RRSP's not for everyone

Went to the TD Bank this morning to meet with the Mortgage Broker to discuss our potential renewal.
We would have a 16.00 penalty today if we early renewed now. Although we could save .567 % on the interest. Should we keep up the payments like we are , no mortgage in 4 years 21 weeks.

We could also go LOC and pay the principal anytime, but higher interest ; prime plus 2%.

Interesting factoid, was told that RRSP's are basically useless to someone if they end up with a good pension from their employer when they retire. Just because of the claw backs that the Tax man puts on it. They are very useful if one has no pension to fall back on and should the person start when they are younger. Or you stay within a smaller wage scale all your life.

So it is better for us to pay down the mortgage as quickly as possible as we are doing, than to invest in RRSP's. There is always the stock market but we went that route and lost big time on the Tech. stocks esp. Nortel. That we transferred over from Mutual's to RRSP"S.

Also got two ballots for the TV draw. What to do , What to do???????

Free Stuff

Why is it that when one has a chance for something for nothing, you make the extra effort to go and get it.
Is it greed? Is it just the fact that you want it, even if you do not need it? We have several friends who Ginny and I call the Magpie's anything shiny and , it's squak,squak,swoop.

Life is indeed strange. TD-Bank has now extended their opening hours from 8am-6pm. At last a Bank that is open when the general public needs them to be open and 6 days a week. It's too bad most of our accounts are elsewhere. So I do not really feel as if I am a customer. There is a promotion this week the first 25 people through the door in the morning gets a $10.00 gift card for Chapters Books and a Green Shopping Bag one of those envrio friendly with the TD Logo on the sides.

I have 3 of each so far this week and we do not bank there, although we do have a mortgage and RRSP's with the TD.

I seem to be one of the first through and with me is a chap in a London Fog "jacket". He parks his BMW around the corner and waits like me to get his freebie. At least I walk down to the Bank from our 3 BR Condo. Well I will be there again tomorrow as the bags will go down to Cuba, the gift cards will be used for pressies for the gardener,supt etc. Next week there is a chance for a LCD Telly, so guess who will be there bright and early. MEeeeeeeeeeee. One can enter once each day and the draw will be on Friday.

They are not Airmiles or CDN. Tire money. I have been know to do some bin diving for stuff as well. A lot of the bits end up at the Trailer. I guess it is the old Flea-Marketeer in me having a hard time to let go, esp. when I know i could make some money out of the items. Well if you happen to get a gift card from us, you know where we got them.