What are the alternatives? * You can **pay down debt**, which probably has an interest rate over 6% unless it's mortgage debt. * ***This is almost always the wisest thing to do with your money*** * You can keep your money in cash. Your money w...
It's wise to invest in the stock market if it's the best alternative. What are the alternatives? * You can **pay down debt**, which probably has an interest rate over 6% unless it's mortgage debt. * ***This is almost always the wisest thing to do with your money*** * You can keep your money in cash. Your money w...
It's wise to invest in the stock market if it's the best alternative. What are the alternatives? * You can **pay down debt**, which probably has an interest rate over 6% unless it's mortgage debt. * ***This is almost always the wisest thing to do with your money*** * You can keep your money in cash. Your money w...
My uncle wants me to invest money in buying shares...... After using basicallymoney for quite sometime now i would like to ask this question to my fellow users.... - Is it wise to invest money on stock market? - Is there any age limit to start into stock market? - pros and cons when choosing to do so?
Is it wise to invest money on stock market?
Does the passage of the recent bill in the US change the way Americans budget for health care? If so who benefits?
Do Americans still need extra health care insurance after the reform to health care? [Unitied States]
Do Americans still need extra health care / medical insurance after reform to health care? [U.S.]
I recently found several gift certificates (yes, way back when) from stores like Restoration Hardware, Omer DeSerres (now Loomis) and Jacob. I live in Canada. Can I use these certificates today, even though stores generally take cards nowadays? Do they ever expire (there are no dates on these certificates, anywhere)...
Do gift cards expire? Does a gift certificate's value depreciate? How long can I keep them for?
It depends on: - how old are the certificates? - do the certificates have an expiry dates? - do the certificates have cash value? In Canada, [Ontario][1], [Manitoba][2], [Alberta][3] and [Nova Scotia][4] have each enacted legislation to stop gift cards/certificates from expiring. Cards issued before ...
With reference to [this question][1], can companies that get taken over set limitations on honouring gift cards issued prior to the take-over? Also if a company just changes it's name, can it set limits on the gift cards issued under the old name? [1]: http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1279/do-gift-cards-...
Do companies that get taken-over have to honour the old gift card/certificate?
As a Canadian software contractor, what's the best or most accepted method if I've agreed to an annualized salary, to bill it out monthly considering holidays, February being a shorter month etc? Is it as simple as calculating how many work days are in a year, breaking it down to a daily wage and issuing that for th...
How do I best bill out an annualized salary monthly, as a Canadian contractor?
We would like to use "real nappies" (reusable diapers); both to minimise environmental impact, and to save a bit of money. According to some literature I've been given, using real nappies can save thousands of pounds. But have people really found this to be the case? If you've used real nappies, did you find that yo...
Do real nappies (reusable diapers) really save money?
Say I have a small sum of money, which I have no use for for the following 6-12 months. I don't want to invest it in index funds, because these have a non-negligible risk of decreasing in this time period, and I need the money available. What investment plan is better suited for this purpose? If it matters, I li...
What's the best short-term investment plan?
Why are index funds called index funds?
Why are index funds called index funds?
I'm thinking about visiting the UK and I'm wondering which things are affected by the VAT and which are not. Also as a non-UK resident is there a way to get a rebate/reimbursement on this tax?
What items are exempt from the VAT? [U.K.]
Why do warehouse / wholesale retails like Costco and Sam's Club charge yearly fees? I personally think the [wholesale club fees are worth it][1], but I wonder why they do it. [1]: http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/47/are-warehouse-clubs-like-costco-and-sams-club-worth-it
Why do wholesale clubs charge annual memberships?
Because they track an *index*. I presume therefore you are asking what an index is? There are many variations of what makes up an [Index][1] but in short it is a representation of some part of a market. An extremely simplistic calculation would be to take a basket of stocks, and sum their prices. If one stock...
Unfortunately the answer is, *almost none*. Almost everything has a risk of decreasing; but given your short time horizon and presumably given that you want back your principal in full, plus a little bit, you have few choices. (Some of the following may be Canadian specific terms, but hopefully they are generic e...
I opened an ISA about a month back (only have £110 in it at the moment) Tax year ends on 5th April, I could afford to put £1000 in my ISA, I would be skint until the next payday at the end of April though. Should I do it? Would I actually benefit from any interest? I think my interest rate is 2%, does that mean I...
Year end for ISAs, is it worth squeezing more in quickly?
I don't think there is a "best" or "most accepted" way. What's more important is what works for you and your client. Though, it's actually common for contractors to negotiate an **hourly rate** or a **daily rate** and not a target annual income directly. Contracts aren't expected to be long, and setting the rate on...
<h2>More questions related to the introduction of HST in Ontario:</h2> *(community wiki)* - [Ontario special HST sales tax transition rebate cheques: When and how much?][1] - [What will happen to quarterly GST cheques when HST starts in Ontario?][2] - [Ontario gas prices & HST: What will happen to prices...
How does Ontario's new HST affect a condominium purchase?
Because they track an *index*. Edited: The definition of the word in this case meaning "something used or serving to point out; a sign, token, or indication" from [Meaning #3][1] I presume therefore you are asking what an index is? There are many variations of what makes up an [Index][2] but in short it is a ...
I saw a new disclaimer on my credit card statement this month that is prominently displayed on the first page to the effect of: > Minimum Payment Warning: If you make > only the minimum payment each period, > you will pay more in interest and it > will take you longer to pay off your > balance. Below that i...
Just noticed this on my credit card statement, did a law change or something?
Just noticed "Minimum Payment Warning" on my credit card statement. Did a law change or something?
Does the recent Earth-hour event staged over the week-end actually save money? When the event occurs there is a major drop in energy consumption at the start but isn't there also a spike when everyone turns items back on at the end of the hour?
How much money does Earth hour save?
What can I deduct while assisting in caring for elderly relatives that do not live with me?
Are there any special rules for charging sales tax in US Territories such as [Puerto Rico][1]? [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico
I got married this last year in December. I had done my taxes as if I was not married and had no dependents, which was correct in January. My wife currently does not have a job. Should this effect my income tax filing and return, and if so how?
What are the risks of having having a company payment card? Is there any reason to have a card if I can float my expenses until they're reimbursed?
I am setting up an e-commerce site that sells workbooks. I would like to calculate an estimated shipping fee based on the total weight of the items purchased. The per-unit weights are as follows: - Item1 = 13.75 oz. - Item2 = 6.75 oz. Assuming standard postal shipping within the continental US, what is a r...
How much should I charge for shipping as a function of unit weight?
From the other point of view (company use) it makes sense to segregate expenses incurred on the company's behalf away from an employee's personal expenses. This way if there were any requirement to prove that certain expenses were for the company's benefit it is not intermingled with an employee's personal expenses. ...
Working at same place 2 years & my colleagues got a salary increase but I didn't. Should I ask my boss why?
Are there any special rules for charging sales tax in US Territories such as Puerto Rico?
If you are unhappy with your salary you should definitely discuss it with your boss. However, I would suggest not bringing up what other people in the company are making or what raises they might have recently received. That is irrelevant, it isn't a competition or a parent handing out allowances to all of their ch...
Is there anywhere a graph of "return-on-investment" vs "risk" for various different investments? On this graph would appear several data points, like: - "Short-term deposit in dollars", 1% return-on-investment, 0% risk - "Index funds", 10%, 10% - ... I am not going to define the 'risk' column here, but I'...
Is there a return-on-investment vs risk graph anywhere?
I just remembered a blog post at [CashMoneyLife - *Cloth Diapers* vs. Disposable Diapers][1]. I had come across it a little while after posting my answer to a question at [**moms4mom.com** - What can I expect to spend monthly on disposable diapers? And what do/did you spend?][2] and I had linked to it from there, too,...
Do real nappies (reusable / cloth diapers) really save money?
There may well be several such graphs, I expect googling will turn them up; but the definition of risk is actually quite important here. My definition of risk might not be quite the same as yours, so the relative risk factors would be different. For example: in general, stocks are more risky than bonds. But owni...
In order to maintain the health of your finances, do you do any particular activity on an annual basis that you would recommend that might benefit others? Say, a "spring cleaning" of some sort?
Spring cleaning for your finances? Is there any activity that should be done annually, with respect to your money?
Plenty! Following are just a few: For things like RESP and RRSP which have an "end" date; as you or your children age, you should be migrating to less speculative investments and more secure ones. When children are young, for example, you might be in a "growth" type fund. Later on, you would likely want to switch...
If my 21-yr-old daughter lived at home (and I provided more than half of her support) until her wedding in late August of last year, can't I still claim her as a dependent of some sort?