Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Travel Rewards Credit Card Comparison

Since I have owned several Travel Rewards Credit Cards over the last few years (owned and actually used), I figure I will do a summary recap here for my own, and for my readers (if any, look at my RSS count)







Travel Infinite



TD Gold Elite
 


AMEX Aeroplan Plus


CIBC Aerogold Infinite



Jerry's summary


Good for travel expenses or redemption

Good for auto club

Annual fee makes it harder to break even

Annual fee makes it harder to break even





1.5% return is good








VISA accepted almost everywhere






Type


VISA

VISA

AMEX, Charge card

VISA



Annual Fee


$120 (waived with Select Service)

$99 (waived with Select Service)

$120, not waivable

$120, not waivable ($75 credit may be given)



Rewards


$1 charged = 3 points, $1 via TD Travel = 9 points

10000 pts = $50.

1% Cashback

1 Aeroplan for $1

1.25 for $1 after $10000

1 Aeroplan for $1

1.5 for $1 for Gas/Grocery/Pharmacy



Return %


1.5%~4.5%

1%





Signup Bonus


20000 points = $100

None

10000 Aeroplan miles

15000 Aeroplan miles



Extended Warranty


Yes

Yes


No



Price Protection


Yes

Yes


No



Travel Accidental Insurance


up to $500000

up to $500000

up to $500000

up to $500000



Trip Cancellation Insurance


$1000/person, automatically included


No

optional



Trip Interruption Insurance


$5000/person, automatically included

$5000/person, automatically included

No

Yes



Travel Medical Insurance


8-day trips for under 65


No

15 days



Delayed/Lost Baggage


up to $1000/person

up to $1000/person

up to $500

Yes



Car Rental Insurance


Collision/Loss Damage Insurance

Collision/Loss Damage Insurance

Yes




Auto Club


No

Yes

No

optional



Rental discount


Budget

Budget

No

Avis



Supplmentary Card


$50, can be waived

$39, can be waived

2 FREE ($50 each)

$50

Monday, April 27, 2009

Week Recap

4 movies watched for free in April
  • Duplicity - interesting ending twist, so-so
  • Monster vs Aliens (2D) - so-so, I liked Wall-E better
  • Crank 2: High Voltage - very insane, very Restricted, dizzy camera angles all the time
  • State of Play - thriller well-done with humor and twist. Best of the 4 movies I watched
2 things crossed off on the career to-do list
  • Microsoft certification
  • Application submitted
2 things needed to fix
  • Collapsed fence
  • Broken dishwasher, again (another proof of buying new instead of repair)
2 new Credit Cards with perks
  • TD Travel Infinite VISA - $100 worth of signup bonus (20,000 TD points)
  • AMEX Small Business Gold Rewards card - 25,000 Aeroplan signup bonus, $70 cash rebate via GCR

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Bank of Canada lowers overnight rate target by 0.25% to 0.25%

This is a surprise cut to many, including myself because it makes Money almost free.

Also means a few things to me

- No need to find Fixed Rate Mortgage for a while as BoC sees this rate continuing into 2010. My HELOC is at 2.25% now, while mortgages are 1.x%

- I should repay my 0% Credit Card arbitrage soon as the spread is so little now when the money is sitting in a 2% savings account

- More incentives to research good investment opportunities (yield, growth equities)

Target for the overnight rate, recent data from Bank of Canada

(can you imagine one year ago we were at 3.5%)

Date Target (%) Change (%)
21 April 2009 0.25 - 0.25
3 March 2009 0.50 - 0.50
20 January 2009 1.00 - 0.50
9 December 2008 1.50 - 0.75
21 October 2008 2.25 - 0.25
8 October 2008 2.50 - 0.50
15 July 2008 3.00 ---
10 June 2008 3.00 ---
22 April 2008 3.00 - 0.50
4 March 2008 3.50 - 0.50

Monday, April 20, 2009

Canadian Tire Triple Dipping


I have come to fall in love with the truly Canadian retailer, Canadian Tire, over the years. It always has decent sales if you are patient enough. I have bought BBQ, Mowers, Detergents, Tires, Wipers, Keys, Camping equipments, etc.... almost everything you need to find for a home.

This is a tip to MAXIMIZE your spending and getting the highest return, something I learned.
Since nobody reads my blog I figure it doesn't hurt to blog about it ^_^
Prerequisites
  • You have Canadian Tire nearby (store locator), especially Gas Stations (to collect and spend Canadian Tire Money)
  • You SHOP at Canadian Tire
  • You use Credit Card as habit (you don't get as much if you use Debit only)
  • You want to go through the process which involves some work, little, but some

    FIRST DIP - Cashback

    You sign up for Cashback websites, which gives you certain % of your purchases back to you

    • Great Canadian Rebates (GCR) has 3.5% cashback for Canadian Tire. If you spend $100 in purchases after you enter via GCR, you will get a credit of $3.5 back
    You login to GCR, and select "Canadian Tire" from the "-- Select Merchant --" dropdown
    You click the "Shop: CanadianTire.ca. Shopping made easy 24-7!!" link, which opens a new tab/window to Canadian Tire

    You purchase $1000 worth of Canadian Tire Gift Cards online with free delivery. A few business days later you should receive an email from GCR notifying that you have received $35 in rebates.

    Notes:
    Occasionally (about twice a year) GCR will have Canadian Tire promotions that raised the cashback rebate from 3.5% to 5%. I have stock up $1000 each time during these promotions.

    SECOND DIP - Credit Card Rewards

    You accumulate the rewards on your Credit Card from the Canadian Tire Gift Card purchase above.

    For example


    THIRD DIP - Gas coupons for Canadian Tire Money

    Assume you have a Canadian Tire store nearby and a gas station, your weekly Canadian Tire flyer will have a multiplier gas coupon, which ranges from 5X to 10X multiplier (see picture)
    You go to the Canadian Tire Gas Station, fill up, and pay with your Canadian Tire Gift Card purchased in 1st dip, along with the coupon. You will get back Canadian Tire Money.
    Notes:
    Due to weird structure, you actually get more from 4 x 10L fill-up with coupon instead of 1 40L fill-up with coupon. But I am too lazy to literally maximize to that extent

    FOURTH DIP (optional) - Convert CT Money to Gift Card

    You could simply spend the Canadian Tire Money inside the Canadian Tire store

    OR

    You have collected enough Canadian Tire Money from either Gas fill-up or Canadian Tire store purchases. Then you take these Canadian Tire Money to the store Customer Service and ask them nicely to put them onto a Canadian Tire Gift Card instead (minimum $25). Then you repeat the cycle above


      
    My Example

    I didn't really keep track to the penny, but it is accurate enough

    I bought $1000 Canadian Tire Gift Card in Nov 2008
    • 1st dip = $50 cashback from GCR, paid out in Feburary 2009
    • 2nd dip = $20 from 2% AMEX Cashback
    • 3rd dip = $30 Canadian Tire Money, more or less from the gift cards
    My return on investment is
    ($50+$20+$30) / $1000 = 10%, beats any savings account

    As I have run out of the gift cards, my next goal is to sign up for the AMEX Small Business Gold Card and dip it even more. More to follow tomorrow!

    Friday, April 17, 2009

    我們 不過是個人生的訪客

    沒有人看得懂 沒有人會來看 所以我就直說了

    今天的我 突然有種落寞感
    已經到這兒六個月了 還是感覺是個訪客 沒有生根落地的認同

    我可以理解大型公司的文化本就比較制式化與冷淡
    我總以為這是新手怯生 不過 這幾天的感觸 我可以理解 工作環境對一個人有多重要

    這幾天在做一個大學的工作問卷調查 突然察覺 我的答案都偏向中性~否定
    相比之下 我之前的工作主管與環境答案會是中性~肯定
    如果不是因為之前同事也在這 我 真的是一個過客 一個陌生人 沒有根在這 也沒有向心力

    我一樣努力工作100% 週末加班 用最短的時間盡我所能解決任何問題
    換來一個「至少沒有抱怨」的認同

    同事嘛 真的就是一群只是朝九晚五在一起上班的訪客 因為公司相聚在一起
    中餐 各忙各的 沒有什麼邀請 沒有什麼交集 這 不是我期待的

    公司制度的不方便 也令人灰心
    不願意補貼四百塊的考試費用 有點小氣的令人無言
    重要專案 也方便地沒有包括我 即使一直是我與開發團隊在溝通和合作

    是我要求太高嗎 想要一個歡樂的工作環境 不要只是一個上班8小時賺取薪水的地方
    也是因為來這以後 發覺我想要的不只這些 所以才開始考證照與申請學校

    有一天 我不會在這了
    有一天 我希望能夠在blog上寫 「我依然是個訪客 不過我找到了家」

    Thursday, April 16, 2009

    老外辨別中國人的60個徵兆

    I saw this and find it quite funny but TRUE. My comments are at the line below

    1. 你看起來好像才18歲。(骨架小,臉盤小,相對較瘦,所以顯年輕。 還有科學家作過調查, 40歲之前,亞洲女性的皮膚比西方女性的顯年輕, 但40以後,亞洲女性的皮膚會迅速衰老,最後和西方女性皮膚的老化程度一樣。 )
    YES

    2. 你喜歡吃雞腳。 (中國人多,如此吃,不浪費資源。而且, 別有風味,耗時,熱量低,不易長胖, 值得推廣)
    YES

    3. 你吃魚時會吸魚頭和魚鰭。 (同上,只是目前有說法魚頭含鉛量高)
    YES

    4. 你的車子後視鏡上會吊中國擺設。 (同意)
    YES

    5. 你喜歡唱K。(對,好像日本人,韓國人也喜歡)
    NO

    6. 你的房子鋪的是瓷磚。(老皇歷了, 至少城市裡早不這樣裝修了)
    YES - came with the house

    7. 你的廚房覆蓋著一層厚厚的油脂。(中國人愛炒菜,油煙鬧的,但是現在有更好的抽油煙機, 應該不至於這樣了)
    SOME

    8. 你的爐子上面有鋁箔。(不懂)
    NO - but I totally understand

    9. 你的遙控器外面包著塑料。 (赫赫,也是老皇歷了吧)
    NO - but I have seen my shares

    10. 你從沒吻過你父母。(對,不知80後,90後是否這樣)
    YES

    11. 你從沒抱過你父母。(對,不知80後,90後是否這樣)
    NO - I hug them when saying goodbyes

    12. 你小學五年級開始就戴眼鏡了。 (除了學習累的原因, 還有基因的問題,亞洲近視眼比例高)
    NO

    13. 你睡醒後頭髮會豎起來。(可能是因為髮質硬,粗)
    YES

    14. 你會為一些不可質疑的事情辯論。 (與其說愛辯論,不如說愛議論他人,愛給他人指點迷津, 關心別人多於關心自己)
    PROBABLY

    15. 你喜歡用折價券。(會過日子, 呵呵,特別是在經濟低迷時期,值得推廣)
    YES

    16. 你為了最便宜的汽油費不惜開著車子到處找。(不是所有中國人都這樣,我們也認為時間是寶貴的)
    SOMETIMES

    17. 你晚上洗澡。(晚上洗有助睡眠, 早上利於清醒, 大多中國人花在上班路上的時間多,早上洗, 不現實)
    YES

    18. 旅店房間裡的非免費食品你都不吃。(一般外國人也不吃, 有病才吃比外邊貴10到20倍的食品, 除了那些扭扭屁股就賺錢的人)
    YES

    19. 如果你是男人,那麼你身上的體毛比大多數女人少。 (華人,日本人,韓國人,體毛都少)
    NO IDEA

    20. 別人為你倒茶你就用手敲一下桌子。 (老輩子的吧, 不懂這個規矩)
    YES - twice actually (thank you)

    21. 你經常說「哎(二聲)呀(四聲)」和「哇(四聲)」。
    SOMETIMES

    22. 你不喜歡系安全帶因為安全帶讓你感覺不舒服。 (不好, 要改正)
    NO

    23. 你喜歡拉斯維加斯,老虎機和二十一點。(喜歡賭博, 好像是這樣, 大多數認為錢和運氣有關,而不是腳踏實地,努力工作)
    NO

    24. 你的廚房桌子上有一條抹布。(老外廚房也有啊)
    YES - a few

    25. 你把骨頭和其他雜碎吐在桌子上,所以你必須有抹布。 (好像都放在盤子裡或紙上啊)
    SOMETIMES

    26. 你的電冰箱存著一萬年前的食物。 (不同意,大家都明白保質期,這條要刪)
    NO

    27. 你把洗碗機當碗櫥。
    YES

    28. 你從來沒用過你的洗碗機。 (城市裡應該開始普及了吧)
    ALMOST NEVER

    29. 你有一個熱水瓶裡面永遠裝著熱水。 (好像聽說喝熱水不宜腹部發胖, 而且家裡有小孩, 沖奶方便, 用微波爐給孩子熱奶不好, 提倡)
    YES

    30. 你在廚房吃飯。(西邊也一樣, 那種開放式大廚房, 餐桌就放在廚房。這條刪)
    NO

    31. 你會在餐桌上剔牙,但手遮著嘴。(分人)
    NO

    32. 你會轉筆。(分人)
    NO

    33. 你冰箱裡有三口剩飯和一隻雞翼。(這叫堅決不浪費資源)
    NO

    34. 你把果醬瓶當水杯用。(呵呵, 西人是喝熱飲要用瓷用具,不透明; 涼的, 用玻璃的,透明。 國王,總統和老百姓, 規矩都是一樣的。 只是前面的用的更名貴。中國,過去的皇帝,高官家裡更講究。老百姓嘛,對付吧。)
    NO - but seen this everywhere in China

    35. 你有收集旅館免費洗髮水瓶子的愛好。 (分人)
    NO

    36. 你每次外出十五分鐘都會帶著你的零食:干芒果,李子或烤魷魚。
    NO

    37. 你會洗2-3次米。
    YES

    38. 你不用量杯。(我們憑感覺,憑多年練出來的技巧和功夫,不依靠數據,工具和機器)
    NO

    39. 你用筷子打雞蛋。(同上, 一把刀,一雙筷子, 整個廚房就拿下了。 好處是,簡潔, 節約。 壞處是沒有工業革命, 呵呵)
    YES

    40. 你有一個有蓋的茶杯。
    YES

    41. 你總是在電話簿裡找電話號碼,因為咨詢電話費用為五角。(節約是美德,如果有時間的話)
    NO

    42. 你喜歡中國功夫片。 (分人, 刪)
    NO

    43. 你從不為了問聲好而call你父母。(分人, 刪,我們不說問好這種話,但我們聊天。他們問好是例行公事似的禮節)
    NO

    44. 如果你不在家,你的父母會打電話問你吃了嗎,就算半夜12點也不例外。(分人, 刪)
    YES

    45. 當你病了的時候,你父母要你不吃油炸食品和烤的東西,因為會上火!
    YES

    46. 你上班時給你中國朋友發送電子郵件,即使你們相距10尺。(西人也一樣, 刪)
    YES

    47. 你去吃自助餐前會把自己餓個半死。(呵呵, 有這可能)
    NO

    48. 你認識可以打折賣給你珠寶或電器的人。(分人, 刪)
    NO

    49. 你留著用過的可樂瓶。(分人, 刪)
    NO

    50. 你有自己的切肉刀而且你會磨它。
    NO

    51. 你的牙膏都擠到紙一樣薄。(充分利用資源,推廣)
    YES

    52. 你知道什麼是月餅。
    YES

    53. 當廁紙降價時,你買了100多卷並囤在衣櫥或別人的房間裡。(分人, 刪)
    NO

    54. 即使你飽了,當別人要把剩下的菜倒掉時你會一嘴把它吃完。(分人, 刪)
    YES

    55. 你吃過紅豆冰棍。
    YES

    56. 你拜訪別人時會帶著水果。(過去時)
    YES

    57. 你在餐後搶著付帳單。
    YES

    58. 你的主科是實用型的,工程學,機械學或法律。(人多, 競爭激烈, 工科好找工作。 現在,都懸)
    YES

    59. 你愛好吃苦瓜。(分人, 刪)
    YES

    60. 你三十歲時還和父母住在一起並且他們也喜歡你這樣。或者你已經三十歲並且結婚了,但你還住在父母隔壁或同個小區。
    NO

    Wednesday, April 15, 2009

    Dropbox - free seamless syncing/sharing tool

    I discovered Dropbox last month and have used it extensively ever since

    What exactly is Dropbox?

    • Dropbox is the easiest way to share and store your files online. Works like you do
    • No complicated interface to learn. Dropbox runs in the background on your desktop.
    • Worry-free syncing
    • Sync your files automatically to your computers and the web
    • Works with Windows/Mac/Linux
    • It has version control
    • No file size limit
    • Sharing capabilities
    My reasons for using it
    • 2GB is very generous
    • OFFLINE CAPABLE
    • No uploading required, copy-and-paste is so much easier
    • Sync my browser favorites
    • Sync My Documents, and backup
    • Sync my RoboForm data
    • Store my tools/utilities to use everywhere, such as TreeSize, Sysinternals tools, and TeraCopy
    • Share Photos easily without worrying about "uploading" such as Flickr/Picasa albums. I just copy-and-paste into the Photos folder
    • One-off file transfer between computers. Say I need to transfer a file between my desktop and laptop, no longer do I need to type in file://laptop/share and set it up, I instead just copy into Dropbox folder.

    Monday, April 13, 2009

    Long Weekend, Busy Fulfilling Weekend

    Good Friday
    • Hiked at the Hilton Falls conservation area in Halton, Ontario
    • It had its highlights (water washout) despite an average trail. The falls was a nice view regardless

    Saturday
    • Easter Egg Hunt! It's almost unbelievable to see at least 200+ people and kids running around looking for "plastic Easter eggs"

    Sunday
    Easter Monday
    • Not a day off, back to work

    Friday, April 10, 2009

    背包客 Backpackers.com.tw - All for one, one for all

    旅行多了 難得找到個家 而背包客棧 卻是個全球都能交流的家
    我往後的行李上 也會帶著這些吊牌 陪我寫下一個又一個的故事

    http://www.backpackers.com.tw/

    Thursday, April 09, 2009

    Canada Unemployment Rate at 8%, 7-year High. Waterloo region 9.6%

    It is scary, 9.6% in Waterlo means every 10 people you know, 1 is unemployed
    Another reason to be grateful for my job, and to do better in it every day.

    Canada's unemployment rate rose to 8 percent in March, up from 7.7 percent in February.

    Statistics Canada says just over 61-thousand people lost their jobs last month. That's more than private sector economists had been forecasting.
    They'd predicted about 55-thousand jobs likely vanished in March.
    Most of the losses were in full-time work in manufacturing and construction.

    Waterloo Region's unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in March from 9.1 the previous month.
    Roughly 4-thousand full and part-time workers lost their jobs in our region last month.

    Ontario's jobless rate stayed the same February to March at 8.7 per cent.
    In the last 5 months the agency says Canada has shed 357-thousand jobs.

    Source: 570news

    Wednesday, April 08, 2009

    I Love Life 珍愛生命 永不放棄

    在綜藝節目上看到黑人推廣 珍惜生命 我也想告訴大家 要發揮生命良能
    星光的黎礎寧 藝人阿桑昨日乳癌過世 都是告訴我們 我們很幸福
    活著 真好
    活著 要做更多
    活著 替他們活著

    http://www.ilovelife.com.tw/

    Tuesday, April 07, 2009

    慈濟Mississauga志工成長

    星期日參加了慈濟Mississauga一日志工成長 內容有
    • 上人開示 人間菩提
    • 四大志業八大法印 慈濟的故事
    • Mississauga志工站介紹
    • 團康 拉車向前行
    • 手語 撿垃圾歌
    • 環保島嶼設計 解說

    收獲滿滿 也很高興自己終於踏出了在加拿大的第一步走入真正的慈濟
    當然住在Waterloo會有點辛苦 不過那也都是幸福

    說真的 到了一定年紀的成熟 會發覺生活不只是工作與家庭 還有更多發揮的機會
    年輕 就能多付出勞力 學習智慧
    經濟穩定 就能多付出財力 護持大愛
    看見許多師姑師伯努力付出 我也不可以輸他們 :-)




    慈濟Mississauga行事曆

    慈善 醫療 教育 人文

    Friday, April 03, 2009

    Busy Weekend

    Saturday
    Housewarming Party

    Sunday
    Tzu Chi (慈濟) Mississauga 志工成長

    Plans for April
    • Collect documents
    • Watch a lot of movies, with my "free" admissions from cereal boxes (8)
    • Book another Microsoft exam to take before end of May (50% off)

    Thursday, April 02, 2009

    ER - Season 15, Episode 22 - "And In the End..."

    Today is the final episode of my favorite TV show - ER, and it will be sad to see it finally end >__<

    This is my memory of ER
    Be generous. With your time...with your love....with your life.


    After 15 seasons and 331 episodes, the series ends tonight with a two-hour finale at 9 p.m. on CTV.

    The show launched several careers, including that of Oscar winner George Clooney, who left in 1999. Many former cast members are expected to return for the finale.

    http://news.google.ca/news?pz=1&cf=all&ncl=1325955983

    ER on NBC


    Wednesday, April 01, 2009

    Waterloo is great

    Article from Toronto Star - Meet our post-industrial Waterloo

    Although I have spent my last 9 years in this small town that I learn to dislike at times (like everyone else, for every city they live in).

    I do admit, it is a great city, because ...
    • Everything accessible in short distances
    • Almost have everything (I would like T&T and IKEA please, now we got Walmart)
    • Diversity and multi-culture, from the students
    • Lots of cuisines thanks to campuses and students
    • Stable environment for technology professionals thanks to RIM, Open Text, etc...
    • Affordable stable housing (just look at GTA house prices drop ...)

    In a way, I am glad I am stuck here in this great city :-)

    No, it is not April Fool's joke either