Each time you open a kitchen cabinet or reach for a towel in the bathroom you’ll give yourself a nice surprise. It’s all so simple – and not at all expensive – saying goodbye to old cabinet hardware and indulging yourself in new shapes, new styles and new colours.

 

With major makeovers and renovations put on hold, homeowners are focusing on decorative hardware for the small, low-cost, changes that mean so much. And manufacturers are responding, with new shapes, new styles, and especially new colours.

 

Take Amerock, for example. A familiar name, over 80 years in business, but still with its finger on the pulse and developing complete answers to homeowners’ needs. Fall in love with a style, and you’ll find it’s available in all the shapes, sizes and colours you need – even hard-to-find, oversize items.

 

Looking for glamour? Reach for Abernathy – combining jewel-like clear crystal with a choice of metallic finishes -antique silver, oil-rubbed bronze and satinnickel. How could a simple knob be quite so elegant? And how could such an elegant accessory cost so little?

 

New from Amerock are two gorgeous finishes, both variations on the increasingly-popular theme of bronze.

 

The company’s designers describe the new caramel bronze as a “decadent” finish. It has a glow all its own, rich and coppery. It’s available in the sleek and modern Candler Collection of pulls and knobs, and in the even sleeker Extensity Collection.

 

The other new finish -brushed bronze – plays up the silver and gold tones, and can be seen at its most elegant in the Essential’Z cabinet collection and the Arroni bath collection.

 

You can browse the complete offering online at amerock.com. Local sources include Home Depot, Home Hardware and Rona.

Can you name the leading cause of stress, family arguments – and, in worst cases – divorce? According to Associate Manager Gregory Brown of Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network (www.dfsin.ca/gregorybrown) in Surrey, British Columbia, it’s money. In fact, Brown feels that it’s one of the last taboo topics that is preventing important conversations about financial planning.

 

“When financial conversations don’t take place between spouses, parents and their children – or vise-versa – positive net worth becomes associated with positive self-worth,” says Brown. “In other words, money begins to develop many emotional attachments and deeper meanings like power, love and control. The only way to remove these misconceptions and barriers is to just start talking.”

 

Failing to plan is planning to fail

 

Brown suggests that the most important part of the conversation is setting goals and developing a plan to reach those goals. In fact, you may need to create three different plans that address your financial, retirement and estate distribution goals. So where does one start? “It’s not surprising that people are overwhelmed by the vast choice of financial advisors these days. So many of them use the vague title of ‘planner’, which does very little to identify their expertise,” says Brown.

 

Important differences

 

While financial, estate and retirement planning each focus on money management, they each address different issues and objectives. Financial planning is the most comprehensive of the three. It helps to determine how you can best meet your life goals through the proper management of your financial affairs. Everyone’s goals are different based on their age, values and objectives. And these goals change over time as your life circumstances change. The key is to take into account all relevant aspects of your financial situation – The Big Picture – and to find the best way to help you succeed.

 

Retirement Planning is the process of ensuring you have the means to maintain your lifestyle when you decide to retire. This plan helps you visualize what retirement will look like and helps determine what you’ll need to save.

 

Estate Planning focuses on creating legacies. In other words, it identifies tax efficient ways to preserve your wealth for your family, business, charities or whatever you value most.

 

The most important part of these three methods of financial planning is allowing yourself to dream big. What do you want to be and what do you want to achieve? Anything is possible with a solid plan. To learn more about personal financial planning and to find an advisor, visit the Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network website at http://www.dfsin.ca.

(NC)-One thing in life is certain – and it is that there will always be unexpected things that pop up. They can be positive (marriage, new child, promotion, inheritance from a long-lost relative) or negative (job loss, death, divorce) and often have significant financial implications. Women are often the most impacted by life’s unexpected events. According to research conducted for TD’s Women Investor Strategy, nine out of 10 Canadian women will be the sole decision-maker concerning their finances at some point in their lives.

 

Although such life events may be unavoidable, there are steps women can take so they’re prepared financially and more equipped to manage any surprises.

 

“While you can’t predict the future, and the unexpected is – unexpected – being proactive can help you prepare yourself financially for unforeseen events,” says Sandy Cimoroni, President, TD Mutual Funds and head of TD’s Women Investor Strategy. “The best way to be prepared is to have a written, comprehensive financial plan that includes an emergency savings fund.”

 

According to a recent poll by TD Waterhouse, more than half (53%) of Canadian women agree that there are differences in the way women and men approach investing and working with an advisor. Cimoroni provides tips for some things for women to keep in mind when thinking about their financial plan:

 

• Understand your family finances – it’s essential for women, whether married, single, a parent, grandparent or otherwise, to understand their family finances (bank accounts and approximate balances, investments, financial strategy, etc.) so that if necessary, they can continue to manage, or take control, of their family’s finances.

 

• Plan for the unexpected – ensure that if something happens, such as an unexpected expense (car repair, home renovation), significant illness or job loss, you have an emergency savings fund to cover your expenses (a general rule is to have the value of three to six months’ of regular expenses set aside).

 

• Work with an advisor – compared to men, women often seek more education and market information when making financial decisions. Pros can help you better navigate your life and financial goals, and they should also be committed to investing time to educate you about the options available.

 

“What’s most important is feeling confident that your future is financially secure,” Cimoroni adds.

So, you have made the decision to remodel your home. Kitchen remodeling is one of the first rooms that homeowners explore with regard to renovations. The kitchen is the main gathering place in the home for families and friends. It is the area where socialization happens frequently, so it makes perfect sense to choose to remodel this room in your home first. The project can be extremely fun and should be looked upon as such. There are so many small changes that can be made to completely transform this room that it is mind boggling. Let us talk a bit about whether this remodeling project is a sound financial decision.

First, you should look at the long-term picture. Are you remodeling the kitchen for your own preferences, or will you be selling the home at any point in the future? In either case, renovations to the kitchen can help save money in the future, however,  if you are planning to stay in the home, your choices can help save on your monthly utility bills. You can opt for new energy efficient windows that can save you on your monthly electric payments. You can also install low flow faucets to save on water consumption. Buying appliances that are more energy efficient is a great investment and you will also experience personal satisfaction that your new kitchen is more operational and updated.

If you are planning on selling your home in the future, you can expect a very significant return on your investment. If you ask any realtor, they will tell you that one of the first things a potential buyer is interested in is the kitchen. If your kitchen is fresh and updated with contemporary finishes (counters, cabinets, flooring) it will make your home stand out against homes that have a more dated kitchen. You can expect to get a return of at least 40% of your remodeling investment when you go to list your home. 

A home kitchen makeover is a very prudent choice, especially if you can only remodel one room. The kitchen is central to the home and you spend a lot of time there cooking, eating and socializing. The benefits of new and updated appliances, and other elements far outweigh the costs you may incur. You will be surprised at how far you can get on your proposed budget, and you’ll be left with the feeling that it was money well spent.

by: Leonard Simmons
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_7310.shtml 

When considering your home’s plumbing, you might be thinking of that old adage “why fix something if it ain’t broke?” But did you know that old and inefficient plumbing might actually mean that you are literally pouring your money down the drain every month? A call to your plumber might really save you money in the end if you upgrade the plumbing in your home.

When were your current plumbing fixtures installed? Did they come with the house when you bought it? Old toilets use up a lot of water with each flush, which is bad for both the environment and for your wallet. Are you putting off having that leaky faucet repaired because you just don’t want to spend the money right now? The average faucet leak can waste hundreds of gallons of water per year. If it’s a hot water faucet that’s leaking, you are losing money both with the wasted water and with the wasted electricity or gas that is heating that water. 

Or what if your problem is slow drains? You might decide to take the easy step of pouring liquid corrosives down the drain to clear out the blockage. This is actually a bad idea. The corrosive chemicals in drain cleaner will harm your sewer pipes, perhaps necessitating an extremely expensive repair in the future. In addition, the environmental impact of pouring such chemicals down the drain and into the water supply can have serious ramifications for the future of our planet.

If you’ve been putting off plumbing repairs or upgrades, you really might want to consider having a professional technician visit your home. Plumbers can let you know if repairs are needed or if there are upgrades available to your current plumbing that can actually save you money. There are many options, such as low flow or dual flush toilets that can help you stop wasting water and upgrade your home.

Having your new toilet installed by a plumber will ensure that your system is up to code and works efficiently and properly. A plumber can also help you to repair your leaky faucets, or assist you by installing water saving devices such as low flow faucets or aerators on your sinks. They can also help by providing professional sewer cleaning that will fix your slow drains without causing serious corrosion to the pipes in your home and damage to the environment.

These days, everyone is looking to save money where they can. By having a professional plumber inspect your pipes and see what upgrades and repairs can be done in your home, you can save yourself money on wasted water and utility bills. In addition you’ll be adding to the value of one of your most important investments, your home.

by: Nick Messe 

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_6553.shtml

(NC) Just like the fixtures and furnishings they select to express their personal look, homeowners come in different styles. There’s the eclectic, who like a bit of everything; the cutting edge, who find comfort in being different than everyone else, but most could be called collection fans, because they value interiors that are comfortably coordinated in a single style.
 

That’s why collections are so popular. Selecting from a collection allows you to create that look in any room. A pedestal sink with exactly the right faucet in a powder room; a practical but still on-style undermount sink for the family bathroom; a show-piece shower install in the ensuite bathroom; and toilets that offer high performance – but still with that special coordinated style.
 

A good collection will have something of everything, plus consistent characteristics that work in a variety of situations. Simone Abele, the vice president of marketing at American Standard in Canada, knows a good collection when she sees one;she recommends Boulevard.
 

“The main reason for the line’s popularity is its good looks, that adapt beautifully to many different settings. We label Boulevard as “transitional” in style. Transitional can quickly become classic, or 1930s Bauhaus, or mid-century modern. The comfort level remains the same, whether in a luxurious master bathroom or a petite powder room.”
 

The look can be found in a range of fixtures: pedestal sinks, under and over the counter basins, one and two-piece toilets, faucets, shower systems, and more.

“It’s a great choice,” says Abele. “A collection that will stand the test of time, I would say.”
 

More information is available at http://www.americanstandard.ca.

Preparing to buy a home requires more than just a down payment. Before you purchase property, take time to understand your available mortgage options and balance your debt load. Thorough planning and smart budgeting now can help you avoid running into high debt or repayment problems down the road.

 

Farhaneh Haque, director of mortgage advice at TD Canada Trust, says that first time home buyers should answer three important questions before they start hitting any open houses this season.

 

• Do I understand the process? It never hurts to meet with a mortgage specialist to learn more about the home buying process and the different mortgage options available, such as fixed versus variable rate mortgages, flexible repayment schedules, and even mortgages that offer cash back. Before falling in love with a home, consider getting pre-approved so you know what you may be able to afford and avoid getting disappointed by falling in love with a home that is outside your price range.

 

• What is my personal debt load? If you have other obligations like a car payment or student loan, ensure you are taking on a mortgage that you can manage within your total budget. Try using an online debt management calculator to help determine how much debt you can reasonably take on based on your income, current debt payments and expenses.

 

• Can I afford my mortgage and save for the future? Sometimes home buyers take on more debt than they can manage and quickly find themselves “house poor” – with no money left for future savings or a rainy day. Before you take the leap into homeownership, crunch the numbers to ensure your budget reflects the lifestyle you want after you move into your new home, and you are clear on what sacrifices you may need to make to continue to live comfortably and save for your future.

(NC)-While everyone loves to go on holiday, the same can’t be said about coming home to outrageous long-distance bills and roaming charges from your mobile phone.

North Vancouver’s Anna Marie Garcia, for example, said she had to pay close to $2,000 in roaming and long-distance charges while traveling recently. Since then, she has switched to Mobilicity and pays a flat 20-cents-a-minute, North American travel rate, seven times less expensive than her old carrier.

Angela Self, a personal finance expert and one of the five money-smart women known as Smart Cookies, agrees with being cautious. She, says that while Canadian travelers are commonly faced with “bill shock”, there are several ways to prevent paying hundreds of dollars in extra charges, such as:

• Research travel rates before you leave home. Most carriers charge separate roaming and long-distance fees, so be sure to factor both into your calculations.

• Ask about special travel rates/packages, but note some providers charge an extra fee.

• If you need a ton of minutes, texts and/or megabytes, look into getting a pre-paid local SIM card at your destination that allows you to pay local rates. Make sure your device is unlocked and compatible with the local carrier’s network.

• Consider switching to a value-based carrier, like Mobilicity, which includes ‘voice roaming minutes’ in some of its regular monthly plans, and guarantees customers won’t get bill shock when traveling. The company’s unique My Wallet feature prevents phone usage on the road if you go over any allotted minutes and if there aren’t funds in the account to cover roaming.

If you’re like many homeowners, you consider the patio an extension of your home. So it’s fair to ask: Would you be just as comfortable nestled in with your favorite book or preparing a meal in your outdoor space as you would in your living room or your kitchen? As you contemplate ways to improve your outdoor area, think about projects that can both extend the hours you spend outside and make the time you spend there more relaxing.

Just as technology continues to make life indoors easier, more sophisticated awning systems, heating options and lighting can make your outdoor space that much more pleasant. Here are a few areas to consider as you plot your next round of improvements for your outdoor living space:

* Temperature control: One of the best ways to make your patio pleasant for more of the day – and more of the year – is to add simple temperature control features. If you live in a place where it gets uncomfortably hot during the summer, install misters around your favorite sitting areas to cool things down. Likewise, if you often find yourself heading inside because it gets too chilly in the spring and fall, a few strategically placed overhead heaters can extend your patio season.

* Shade matters: Awnings and umbrellas also play a huge role in regulating the temperature and comfort of your deck or patio. And now, shading options have become more sophisticated and easier to maintain than ever before. You’ll never have to worry about damaged awnings on a windy day with a motorized awning system with wind sensors that work together to automatically retract your awnings when winds become too high. Retractable awning systems can also be accessorized with sun sensors that signal motorized awnings to open as soon as the sun rises, keeping your outdoor space cool from the start of the day. If adding a hint of warmth is needed, simply install an awning heater. All of these accessories can be managed by the same remote that controls your motorized awning. With a system like this, you can leave the days of fiddling with fussy patio umbrellas behind.

* An outdoor kitchen: No patio is complete without a grill, but do you find yourself making frequent trips inside for other prep work? Make outdoor cooking easier by adding a prep island that can be placed near your grill. And if you really want to go all out, look for options that feature outdoor sinks or small refrigerators hidden under the countertop.

* Entertainment connectivity: Well-placed speakers can bring the stereo sound of your indoor system out. By upgrading your system so it can be controlled from your wireless device, you can bring the conveniences of your digital music system outdoors and eliminate the need to get up to turn up the volume or flip to the next song.

* Take look at your lighting: High-powered outdoor lights on sensors might be helpful when you’re bringing in the groceries at night, but patio entertaining calls for a little more subtlety when it comes to lighting. Consider zero-energy solar-powered fixtures around the perimeter of your patio for a gentle ambiance to light up your evenings. Motorized systems can also be connected to your lighting, allowing you to adjust brightness as needed from the comfort of your patio lounger.

Now is the perfect time to plan for next year’s patio season, and with the right improvements, you can make it the most comfortable one yet.