most recent 30 from http://www.basicallymoney.com 2010-03-11T01:59:19Z http://www.basicallymoney.com/feeds http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/rdf http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/887/can-i-reuse-postage-paid-or-business-reply-mail-brm-envelopes-in-canada Zephyr 2010-02-01T15:18:11Z 2010-03-10T22:21:59Z

<p>I often get "Postage-Paid" or <strong>Business Reply Mail</strong> envelopes with junk mail. </p> <p><img src="http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/medeff/report-declaration/images/post1%5Fe-f.jpg" alt="Sample Envelope" /></p> <p>Is it legal to cross off the address and re-use the envelope? I have a ton of these and seems a shame to let them go to waste.</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1159/is-there-a-website-that-lists-the-latest-financial-scams-similar-to-snopes-com-f YMCbuzz 2010-03-09T05:29:42Z 2010-03-10T21:54:54Z

<p>It strikes me that if we, as a worldwide or nationwide community had a repository into which we could list our negative experiences or fraud, we could alert others in advance of them themselves becoming victims.</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1169/how-to-transition-from-employee-to-employer Pandiya Chendur 2010-03-10T05:10:51Z 2010-03-10T17:31:40Z

<p>I know Making the transition from employee to employer requires <code>financial stability, a good business plan, self-confidence and a lot of discipline</code>. </p> <p>But i am looking for some instructions/tips from experts who made their way from employee to employer....</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/921/where-can-i-park-my-rainy-day-emergency-fund-savings-accounts-dont-generate S. Chang 2010-02-04T21:18:49Z 2010-03-10T17:04:32Z

<p>Savings accounts don't seem to generate much interest. What other options do I have for my emergency fund?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1170/how-do-i-get-a-us-credit-or-debit-card-if-i-reside-outside-the-us AskAboutGadgets.com 2010-03-10T07:28:46Z 2010-03-10T15:15:30Z

<p>I am from Hungary and I would like to purchase sometimes from US web services like iTunes and so on. They require US cards and billing address. Is it possible to have one without traveling to the US? If not, how can I open a bank account in the US what information is needed?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1168/ever-sold-used-stuff-in-a-mass-spring-clean-on-ebay-what-are-your-experiences James 2010-03-09T22:08:19Z 2010-03-10T01:24:45Z

<p>Have you ever had a mass "spring clean" so to speak of items and put on ebay?</p> <p>Do you have a habit or hoarding stuff? Lots of DVDs/Books/Electronics you never used? If so have you ever cleared the lot out and whacked it all on ebay?</p> <p>If so, what are your experiences? Any advice on making the most money?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1164/my-ontario-small-business-collects-only-pst-beneath-gst-threshold-how-will-hst RG 2010-03-09T13:10:05Z 2010-03-10T01:21:48Z

<p>I own a small business in Ontario </p> <p>and make less than $30,000 per year. </p> <p>I only charge the PST</p> <p>Will I be affected by the new HST </p> <p>and if so, how ?</p> <p>====================</p> <p>Also:</p> <p>If the PST is going to be scrapped, and say I am not affected by HST</p> <p>how will I pay the pst I've collected from my customers ?</p> <p>Will it have a new name or will it be the same as it is now ?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1160/is-there-any-age-limit-for-saving-money Pandiya Chendur 2010-03-09T05:46:48Z 2010-03-09T19:06:01Z

<p>I am around 24... I ve never saved money.... But i really had the doubt about my age for saving money....</p> <ul> <li><p>Is there any age limit for saving money?</p></li> <li><p>From which age should i start saving money?</p></li> </ul>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1156/what-are-the-advantages-of-a-swiss-bank-account Ed 2010-03-08T01:54:29Z 2010-03-08T22:48:31Z

<p>I've heard about bank accounts in Zurich / Switzerland, but I don't fully understand the unique advantages of swiss bank accounts. What I do believe about these (but don't know for sure):</p> <ul> <li>They accept money from anywhere without questions, including illegal/black money</li> <li>They do not disclose how much a person owns to any authority</li> <li>They are the only politically neutral country in the world, no allies, no enemies</li> </ul> <p>Have I got anything wrong, or is there anything important that I've not understood yet about these?</p> <p>What does this all amount to? What are their advantages in comparison to regular bank accounts?</p> <p>Why would I want to store money in a swiss bank account?</p> <p>Thanks,<br> Ed.</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1119/what-percent-of-salary-should-go-towards-retirement-vs-emergency-savings PHC1983 2010-03-03T00:41:25Z 2010-03-08T02:32:05Z

<p>What percent of salary should go towards retirement vs. emergency savings? Should some be set aside each and every pay for emergencies?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/826/how-can-i-profit-on-the-chinese-real-estate-bubble Jim G. 2010-01-24T01:17:36Z 2010-03-07T08:52:24Z

<p>How can I profit on the <a href="http://www.chinaeconomicreview.com/china-eye/2009%5F08%5F19/Property%5Fsurge%5Ftriggers%5Fconcern%5Ffor%5Freal%5Festate%5Fbubble%5Fin%5FChina.html" rel="nofollow">Chinese Real-Estate Bubble</a>?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/925/offered-a-job-should-i-go-as-consultant-independent-contractor-or-employee linkedlinked 2010-02-05T01:57:04Z 2010-03-07T01:05:51Z

<p>Two partners started a business, and it's grown pretty big (comparatively).</p> <p>Now they've asked me to be the CTO, and I've determined it's a good position for me to take. I'll be getting 90% of my current salary, and 5% equity in the company.</p> <p>The question has come up, would I rather be an employee or a contractor? There's no real difference between the two, as far as we're concerned, because either way I'm going to work half from home, half from the office, but I'm concerned about taxes at the end of the year -- I've heard it both ways, that consulting will cost me way more (because I pay double the social security tax) or that as a consultant, I'll save a ton of money by being able to write things off. I'm signing a 6 month contract with these guys either way, so job security isn't really an issue.</p> <p>Which is closer to the truth? Will I make more as a consultant or an employee? I understand it depends on my specific circumstances, but what factors are involved?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1026/which-eu-or-turkish-bank-will-issue-a-debit-card-to-a-non-resident-from-ukraine Bolotov 2010-02-17T23:12:23Z 2010-03-07T00:10:32Z

<p>I live in Ukraine and I want to get a <strong>debit card</strong> in any other country, preferably in EU or Turkey.</p> <p>Please advice a bank which can issue this kind of card (debit card) for me.</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1134/are-funeral-plots-a-good-investment Zephyr 2010-03-04T05:12:11Z 2010-03-06T14:21:47Z

<p>At the risk of sounding morbid, is it worth looking into cemetery plots/mausoleum storage? Is it correct to assume that these costs will increase over time? </p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1060/what-are-good-strategies-to-maximize-cross-border-shopping-benefits-canada Zephyr 2010-02-22T15:20:08Z 2010-03-06T14:18:12Z

<p>Depending the length of one's visit to the US from Canada there are different limits and different exemptions. This also assumes that the price discount is worth it. What strategies have people employed to maximize the benefits and which products/services have people found ?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1145/where-to-register-my-web-based-llc linkedlinked 2010-03-04T23:55:55Z 2010-03-06T07:03:29Z

<p><strong>DISCLAIMER</strong>: I understand that as a US corporation, you're required to pay taxes in whatever state you A) do business in, b) pay employees in, and c) have property in. I understand that registering in Nevada (a no-income tax state) will not save me any money on my taxes.</p> <p>That said, I currently live in California, but because my business is internet based, I work remotely, from pretty much wherever I please. I plan on moving around a lot in the next 5 years. In order to register an LLC in California, there's an associated state registration fee of $800 (per year). This is a lot of money to me and my tiny consulting business. My friends, who also have LLCs, have told me that Nevada has much lower fees for registering. Legalzoom.com seems to indicate that, even if I'm primarily based out of California, I can register a Nevada LLC as long as I have a Registered Agent in the state (in this case, LegalZoom would act as my Registered Agent for $150/yr).</p> <p>I'm still a little nervous, and don't want to get surprised with hefty fines or fees at the end of the year -- can I safely incorporate my LLC in a state with lower registration fees, or must I incorporate in California?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/992/group-pooled-resp-plans-in-canada-education-savings-advantages-disadvantages Chris W. Rea 2010-02-13T01:27:27Z 2010-03-06T03:48:14Z

<p>I'm familiar with the <em>Individual</em> and <em>Family</em> types of Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs).</p> <p>There's also a third type: <em>Group (pooled) RESPs</em>, which I mentioned in <a href="http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/22/what-are-the-best-options-for-an-resp-for-my-2-year-old-kid" rel="nofollow">this answer</a>. I didn't provide much detail about Group RESPs in that answer.</p> <p>How exactly do Group RESPs work? What are the various advantages and disadvantages of Group RESPs? </p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/902/how-important-is-disability-insurance-e-g-long-term-ltd-employer-offers-none Jesse Gavin 2010-02-03T21:33:22Z 2010-03-05T15:33:13Z

<p>How important is it to have disability insurance? My employer does not provide it. I work in the web development business.</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1105/what-should-i-do-with-the-stock-from-my-employee-stock-purchase-plan fennec 2010-02-28T00:58:35Z 2010-03-05T14:42:30Z

<p>I've got an employee stock purchase plan program. The details are a little tricksy, but I basically get to buy about 2500 shares of company stock at something like $2.33/share... and the stock has been trading around $12 recently (sometimes higher, sometimes lower). I get to do it again in September, and then once more a year from now, before the price resets to something a little less absurdly lucrative.</p> <p>I haven't consulted with a tax adviser yet (that's soon, though) but I believe if I hold onto the stock for a year, the gain will count as long-term capital gains instead of short-term. That's a really nice way to save on taxes!! I'd prefer to do it, and I don't need the money any time soon. However, it leaves me holding a lot of company stock in the meantime. In fact, $30,000 is approximately the size of the rest of my savings put together. (I'm 25ish, for reference). One small-cap technology stock taking up 50% of my portfolio doesn't strike me as being very diversified, especially if I work there too!</p> <p>I'm reasonably confident that my company will continue to do all right, and that even if it doesn't, I'm probably going to be one of the people they'd prefer to keep, but it's entirely possible that we'll miss our earnings estimates one quarter, or get sued randomly by a major competitor, and the stock would fall quite a bit. (On the other hand, the analysts seem pretty optimistic, and have target prices around $15 or so.)</p> <p>I need to decide what to do with all this stock - how much of it to hold, and how much of it to sell, and when. How can I understand the risk involved in holding it for at least a year? What strategies can limit it?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/65/when-does-ontarios-hst-come-into-effect Giablo 2009-10-14T00:11:20Z 2010-03-04T23:31:47Z

<p>When does the HST become effective? Will all businesses start charging HST right away, and will it replace the 5% GST with a straight 13% tax for all services?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1106/co-signing-dying-what-if-a-loan-co-signer-dies-is-estate-of-co-signer-liable Chris W. Rea 2010-02-28T15:49:04Z 2010-03-04T20:07:29Z

<p><em>A grim and tragic question perhaps, but I'm curious:</em></p> <p>What happens when a person that co-signed on a loan dies? Is the co-signer's <em>estate</em> potentially liable until the loan is paid off, the same as if the co-signer had borrowed the money themselves? Or, does the responsibility for the loan die with the co-signer? Does the bank/lender take on that risk?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1050/does-life-insurance-cover-ones-funeral-costs-or-should-i-save-for-it-separately YMCbuzz 2010-02-21T03:59:59Z 2010-03-04T19:04:42Z

<p>What is common practice? What does it usually cost? Should I be thinking about this?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1128/should-i-trust-barcode-iphone-apps-are-they-secure-for-rewards-and-airmiles-poi YMCbuzz 2010-03-04T01:32:37Z 2010-03-04T17:14:37Z

<p>My husband downloaded all kinds of iPhone apps that mimic the barcodes on my rewards cards such as AirMiles, Aeroplan, Longo's, Hallmark etc. Are these types of applications secure?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1015/how-do-lira-lrsps-differ-from-rrsps Zephyr 2010-02-17T04:35:59Z 2010-03-04T16:37:38Z

<p>I have heard of </p> <ul> <li>Locked In Retirement Accounts (LIRAs) also known as Locked-in Retirement Savings Plans (LRSPs)</li> <li>Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)</li> </ul> <p>How are they different and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1014/are-bank-customers-allowed-to-provide-username-password-to-sites-like-mint-com Chris W. Rea 2010-02-17T03:12:46Z 2010-03-04T14:11:35Z

<p>This question is <strong>not</strong> about whether Mint.com is secure, or not. That is beside the point. (Refer to <a href="http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/99/online-money-management-applications-do-you-trust-mint-com-or-quicken-online-or" rel="nofollow">this question</a> on the subject of trusting Mint.com and similar services.) Rather:</p> <p><strong>Are bank customers permitted, under whatever account agreement they typically sign, to provide their username &amp; password or other account credentials to sites like Mint.com?</strong></p> <p>Would a banking customer be giving up some of the protection offered by their bank if they voluntarily disclosed sensitive account details to a third party service?</p> <p>Are many people using Mint.com without understanding their responsibilities with respect to protecting their own account credentials? (Call me a skeptic :-)</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1124/when-going-abroad-how-do-you-take-your-money James 2010-03-03T19:47:49Z 2010-03-04T05:03:06Z

<p>When going abroad, how do you take your money?</p> <p>All hard cash? Some travellers cheques?</p> <p>I guess you could use your normal current bank account, but the UK banks (at least my one did) charges fees all over the place.</p> <p>If you visit a particular country often, is it even possible to open a bank account there? Sure, you'd get charged a fee on the transfer of money, but at least when you're there, any time you need cash from an ATM there would be no fees, and you can rely on the local bank account being more widely accepted than your "foreign" cards</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/812/why-do-people-take-out-life-insurance-on-their-children-should-i-take-out-a-poli YMCbuzz 2010-01-22T04:58:19Z 2010-03-04T04:58:08Z

<p>I've always found those flyers that the schools send home in September contemptible. But maybe I'm the one in the dark...?</p> <p>If the purpose of life insurance is to replace a wage-earner's income in case of death, why would anyone purchase a policy against their child's life? </p> <p>And why would schools send these home to parents, year-after-year? Am I missing something?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1040/contractors-guideline-on-what-percentage-to-keep-when-hiring-a-sub-contractor YMCbuzz 2010-02-19T03:33:30Z 2010-03-04T04:45:25Z

<p>My business may be growing past the point beyond which I can no longer handle the jobs alone (yay me!)... If mine is an hourly job, with little to no overhead, and I bring someone on to work the jobs with me, how do I determine what to pay the person and what to keep as a Business Owner?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1121/ontario-gas-prices-hst-what-will-happen-to-prices-at-the-pump-on-july-1-2010 Zephyr 2010-03-03T04:25:52Z 2010-03-04T01:12:12Z

<p>When the HST comes into effect on July 1, 2010 will gas prices at the pump be affected immediately?</p>

http://www.basicallymoney.com/questions/1047/are-personal-finance-money-management-classes-taught-in-high-school-anywhere YMCbuzz 2010-02-20T03:47:36Z 2010-03-03T04:44:17Z

<p>It sure seems like something that would be a valuable life skill, akin to Home Ec (or even more important!)... Where I'm from (Peel Region in Ontario Canada), it isn't part of the curriculum.</p>