Spring Clean Your Household Finances With Host Kelley Keehn

Production Heats Up On RTR Media's Burn My Mortgage For Corus Entertainment's W Network

Spring Clean Your Household Finances With Host Kelley Keehn's Top Tips

Producers Casting For Families in the GTA

TORONTO, March 18 /CNW/ - Burn My Mortgage is a high-energy, action-packed, half-hour television series about making your hard-earned money go further. Hosted by Kelley Keehn, one of the country's most respected and widely-quoted financial experts and authors (CBC and CNBC contributor, quoted in Oprah magazine), the series is set to debut in fall 2010 on W Network.

"The series is best described as "home finance' meets the "Amazing Race", explains executive producer Kit Redmond. "Kelley Keehn and sidekick Chad Bisch lead the featured family through a series of entertaining challenges. Families discover how to knock years off their mortgages and save hundreds of thousands of dollars on interest payments."

Producers RTR Media are currently casting for families located in the GTA. Visit www.wnetwork.com/BeOnTV. Each family that follows the rules and successfully completes the challenges receives a head start savings reward of up to $5000.

Host Kelley Keehn, author of six books including She Inc., The Woman's Guide to Money and The Prosperity Factor for Kids, offers up her top three tips to effectively "spring clean" household finances:

1) As with dieting, tracking your finances is the most important first step to a fiscally refreshed spring! Try my 30-day "Anti Budget". Track every dollar your family spends and at the end of the month, see where you can trim the fat. No need to forgo the lattes or weekend cocktails, but what about the $100 a month magazine subscription or the $50 in ATM fees? A library card is a great way to get the kids involved while still being able to access the latest DVDs and CDs for free!

2) Check credit card and bank statements regularly. Go online; it's a safe and effective way to check your purchases. Make a record of when each statement generally arrives. This could be a red flag that someone is redirecting your mail and possibly committing identity theft. Don't recognize that insignificant purchase on your credit card statement? Give the company a call - that too could be an early sign that your information has been stolen.

3) Seeing double digits? Take a look at your credit cards and if you're not consistently paying them off each month, call the credit card company to negotiate a better rate. Points cards are a great tool to get rewards fast, but not if you're carrying a balance. Generally these have a high annual fee and steep interest rates. Consider the lower rate, no frills cards that most banks offer if you're not paying your cards off each month.

Finding a hidden gem to call home - Cambridge Suites Hotel Toronto

Recently I began the search for a hotel sponsor in Toronto for an extended stay. Hotel choice is always important for the overall success of a trip for business or pleasure, but when it is your home for months at a time- there are many things to consider.

In the greater Toronto area alone there are over 183 hotels and over 36,000 hotel rooms. I was determined to find the ideal hotel and room for my stay. Initially, when I set out to find my ‘home away from home’, I had planned on approaching one of the larger hotel chains I have stayed at on previous trips to Toronto for possible sponsorship. Then I started asking myself some key questions and my thoughts dramatically changed.

Location, Location, Location- When you are in a ‘foreign’ city the location of your residence is second to none. It's essential not to have to travel across town to meetings, appointments, shipping, for entertainment etc as it wastes time and adds stress. This can also be very important if you have a significant other, friend or family member traveling with you so they do not feel stranded at the hotel during the day.

Service- When you are staying at a hotel you have expectations. For example, cleanliness, and friendly, accessible, accommodating staff. This is the expectation, when it is surpassed, you become a loyal customer.

Amenities- It is important to make sure the hotel of choice has the amenities that are important to you. For example for business trips to have Internet access and any other technology necessary, or for the health conscious individual an adequate fitness facility as well as access to convenience health foods.

When I was browsing through hotel options Cambridge Suites (http://www.cambridgesuitestoronto.com/) kept coming up. I was skeptical at first never hearing about them before, I was not sure of their reputation despite being an avid business traveler. I was on their website and the more I learned, the more I was impressed. The location was great, they offered extended stays, the amenities I desired, but still I was not convinced.

I started reading the tripadvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com) reviews to get a better sense of the hotel. To my amazement the general manager had taken the time to respond to each comment made, good or bad- an indication of great customer service.

My office approached them for sponsorship, still slightly hesitant. The result surpassed all my expectations. The general manager and the director of sales and marketing were quick to respond, professional, accommodating, enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with.

Within days the deal was negotiated and I, my staff and family was welcomed with open arms to my home away from home.

I'd highly recommend that you check out this lovely hotel on your next visit to Toronto.

PC vs Mac - which computer should you buy?

If you've read my latest book, She Inc., you know too well my rant on the Mac vs. PC debate and my long-term support of the latter.

My "cool" friends jeer at the fact that I still use a PC, constantly sending me those Mac commercials with the out-of-touch, geeky, PC spokesperson. I've never had a reason to switch and quite frankly, the thought of learning an entirely new operating system, the Mac language and more, evokes great buying trepidation.

However, I'm also a fan of the power of 3's - third time's a charm, three strikes, you're out - and pondering the latter, my PC's on it third strike. My six year-old baby, my laptop, has lived far beyond his expected years with three replace hard drives, mucho memory and yet he still can't play a YouTube video without stalling out and having the fans kick into overdrive.

That's strike one. Strike two, he had a virus that rivalled the H1N1 for computers. With two weeks at the repair shop, reinstalling all of his software (which took days for my assistant to fully find - you'd be surprised how much software one accumulates over six years), and much cost, I must admit that the ridicule of my Mac friends has worn on me (Mac apparently doesn't have the virus issues that PCs do). Lastly, I've heard nightmare stories about operating Vista, and with such a change in operating system if one does buy a new PC, I think I might make the Mac leap yet.

Cost is a huge consideration as the Mac laptop I'm considering as a cool $1,000 plus over that of a PC comparison.

Here's a great blog that I found detailing the advantages and disadvantages, cost and otherwise of PCs vs. Mac - http://hubpages.com/hub/LaptopDilemnaMacorPC .

Happy shopping and leave me a post with your thoughts on the PC vs. Mac debate.

The costs of professional teeth whitening

It's all the rage. Every magazine tells us, men and women, that a brighter smile is the quickest way to shed years off your face. But what's the cost?

As an avid coffee drinker and occasional red wine drinker, I've used teeth bleaching for years. Unfortunately, I lost my teeth trays some time ago and thus had to start the search all over again for whitening options. Here's the skinny on glowing teeth without breaking the bank (especially if you don't have a dental plan - although, I'm not sure most would cover whitening):

• Whitening strips. I opted for the professional whitening strips (as opposed to those at the drug store) which cost about $100 for a 30 day package. Personally, I found them messy, annoying to use with minimal results. I stopped half way through with a box full of these strips left. I suppose if you've never used traditional teeth bleach, you might find the effects noticeable, but too lengthy of a process for me.
• In office whitening systems. I found a dental clinic offering ZOOM in-office system for $299, which has come down dramatically from it's $600+ price tag some years ago. I also found some clinics quoting $1,200 plus for in office whitening so be diligent in shopping around. If you opt for this option or similar in-office systems, be prepared to have your teeth cleaned first (I called around and this cost can vary from $200 - a whopping $600). Also be prepared for a great deal of pain (although short-term) if you have sensitive teeth. The dental office I used also sent me home with enough touch up gel for many more applications plus, customized teeth trays.
• Take home options. If the pain and cost of in-office sessions have you questioning a brighter smile, shop around for custom fitted trays and take home gels. I highly recommend this option over the store bought trays as you likely don't want the harmful bleach leaking out into your system and you'll have whiter teeth quicker.
• Bleach doesn't work on stains. Lastly, I learned that whitening systems are not aimed at treating stains. So, your least costly and pain free solution might be to drop in for a quick polish touch-up at your dentist's office.

Smiles!

Winter escapes, travels deals and tips for booking online

Many Canadians are making travel plans for the holiday season and may be trying to escape the cold weather.

It can be hard to know whether to book online, through a travel agent, or how to find the best deals on hotels, flights and more.

If you're thinking about a getaway, what is the first question you should ask yourself?

First, start with what type of experience do you want - adventure or relaxation, kids or no kids, etc. This means many things to many people. Get clear on what you and your family are looking for. It will help narrow down your possible choices.

How do you decide what's worth spending your money on?

That's where your budget comes in and what your family’s likes are.

Here’s a few scenario’s with costs for contemplation:

• Going to the mountains (here in Alberta for example). Factor in gas, your car, hotels starting at $200 plus a night for a couple, ski lift tickets and so on. For a 4 day long weekend, that will likely run you $600 - $1,500 or more with food and beverage. That’s not factoring all the extras or taking the kids along.
• Going to say Vancouver for a week at the Pan Pacific (I used the dates of mid January on Expedia.ca for this example) will run you about $1,500 for two including flights (leaving from Edmonton). I’ll get to online bookings in a moment.
• What about taking advantage of the low cost options down south? San Diego for a week in mid Jan at the Sheraton Hotel and Marina will run you about $1,300 for two with flights and accommodation, again, on Expeida.ca.
• Looking for some sun? Lastly, a week at the Mayan Riviera in Cancun will run you around $2,000 for two, but it’s all inclusive. You have to know yourself as a couple and how much food and drink you’ll usually consume. You don’t have to worry about this at an all inclusive. This one was a 3 star…if you’d like to bump that up, the Grand Cozumel for example…4 and ½ stars will run you around $3,400.

Can airlines make a different to the kind of trip I'm taking?

Absolutely! Keep in mind that almost every US carrier has some baggage fee and a few are simply outrageous (up to $50 for your second bag). Also, as a Canadian, I'm used to the back of the seat TV's on all Air Canada and WestJet flights. Not so with most US carriers. So be prepared to bring a great book, a plethora of magazines and games for the kids if you opt for this option.

Booking online? What should you keep in mind?

I recently came back from a trip to San Diego, and for the very first time, but with great trepidation, booked my trip online. Generally my trips are booked for me by the company that hires me and many companies still choose to use a travel agent. Why? Well, lots of things can go wrong and flying in the winter is particularly sketchy at times. Thus, a human being anticipating problems is a must. Plus, the cost is a write-off.

But if you're booking a trip for personal use or wouldn't mind saving a few bucks, going online is the way to go.

I booked with Expedia. ca and was highly impressed. I was waiting to be dinged for extra fees at the hotel or airline check-in, but everything was billed as promised (other than baggage fees - but I was warned about that). Plus, the hotel I stayed at was fantastic, a huge suite and I was able to get a club floor upgrade - all for less than $100 Canadian a night - including taxes, which is pretty much unheard of. Being skeptical, I did call the hotel in advance myself to see what type of deal I could muster on my own. Even with my corporate rate, the fact that I'm a preferred Starwood guest, I couldn't get a price under $220 USD, so, Expedia really did deliver.

Here's some other sites to check out:

http://www.travelocity.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/

http://www.travelzoo.ca/

http://www.redtag.ca/

http://www.hotels.ca/

http://www.expedia.ca/

Happy travels!

Business travel - how to save money, your sanity and your health

I just returned from a week in Toronto on business. Although I was reimbursed for my travel and hotel costs by the company that hired me to conduct a corporate training piece for them, there were still a number of out of pocket costs that I incurred, along with the challenge of staying healthy and sane on the road.

Sounds simple, but with the H1N1 scare and a hectic schedule, it's not always an easy task.

Business travel is rarely glamorous, filled with deadlines and when flying in the winter, presents even greater stress. Couple the fact that I'm a solo female road warrior, safety is certainly a concern (for men too - I just think a little more for women.)

So, here's some of my simple tips on surviving a business trip for the novice to seasoned business traveller:

• Always bring snacks on the plane. Purchase snacks at the grocery store in advance of boarding a plane. First, it's good common sense that will save you money. Second, I can't tell you how many flights I've either had to sit on the tarmac for an hour or two before we took off, barely made a connection or arrived at 2am to the hotel only to find out that room service closed at 10pm (or there was none at all.)


• Buy a bottle of water or two right after you go through security. It's a sad fact that we still can't take liquids through past security, but don't skimp on the high priced airport water. Again, you might be sitting in the plane for a while before beverage service starts (especially if you're at the back of the plane) and with the dry air, you'll want to remain hydrated for many obvious reasons.


• Have an emergency kit in your carry-on! Factor that you may be stuck in an airport or plane for several to many, many hours with your luggage already checked. Always have an emergency pack in your carry-on with some items such as: your cell/pda charger, comfortable shoes, a travel blanket and pillow, cold/flu medication, tissues, energy bars, prescription medicine and contact lens solution/glasses if you wear them. I once got an almost instant cold and flu of sorts 30 minutes before boarding a very long flight. The airport convenience store didn't have an decongestants, limited products and no tissues (and the plane was out of tissue as well). Needless to say, by the time we descended, with a stuffed and plugged nose, a miserable flight, the excruciating pain of not having a decongestant is a lesson I'll not soon forget!


• Go to the restroom before you pick up your baggage. Sounds simple, but the first time I travelled on my own, I rushed to get my luggage, had a full cart and then headed to the ladies room only to realize that of course, my cart wouldn't fit in the stall.


• Never take a shuttle at night. Might I add, at all. Especially if you're a female traveller, are in a new city or are carrying lots of luggage. Even if your company is only footing the bill for a shuttle, buck up and take a cab. It's well worth your safety for the extra dollars spent.


• Eat warm food. This one took me years to realize it. I would always make what I thought were sensible food choices such as eating a large chicken caesar salad or Subway sandwich for dinner. And every time, I'd come home ill with a cold or flu. I can't prove that eating warm food on the road will stave off a virus, but it's worked for me thus far. I'll often order mash potatoes and two sides of grilled vegetables. It's relatively expensive and yummy comfort food.


• Take your vitamins. I'm not espousing any medical advice, but in my own experience, I have been taking echinacea and goldenseal (both immune supports) along with extra vitamin C, and colloidal silver and oil of oregano (the latter two just when needed - the first three daily) and I can report that I haven't had a cold or flu in over two years.

• Take advantage of points. Whether it's on your credit card, an airline or hotel. And consider staying with the same hotel chain as often as possible. As you build up points, you'll be treated to lots of perks and goodies, such as club floor access where you'll find continental breakfast included, coffee, tea and water all day along with snacks during cocktail hour.

Happy travelling!

Tough Questions Part III - Advantages and disadvantages of prepaying your funeral & other options

From my CBC Radioactive column with Peter Brown - October 15, 2009:

For the last few weeks, as Radioactive's personal finance columnist, we've been talking about the tough conversations you NEED to have with your loved ones and some of the tough financial decisions you have to make.

Last week we looked at the cost of funerals. Today, we're looking at the "how" you pay for a funeral and what your options exist.

Let's say you're relying on CPP to pay for a funeral. How much will it cover?

What we need to keep in mind is that if a person didn't pay into CPP (the Canada Pension Plan) their entire working career, the might receive less than the $2,500 maximum death benefit. From last week, we know that a funeral can average around $4,000 - 10,000, so even with the max benefit, there's a possible shortage.

Can you talk to the funeral home about a payment plan?

With many, yes, you can talk to the funeral home about a payment plan. They don't advertise it, but most will wait to receive the $2,500 after all the final tax returns and probate's been done if it is a matter of just not having liquid funds (i.e. there's a house left but it takes time to get the money from assets).

A lot of people look at pre-paid and pre-arranged funerals. First of all, what are the important differences between pre-paid and pre-arranged?

Prearranged is just that - you've met with a home and documented what you'd like but not necessarily paid for it. Pre-paid is where you've made the arrangements and pre-paid via life insurance, other payment forms, etc.

What are the advantages of a Prepaid Funeral?

1. Growth isn't taxable - As long as the expenses incurred are for eligible funeral expenses as defined by section 148.1 of the Canada Tax Act, the growth is non-taxable.

2. It's obviously much easier to think rationally when not grieving. It's difficult to think clearly while making so many decisions within days of losing someone. Being frugal is often the furthest thing on someones mind in the aftermath of death. It's simply easier to make those difficult decisions while not under so much stress.

3. Your wishes are honoured.

4. It's easy to get. Buying life insurance for someone in their 80s for example with major health issues is a challenge. Prepaid funerals, either as an insurance vehicle or as a trust fund don't require a health screening or age limit to qualify.

What are the drawbacks of a Prepaid Funeral?

1. They aren't a good investment. The interest they generate is minimal. The plan contributor has little control over where or how the money is invested.

2. There are scams out there. You will need to:

- Ensure the funds are held either in an income trust or as a part of an insurance policy at a recognized Canadian Financial Institution covered under the CDIC (Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation).
- Ensure the funeral home is a licensed funeral provider and is licensed under the Prearranged Funeral Act. In Alberta, check out www.afsrb.ab.ca/PrearrangingaFuneral.htm
- Confirm with the funeral home that you can transfer your prepaid arrangement anywhere in Canada.
- Keep track of the policy and let your family know where it is.

Overall, is prepaying a good idea?

I don't think so. If you're looking for tax free growth and think you have a few years, the money would best be put in a TFSA (Tax Free Savings Account). At least that way, you still have the control over how the money is invested and it's there when needed. You can still prearrange your funeral so that your wishes are carried out how you'd like.

Before we leave the difficult, but important subject of funerals.. anything else we should bear in mind?

Lastly, if you have a loved one in assisted living of any type, you need to let that facility know your wishes well in advance. You must be aware that these facilities do NOT have a morgue, so if you were out of town or unreachable during a death, obviously the costs would go up for transportation to a storage facility.

Next week, we'll tackle the dollars and cents of long-term care, the financial issues of when a spouse has to move out, OAS, AB seniors benefit and more.