Energy Saving Ideas - Weatherstripping

Weatherstripping method is to prevent from air leak through gaps around the house, mainly doors and windows.

For the weatherstripping to be effective, all the gaps must be closed completely. The weatherstripping material should be flexible in order to spring back to its original shape when opening and closing doors.

Apply weatherstripping to the tops and sides of any door frame in your house. Try V-shaped weatherstripping because it maintains good seal for warped doors or uneven openings. The V-shaped weatherstripping is like wedge.

Look for special weatherstripping for doors, because it must withstand constant opening and closing cycle, must withstand changing temperatures, and moisture caused by temperature differences.

Note, weatherstripping is effective method to reduce air leaks around the house. Leaks can contribute to loss of energy up to 40%.

Keep Your Toilet Closed - One Step To Keep Your Washroom Cleaner & To Keep Good Energy Within

I read once the Feng Shui book and since then I kept all my toilet lids closed. I have never realized that I also kept my washroom cleaner.

Well, so what is the story about Feng Shui. I read that every time you flush the toilet, in addition to water the positive chi energy is swept away down the drain. Therefore, if you keep the toilet lid closed that energy stays in your home and life.

You cannot retain the water when you flush the toilet. That water and waste must go. You must also realized that before you flush in the toilet and the rim germs accumulate. When you flush the water flushes some of them down the drain and some of them travel out in every direction.

Now if you have anything close by such toothbrushes, shavers, soaps and towels. Where do you think that the splashed germ water will go? Of course on all the things close by.

After what you read may be it is now a good time to change some things around the house including the old habits. The new habit is to keep the toilet lid closed at all times when flushing the toilet and afterwards. It may be harder to do that with older family members, however, children learn fast.

How do you make visitors to do that? I think simple idea is to write a special note card or even a note framed in front of the toilet that tells the visitor to keep the toilet closed and as a nice gesture you may want to explain why.

Hope this will help you keep your washroom more hygienic and keep you away from germs.

Best Way To Manage Your Expenses

To successfully manage your expenses you must see your cash flow. Over the years talking to many individuals I found that we don't want to pay by the credit card because we are scared to see the resultant amount to pay by the end of the month. However, seeing is better than not seeing. Seeing will make you aware how much cash is sometimes going to waste. Here are few examples how you can make your cash flow visible. In some cases it requires a bit of work, however, on the end it is worth doing.

• Pay for everything with credit card. Even if you have many credit cards, try to use one main one. These days even places like fast food restaurants accept major credit cards. Take advantage. You know that with credit card you are not paying now, but later.
• Keep track of items you paid by cash. Create spreadsheet or form to record your cash spending.
• Keep track of all your expenses including house utilities.
• Keep all your receipts and match them to your credit card statement. Credit companies and stores make mistakes also, and you can easily pay for errors from your pocket.
• On your expense spreadsheet also keep track how much GST or PST you paid, any delivery charges, cash back, and coupons. Having items like cash back and coupons will actually make you feel better. Every year I save over $200 CAD in coupons and get about $400 CAD in cash back through credit cards.
• Evaluate your spending and once you see some money wasted, do something about it.

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So here is my spring cleaning tip: open up your windows to get lots of fresh air, clean up closets by taking clothes and towels out, take bed comforter outside and shake it off. Spring is a way to freshen the your house.

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Highest TFSA Interest Rate - Canadian Tire

New year came and it is time to think about savings. I hope that everyone's resolution for this year is about Saving Money. If you have any cash savings available it is a good time to invest in the Tax Free Savings Account.

The nice thing about the TFSA account it is that any interest earned is tax-free. Money can be taken out anytime from TFSA because it is a savings account. Most of the time TFSA has higher interest rate. But if you do not need TFSA money you can invested in GIC or stocks, and remember any interest you earn is tax-free.

Now who offers the best interest rates.

ING Direct is usually has the best rate. However, I have recently discovered about the Canadian Tire Financial Services. Their TFSA interest rate is whooping 2.75%. Probably subject to change in the future, but they all do that. Note that some institutions also offer higher interest rate on the initial deposit just to get you in. You may want to check out ING Direct and PC Financial as other options.

TFSA Summary: The TFSA account earns guaranteed tax-free interest and gives you the ability to withdraw your money any time.

TFSA Interest Rates Comparison Chart for Canadian Banks 2012

Since interests rates are always changing I am provided you with a link to the TFSA information for each bank.

Bank of Montreal Tax-Free Savings Account (click to read more)
TFSA Current Interest Rate: 1.25%
Minimum Investment: $50.00 Cad
Maximum Investment: $5,000.00 Cad / yr

CIBC TFSA Tax Advantage Savings Account (click to read more)
TFSA Regular Interest Rate: 1.15%
TFSA Bonus Interest Rate: 0.35%
Minimum Investment: $25.00 Cad
Maximum Investment: $5,000.00 Cad / yr

ING Direct Tax-Free Investment Savings Account (click to read more)
TFSA Current Interest Rate: 2.00%
Minimum Investment: no minimum
Maximum Investment: $5,000.00 Cad / yr
No fees, no service charges and no minimum balances

RBC Tax Free Savings Account (click to read more)
Information Not Clear
Excellent TFSA Write up
At RBC, we don't charge any TFSA withdrawal or annual administration fees.

Scotiabank Tax Free Savings Account (click to read more)
TFSA Special Rates 2.00% Cash Rate on new deposits
Read Frequently Asked Questions

TD Canada Trust High Interest TFSA Savings Account (click to read more)
TFSA Current Interest Rate: 1.15%
Minimum Investment: N/A
Maximum Investment: $5,000.00 Cad / yr
Earn a special 1.5% interest rate on all new balances until March 30, 2012.

HSBC TFSA High Rate Savings Account (click to read more)
TFSA Current Interest Rate: 1.25%
Minimum Investment: N/A
Maximum Investment: $5,000.00 Cad / yr

PC Financial Tax-Free Interest Plus™ Savings Account (click to read more)
TFSA Current Interest Rate: Not Clear


Canadian Tire Financial Services - TFSA (click to read more)
TFSA Current Interest Rate: 2.75%

Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code - Smart Frugal Shopping

The Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code is a voluntary code that most major retailers in Canada follow. It guarantees accurate prices at the checkout scanner.

The policy states: 'If the scanned price of a non-price ticketed item is higher than the shelf price or any other displayed price, the customer is entitled to receive the item free, up to a $10 maximum. When the item has a price tagged, the lowest price applies. When identical items are incorrectly priced, the second one will be sold at the correct price.'

If the item scanned has wrong price at the participating retailer, you will get it for free or $10 off if the item is more than $10. Ensure to ask, it may not be promoted, all that for pointing out the error. Participating stores should have a sticker around the checkout register and entrance doors.

For more information about Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code visit Competition Bureau Canada.

Baby Teether for Teething Baby - The Truth About Them

TEETHER is an item that sooths baby's gums during the teething period. The item is usually some kind of polymer made ring or other shaped object filled with liquid or gel. The liquid inside must be pure and free of any type of bacteria or contamination. This is just in case the teether gets punctured. Health Canada requires that baby teether is free of any living micro-organisms. However, looks like approximately 11 brands that arrived Canada did not pass this test. The question is how is that we decided to test the product when already in the consumer hands, or more so in baby's hands.

How is this possible? Everything is possible if you do not perform right tests or skip process steps, and most of all looks like importers or distributer do not think about the safety, rather think about how fast they can sell it to the stores. So this is one loose end. Another might be is that the design of each teether passed the failure test, so the manufacturing decided to be easy on the filling material of the teether. I wonder what kind of failure tests they performed that made them think to be ignorant of that step in the process. Looks like someone is paying for the screw up, and good thing there were no illness incidences in this matter. Another loose end is that they Health Canada tested first one in 2006, and no body got the idea.

The following stats were compiled based on the 2009 recalled list from Government of Canada - Healthy Canadians. The numbers are kind of scary how many different brands were recalled. We were fortunate that there were no incidences posing health issues on the baby. My suggestion, find other way, I am sure that the polymer the teether is made of may be not be good for baby to chew on either.

Interesting Number Facts About Recalled Bacteria Contaminated Teether in 2009

Total Brands Recalled: 11
Total Incidences Reported: 0
Total Health Issues Caused: 0
Total Sold In Canada: 252,963
Total Different Types of Bacteria Found: 11
Total Filled w/ Water: 10
Total Filled w/ Gel: 1

About Bacteria Types

Bacillus sphaericus - generally is not harmful; however, may cause infection in children with weakened immune systems if the teether is punctured and the liquid filling from the teether is ingested or enters open wounds.

Bacillus fusiformis - generally is not harmful; however, may cause infection in children with weakened immune systems if the teether is punctured and the liquid filling from the teether is ingested or enters open wounds.

Bacillus thuringiensis - generally is not harmful in healthy individuals; however, the bacteria can affect children with weakened immune systems, causing stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, if the liquid from the teether is injected in case of being punctured.

Bacillus mycoides - generally is not harmful in healthy individuals; however, the bacteria can affect children with weakened immune systems, causing stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, if the liquid from the teether is injected in case of being punctured.

Bacillus cereus - can cause severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea if the liquid from the teether is injected in case of being punctured; however, some strains generally are not harmful. Individuals suffering from compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to infection by this bacteria.

Burkholderia tropica - generally is not harmful; however, the bacteria may cause infection in children with weakened immune systems, if the liquid from the teether is injected in case of being punctured.

Bacillus circulans - generally is not harmful; however, may be harmful to children with weakened immune systems, if the liquid from the teether is injected in case of being punctured.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa - can affect children with weakened immune systems, causing various infections, if the liquid from the teether is injected in case of being punctured.

Staphylococcus warneri - generally is not harmful; however, it may cause infection in individuals with weakened immune systems, if the liquid from the teether is injected in case of being punctured.

Bacillus coagulans - exposure to various moulds may cause allergic reactions in some individuals; however, exposure to Bacillus coagulans generally does not cause illness.

Bacillus licheniformis - generally is not harmful; however, can affect children with weakened immune systems, causing stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea if the liquid from the teether is injected in case of being punctured.

Source: Healthy Canadians

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Long distance rate, as low as 2 cents per minute in Canada and United States.

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Visit 1011295.com to check more countries and their long distance rates. Rates are subject to change.

Free Energy Saving Kit For Low-Income Households From BC Hydro

Offer valid in British Columbia only. If you qualify you can receive a nice list of energy savings items from BC Hydro.

The kit contains following easy to install energy saving items: compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use up to 75% less energy than regular light bulbs whic can also last up to 10 years; weatherstripping for your windows and doors to keep out drafts; fridge and freezer thermometers to help you set your refrigerator and freezer at an ideal temperature for the food to stay cold; and a low-flow shower head that uses significantly less water than a standard shower head.

Read more details and how to apply.