~ Page 6B The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, March 4, 1992 sCracks in your home might be burning a hole in your pocket The costs of keeping up a home seem to rise every year and homeowners find themselves putting off vacations in order to meet expenses. But there is a money-saving measure all home- owners can take that makes those sacrifices unnecessary: insulation. ‘How can you tell if your home is leaking energy dollars? With ~;. Summer just around the comer, $A sure that the money you're spend- Ring on cooling (and, in winter, on’ ‘Se heating) literally isn’t going out “pethe window. Pty + CUSTOM MADE ing, and between corner joints and flashings, to name just a few. So, it is especially important to check carefully for those places where wasteful leakage might be occurring and make sure they are sealed effectively. Even if the walls and attic of your house are adequately insu- lated, you still might be losing energy through random cracks and through spaces around doors and windows. In fact, these often over-looked areas can account for at last 38 per cent of the energy heat loss from typically insulated homes. Amazing as it might seem, even more amazing is the fact that, of all areas in the home these are among the simplest and the least costly to insulate effec- tively—~yet, too often, they are sumply WINDOW BLINDS + WALLCOVERINGS + GENERAL PAINT QUALITY PRODUCTS OPrcnm. PAINT “Your Home Fashion Centre.” For, while other types of insu- lation themselvés might be barrier against heat loss. And, for the environmentally ec person, C ‘pe’ , and usually req a professional's expertise to install, the small cracks and spaces which can cause large energy losses can be sealed easily even by the most inexperienced do-it yourselfer, thanks to Convenience Products’ Touch ‘n Foam, an all- Purpose foam insulation and sealant which provides, quite simply, the most economical method of eliminating drafts, heat loss and air infiltration through cracks and openings in the home Unlike caulking material and 613 Columbia Ave., ate O | Castlegar, B.C. PAINT © WALLCOVERINGS © Ph: 365-6214 Protect against air infiltration and reduce cooling and heatin costs by sealing areas where leakage: might be occurring. Illustrated above are some of the common areas to insulate: around windows, vents, pipes and electrical service connections. is RAVI ILA Shs eRe Bieta Cand GRASS ROOTS GARDENING * Pruning * * F Appi (fully th d) * COMPLETE LAWN CARE PROGRAMS * Power Raking * *® Lawn Aerating * * Turf & Seeding Installations * Call Now - 365-8434 other , Tough *n Foam expands as it cures to fill uneven spaces and to create an effective "a" Five steps Products now offers an ozone- safe Touch 'n Foam insulation. Because it will never shrink, dry, harden or pull away, Touch ‘n Foam offers the homeowner excellent protection against air and moisture infiltration, And Touch 'n Foam is extremely eco- nomical—so economical in fact, that one 12-ounce can is equiva- lent in sealing power to 25 tubes of caulking material. Also, waste is minimized because because of a unique dispenser that delivers, at the touch of a fingertip, the correct amount of sealant for each area to be filled. i to choosing a roofing contractor VINYL REPAIR ¢ LEATHER © ENGRAVING 1116- 6TH STREET (Behind Oglow Building) CASTLEGAR, B.C, VIN 2E3 TEL: (604) 365-7787 FAX: (604) 365-3295 Putting on a new roof is typically one of the most expensive improvements homeowners can undertake and, like any big investment, it pays to be careful. Here are some tips to help you choose a qualified Contractor and to help ensure your satisfaction with the job: + Ask for references from friends and neighbours who have recently re- roofed. Otherwise, check your local telephone book. In either case, make abso- hutely sure that any contractor you consider is licensed and insured. + Ask for roof inspection and a written quote from at least three con- tractors. Also, ask each for references in your area so you can look at their work. It’s also a good idea to check to see if any complaints have been made against the contractor. + Before signing a contract, make sure it covers all the work that will, or might be required, including the possible tear-off of old shingles, replacement of gutters and downspouts, removal of debris, etc. * Make sure you understand your consumer protection rights. The manufacturer will offer a limited warranty against product defects for a specified period of time, but it is up to the contractor to guarantee that the shingles have been properly applied. Both the product warranty and the workmanship guarantee should be good for at least 20 years. + Don’t accept contract terms that require you to pay the full amount before all the work is complete. A rez able and typical ar is to pay one-third when the contract is signed, one-third when the actu- al work begins and one-third upon satisfactory completion. ACKERMAN CONSTRUCTION Renovations + Free Estimates w Construction + Residential + Commercial 1192 Columbia Ave., Trail + 368-8860 ad #26 a ES Business news? 365-5579 WEDNES March 4, 1992 Money management seen as a to I am pleasantly surprised to sec how well people are managing their finances these days. I have just completed a series of money shows, speaking to more than 5,000 people over the past few weeks. These seminars have become annual events. But this year I was particularly impressed by the level of finan- cial planning sophistication among the attendees. Yet when I told some of these people — everyday folk - I thought they were doing very well, they were surprised to hear my comments. Take the young woman barely in her 30s. “I have a very silly question,” she said almost apologetically. “I don’t really understand anything about most of the investments listed on your handout. How can I learn about them? “My husband and I have paid off our mortgage and don't know what we should be doing with our money.” First, I told her, you two have done very well to own a home without a mortgage so early in your lives, For most people, buy- ing a home is the first step in a financial plan and paying off the mortgage is the second step. “You may not think what you've accomplished is remark- able, but you're well ahead of most of your contemporaries,” I told the young woman. She was Pleased to hear my comments, but I could tell she still didn't think what she and her husband had done was any-thing out of the ordinary. I went on to suggest she check adult education courses on invest- ing, read the weekend edition of The Financial Post or Globe and Mail (for its Report on Business) and buy (or borrow) Canadian books on financial planning in general and investing in particu- lar. Others at the seminars were involved in revenue property, busii and other i Many people had their own small companies. Here's a sample of some of the other questions that came up dur- ing the seminars. “Should I contribute to my RRSP or pay off my mortgage — especially as I can now postpone my RRSP contributions and catch Mike Grenby Syndicated Columnist up later?” As a generalization, and with- out going through all the calcula- tions, I suggest contributing to the RRSP - provided you then use the tax saved to pay down the mortgage. “Can I claim business expenses even if my business isn't making any money yet?” As long as you have a “reason- able expectation of profit,” backed up by a sound business plan, go ahead. Ideally, you will operate as a sole proprietorship at this stage so you can then deduct these as a busi loss and claim them against your other income. “My wife started a business but has no other income so can't claim her losses. Can I go back and put the business in my name so I can claim the losses against my employment income?” I wouldn't advise it. While Revenue Canada now allows you to go back as far as 1985 to request a reassessment, I some- how think the department wouldn't look too favorably on this one “Is this a good time to borrow against our home to invest in rev- enue property?” It's always a good time to look, especially during uncertain times like these. Try to find an und€r- valued place you can fix up to generate more rent. The rental income (perhaps from several tenants) should cover all expens- es. And find a place you'll be happy to hang on to for up to 10 years, in case prices drop in the short-term. “If T give my adult daughter a mterest loan to help her and Review confirms poor fiscal management SUBMITTED inflated fiscal forecasts and a The first reports of an indepen- shadow b y.” One report focuses on govern- dent fi review, released today by Finance and Corporate Relations Minister Glen Clark, confirm the previous government misled British Columbians with manipulative financial reporting to cover up poor fiscal manage- ment. “The so-called $395-million deficit was just the beginning,” Clark said. “The report uncovers more smoke and mirrors — ment p Despite the for- mer administration's commitment to reduce the size of government, there are now 2,200 more govern- ment employees than in 1984 Approximately 8,500 government staff are not included in the offi- cial employee count. Another 1,400 people work for the gov- ernment indirectly under personal service contracts while almost 2,600 perform privatized services Sale Dates: nace 4th Oo March 14th We’re Overstocked! Come in right now to get unbelievable savings ona great assortment of floor coverings. LOCATED IN CASTLEGAR’S INDUSTRIAL 4370 Minto Rd., Castlegar Mon. - Sat. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Business Glance P“Siifiday dining retoms 2'Gebriel’s Restaurant will now be Open on Sundays. i Don't settie for semi-service - Columbia Truck Repair, a branch office of Columbia Truck Repair in Trail has opened its new shop in Castlegar and promises top quality service. Cater- ing to commercial truck repairs, two mechanics will be on duty at thelr new premises at the back of the old Boundary Electric Building on 14th Ave. Dennis Stach, the owner.and manager promises high quality, first class work at reasonable rates. Columbia Truck Repair is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week for emergencies while regular hours are Monday to Satur- day 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ‘ Zoning changes ~ First Allied Development Corporation of North. Vancouver has applied for an amendment to the bylaw for property beside the Sandman to change from residential to commercial. Could it be another shopping mall is on the hori- zon? Birthday bucks — Janice Kelley at Kel Print had a most suc- cessful birthday buck promotion. More than 245 birthday bucks were issued between early January and her birthday February 25 and Janice was pleased with the return, It was so successful that Kel Print plans another birthday buck celebra- tion in October for Janice’s husband Bill. Hiring students? If you are hiring a student this Summer and are interested in having part of the costs. subsidized, applica- tions for Challenge 92 are available at the Canada Employment Centre in Trail. Deadline for employers to submit i Is early in March. Call today! They're cool and environmentally friendly! — Arrow Lakes Air Conditioning of Castlegar is the first to report that they have the equip at lable, in C. ar to er freon and CFC's from refrigerator and cooling systems. With their equip- ment Arrow Lakes Air conditioning is able to pump out the coolant into a cylinder to be sent back to the manufacturer to be recovered and then reused. This process protects the envi- fonment and red ozone depletion in the Pp . Con gretulations Arrow Lakes Air Conditioning on being so to the ; Por Sign of the times - The Cedar Crest Mobile Home Park.on Columbia Ave in Castlegar (beside Biue Top Burger) has a new, contemporary sign. How much is a job worth? World Business Magazine reports that a business or industry creating 10 new jobs in an area results in, of average, seven new families, $190,000 In per- Sonal Income added to the area and $86,000 in increased retail sales. One new business employing 50 people provides ‘enough cash flow to support one more retail establishment. - Petes. aaa ee exclusively for the government. Said Clark, “These numbers show that under the previous gov- ernment, employment controls were ineffective and easily cir- cumvented, Such personnel prac- tices aren’t fair to the shadow bureaucracy who have no basic employee benefits, nor to British Columbians who were led to believe the size of government was shrinking “The good news is that we are now getting the real story. Now we can start working with accu- Rule numbers to begin reducmny deficits while reshaping spending pnorities to protect essential ser- vices and jobs for British Columbians. It won't be easy, but we're determined to lead this country in providing services to People and sound financial man- agement.” According to the reports, the former government's Balanced Budget Plan — a five year plan to balance the budget by 1995/96 tabled with last year’s budget — assumed a $600-million increase in tax revenues for 1992/93 even though no tax measures were identified to raise that amount “We already knew the previ- ous administration allowed spending to run away at double- digit levels while revenues were down and economic growth was slow,” Clark added “It’s clear that they inflated their revenue forecasts to make it look like they were moving towards a balanced budget. But,t he truth is they weren't devoting enough resources to collect rev- enues effectively, and would need to introduce new revenues to keep up with spending.” The reports revealed a number of poor fiscal management poli- We Want to Make Your Business Look Gooc GOLDRUSH Silver Rattle Antiques 301-11 Ave. Castlegar (in Tulips Building) 365-5191 cies — failure to adopt according policies suggested by profession- al accounting bodies, ineffective financial controls and insufficient resources devoted to revenue col- lection and debt management. The independent financial review, commissioned by the finance minister in November 1991, is being conducted by two independent accounting firms, Peat Marwick Stevenson & Kel- logg, and Deloitte & Touche. The first reports covered eight issues: + financial legislation; * personnel, shadow FTEs (full-time equivalents) and collec- tive bargaining; * revenues and recoveries; + forecasting and fiscal plan- ning: * accounting policies; * treasury function: + federal/provincial cost_shar- See REVIEW 8B her husband buy a home, can that Save me tax?” You aren't allowed to claim any deductions. But if you have less investment income, you will pay less tax. Be sure both daugh- ter and son-in-law sign the Promissory note or other debt Obligation. “I receive a pension and am still doing some work on the side How much can I put into an RRSP?” For the 1992 tax year, you may p priority contribute 18 per cent of your earned income in 1991, up to $12,500. If you have a spouse, you may also put up to $6,000 of the pension from your former employer (not CCP or OAS) you receive in 1992 into a spousal RRSP. “Can I really pay my 10-year- old $25 an hour to do computer work for my business?” Yes, if that’s what you'd pay an outsider to do the job. bade fe BREAKFAST - 2 slices french toast if rT iT lec with 2 sauasages “ A \Restaurant JA LUNCH - Jumbo hot dog with h made french fries your choice $ 2 = Up ty 1004 Columbia Avenue + Phone 365-815 30 Days........6%4% Anne Mann FINANCIAL heck an re ! Cheek znd Compa Fetes ADVISOR We Will Be Open Sat., Feb. 22. Please Phone for an Appointmentdad” PLANVEST| 428-2231 (Creston) 365-81 88 (Castlegar) If you are retired, possess business experience and think you would gain satisfaction in ‘sharing it with owners and Managers of small businesses, consider becoming a counsellor with CASE (Counselling Assistance to ‘Smait Enterprises). whigh cies 4 CASE Is a management counselling ~ service available to established businesses as well as those just getting started. If you feel you would be interested in Providing your services as a CASE counsellor, please forward your resumé to: Barbara Are you a retired business person? ng elling, FEDB 30 - 11th Ave., S. Cranbrook, B.C. VLC 2P1 Federal Business Banque fédérale Development Bank de développement ® Canadi Presented to: At ERSRAVAS Excellence in Service Award All The Staff Taylor’s Place This award will be presented every week to someone in Castlegar who shows extraordinary service to his/her customers or clients. The recipients will receive an award plaque to keep courtesy of Kats Trophys and a lunch for 2, value to $20.00, courtesy of the Fireside Dining Room. We'd like everyone in Castlegar to know there is an “Excellence in Service" in their community, and to congratulate each of thém personally. If you know of someone that offers “Excellence in Service," call me, Jon Jarrett at 365-5266, or drop a letter at the Castlegar Sun with your suggestion. « ~ WY The Castiggar Sun ii