Making money of H1N1

You cannot go anywhere these days, turn on the TV, the radio or internet without hearing or seeing something about H1N1 or swine flu. It seems to be the topic du jour. This post is not about how to cure swine flu or how to prevent catching it, it is however on how to not be ripped off by all the institutions and people that want to profit off of this pandemic.

In Canada, thousands have lined up in malls and civic centres day after day to receive vaccinations. Most have lined up for 3 hours or more. Imagine being in a shopping mall with small children. They would at some point get hungry or bored. This would be a perfect opportunity for parents to get food or a toy to keep their child(ren) occupied. In this case, food courts and various stores will profit.

The obvious, are the pharmaceutical companies that are making billions off the vaccines and seeing an increase in their stock values. Then there are the others, like pharmacies that are seeing the sales of surgical masks go up (companies that produce surgical masks are turning profits), an increase in the sale of vitamins and cold and flu remedies. Health food stores that have a seen a rise in sales, as everyone is trying their best to prevent contracting swine flu. Hand-sanitizers are flying off the shelves, therefore producing profits for the manufacturers. In addition, companies that produce "anti-bacterial" anything are sure to see increase in sales.

It seems, if marketed correctly, anyone can make money off swine flu. As sad as it is, there are those that will try their hardest to capitalize off others' fears about this pandemic. As consumers, at a time like this, it is very easy to have fear drive our decisions. Although the intention is right, the motivation (fear) behind our decisions may not be. Fear is not a justifiable reason, because it only leads to panic and bad decision-making. Bad decisions always end up hurting us in our pocketbooks. In dealing with this event, one needs to take their time, assess and reassess, ask questions and most importantly, be logical. Do not be hasty to shell out your hard earned money on frivolous, dubious, unproven "stuff", because there are those out there who will be trying and waiting to get you to do just that. Good Luck!

Happy Shopping!!

Groceryalerts.ca

Groceryalerts.ca notifies people of new specials at grocery stores in Canada (Victoria, Vancouver, and Toronto)

They post the latest flyers and top deals each week from all grocery stores. The entire website is free and they also have printable coupons organized by categories so they are easy to find.

They are adding more cities each month, including Calgary and Winnipeg in the next few months.

Check them out!

Happy Shopping!!

Insurance rates going up

Once again, consumers are having to shell out more money for car insurance in Ontario. At the end of 2009 car insurance rates will be going up an average of 9%, 10% if you live in Toronto. Ontario not only has the most expensive insurance in Canada, it is the most expensive in North America. As usual, the insurance companies are trying to protect their asses by blaming Ontario's "expensive rehabilitation" costs and of course, where do those costs go? They are passed on to policy holders. The insurance industry wants the government to limit the amount of claims, this will then save on what they (insurance companies) pay out for accidents, repairs, etc. They claim these savings will then be passed on to the consumer, until then they have no choice but to increase rates. Sounds like a load of crap to me. Even if that was the case, insurance companies have been known for their greed, so much so, they would find another reason to hike up rates. What does the government have to say about all this? They claim insurance rates are better now than they were 6 years ago. Wow! Really? How putting together a concrete policy to stop Ontarians from having to forever fork out money for insurance rates that seem to have no ceiling? Oh, I know why, because the more consumers pay, the more money the government makes. Unbeliveable!

Unhappy Shopping!!

Interac and Credit card mistakes

Although banks set daily debit limits, one of the biggest mistakes consumers make when they are paying for a transaction by debit is not double checking the amount that has been inputted by the merchant, to make sure it is correct. I've personally had the experience of almost debiting the amount of $5008 for a $50.08 purchase (it would not have gone through because my daily debit limit is $1000.) I noticed before I continued on with the purchase transaction and it was cancelled. Consumers have to be wary and vigilant.  Most consumers would only notice the large amounts like my $5008 and would probably think well what's a penny here or there? But a penny here and a penny there adds up, and besides, it is your money. Why pay more for something you don't have to?

Credit card purchases are also another opportunity for merchants to make mistakes when inputting your tab. Before signing for your purchase, ensure the purchase amount is correct. With a credit card, after signing, you are declaring that the amount is correct. If an error cannot be rectified with the store, then it should be corrected with the credit card company. You will have to provide proof of the error.

Noticing these mistakes before you complete your transaction will not only save you money it will save you time and energy. Keep any eye out, pay attention and you will experience less headaches and annoyances on your next shopping trip.

Happy Shopping!!

The end of the mom 'n' pop shop

Unfortunately the days of the mom 'n' pop shop are long gone. I realized this today when I got up nice and early to do some shopping for an event I was having. My first destination was the liquor store at 9:20am, only to find that they don't open until 10am. As I stood there, I could see the employees trying hard to not make eye contact with me. As if to say, 'if we make eye contact we will be compelled to open the doors for you.' After about 5 minutes of waiting in my car, I decided to leave and go elsewhere for my drinks. Even then, because the sale of alcohol is controlled by my province, I only had the option of going to 1 other place for my purchase. After that, it was off to the bank. I reached the bank at 9:50am. At 9:59 and 57 seconds, one of the employees unlocked the door, just in time for them to open at 10:00am. It actually took him 3 seconds to unlock the door.

Later on in the day, I stepped back out to run an errand. I reached the store at 5:07pm, only to find out they closed at 5:00pm. Although I was pretty annoyed by that, it turned out I wasn't the only one. Another customer who had reached there at 5:04pm also found their doors locked and was fuming.

What has happened? It used to be that even a few minutes after closing hours, stores would make the exception for one or two customers to quickly come in and make their purchases. Opening a few minutes early was a nice gesture that said, 'don't stand out there in the cold waiting, c'mon in and get what you need.' I'll tell you what has happened, corporations realize that whether or not we make it on time for their operating hours, we will show up again tomorrow or the day after that, as we have no choice. We don't have many options for places where we can buy our liquor, do our banking or even get our prescriptions and they know it and are taking full advantage of it. Local stores which were run by a lovely older couple are long gone. I think they can only be found in places where there is a population of less than a 1000 or so. Our options no longer exist and unfortunately we now have to heed to the beck and call of the almighty corporation.

I miss the little shops, and every time I pass a small store that is now struggling to stay in business, I think of a much easier time, not so long ago. *Sigh*

RIP mom 'n' pop shop.

Happy Shopping!!

Staying away from credit card debt

As many Canadians continue to charge their credit cards, they are increasing their debt loads at an alarming rate. Getting into debt can happen very quickly, getting out of it is not so easy. Below are some tips for avoiding getting into serious credit card debt.

1. Do not apply for too much credit. Limit the amount of cards you apply for and have to two.
2. Use your card sparingly, for purchases such as gas and groceries.
3. Only charge amounts on your card that you know you can pay back before your next credit card billing date. Do this to avoid paying interest charges.
4. Choose a low-interest credit card over a rewards or points credit card if you intend on carrying a balance. Rewards cards are nice, but often come with higher interest rates.
5. Do not use your card for frivolous, spur of the moment purchases. Using your credit card for an expensive pair of shoes you might never wear is a waste of money. Always plan your purchases.
6. File your credit card receipts for 3-5 months. After the fifth month, look back at your purchases and see which ones you could have avoided. You might be surprised to find that some or many of your purchases did not have to be done by credit. This will prompt you to think about future purchases.
7. Leave your credit card at home if you are going somewhere you know you will be tempted.
8. Credit card companies periodically increase the credit limits of their customers. If this has happened to you, call your credit card company and request your limit to be decreased. This will keep your debt load low.
9. Shred your credit card receipts instead of throwing them away to avoid identity theft.
10. Notify your credit card company of any unauthorized purchases or any discrepancies.
    

Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving

Living in an abundant country like Canada, it is easy to take the basic necessities of life for granted. Access to food, clean water, clothes, education, free speech are some of the things many of us overlook. As we watch the news or read the newspaper, it is easy to feel detached from this chaotic world around us. Wars, natural disasters and persecution are just a few of the headlines that scream out at us. While the media tells us that the economy is making a comeback, on the streets and in many homes, the news is different. Some of us are unemployed, homeless, sick, hungry or just trying to make ends meet.

This Thanksgiving, while celebrating with friends and family, working, walking, bike riding, whatever, take a moment and give thanks for all that you have.

Happy Thanksgiving!!