Skype's new options call for refinement

 By PETER SVENSSON

new products, Skype has made it easier to make Internet calls from home phones, for savings on international calls and potentially also domestic ones. But compared to other Internet calling options for the home, Skype's solution is a piecemeal and complicated way to save money. All the same, some Skype fans may appreciate the new cordless phone with a built-in Skype function.

With two new products, Skype has made it easier to make Internet calls from home phones, for savings on international calls and potentially also domestic ones.
But compared with other Internet calling options for the home, Skype's solution is a piecemeal and complicated way to save money. All the same, some Skype fans may appreciate the new cordless phone with a built-in Skype function.
We tested the phone along with the new Freetalk Connect-Me phone adapter, which Skype sells for $40. That price includes an hour of calling. For an additional $20, you can get free calls to the U.S. and Canada for a year. Calls to people on Skype (as opposed to those reached by dialing a number) are free, no matter where they are.
The adapter is a small box that plugs into a power outlet. You connect cables to your Internet router, your phone jack and your home phone.
When you make a Skype call, the adapter diverts the call from the external phone line to your Internet connection. But first you have to preprogram the adapter to recognize certain speed-dial numbers as corresponding to Skype contacts or phone numbers. Because it's truly a "black box" — with no buttons or screen — you reach it through your computer's Web browser.
This clunky setup prevents you from making impromptu Skype calls. Because your phone isn't designed to work with Skype, you can't access your Skype address book directly on the handset, or see who's online to take your calls. And because home phones don't have cameras, you won't be able to do video calls.
On the plus side, the phone lets you receive Skype calls at any time, without having your computer on.
But what really sinks the Skype adapter is the sound quality. On calls to international and domestic phones, there were odd hissing noises in the background and voices were muffled. One person I called heard her own echo, a common phenomenon on poorly configured Internet phone systems.
The audio improved greatly, to the level of a good cellphone call, when I ditched the adapter for the other recent Skype release, the GE Digital Cordless Expandable phone. It costs $70 with 400 minutes of calls thrown in. For another $20, you get a year of calls to the U.S. and Canada and 200 minutes of calls to international phones.
It looks like any cordless phone, except it has a prominent "Skype" button. It can make and receive regular phone calls, and the buttons and screen make it a lot easier to make Skype calls than it is with the adapter. The phone shows you which of your Skype contacts are online, and when you dial a number, you can choose whether to route it through Skype or the phone company.
It sounds good to be able to choose between the boring old phone company and the jazzy new Internet guerrilla for every call. But how much money will that really save you?
Most plans from phone and cable companies already include unlimited domestic calling, so there isn't much point to running those over Skype. Their international rates, though, are good. And of course, calls to Skype contacts are free.
But if you call the same few people overseas over and over again, and they're not big Skype users, there's another way of making cheap Skype calls from your home phone, without the use of an adapter or special phone. You can sign up for the To Go service on Skype's website. If you give it an international number that you like to call, it will give you a local number back. Call that number from your home phone, and Skype connects your international call at its rates, rather than the phone company's. It's like a calling card, but without the hassle of entering a bunch of numbers on the phone. (A competitor called Rebtel has a similar service.)
The drawback to Skype To Go is that you can only call phone numbers — it won't connect you to Skype users for free.
Now, it looks like you could reap some really big savings by eliminating your home-phone service altogether in favor of the Skype phone or adapter. After all, Skype charges about as much for a year's worth of service as a phone or cable company does for a month.
But Skype isn't set up as a replacement for a landline, and it points this out at every opportunity. For one thing, you can't call 911 on it. Also, Skype doesn't give you a phone number, unless you pay $18 per three-month period. Without a phone number, you can make outgoing calls, but you can't receive them. The exception would be any Skype call routed to your username. Try giving that to the doctor's office! And even if you pay for a phone number, it will be a new one — you can't move your existing home number over to Skype.
See what I mean about a piecemeal solution? It's like you have to pay for every little piece of the puzzle.
To really break free from the phone or cable company, you need a full-service Internet calling product, like those by Vonage or Ooma. Both support 911 calls, and let you move over a phone number. Ooma's sound is nearly indistinguishable from a regular landline.
Skype is a victim of its limited ambitions when it comes to home-phone service. It wants to be an Internet phone company, but doesn't want to bother with all the regulation and nitty-gritty details that come with the "phone company" part.
It will be interesting to see if Microsoft, which is buying Skype for $8.5 billion, will take it in a different direction.

Making money

By Postmedia News

Morning at the last factory in America that actually makes something begins with 18 of us poor folks on benches, waiting for the 10 a.m. tour.
Many of us are out-of-towners and a few, to my surprise, never have been in Washington, D.C. before. But it's a pretty safe bet that we've all been customers of this country's most unstoppable assembly line.
First, we are shown a video that details all the measures being taken here to ensure impeccable quality control. We are told the building we are visiting cost a whopping $3 million to construct, back in 1914. And we learn about the Super Orlof Intaglio Press and the Koebau-Giori-DeLaRue Super Simultan 212 roller that we're going to see when we go up on the catwalks and look down on the production floor.
"The quality of our product is superior," the film's narrator boasts.
Then we are told if we dare to snap a single picture during the tour, the guide will take our cameras away.
We ride up an escalator and march along a narrow hallway to a vantage point above a whirling, roaring, monster machine that sloshes with bilious lava and hums with fiduciary pride. Down we stare with awe and avarice.
The beast is making $20 bills!
Welcome to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, established by Abraham Lincoln early in the Civil War to standardize U.S. paper currency and render null and void the notes in circulation in the rebellious South. The war ended in 1865, but the Super Orlof never stopped rolling. Tourists are admitted every 15 minutes. They don't dare charge a dime.
The blue-robed printers below us are a devilish crew. We note a sign above the counting-house floor:
"TOMORROW ONLY
FREE SAMPLES."
And another:
"JUST THINK HOW I FEEL
I PRINTED MY LIFETIME SAL-ARY
IN A FEW MINUTES."
An affable young guide with Ashton Kutcher hair named Derek Mohlman is leading us along. He tells us this ancient plant - and a newer one in Texas - will continue to stamp out up to 38 million $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills a day, every day, until Ben Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve, waves the white flag.
"If you have any questions about inflation," Mohlman informs us, "take it to the Federal Reserve. We just print whatever they order."
Now we see a pallet carrying two shoulder-high stacks of Franklins for delivery to the central bank, and from there, inevitably, to the oligarchs of Moscow, the sweatshops of Shanghai and the gentle lords of Tijuana.
Each pile contains 10,000 sheets of 32 bills each: that's $64 million in one swallow, or 1/218,750th of America's national debt.
It has become a popular diversion here to try to visualize the sum of $14,200,000,000,000 in comprehensible terms. For example: a mountain of $100 bills as long and wide as two football fields and stacked as high as the armpit of the Statue of Liberty.
"After the printing and checking process is complete," Mohlman joshes, "the bills are bundled and shrink-wrapped and brought downstairs to await pickup by Bill Gates."
The workshop tour concludes with the four most dangerous words in the English vocabulary: "Exit through gift shop."

Down there, I meet a 76-year-old first-time Washingtonian named Ed Urban from little Blackwell, Oklahoma and ask him what he thinks this country should do to get out of debt.
"Well, I have a lot of wild theories," says Urban, a home builder who, like nearly everyone else in this country, seems to have been waiting impatiently for decades for someone to come along and interview him.
"For example, my experience here is that the whole population spends a lot of time sitting in traffic jams, just getting mad and burning gas and wasting money. Why doesn't the government move some of these big agencies to smaller towns?"
"Because then they would be BIG towns, Ed," I venture. But Urban is unswayed. He's a tall gent, with a belt buckle the size of Tulsa on his trousers and, he confides, more than a $1,000 dollars in sawbucks and C-notes in his pocket.
"Whenever I go to Vegas or come East," he says, "I roll up enough to get by."
"Here's another crazy idea," the elder Sooner theorizes. "All our jobs and our manufacturing have gone overseas. Wouldn't it make sense to pay a little more for a shirt or a cellphone or a pair of shoes and keep those jobs at home?"
Over by the souvenir counter, which offers Ben Franklin neckties and Christmas ornaments made from shredded fifties, I meet a young couple named Pickens from Sacramento, California: Jonathan's a firefighter and Amy's a traumaroom nurse. They've got about a $140 between them, but plastic gets them by.
"You just CAN'T keep printing money," Amy says, a plea that is ignored by the shop-floor workers in the blue smocks, all of whom are wearing earplugs. "It just decreases the value of the money that we already have."
Amy has been to Washington before, but it is Jonathan's first time and he admits that he choked up when he saw the original Star-Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History.
They tell me that they are registered Republicans with a healthy distaste for welfare, Medicaid, Food Stamps and other programs that, they say, waste billions of good, green dollars and encourage a culture of sloth.
"People get paid not to work and they get medical care for free and they still abuse me and yell at me and hit me," Amy says. Then she notes that one of her own relatives has stopped searching for a job because it would deprive her of unemployment insurance and food stamps.
"My dad never earned more than $30,000 a year doing construction," her husband nods. "But he never put us on welfare. Friends would bring us groceries. The deacon of our church would help us buy food."
This week's news that the Department of Justice paid $16 each for muffins to be served at a seminar in 2009 just adds to the tourists' indigestion. But at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the gripes of a bankrupt populace can't be heard over the roar of the machines.
"We all want to see our factories get back to production again," Jonathan Pickens is saying, "but our production can't just be the production of more government."
Source http://www.ottawacitizen.com/

Peter Boutell, Lending a Hand: When does refinancing make sense?

This week rates have been as low as they have ever been, and lower rates translate to lower payments and therefore, any homeowner with a mortgage should be exploring their financing options. Homeowners with Home Equity Lines of Credit, homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages, homeowners who would like to reduce their mortgage payment, homeowners who want to create some cash for a vacation or a project or college education and homeowners who have the goal of paying off their mortgages sooner should be meeting with a mortgage professional to find out what is the best course of action.
Just because rates may be lower than your current rate does not mean that refinancing makes sense. The downside to refinancing is that you will have to pay lender and escrow fees. My general rule is if a borrower can save one full percent in rate, spending the money on the closing costs will make sense. This of course is dependent on several factors like the size of the loan, the number of years you plan on keeping the loan in place, the number of years the current loan has been in place, your personal long term financial strategy, etc.
Fees can be paid in a few different ways. They can be absorbed by accepting a higher rate; for example, if a 30-year fixed rate at 4 percent required $5,000 in closing costs, a lender may be willing to pay all of the closing costs if you were to accept a rate of 4.5 percent. These refinance costs can also be covered by increasing the loan amount by $5,000 or the homeowner may choose to pay the costs separately from savings.
Refinancing is not the only way to save money. The good news is that by simply increasing the mortgage payments on the existing loan, the homeowner may be able to save big bucks. The calculations necessary to determine whether or not a refinance makes sense are easy and straight forward but do require a financial calculator and a knowledgeable mortgage professional you can trust.
Be cautious of online and direct mail solicitations; these companies may not have your best interests in mind. Be sure you work with someone you can count on and who will be there when you need them.
If you already have lower payments with an adjustable rate mortgage or an interest-only option on your current mortgage, do not let this opportunity pass you by without taking into consideration that the honeymoon period of your current mortgage will be coming to an end, it is just a matter of when!
Homeowners who are tempted to take advantage of these historically low interest rates should first make a decision on who they will count on as their mortgage professional, review their current situation with that person and then make an informed decision as to whether or not a refinance is the best course of action or not. Take note, income and asset verification is required for all loans, expect to be asked for two years of tax returns and W-2s, current paystubs and bank statements. There are also some loan programs that allow homeowners with little or no equity to refinance.
Peter Boutell is a local mortgage consultant. Send questions to Lending a Hand,' 1535 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062, or fax 425-1044. E-mail him at peter@santacruzhomefinance.com. Archived columns are available at www.peterboutell.com.
Source http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/

Money to replace things that make a house a home

By Jeff Alexander
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers

CATSKILL — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched an $8 million appliance grant program for those who sustained property damage as a result of Tropical Storm Irene.
“This program will cover the costs for critical household appliances and help New Yorkers who suffered property damage to save money as they rebuild after the storms,” Cuomo’s office said in a statement.
Grants will be a fixed amount for different appliances and could cover up to 100 percent of the costs of the purchase. If the cost of the appliance exceeds the cap, the program will pay a portion of the total costs up to the cap.
The list of eligible equipment, appliances and rebate levels is as follows: refrigerators $350 (Energy Star), clothes washers $250 (Energy Star), clothes dryers with moisture sensor $250 (Energy Star), dehumidifiers $100 (Energy Star), furnace $2,000 (Energy Star), boiler $2,500 (Energy Star), hot water heater tanks $400 (electric-higher efficiency; gas-Energy Star). Purchases of appliances and equipment, with the exception of dehumidifiers, must be for replacement purposes only and purchases covered by insurance or FEMA are not eligible. All grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications can be filed at www.NYSApplianceRebates.com or by calling 1-877-NY-SMART. People should act quickly because the program will continue until funding is no longer available.
“This rebate program will cover most if not all the costs of new equipment purchased helping people stay in their homes and return to life as usual as soon as possible,” said Senator James L. Seward, R-Oneonta.
The program will be administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority(NYSERDA) with funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Seward praised Cuomo for the additional relief the program provides to storm victims.
“Governor Cuomo has shown true leadership in the aftermath of these storms and I look forward to continuing to work together to rebuild communities across our state,” said Seward.
Greene County officials are continuing to work to rebuild communities affected by the storms.
The New York State Attorney General’s Office will continue to hold in-person “office hours” at the Greene County Office Building on Main Street. The next date will be Sept. 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Representatives on hand will be able to provide further information on the household appliance grant. 

Sorry, but that shed is a home: Council bans NHS worker from living in her parents' garden while she saves up mortgage deposit

By Daily Mail Reporter
As most first-time buyers will tell you, getting on the property ladder these days is a minor miracle.
The first major hurdle is getting enough money together for a deposit.
With this in mind, Victoria Campbell and her boyfriend came up with a cunning plan to save cash more quickly – they moved into a rent-free garden shed.

 And the idea might have succeeded, but for Miss Campbell's local council which has ruled that the structure does not provide 'adequate living conditions' and creates an 'undesirable precedent'.
Officials have given her and Bill Warden, 26, nine months to move out or face a fine.
NHS care worker Miss Campbell, 20, and Mr Warden have been living in the shed in Miss Campbell's parents' back garden in Havant, Hampshire, since last September.
They had hoped to save around £20,000 for a deposit on a house within around five years. Miss Campbell makes £7.80 an hour in her job and Mr Warden is a £20,000 a year senior care assistant at a private home.
Miss Campbell said: 'My dream is to live in a three-bedroom home with Bill and start a family but it is so difficult to get on the property ladder these days.
'My parents have one spare room in their house but it is barely big enough to fit a single bed, so it is no use to us.
'I don't want to rent because it feels like we are throwing money away when we could be paying off our debts and saving. Living in a shed seemed like a perfect idea.

'I don't understand why the council are trying to make us move out. If they force us out, we will be homeless and the shed will remain anyway.
'Before we put it up we wrote to all neighbours within a 30-metre radius and did not receive a single complaint.'
The shed is 15ft by 15ft, has double-glazed windows and is heated by one oil radiator. It has no running water but draws electricity from the Campbell family's main three-bedroom terraced house.

The couple sleep on a fold-down sofa and eat their meals and wash in the main house.
Having had her retrospective application to use the shed as accommodation refused, Miss Campbell is now trying to get temporary permission with the help of consultants made up of former local authority planning officers.
Havant councillor Paul Buckley said the authority had been 'sensitive' to Miss Campbell's circumstances.
He said: 'Although planning permission was refused by the committee, it was resolved that a generous compliance period of nine months should be observed to allow Miss Campbell to find alternative accommodation.'

MOBO Awards host Jason Derulo on kilts and driving Scots women mad

By John Dingwall

 JASON Derulo could send Scots women crazy by wearing a kilt when he presents this year’s MOBO Awards in Scotland.
Jason, who is behind hits such as Don’t Wanna Go Home and In My Head, is co-hosting the ceremony at Glasgow’s SECC on October 5 with singer and Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon.
The million-selling star, who admits he loves women almost as much as he loves making music, said: “If it looks good, I’ll wear it – I just might wear the kilt when I get to Scotland if there is not a breeze.
“As far as the women go, if I find the right one I am absolutely ready to settle down.
“I am not necessarily looking but, hey, I’m always here if the girls are looking for me.
“What I look for in a woman is quite subtle. I am old-fashioned in some ways – I want a woman to be selfless and think about others before she thinks of herself.
“That really turns me on — a woman who is polite and says please and thank you. That sort of thing gives her the edge.
“I see beautiful women all the time. But nothing gets to me more than a genuine and sweet woman.
“That’s what I’m afraid of — that women will read what I say I am looking for and will try to be that. But the truth always comes out.”
As for the MOBO Awards, the 21-year-old said: “I’ve never hosted anything but I’m sure it will be great. I have some knowledge of the awards.
“I am doing my research so that I know all the history and everything about them by the time I get to Scotland because it is such an important event.”
The US star is up for Best International Act but Jason insists that he has no idea whether he will be lucky enough to win on the night – especially as the pop scene is currently dominated by female artists.
“It is down to votes from the public, so make sure to vote for me,” he said.
“I’m not one of these Americans that knows nothing about the UK.
“I don’t know everything but I have heard quite a lot and I know there are some great artists like Jessie J who are going to be there.
“The reason so many women are doing well in pop music these days is because women are smarter than men. Men need to catch up.”
Born in Miami to Haitian parents, Jason began writing songs when he was just eight years old and puts his success down to a work ethic that has stayed with him since his childhood.
His parents’ support helped him achieve his dream after his mother sent him to performing arts school.
“I am one of three children, the youngest, so I am kind of spoiled. I got off lightly compared to my brother and sister,” he said.
“I was disciplined a little less than they were. I had always wanted to perform in art schools and study classical music.
“I read music, Shakespeare and musical theatre. I was the arts kid. It popped out of nowhere. When I became eight, I started exploring songwriting.
“It started when I had a crush on this girl named Amy in my class at school. I wanted to give her something but I didn’t know what to get her. I didn’t have any money so I wrote her a song called Crush On You.”
Eventually Jason’s talents and dreams became obvious to those close to him.
He said: “It took a while for my parents to recognise a desire in me and a special work ethic.
“I wanted it so bad and it was not just a hobby. My mum recognised that and put me in performing arts school because she didn’t know what else to do.”
Born Jason Joel Desrouleaux, he changed his name to Derulo to make it easier to say.
He said: “It’s still pronounced Derulo. It’s French.
“My parents were both born in Haiti. My grandfather was ambassador to Jamaica so my father grew up in Jamaica.
“But my mum and my dad both went to college in Miami and that is where they met.
“Miami is still my home. The best thing about my success is not having to look at the price of things.
“I can literally buy food and just live comfortably.
“That’s the biggest factor of having money. It can’t make you happy but it can make you live comfortably.
“We were never poor but I did look at prices.”
Jason will be keeping it in the family when he arrives in Scotland for the MOBO Awards ceremony.
“My sister is a nurse and my brother works with me in production,” he said.
“It is great having him with me and I have my cousin on the road with me as my road manager.”
Speaking of the sacrifices he made growing up, he said: “My family watched me miss out on a lot, so it’s been really awesome for them to watch. And I know they are super happy because they have followed me right from the beginning.
“I didn’t live the average childhood because of the amount of work I was putting in.
“It depends on what you want in life and how far you want to go. To be world-class takes a lot because a lot of people want the same things as you.
“So how do you become the world’s best? How do you do that?
“I lived my profession the entire time. Living it and breathing it from my childhood.
“Every waking moment was spent on me getting better and thinking how I could give myself an edge.
“I still wake up with that mentality of what I can do today to get me that bit closer to the picture of perfection in my mind.
“To say I am ambitious is an understatement,” he added.
“I want to continue on the same path of work ethic because I think that is what it takes to continue moving forward.”
Jason will release his new album Future History on October 10, having sold 17 million singles and one million copies of his self-titled debut album.
The single It Girl, which is out this week, has a video co-starring Gossip Girl actress Tika Sumpter.
Jason said: “I’m through the roof I’m so excited. I recorded the album in LA and I had a list of people I wanted to work with and I did so.
“I was on tour for a long time so to get back in the studio was a great feeling. I am close to all of the tracks on there because they are all from my experiences.
“They have been chosen from hundreds so every single song on this record means something special to me.
“The songs are always about my life experiences. That is the easiest way to write them and I think the most efficient and specific, rather than trying to make it up.”
He added: “On this album I just wanted to be me. I was 19 before and now I’m 21 and I’ve really kind of found myself. So you can hear a whole new person.
“The beauty of art is that you can never reach perfect but if you have a picture of perfection in your mind you can continue to get better.
“I have studied all kinds of art. Theatre was a big part of my life and I was a teacher for a summer.
“I am looking forward to getting involved in films but Future History is the most important thing now.
“Maybe after it runs its course I’ll dive into a movie or two.”
He added: “But I can’t sacrifice women. That’s one sacrifice I have never been willing to make.”
Jason Derulo will co-host the 16th annual MOBO Awards, in association with Lebara Mobile, on October 5 at Glasgow’s SECC.
Watch it live on BBC Three at 10pm, or the highlights on Friday, October 7 on BBC One at 11.45pm.
For further information on the awards ceremony, visit www.mobo.com

Make the most of life when the kids leave

Don’t be down about the future: take steps to plan for life after your children leave home and help make good things happen. 

By Victoria Lambert

More than 400,000 teenagers will soon be packing up their kettles, cushions and posters ready to leave home, leaving their parents to feel the pangs of empty-nest syndrome.

This condition is well-recognised by psychiatrists, but research shows that many couples have the time of their life after their children leave home.

Midwife Catherine Roberts, 47, from Merseyside, who lives with her husband and two children, aged 12 and 15, is not convinced yet.

She says: “While I find myself increasingly looking to retirement, mostly I think about what life will be like when my children leave home. That’s the next stage, when they move out and it’s just my husband and me again. How will we fill that gap? Life seems to be going so fast. I think the future takes us all by surprise but I don’t want it to.”

It is good that Catherine is looking ahead, says life coach Pete Cohen, but she mustn’t worry. “These years are so intense they seem to fly by and, if you don’t make plans, you can end up feeling flat when children move on. You need to recognise that life will change – perhaps dramatically – and to avoid feeling a sense of loss, you need to decide what it is you want next.”
Your worries are not something to share with your children, warns Pete, however close you are. “Be strong and stay positive rather than saying: ‘What am I going to do without you?’ This is their greatest challenge, their moment; don’t hold them back with your fears about yourself.”
Catherine will still be working when her children leave school and admits, in professional terms, little will change. “I expect life will be much the same, with me trying to pay off debts and hopefully being able to afford to go on holiday once a year. A decade from now I hope to be close to retirement – or possibly to have taken early retirement.
“By then, I will ideally have paid off the bulk of my debts and be under less financial pressure. I hope my life will be easier all round. Within 20 years my mortgage definitely should be paid off and I will have retired. I would like to spend my time going from one holiday to the next and travelling to parts of the world I haven’t seen yet, like Australia and New Zealand.”
Catherine has taken steps to ensure that her retirement is comfortable: “I’m a qualified nurse as well as a midwife and a stage in my career where I can always find work. I recently went back to work full-time to bump up my pension.”
This is a great idea for empty-nesters, says Pete, particularly women who may have taken time out of work to raise their family. “Don’t assume you will work less when children leave home – use that time to squirrel away some retirement funds. It really isn’t too late to start saving or building a pension. You could try something new at work, too, or even look for a job in an industry that interests you.
"Catherine enjoys her nursing, but if she didn’t, I would suggest she looked hard at her skills to see how transferable they are. Lots of female entrepreneurs seem to emerge in their fifties. They take the skills and patience garnered in child-rearing and use them to start niche websites, or coaching and management businesses.”
The departure of children provides an opportunity to reassess practical needs, too. Says Catherine: “In 10 years or so, I will sell my large family home and downsize.” Another good idea, says Pete. “But don’t rush into it – many children yo-yo in and out of home for up to a decade after claiming they have left home behind.”
Losing the bills associated with a larger home releases income, too. “I expect the best off I will be is when I retire, but we’ll need an income of £40,000 between us to live how I would like to,” says Catherine. “The main thing I do for my long-term future is pay into my pension. But I don’t have any surplus cash to put anything away, other than that. If there’s anything I need to find extra cash for, like holidays or house repairs, I have to scrape the money together.”
Don’t stress about that, says Pete. “You’re doing OK day-to-day, and still paying into a pension? That is better than many people manage.” One tip he is keen to pass on to Catherine is about junior financial planning: “Make sure you teach your children the basics before they leave home — for example, help them to set up savings accounts and work out how to budget.
Knowing you have equipped your children with the financial tools they need to survive and thrive is a great comfort.

Accountability begins at home

By Ottawa Citizen
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's use of the words "if it matters, measure it" at the United Nations this week has, understandably, raised some eyebrows at home. The comments, part of a speech on maternal health, came just as an essay by the former head of Statistics Canada criticizing the Conservative government's decision to cancel the mandatory long-form census was made public.
Munir Sheikh, who resigned over the government's handling of the issue last year, had this to say in his essay: "No country can be among the league of civilized societies without intelligent policy development. And, intelligent policy development is not possible without good data."
Sheikh and many others say changes to the way census data is collected in Canada will make it less reliable. The government has stuck to its decision that the long-form census will no longer be mandatory, but has done little to refute widespread concerns about the effect of the decision.
And now Harper, in his leadership role on maternal health, has embraced the need for good data, which raises the question: Why is Canada promoting better statistical recordkeeping abroad while undermining it at home?
Accountability is the key to the $40-billion maternal health plan, Harper told the UN this week. He is right. Unless there is evidence that money is being well spent and making a difference in countries with high maternal mortality rates, donor countries will be reluctant to follow through on pledges.
"Accountability depends on vigilance and dedication. If we do those things, we know we will save lives."
Harper tabled a report by a UN commission he co-chaired, aimed at ensuring the health plan contains solid data on maternal and child health needs and on how the money is spent.
Among the recommendations is that countries receiving maternal health dollars under the Muskoka Initiative establish a registration system for births, deaths, and the causes of deaths as well as more detailed information on health expenditures.
Once it is clear that the money is being well, and effectively, spent, Harper said, it will be easier for developed nations to follow through on their promises that are part of the $40-billion initiative.
"We always need to remember as we press for accountability in every step of the process that mothers and children in the world's poorest countries are counting on us.
"If it matters," he added, "measure it. Well this matters."
It is interesting to see a Canadian prime minister lay out why statistical records are so important to accountability and transparency - two hallmarks of democracy. Canada has long been known for its statistics and record keeping. It is the kind of dull, but crucial, democratic underpinning of which Canadians are rightly proud.
It is also a reminder why a seemingly small change in the way census data are collected should concern Canadians. The mantra "if it matters, measure it" applies at home as well as abroad.

Dark Days: 10 Money Moves to Make Now

By BRETT ARENDS

Brett Arends: What to buy, what to sell, and other strategies to use this tumult to your advantage.

The markets are waking up to the inevitable.
In Europe, Greece is bust -- the country's short-term bonds yield more than 100%. Here at home, the economy is slowing, Washington is paralyzed, and the Fed is out of bullets.
How much worse will it get? Will the markets crash as they did in 2008? Will the economy tumble into another recession?
Despite the yakking, nobody really knows. Predictions have a very poor track record.
But the present we do know. And here are ten smart money moves you can make right now.
1. Refinance. If you haven't already, now's the time. Mortgage rates are following Treasury yields down and are tumbling below 4%. A good deal.
2. Secure that credit while you can. Were you thinking about getting a credit card? An overdraft facility? A home equity line? There's no time like the present. There's a good chance it's going to get tougher, not easier, ahead.
3. Cut your costs. I hate to be the bearer of the bad news, but financial markets are signalling bad times ahead. They were bad enough already: One middle-aged man in four already lacks a full-time job, a rate not seen since the Depression. Washington is paralyzed, the Fed is out of bullets. Take a tough line with your family budgets. You may need those extra dollars down the road.
4. Sell some inflation-protected bonds. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities have usually been among my favorite investments, especially for older and more conservative investors. But they've done so well that they no longer offer a good deal. Short-term TIPS now guarantee you will lose purchasing power - even before taxes, and even if we take the official inflation rate at face value. Longer-term TIPS still offer a positive return in real terms, but it's meager.
5. Sell some Treasury bonds. Yes, they've boomed as investors have "rushed to safety." But they work like a seesaw: The higher the price goes, the lower the yield. The ten-year bond now yields 1.75pc, a pitiful amount and far below inflation. Maybe the bonds go even higher from here, and the yields go even lower. It could happen. But at these levels the risks are asymmetric.
6. Sell some small-cap stocks. Yes, they've already fallen a long way: The Russell 2000 index has dropped from 870 a few months ago to 645. And ordinarily I'd rather buy something than sell it after it's fallen. But in this case, the recent fall is deceptive. Small company shares still aren't cheap by historic standards. And they typically suffer most in any slump.
7. Buy blue chips. Looking for something on sale? Try the top of the pile. Top-quality large-cap stocks offer a decent deal no matter what happens. In a slump you can enjoy good dividends. And if the market recovers you'll get a decent capital gain as well.
8. Ramp up 401(k) and IRA contributions. Ramp them up? Yes. If stocks get much cheaper, this will be a great buying opportunity, and you should take advantage. And if the economy gets a lot worse, be aware that in a worse-case scenario money in a 401(k) and an IRA is sheltered from creditors as well as taxes.
9. Fund 529 plans for your children. All of the same arguments for your 401(k) apply to these tax-sheltered college savings accounts, although under federal rules the protection from creditors phases in over two years.
10. Buy gold. Too late? Maybe not. Gold's come down nearly $200 in the panic, as investors liquidate everything. Yet gold is under-owned. Hardly anyone has any, despite the hype. And it is portfolio insurance against exactly this kind of mayhem.

Martin pleased to earn home cup tie

By Surrey Mirror

FA Cup First Round Qualifying
Merstham 2
Walton & Hersham 1
ANDY Martin was happy with the FA Cup draw that saw Merstham at home to AFC Sudbury in the Second Round Qualifying, due to take place on October 1.
The Moatsiders booked their place in the next round after a 2-1 win over Walton & Hersham on Saturday that saw the club net a £3,000 prize fund, and Martin admits the cash is a huge bonus.
"People think we have a huge budget but we don't. Money is tight at Merstham like it is at most clubs," the manager explained. "The money we have earned with the two FA Cup wins so far has definitely made the chairman happy and to get the money for a win in the next round would be a big incentive.
"I doubt I'll see any of the money but you never know, if we need to make a few signings towards the end of the season it means I might be able to twist the chairman's arm."
And Martin fancies his side's chances against Ryman Division One North team Sudbury.
"I'm pleased with the draw especially that we got a home tie," he said. "They are mid-table like us but they will probably have quite a bit of travelling to do on the day which might make the difference."
Merstham started sluggish against Walton & Hersham on Saturday, with goalkeeper Michael Lidbury being called into action twice in the opening five minutes. Firstly, the keeper spread himself to deny Phil Williams with the Walton attacker bearing down on goal. Then, Lidbury brilliantly held onto Shaun Elliot's low drive across goal following Josh Webb's corner.
Walton created their best opening in the 10th minute when Graeme Purdy connected with Victor Kiri's cross but the striker failed to hit the target.
Out of nowhere the Moatsiders took the lead after 23 minutes when Adam Broomhead's long free-kick saw Roscoe Dsane cleverly turn past Dan Sintim and prod past keeper Gareth Williams for his fifth goal of the season.
The opening goal settled the Moatsiders and they doubled their advantage five minutes before the interval as Sam Tucknott controlled Adam Moriarty's cross at the back post and the winger cut back inside to arrow the ball into the bottom corner.
Walton came out rejuvenated in the second half and they issued a warning shot straight from kick-off as Phil Williams blazed over from the edge of the area.
At the other end, Tucknott used his scintillating pace to burst past Kiri but his cross just eluded both Harry Ottaway and Dsane.
Walton missed a glorious opportunity to get back into the tie on 55 minutes but Lidbury denied Phil Williams.
The visitors started to play with greater urgency but could only create a few half chances with Reis Stanislaus heading Stanley's free-kick onto the roof of the net and Richard Taylor blasting his 25-yard free-kick over the crossbar.
Finally, Walton's pressure paid off after 84 minutes as the visitors mounted a counter attack that ended with Stanley converting Graeme Purdy's cross to give the visitors a lifeline to take the game to a replay.
Merstham had to endure five minutes of injury time and the visitors almost snatched an equaliser in the dying seconds, but Martin's side held out for the win.
Next up for the Moatsiders is Croydon Athletic on Saturday followed by Ramsgate on Tuesday, and manager Martin is confident of collecting some points.
"We have two hard games coming up but the way we have started the season I'm confident we can pick up some points," Martin said. "Croydon haven't had the best start to the season and then we have Ramsgate at home, where we're currently unbeaten."
Merstham: Lidbury, Moriarty (Thompson), Head, Clark, Broomhead (Graham), Hamlin, Saraiva, Folkes (Robinson), H Ottaway, Dsane, Tucknott. Unused subs: Harding, Baker.
Source http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/

Money | Workers would get $1.50 more an hour and agencies would get $1 more an hour for each client

By JOHN CHILIBECK
The Daily Gleaner
The provincial government's $4.4-million plan to offer home-support workers and their agencies more money has been rejected by the association representing the agencies.
The New Brunswick Home Support Association has railed against the province's recent decision that would see workers' wages increase from $9.50 to $11 an hour and agencies get a boost from $15 to $16 an hour for every client as of Oct. 1.
The wage increase is more than the amount offered to the agencies, which argue are already struggling to stay afloat due to of the high cost of doing business. They want the government to increase their funding to $18.33 an hour so they can better serve seniors and people with disabilities in their homes.
"The members want to work with the government," said association president Bob Price on Thursday with supporters outside the province's Centennial Building in Fredericton.
"If an agency gives the wage increase without proper funding, they'll have to cut things. They'll have to cut office staff, which means service to clients. Also, they'll have to cut nurse supervisors and interns. The province needs to realize there's a cost to delivering these services."
About 20 members of the association congregated outside the Centennial Building at 4 p.m., asking to speak to government officials. Price had already met with Finance Minister Blaine Higgs and Social Development Minister Sue Stultz for almost 90 minutes in the morning, but was disappointed with the results. He went back to his membership meeting in Fredericton and they agreed to reject the province's position. They then drove to the Centennial building to voice their displeasure.
As chance would have it, Premier David Alward saw the crowd after doing an interview with CTV on a different subject and walked over.
Price said the premier listened to what the group had to say and asked them to send him more information. His government is struggling to lower a $633-million deficit and a $9.5-billion debt.
"He asked for additional information, which I promised to do," Price said. "I said, 'You might get more than you want,' and he said, 'That's quite all right.' "
Price said he knows the government can impose whatever it wants to and the agencies would have no option but to accept the terms or give up the business.
Social Development spokesman Mark Barbour said Stultz wouldn't comment on the group's position because she still hadn't heard directly from it. However, he said the government wouldn't necessarily change its position.
"Social Development's concern here is the wages for the home-support workers. That's why there's been a commitment to increase the wage," Barbour said.
Home-care support workers in New Brunswick make less than their counterparts in neighbouring Nova Scotia, where they're paid $16 an hour, and Prince Edward Island, where the going rate is $17 an hour. Retention and recruitment are two of the leading issues for the industry.
While almost 9,000 people in the province receive home-care support, Stultz has said she'd like to see more seniors stay at home and hinted the home-support program should be expanded.
There's a waiting list of just fewer than 700 seniors to get into nursing homes in the province, and about 500 seniors are occupying acute-hospital beds, waiting to be transferred somewhere more suitable.

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The NR Eye: India makes it easier for NRIs to bank, gift and borrow with kin back home

by Moiz Mannan

Just as a sliding Indian rupee and the approaching festival season begin to induce non-resident Indians (NRIs) to remit more, the country’s apex bank has announced a slew of measures that would make it even more attractive send money home.

Already, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has hiked interest rates to an extent where investing in term deposits in India is far more lucrative than in most other countries. As a result of the latest rate hike by 25 basis points, the fixed deposit rates now being offered by public as well as private sector banks have gone as high as 10 per cent.

At the same time, the Indian rupee has come down to its lowest level in a long time, giving NRIs more value in exchange terms. NRIs in the Gulf, in particular, would want to benefit from the current situation as they are the one group of overseas Indians that sends money home regularly. Most Gulf NRIs have relatives or dependents back home which keeps them ever-involved with happenings in India.

In amendments announced to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) last week, the country’s central bank relaxed regulations to make it possible for NRIs to hold joint bank account with Indian residents. For the first time, RBI has also allowed resident Indians to repay loans availed of in rupees from banks in India by their close NRI relatives. Earlier, repayment of loans by close relatives in respect of Rupee loan availed by NRIs was restricted only to housing loans.

The meaning of “relative” in this case could be members of a Hindu undivided family; husband and wife, father, mother (including step-mother), son (including step-son), son’s wife, daughter (including step-daughter), father’s father, father’s mother, mother’s mother, mother’s father, son’s son, son’s son’s wife, son’s daughter, son’s daughter’s husband, daughter’s husband,

daughter’s son, daughter’s son’s wife, daughter’s daughter, daughter’s daughter’s husband, brother (including step-brother), brother’s wife, sister (including step sister) and sister’s husband.

According to the RBI circular, such loans (even other than housing loans) may be repaid by resident close relative of the NRI by crediting the borrower’s loan account through the bank account of the relative.

The Reserve Bank of India had, in the Annual Monetary Policy for 2011-12, announced setting up of a Committee to identify areas for streamlining and simplifying the procedures under Fema, so as to remove the operational impediments and assess the level of efficiency in the functioning of authorised persons, including the infrastructure created by them. The Committee submitted its report in early August 2011.

As per the amendments recommended by the committee, individual residents in India are now permitted to include non-resident close relatives as joint holders in their resident bank accounts, namely, savings (SB), Export Earners’ Foreign Currency (EEFC) and Residents’ Foreign Currency (RFC) accounts. NRIs/ PIOs are now also permitted to open Non-Resident (External) (NRE) Rupee Account Scheme/Foreign Currency (Non-Resident) (FCNR) Account (Banks) Scheme with their resident close relatives as joint holders. Further, a person resident in India can now give to a person resident outside India, by way of gift, any security/shares/debentures of value upto $ 50,000 in value per financial year subject to certain conditions. Earlier, this was restricted to a value of up to $ 25,000 per calendar year.

The sale proceeds of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) can now be credited to Non-Resident (External) Rupee (NRE) Account Scheme/Foreign Currency (Non-Resident) Account FCNR (Banks) Scheme provided the original acquisition was by way of inward remittance or funds held in their NRE/FCNR (B) accounts.

Resident individuals are now permitted to make rupee gifts within the overall limit of $ 200,000 per financial year as permitted under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) to an NRI/PIO who is a close relative by way of crossed cheque/electronic transfer to the Non-Resident (Ordinary) Rupee Account (NRO) of the NRI/PIO.

Similarly, resident individuals are now permitted to lend in Rupees within the overall limit under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme of $ 200,000 per financial year to an NRI/ PIO close relative by way of crossed cheque/electronic transfer, subject to certain conditions.

Residents will now be allowed to bear the medical expenses of visiting NRIs/PIO close relatives. Earlier, residents were allowed to make payment in rupees towards meeting expenses on account of boarding, lodging and services related to it or travel to and from and within India of a person resident outside India and who is on a visit to India.

The Peninsu

Home energy workshop in Tamworth Oct. 1.

By Stephen Petrick/Napanee Guide

 Cam Mather hopes to dispel the myth that only the wealthy can afford to make environmentally conscious retrofits of their homes.

The Tamworth-area resident, and owner of Aztext Press, a publisher of energy-related books and DVDs, says he hopes the upcoming workshop he's hosting will draw people from all economic backgrounds.
Tamworth's Home Energy Workshop takes place Saturday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 458, at 3 Addington St. in the village. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 613-539-2831. The price includes a copy of the book Smart Power, published by Mather's own Aztext Press. The event is also a chance to meet representatives from businesses that sell green energy products.
"I don't care who comes or where they are on the socioeconomic spectrum, it doesn't matter," Mather said. "The workshop is targeted to anyone who sees the way energy bills are going."
The event will feature a presentation by Mather on what subsidy programs exist for people who wish to make their homes more environmentally friendly, through measures such as solar panels, solar water heating systems or geo-thermal heating systems.
For instance, the federal government's ecoENERGY program offers homeowners grants of up to $5,000 to make their home more energy efficient.
The workshop will also cover what little things people can do to ensure their homes are as energey effiecnt, and cost effective as possible. Those little things may include installing new weather strips to seal windows or doors, or installing energy efficient light bulbs.
"We go through all the basics," Mather said. "The reality is the return on investment on switching your light bulbs to compact florescent light bulbs is basically 100 per cent."
Mather and his wife Michelle live in a house about 12 kilometres outside of Tamworth, which they call Sunflower Farm.
Mather said the home is not dependent on the province's electricity grid. The house is powered by solar panels and wind turbines. It also has a geo-thermal heating unit. Since the ground is warmer in winter, and cooler in the summer, it naturally moderates the temperature. Mather said he only pays about $100 a year in energy and that's to cover propane for his stove.
He said there are enough government subsidy programs in Ontario for most people to feel similar energy efficient measures are within their means.

He explained that a new gas furnace and a new air conditioning unit may cost the owner of an average house about $12,000.

That same owner can likely get a geo-thermal heating system for around $20,000. He acknowledged it's more money, but if a government program subsidizes the cost, as is sometimes the case, it's not much more considering the owner may never have to pay a heating bill again.
Someone thinking about going this route should check with the federal or provincial government's website to see if there are currently any rebate programs. Retailers would also have that information.
"People always say a geo-thermal unit is so expensive. But if you factor the money being kicked back to you, it's very effective," he said.
He also suggests people make a financial plan to take on any environmental retrofits of their homes. People can do that by taking the money they're saving on a first environmental measures, such as a geo-thermal heating system, and using it to save up for a second measure, such as a solar heating system.
"People know now you're not earning much with money in the bank with interests rates," he said. "Maybe it's time to take that money you have and make your home more efficient."
He also said many financial institutions will approve loans for people who wish to purchase an energy-efficient product; providing they can prove that the savings from the product will generate the money they need to pay off the loan.
Mather believes more people will make such steps if energy rates rise.
He believes energy costs in Ontario were well below the cost needed to produce it for years - an argument that makes sense considering Ontarians are still paying a Debt Retirement Charge on hydro bills. The charge is a result of debt built up from past Ontario hydro companies.
But Mather believes the days of underpriced electricity in Ontario are over, especially because programs such as microFIT, give Ontarians the option of generating and even selling their own electricity.
"We're realizing we have to put the price of electricity up so people will see the value of it," he said. "The reality is all energy is expensive. If you continue to sell it for less than the cost to produce it, then people won't appreciate it."
Mather's workshop is a fundraiser for the local Green Community Committee, a subcommittee of the Tamworth/Erinsville Community Development Committee.
Mather said a similar home energy fair held in Tamworth last year sold out, so he's expecting a good turnout. Funds raised through the event go to the Tamworth/Erinsville Community Development Committee.
While Mather said he likes the idea of people taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint, he's really advertising the workshop as a chance for people to learn how to save money.
"I do honestly believe it's only going to get worse," he said, on the topic of energy costs. "Now is the time people should take action. What I hope to do is give people an overview of what's out there and what government money is available to help them make the transition."

How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Appliances are evolving all the time. While you might think that your 25-year-old refrigerator is saving you money as long as it's in working condition, the opposite is actually true. Thanks to recent improvements in compressors and insulation, newer refrigerators use much less energy than those from even just 10 years ago, according to the experts at Nason's Appliances.
For example, a new Energy Star refrigerator will save over $100 if you replace one purchased in the 80s or almost $200 a year if yours is from the 70s.
The same can be said about freezers. Yes, it is nice that you inherited your grandmother's when she moved into a smaller condominium, but you're costing yourself $70 more a year to run it compared with a new Energy Star model, plus you could recoup the purchase price in about 6 years.
Most HE (high efficiency) Energy Star washing machine models use 4x less energy than those manufactured before 1999. Plus, they spin your clothes faster--most traditional top load washers spin clothes at 1000 rpms while HE front loaders spin up to 1300 rpms. This saves time and money since you and your clothes will spend less drying time.
Plus, washing machines are one of the biggest water wasters in your house--second to the toilet in the US. To save more water, look for a low water factor with a low or no agitator inside. Again, HE front loaders use the least amount of water, somewhere between 8-13 gallons compared with older machines that use up to 55 gallons.
You'll also find that a free-standing double oven range reduces the amount of gas used since each oven has a smaller capacity cavity. The smaller oven is ideal for 9 x 13 pans, while the big oven handles holiday turkeys and roasts.
Dishwashers have also improved greatly. If you own one from before 1994, you are spending almost $40 a year extra in utility costs and wasting more than 10 gallons of water per cycle. Energy Star models save an average of 1300 gallons over their lifetime.
Along with saving you money, Energy Star appliances help protect the environment.
Nearly 70 percent of US electricity is generated with coal and natural gas which release greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Using water efficiently benefits our lakes, streams and oceans. When you use less energy and water, you help reduce the impact on our environment.
Discover how Nason's can help you save money and the environment with Energy Star appliances.

Source http://www.nwitimes.com/

Christie hammers home ethics reforms in town hall

BETH DeFALCO, Associated Press

SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie roused the crowd Wednesday at his second town hall event of the week to push his stalled year-old package of bills to strengthen the state's ethics laws.
"It seems like a ban on dual-office holding and two public salaries, we can all agree on that, right? It's not a Republican or Democratic issue. We should all be able to come together and say it's wrong," Christie told the crowd packed into a senior center in Sayreville, as two local priests looked on from the front row.
After all, who doesn't want more ethics?
"Not even a hearing — they acted as if it's not even there," the governor said of the Democratic leaders in the Legislature. "What that tells me that they again don't want to tell you what's going on."
But while the concepts seem simple — lawmakers should only be able to hold one elected office, should only get paid for one public job, and should disclose their conflicts of interest and as much information as about their finances as the Executive Branch — Democrats say the bills are an oversimplified smokescreen brought back around by the governor as an election nears.
The concepts:
— Outlaw dual-office holding: Less than 10 legislators still hold two elected positions. The practice was outlawed in 2008 under then-Gov. Jon Corzine. However, those that already held multiple elected offices were allowed to keep them under a "grandfather clause." Corzine insisted at the time the clause was the only way to secure the votes of the dual-office holders.
Christie says now is the time to make the remaining officials on the list, which includes both Democrats and Republicans, choose one job. Democrats have remained silent on the issue.
— Collect only one public salary: The governor argues that lawmakers can hold two public jobs, but shouldn't be allowed to take-home two public paychecks. He argues it can create a conflict of interest and that the government is being shorted because there aren't enough hours in the day for people to hold elected office and a second public job.
"In times like this, where everybody is struggling to make ends meet, why should there be anybody who has two public salaries? It makes no sense," Christie said.
Democrats say such a ban would effectively prevent middle-class workers, like teachers and firefighters, from being able to afford to run for the Legislature, which even though it runs year-round is considered a part-time job. Legislators make $49,000 a year, and many, including Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, hold more than one public job.
— Make the Legislature submit to the same financial disclosure forms as the governor and executive branch staff: After Christie temporarily pushed back a deadline for executive-branch officials to file financial disclosures with the State Ethics Commission, Democrats passed a bill establishing firm deadlines for those officials to do so. Christie answered back by issuing a conditional veto of the legislation, adding a provision that holds legislators and their senior staff to the same standards.
Democrats have never challenged the bill on its merits, but said the governor should have been involved in the bill along the way.
— Mandatory disclosure of conflicts of interest. Christie wants lawmakers have to disclose possible conflict of interests with their employers, even if they work for private companies.
— Stop elected officials charged with a crime from using campaign money to pay for defense attorneys: Christie, a former federal prosecutor, says the money should be returned to campaign donors. Democrats point out that an election board and the Supreme Court have ruled that the campaign money can't be used for legal bills related to a criminal defense.
A spokesman for Senate President Stephen Sweeney said not all the bills are objectionable, but the timing is right now.
"The Senate is focused on creating jobs for New Jerseyans and growing small businesses right now," said Sweeney spokesman Chris Donnelley. "With unemployment at 9.4 percent and a governor who refuses to even utter the word "jobs" in public, action is needed on this issue immediately."
Tom Hester Jr., a spokesman for Oliver, said the governor was trying to use the timing of the ethics package to deflect from criticism of his travel to give a keynote speech at a retreat sponsored by conservative oil industry executives in Colorado. Christie made the trip after he decided to pull out of a regional agreement to reduce greenhouse gases.
"Let's face it, this governor preaching on ethics is laughable," Hester said. "New Jerseyans know that someone who travels secretly around the country to raise money, endorses the efforts of covert conservative groups and uses taxpayer-paid state police property for personal and political use cannot be taken seriously."
Source http://www.chron.com/

Northern Home expansion would nearly double capacity for teen moms and kids

By Rachel Vigoda  

 Northern Home for Children on Ridge Avenue in Roxborough is raising money for a major building overhaul. The social service provider plans to renovate Merrick Hall, an unoccupied, roughly 140-year-old building on its campus in dire need of some TLC. The finished product will provide enough space to double the capacity of two Northern Home programs that support teen moms and their kids.

As of now, the goal, which director of development Maureen Klein admits is "very aggressive," is to raise $4 million, start construction, and open the renovated facility, along with an attached new-construction, four-unit apartment building, by summer 2013.
"We're allowed to take in more people, but we just never had the space," Klein says. "This will change that."
Funding for the two programs comes from the Department of Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and donations.
The Generations I program is for girls age 16 to 18 who have a baby and are aging out of foster care, or are difficult to place in foster care because of the child (i.e., the foster parents don't want to take on a baby, too).
According to Northern Home, girls in that age range in foster care are 2.5 times more likely to get pregnant than girls in the general population, and teen moms who age out of foster care are at risk of being homeless or pregnant again within two years.
Through the program, participants get a place to live for up to two years, plus life skills and parenting training, vocational planning, individual and group counseling, and access to onsite daycare so they can stay in (or return to) school.
"These are kids who don't have a support system. They've been victims of abuse and neglect and now they're winging it on their own," says Donna Bolno, Northern Home's director of community partnerships. "They come in here and we give them support in a very structured program, where they have to stay in school and go to therapy."
The second program, Generations II, is similar, but it's geared towards homeless women age 18 to 21, who have one or two kids. Applicants for that program have to meet HUD's definition of "homeless," Klein explains. "They can't be sleeping on someone's couch," she says. "They have to be living in a shelter, or on the street — some place not meant for living."
The young moms also have to have some type of disability to qualify. A learning disability or bout of depression counts; most of them, Klein says, have "been through the ringer" and can't function without support.
"These programs impact multiple generations," adds Bolno. "The goal is that they go on to live independent lives, and their children never enter the system."
Generations I can currently accommodate eight mothers, each with one child, in Northern Home's Caroline Alexander Buck Residence Hall; Generations II has room for eight mothers and up to 16 children in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Residence Hall.
When the Merrick Hall renovation is complete, Generations I will move into the three-story, 8,000-square-foot-plus building and be able to add another eight moms and eight kids. With the space in Buck Hall freed up, Northern Home plans to add another component to the program by bringing in eight pregnant teens.
The renovation will also include an addition to Merrick Hall of four apartments for homeless mothers, each with up to two kids, who are transitioning out of Generations II.
All told, the capacity will go from 40 to 76. Northern Home is confident the new beds will fill up quickly.
"We always have a waiting list of kids who meet our criteria," Klein says. "We just need to make room for them."

Merrick Hall on Northern Home's campus will soon be renovated to make room for participants of the Generations program. (Photo courtesy of Northern Home for Children)

Merrick Hall on Northern Home's campus will soon be renovated to make room for participants of the Generations program. (Photo courtesy of Northern Home for Children)

Merrick Hall on Northern Home's campus will soon be renovated to make room for participants of the Generations program. (Photo courtesy of Northern Home for Children)

Merrick Hall on Northern Home's campus will soon be renovated to make room for participants of the Generations program. (Photo courtesy of Northern Home for Children)

Woman’s Home gets donation for bathrooms work

By ASHLEY RITTENHOUSE , Marietta Times

MARIETTA - As a child, Richard Barth always passed the Woman's Home on Third Street in Marietta on his way to church.
He often wondered what the story behind it was, and once asked his mother about it. "It's a home where elderly ladies can find refuge and comfort in their later years," he recalled her saying.
Barth, who lives at Harmar Place Rehabilitation and Extended Care in Marietta, is now contributing to the home with hopes of improving the quality of life of those living there.
His donation of $50,000, which he officially handed over to members of the home's board of trustees Wednesday, will be used to renovate the bathrooms there.
Barth decided to make the donation after learning through Kim Shomo, who is his former neighbor and current board member, that the bathrooms need renovated.
"This project was called to my attention over a luncheon one day," Barth said. "I got to thinking, I've got a charitable gift trust I've never tapped in to and thought why don't I get in to it."
The administrator of the Woman's Home, Debbie Stengel, described it as an "assisted rest home/retirement home" for women only. It opened in 1885 at 812 Third St. and remains in that same location today.
It is a nonprofit organization.
"We are Washington County's best kept secret," Stengel said. "We're the step between they can't be home alone but they're not ready for the nursing home; they need to be able to ambulate with a walker or cane or propel themselves with a wheelchair."
Though his mother, Alma, never stayed at the Woman's Home, the money Richard Barth donated will be placed in the Alma L. Barth Fund in memory of her.
Shomo said board members will solicit donations from the community with hopes of raising an additional $200,000 to be placed in the fund so the kitchen at the Woman's Home can be renovated.
As for the bathrooms at the home, Stengel said they are in desperate need of repair. There are four full bathrooms and one half bathroom that will be renovated. Stengel said work will begin right away.
"They'll all be handicapped accessible (and) it'll allow us to brighten them up and make them new," she said.
Stengel said in the last 20 years, the bathrooms have been painted but not much work has been done on them aside from that.
One reason Barth was inspired to donate money for renovating the bathrooms is because the bathroom he uses at Harmar Place Rehabilitation and Extended Care is handicapped accessible and he realizes how important that is.
"He became aware of the what kind of bathrooms the elderly could have," Shomo said.
"My main purpose is to live long enough to see this thing through to completion," Barth said.
Stengel said there is enough room in the home for 13 women to live there at one time, but there are only six living there.
Board member Beth Lepore said more women might be drawn to the facility once the bathrooms are renovated.
"We're incredibly excited because we feel we have a really nice facility but we definitely need to update our bathrooms," she said.
Stengel said the facility is governed by the board of trustees, which has 20 members, and it follows regulations set forth by the Ohio Department of Health.
In addition to Stengel and a licensed practical nurse, there are 12 people on staff at the home.
The residents pay $2,200 a month to live there and funds to support the home also come from an endowment fund, but board members said they also rely heavily on and greatly appreciate all donations.

Looking for your dream home?

By EMC News
EMC News -The CHEO Foundation unveiled the spectacular Minto Dream Home that is the showcase piece in the 21st edition of CHEO's Dream of a Lifetime Lottery Monday, Sept. 19.
This magnificent 4,600 square foot home located in Manotick is just part of the incredible $2.8 million prize line up that will be shared by over 4,700 winners.
Only 63,000 tickets will be sold and because the lottery has sold out in previous years, organizers are encouraging everyone to purchase early to make sure they don't miss out.
Single tickets are $100 each or three for $250.
The $1.8 million grand prize package includes a fully furnished and decorated Minto Dream Home with all furnishings by La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, $100,000 in cash, a 2012 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid from Jim Keay Ford Lincoln, house cleaning for a year from The Maids Home Services, and $5,000 in groceries from Farm Boy.
Second prize is worth $157,761 and includes $100,000 cash, a 2012 Ford Mustang Convertible from Jim Keay Ford Lincoln, a Mediterranean cruise for two from Destination Anywhere, and a $10,000 Gift Certificate from Jubilee Fine Jewellers.
With 4,759 prizes to be awarded and a prize line up worth over $2.8 million there is something for everyone.
To be eligible for the amazing Early Bird Package valued at over $94,000, tickets must be purchased by midnight, Nov. 18.
The package includes $50,000 cash, a 2012 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback from Jim Keay Ford Lincoln, an Ottawa Senators Flex 40 package in the 100 level and four tickets to the All Star Game, and a Disney family vacation for four from itravel2000.com.
You could also win one of 2,500 early bird bonus tickets that give you another shot at all of the incredible prizes in the final draws.
Details for the 2011 CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Lottery, including a complete rundown of all prizes can be found on line at www.dreamofalifetime.ca.
Your ticket purchase not only gets you in all of the amazing prize draws, it also makes a difference in the lives of CHEO's kids.
Order your tickets by calling (613) 722-KIDS (5437) or 1-877-562-5437, online at www.dreamofalifetime.ca, or at participating banks: BMO, TD Canada Trust, CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank & Banque Nationale.
Key dates are as follows:
- Closing date for all ticket sales is midnight Friday, December 16th, 2011.
- Early Bird deadline is midnight, Friday, Nov. 18.
- 2,500 Early Bird ticket winners will be drawn on Monday, Dec. 19.
- The Early Bird package will be drawn on Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
- Final draws: Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 and Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012.
Proceeds from this lottery will help provide new equipment, train staff, and create a child and youth friendly environment at CHEO.
Money raised through the lottery also supports the CHEO where research into making a difference in the lives of our children and youth and their families is the main focus.
Research into molecular medicine, mental health, injury prevention, infectious diseases, virology and much more takes place daily.

Do It Yourself And Save Money At Home This Autumn

By stonesthrow
If the weather is making you feel inclined to stay indoors and cosy up at home, it may be a good time to consider getting on with or finishing up those DIY jobs ahead of the winter months.

 Not everyone can turn their hand to DIY and often it can be the cause of many a disturbance to otherwise harmonious relationships as the strain of shelf erecting, wallpapering and gloss painting leads to conflict at home. For some, it may be a case of Don't Do It Yourself and play safe with hiring a professional to do the job.
But these days splashing out on expensive contractors is not always possible, so get yourself a book and read up on those practical jobs you may well find yourself to be a dab hand at.
We've lost our smaller ironmongers in the past few years, who would supply tools, materials and good advice for the DIY enthusiast, or unenthusiast depending on your mind-set. B&Q is the one stop shop for all your decorating, plumbing, electric needs etc, and the staff there are generally pleased to help. They also have the Dulux paint mixing facility enabling you to choose more specific colours for your scheme. Travis Perkins around the corner are better for plumbing supplies and have helpful staff to advise. Wollens builders merchants are more used to supplying tradesmen but you can still use this for domestic purposes and their staff are very knowledgeable and experienced. They also have a bathroom showroom a little further down the road.
Snows Timber on the Beckery Industrial Estate will supply all manner of, yes you guessed it..timber and round the corner Bradfords Building Supplies will provide fixings, tools and paint plus much more.
Proper Job in Feversham Lane is a discount centre which stocks a vast range of useful DIY necessities, from nails, screws and wood, to curtain poles and shelving.
Brooks Homewares at the Bayliss Centre in Street are more stockists of items for the home but do a range of DIY bits and bobs for smaller jobs. Don't forget that many accidents happen in the home due to DIY so when you heed the advice 'measure twice, cut once', please make sure your fingers aren't in the way....!
Photo courtesy of wwarby

Hot money deals, 22 September 2011Which? experts round up the best money deals

All the best savings accounts and cash Isas, together with the longest 0%-on-purchases credit card deals. This week, we also help you make money out of your house.

 Best savings accounts

• Instant access savings: Derbyshire BS offers the best instant-access deal at 3.18% (including a 2.18% bonus payable to 30 November 2012).
• One-year fixed rate savings: Leeds BS offers a top-paying 1-year fixed rate account at 3.46% on balances of at least £100. This is a branch-based or postal account.
• Three-year fixed rate savings: Post Office's Online Bond offers the best 3-year fixed rate at 4.21% on balances of at least £500. Interest is paid monthly or yearly.
• Five-year fixed rate savings: Saga offers the top-paying 5-year fixed rate accounts paying 4.65%. Only available to those aged 50 and over.

The market's best cash Isas

• Instant access cash Isa: AA's Internet Access Isa Issue 2 offers the best instant-access deal paying 3.05%. However, this account does not allow transfers-in from other providers. If you want to transfer in previous years' funds, then Northern Rock and Principality's e-Isa accounts are the best options paying 2.80%.
• One-year fixed rate cash Isa: Leeds BS and Metro Bank offer the top 1-year fixed rate accounts at 3.25% on balances of £1 upwards.
• Three-year fixed rate cash Isa: Nottingham BS and the Post Office offer the best 3-year fixed rate accounts paying 4%. Both accounts can be operated at a branch or by post.
• Five-year fixed rate cash Isa: Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank currently lead our 5-year fixed rate table with their accounts paying 4.5%. The minimum investment is £2,000.

Credit cards for 0% purchases

If you want to spread the cost of a large purchase over a longer period, it's worth getting a 0%-on-purchases credit card.
The Marks & Spencer Money MasterCard and the Tesco Bank Clubcard MasterCard have the longest 0%-on-purchase deals on the market at 15 months and come with representative APRs of 15.9% and 16.9% respectively. Both cards offer a loyalty scheme and are Which? Recommended Providers, reflecting good customer service in our customer satisfaction survey.
Barclaycard has also brought out a new card with a 0%-on-purchases deal of 14 months. The Platinum Credit Card with Purchase Visa comes with a relatively high APR of 18.9%, so make sure you pay off any debt before the end of the 0% period.

The cheapest unsecured personal loans

In our Best Rate tables we show the lowest rates available for loans that aren't exclusive to specific account holders or existing customers of banks or other institutions.

• For those borrowing £5,000 over three years: Sainsbury's offers a representative rate of 7.9% APR for a £5,000 loan. Alternatively, at 8.6% - still highly competitive - borrowers can instead opt for two years of doubled Nectar points and a £25 gift card
• For those borrowing £10,000 over five years: Sainsbury's offers a leading representative rate of 6.3% APR. Alternatively, at 6.9%, borrowers can instead opt for two years of doubled Nectar points and a £25 gift card.

Today's top mortgage deals

The best mortgage deal for you will depend on your own circumstances. Our unique mortgage finder tool takes account of all fees and charges to help you find a mortgage tailored to your needs.
If you're moving house and looking for a fixed deal that lasts for five years, our best rates this week are:

• High loan-to-value: Yorkshire BS offers a deal of 5.19%. It comes with a booking fee of £195 and an arrangement fee of £300. You can overpay by up to 10%.
• Low loan-to-value: Yorkshire BS also has a deal of 3.49%. Available in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it carries an arrangement fee of £300.

For more details and also to see our full selection of fixed, discount and tracker deals, check out our mortgage Best Rate tables.

And finally... this week's money-saving tip

Have you ever thought about using your house to make extra cash? If you live close to a sporting or festival venue, you could cash in by renting it out to fans or even participants. Edinburgh and Glastonbury festivals, as well as events at Wimbledon and Henley could all provide such opportunities, while next year's Olympic Games will be a great earner for thousands of Londoners.
For more tips, including renting out your driveway or inviting a TV company to use your house for filming, read our guide to Making money from your home.
Source http://www.which.co.uk/