Postcard from Canada 1

What you should know about TAX FREE SAVING ACCOUNT (TFSA)

I didn't know anything about TFSA until 2011, even though it has existed since 2009. How do I know about TFSA? Well, I received a letter from my bank promoting TFSA with a very interest-ing rate of 2.5% for a limited time. Since it was pretty interest-ting, I did some research on it and I eventually opened a TFSA account!

How it works?
Simple. Save up to $5000 every year tax free. Once withdraw, you won't be able to invest another sum of money until the next year. For example: you invest $4000 in first year, took out $2000 for vacation in the same year, leaving $2000 in the account. Advise: Do not do anything else until the anniversary year. On the second year, you can deposit up to $10000 max in the account. With $2000 in the account from previous year, you can put in another $8000 to make it up to $10000. Understand?

Since this program was initiated in 2009, and you decided that you would give it a try. You can certainly save up to $15000. Remember: The maximum amount you can invest is $5000 per year. $10000 for two years. $15000 for three years. And you shall do the rest of the calculation. The Catch? Take note if you bank would charge you for withdraw money and how much. Personally, I had chosen PC Financial again because of their no fees policy.

TFSA aka Tax Free Saving Account implies that you won't have to pay taxes for the interests you earn in your account. It really doesn't matter if you don't have too much money saved in the bank. But hey, if you have tons of money saved in the bank, that would make quite a difference. Most TFSA offers a better interest rate that regular saving accounts which is a bonus. The differences between TFSA and regular saving accounts? I would say a better interest rate and not taxable interest income. So after weighting the pros and cons, I eventually think it would be beneficial to open one up to test. It doesn't hurt me in any ways.

A lot of people also debate the differences between RRSP and TFSA, which one is better etc. For me as a student, I think TFSA would be more realistic. Reminder, I am a student, I am not ready to save up money for RRSP! I am saving because I will have to buy a house, a car, vacation etc. Not saying that RRSP is not worth investing, but that would cross my mind when I am 20 close to retirement? And I am now too young for that TEEHEE!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TFSA! Visit  http://www.tfsa.gc.ca/ for more detailed information. By the way, I think TFSA is only eligible in Canada. Oops.

TILL THEN!

2011 WISHLIST

Mercedes GLK CAD 45000

Macbook Pro CAD 1350

Iphone 4/Blackberry Apollo/Sony Ericsson Satio/Samsung Galaxy CAD 500

LVDamier Azure Canvas Neverfull MM USD775

Tendence Watch CAD 400

Air Ticket to HOME SWEET HOME  CAD 2000

Braces CAD 9500

Mine would be something like this! Woo...gross! I am way better than this!

Short-sight ness correction laser treatment

Inspiration, Motivation, Encouragement 加油！

• Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith.
• If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?
• Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life
• Don't be trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other people's thinking
• Don't let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice
• Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

• 别人生气， 我不气， 气出病来没人理
• 人生本是一场梦，为了小事莫生气
• 风起云过年又年， 得得失失要乐之
• 笑看世间事， 前路我自走
• 虽无家财万贯， 喜有笑而开颜
• 来如风， 去如微尘
• 知足常乐，终生不辱
• 漆黑尽头总见天， 艰苦之后化云烟
• 是非终日有， 不听自然无
• 人和自得乐， 家和万事兴
• 知福福常在， 怡然自心安
• 不经一番汉彻骨， 怎得梅花扑鼻香
• 纵然身处风雷雨， 坚信朝阳必再遇

Earning money online using Swagbucks!

Came across SWAGBUCKS in 2010 and has since become a loyal "friend" of swagbucks.

What is Swagbucks?

An online website that allows you to earn points from searching, voting, doing survey, which you could then redeem your accumulated points into money! I redeem my points into amazon gift certificate. So far, I have accumulated 65 dollars!!! I need $110 to get my baby g-watch!! No far away now!

Is it a scam?

No. I am not a person who would not randomly submit my personal information online or trust any online website. However, I trusted this website. I have used it and I guaranteed that it is not a scam for sure!

Can anyone participate?

Unfortunately I think only those reside in Canada and United States can take advantage of it. Maybe they have changed the rule, but do go and take a look! It is worth it for you to earn some unexpected money buy spending some times online.

How do I get started?

click on this link http://swagbucks.com/refer/ladycaca Then you will  have 30 points once you complete the registration. With 450 points, you get $5 amazon gift card. So why not.

Give it a try now! Click on the above link NOW!

Car Obsession- Acura TL

So...I was thinking of what kind of used car I would like to get once I graduated. I have thought of

2001 Honda civic coupe

2010 Toyota

2010 Nissan Versa Hatchback

After that, I moved my attention to

Volkswagen Golf (A German Brand Car)

Volvo C30

And most recently is ACURA TL! It really fits my style! Especially the 3rd generation! Deng Deng Deng Deng

They are so cool right! If you say no, I will punch your face! I love love love love its simplicity, yet not losing its elegance! After doing some research, it is actually a luxury version of Honda! Knew it, that is why both brand cars always look alike. Anyway, the 3rd generation ranges from 2004-2007/8. But damn, the price range starts at least at 15000-20000! Argh...I can use those money to buy a brand new Honda fit or Nissan Versa. But I think I would regret if I opt for those cheap little cars. And I would watch the youngsters driving Acura TL with 120% of jealousy! Seriously, I want an Acura TL. I would be so damn proud to drive this car. It is not too big not too small. I love the design! I love the interior! I love the exterior! I love the tail light. I love everything. I think it is so cool that everyone would be looking at me when I am driving Acura. At least Acura is a luxury car brand I think. The cons: expensive insurance payment considering its luxury line, expensive gas having to get premium gas instead of regular, expensive filter, oil change and winter tire change?

Whatever, if you love it, you should get it, then you won't regret.

GIC - Guaranteed Investment Certificate

What is GIC?
GIC also called Guaranteed Investment Certificate is a way to invest money in a short/long period of time to get some profit. They usually have higher interest rate than the regular savings account but it all depends.

How does GIC works?
You save a certain amount of money in the bank under GIC, meaning you are lending the money to the bank, so the bank will pay you back some interest. The bank will lend your money to others with higher interest rate and that is how the bank is making profit from it. However, you might not have access to those money. If you need the money and you withdraw the money, you will be subjected to penalty. (unless you choose the redeemable/cashable GIC).

Advise?
If you have $3000. You would put $1000 for a year, another $1000 for two years, and another $1000 for three years. That way you would be able access some amount of money if you need to or you can reinvest it for another year.

Who pays highest Rates?
http://money.canoe.ca/rates/gics.html

Personally I would choose PC financial. However, there is not a HUGE difference in my current saving account rates with the GIC rate, so I am not going to invest in any money just yet. 

I don't bake. I don't cook.

I don't know how to cook, but I have decided to face up to it the way Western society has taught me: I am going to blame my childhood.

I was filled with a fear of the deadly stove, and especially the child-killing pot of hot oil. Kids are always curious, so I touched the hot pot with my bare finger, which later I broke into tear running into the room, covering myself with blanket, sobbing over my red, swollen finger. With fear sowed in my heart, I approached the stove in my early gingerly, like it was a lion at feeding time.

I don't think the fear had summoned me. I do cook once in a blue moon (RARELY) when being forced. I cook instant noodles, boil eggs, steam rice, fried rice, fried eggs, self-made sushi, bimbibap...only the easiest things and of course some food I am craving for. I just don't think it is fun at all. It is such a tiring work and you waste so much time to prepare one single dish, and that you will have to clean it up. Nah...not for me. 

Headache Remedies?

I am studying for finals tomorrow and having a headache at the same time which really doesn't help in absorbing the information I have just read. Googled some headache remedies and the most popular ones is to drink plenty of water... So I did the experiment... the headache is still there =(

I guess I will have to use my old remedy that would work = SLEEP! But damn, I was planning to sacrifice my sleep hours to study! Sigh...I will have to go to bed soon and I will probably wake up late as usual even though I set my two alarms clocks 3 hours ahead.

The test tomorrow is just nerve-wrecking!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I didn't do so well on the quizzes or the presentation, so the finals is scaring meeeeeeeeeee................help.............i need to study, but i want to sleep...and the damn internet is so distracting!

Future Plan

Let's start with a story of a friend of my friend. She is the same age as me except that she is 4 months older. Like me, she is Asian, but from Hong Kong. Like me, she was in nursing. Like me, she might not like nursing. The differences? She has graduated smoothly and successfully in June 2010. What a shame that we are the same age, but she is 2 years ahead of me. She continued to pursue her dream as a dentist and started another degree of dentistry hygiene in Toronto. I thought she was getting her master in nursing, but she didn't. She decided to change her major.

I have a choice now of having to get my nursing courses completed by the end of this year. The only sacrifice is not having a long summer break. After lots of thinking, drawing, erasing, writing and sketching, it turned out that summer class would not be too bad. Besides lecture class every Monday and a 4-day-clinical for 4 weeks, I can still enjoy the rest of the summer. Then I can proceed with my final focus in some field and get it all done in Fall 2011. Perhaps I can graduated in December? Is it possible? I don't know. I don't know how much I will have to pay in April for all these courses. I don't even know if I will pass this block. I don't know if my job would allow me to take so many days off.

If 2011 is the year of full study. 2012 is the year where I can do all kinds of stuff I have been wanting to do.

1. Escaping winter in Canada and going home for the very first time to celebrate Chinese New Year. I miss the damn hot humid weather and the "meriah" environment!

2. I will get a CAR! I will go with a cheap second hand car, so I can still survive paying low insurance every month. After 25, I will get a brand new car! A mini cooper? Infiniti G37? BMW 325i? Audi A4? Lexus RX? Acura TL? Mercedes GLK?

3. Get a FULL-TIME JOB! And apply for permanent resident!

4.. Then I will buy parents a house with cool exterior and interior design? Haha just kidding. Parents will be responsible for the down payment and I will take care of the rest. I am always worried with my parents still living in the wooden house. The thoughts just scared me! It is unsafe to live there! What if somethings happened? And the neighbourhood is turning into Kampung Melayu! Anyway, I want them to move out from there as soon as possible! Then, my sister should get my parents a Myvi? Hahaha

5. Traveling to US! And Cancun, Mexico!!!! And Europe! Oh...maybe I should go traveling with my parents first too. I can bring them to KL, if my sis is studying in KL at that time and she can be our tour guide. LOL. Or we can go to Singapore, or Sabah!

6. Saving up for future studies and deciding which major I want eventually. Hate the fact, I am now wasting so much time and money studying something I have no passion with. I hate you NURSING!

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it.” – William Author Word