With many Canadian children entering university or college this September, many parents are concerned about the rising costs of tuition. Even with government grants and/or loans, you may need to help supplement your child's tuition, as well as supplies, housing, etc. Saving for your child's higher education should be a part of your budget in order to have the necessary funds when they are needed. An RESP also allows others to deposit funds into the account, i.e. grandparents, friends, other relatives.
 
One alternative you may want to consider is using a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). This is a special savings account that you can set up that has the distinct purpose of saving money for your child's post secondary education. The Government of Canada allows this account to grow tax free until the child (the beneficiary) who is named in the RESP enrolls in their school of choice. Having an RESP also makes you eligible for such incentives like the Canadian Education Savings Grant and the Canada Learning Bond, which are only available to those who have an RESP.
 
An RESP can be opened through most financial institutions such as a bank or credit union. Some certified financial planners as well as group plan dealers may be RESP providers. Remember that some RESP providers may charge for service fees, and/or limit the amount and/or frequency of your contributions. Do some research to find the financial institution that will best suit your specific needs. All that is required to open up an RESP is your social insurance number as well as the social insurance number(s) of the child(ren) who will be benefiting from this plan. You will need to choose the type of RESP that will be the most beneficial for your specific needs. RESPs are available in 3 different types:
 
• Family Plan: This entitles you to name one or more children as the beneficiaries of this plan. A beneficiary must be related to you, but does not necessarily have to be your child; grandchildren and adopted children are also eligible for this program. A family plan will entitle you to name one or all of the children in order for them to be able to use the money while obtaining their post-secondary education. This is a good plan for those who do not wish to make regular monthly payments.
• Individual Plan: This is for one beneficiary only but does not have to be related to you. This plan also doesn't require monthly payments.
• Group Plan: This is administered by a group plan dealer; be advised that each plan will have its own rules. The group plan dealer typically will invest the money in low-risk securities, i.e. bonds, treasury bills and guaranteed income certificates (GICs). You will have to sign a contract agreeing to make regular payments into the plan over a certain time period. The group plan 'pools' your money with those of other participants (beneficiaries) who are of the same age. The total amount of money that each beneficiary gets is based on the amount in the pool, as well as the total number of students who are in school that year. You will be allowed to enter only one child (does not have to be related to you) in a group plan.
 
Once you have selected the type of RESP plan that is best suited for you, ask your RESP provider about all of your investment choices in order to fully understand the advantages and risks of your options. Some providers may offer a variety of investment options; others may already have a set investment plan in place.
 
The benefit of using an RESP is that the money will grow tax-free while it is in the RESP account. Any money that the investment earns will not be taxed until the money has been withdrawn to pay for your child's education. Money that is withdrawn from the RESP to pay tuition is taxed in the hands of the student. As students usually have little or no income, this withdrawal usually will be tax-free. The money that the investment earns while in an RESP will not be taxed until the RESP is closed due to the beneficiary not pursuing a higher education. If the beneficiary decides not to attend college or university, the money that you have contributed will be returned tax-free. The money that the investment earns while in an RESP will not be taxed until the RESP is closed due to the beneficiary not pursuing a higher education.

Statistics Canada is reporting that the rate of Canadians who smoke is on the decline. The highest decrease in smokers comes from the youth population, with teenagers aged 12 to 17 declining 14% in 2000/2001 to 8% in 2005. This decline is surmised to be from the fact that more Canadian teenagers are choosing not to start smoking, with 85% of teens reporting that they have not tried cigarettes. As the majority of smokers begin initially in their teenage years, these statistics are significant. Studies have shown that it is rare for adults to begin smoking if they did not smoke in their teenage years. This is the lowest rate of youth smokers in over 40 years in Canada.

Overall, the percentage of Canadian smokers age 12 and over has decreased from 23% to 22% since 2003. Canadian smokers are also reporting smoking less than previously as well. Canadians smoked an average of 13.1 cigarettes a day in 2003; the average in 2005 went down to 12.7 per day. The amount of non-smokers who are being exposed to second hand smoke is also decreasing, except for the youth population. While statistics show that fewer young Canadians even try smoking, they are more at risk of being exposed to second hand smoke. This is usually a result of being exposed to second hand smoke either in their homes and/or cars, or in public places that teens tend to gather at.

Smoking habits are also changing in Canada. More homes are now smoke-free, thereby reducing the number of people exposed to second hand smoke. In 2003 57% of Canadian homes did not allow smoking; this percentage has gone up to 64% as of 2005. With smoking now being banned in many public places, the risk of exposure has decreased from 29% to 23%. 68% of all Canadian workplaces are now smoke-free which is reducing not only the percentage of people exposed to cigarette smoke, but is also decreasing the amount of cigarettes being smoked throughout the day. The average amount of cigarettes smoked where smoking is permitted in the home and at work is 16 per day; when smoking is permitted in the home but banned at work, the number of cigarettes per day dropped to 14. If smoking was banned in the home but allowed in the workplace an average of 11 cigarettes were smoked daily. If smoking was banned in both the home and workplace, only 9 cigarettes a day were reported.

Recent studies have shown that 23% of Canadian men smoke; this rate is slightly lower for women at 20%. 28% of all smokers in Canada are between the ages of 18 to 34. British Columbia and Ontario have the lowest population of smokers at 18 and 21%; B.C. also has the highest rate of homes which have banned smoking (77 %). The territories have the highest rate of smokers; 30% of people living in the Yukon are smokers, 36% in the Northwest Territories, and 53% in Nunavut. While Nunavut has the highest rate of smokers, it has also experienced the sharpest decline in smokers, falling 12% since 2003. As well, 93% of workplaces in Nunavut have banned smoking as opposed to only 61% of smoke-free workplaces in Alberta. Quebec has the lowest rate of smoke-free homes, with only 47% banning smoking indoors.

This decrease in smoking is good news for Canadians. Fewer Canadians are picking up the habit, and those that do still smoke are smoking less. An improvement in health status can mean a decrease in your life insurance premiums; consult with your broker about this possibility.

Identity theft has quickly become one of the most fastest-rising crimes in Canada as well as the United States. By 2002, over 7000 Canadians had reported identity theft to the PhoneBusters National Call centre, with losses being reported at over $8 million. In the first quarter of 2003 alone, over another 2000 cases were reported, with estimated losses of more than $5 million. As well, 2 major Canadian credit bureaus have indicated that they have received approximately 1400-1800 Canadian identity theft complaints every month. The majority of these received complaints have been from residents of Ontario.

As Canadians are constantly becoming more reliant on using bank cards and/or credit cards, they can be leaving themselves at risk of someone gaining access to their data. As well, many Canadians are unaware of the personal information that their employer and/or government agencies have on file, which can also potentially be a target for identity thieves.

In order to protect yourself from identity theft you should be aware about how exactly most identity theft occurs. The most common ways that your information is accessed is:

• Theft of documents, credit cards, bank cards, etc. Theft of a wallet or purse is usually noticed very quickly. The owner can then call all of the credit card companies etc. to notify them of the theft in order to close those accounts. However, thieves have begun to also check people's mailboxes in order to steal bank statements as well as credit card statements, thereby gaining your information. Some banks also issue letters that contain "pre-approved credit card" offers; these can be stolen with the thief posing as you and asking for an address change. If you throw out any financial documents, including bill statements, make sure you shred them or otherwise destroy them first.
• Shoulder Surfing. Thieves can look over your shoulder or from a location nearby while you are using an ATM and gain access to your PIN. Then, by distracting you, your card can be switched with another one, now giving the thief (or thieves) access to your bank account. Another common method is by installing a fake ATM device that reads your card's encoded data. When using an ATM machine, guard your hand with the other one when keying in your PIN.
• Skimming. Your information can be stolen when thieves "skim" or "swipe" your credit card at restaurants, stores, etc with a device known as a skimmer. The skimmer records all your personal information data from the magnetic stripes on the back of your card. This information is then usually transferred to another location (commonly overseas) where it is re-encoded onto fraudulently made credit cards.
• Email spam. Most every Canadian has, by now, received an email purporting to be from their bank, paypal account, etc. that asks you to visit their website and update your information. Reputable banks or other financial institutions will never ask you to do this. This is a ploy for thieves to gather your personal information in order for illegal activities.
• Company and/or government database theft. There has been a significant increase of identity thieves trying to access large databases of personal information. This is happening in both the private as well as public business sectors.

To avoid being a victim of identity theft it is important to understand where the risk lies, and where you are potentially the most vulnerable. To minimize the risk of having your identity stolen:

• Sign any and all new credit cards immediately when receiving them and never lend them out to anyone.
• Keep a current list of all active cards you use and destroy ones that you longer use; update this list on a regular basis.
• Don't carry all of your identification with you if it is not needed on a daily basis (i.e. Social Insurance Number card, passport). These items should be stored in a secured environment until needed; they contain a lot of your personal information which if stolen, can be used to obtain fraudulent credit cards and bank accounts.
• Know your billing cycles. Notify your creditors and/or utility companies if your bills do not arrive at the same time each month (someone could be stealing them from your mailbox for the information).
• Closely check each itemized statement on your credit card bills in order to ensure that these actually are your purchases. Any discrepancy should be immediately reported to the issuing credit card company. Likewise, immediately report any card which you suspect is missing and/or stolen.
• Shred or otherwise effectively destroy any and all financial documents. This includes ATM receipts, credit card receipts, utility bills, as well as any other paper document that contains personal and/or account information. This also applies to any credit card applications that may be mailed to you.
• Make sure that any financial information you have in your home/office is stored securely, preferably locked up
• NEVER give any personal information over the phone, through the mail and/or over the internet unless it is you who has initiated contact and it is with someone you can verify. Reputable companies will never solicit you in this manner, so anyone who asks for your personal information in these ways is usually a thief.
• If you write down the passwords to your bank card, credit cards, etc. do not keep this information in your purse and/or wallet. If you need to have a written record of your passwords, store them safely, preferably in a locked storage space. This rule also applies to computer passwords.
• Check your credit report on a yearly basis in order to see that this information is correct and includes only your personally authorized activities.

If you have been the victim of identity theft, immediately report it to the bank and/or credit card issuer from which funds have been illegally obtained. You should also immediately report the illegal activity to your local police so that this information can be forwarded to the proper investigating department. Your creditor may require proof that you have made a police report in order to reimburse you for any unauthorized charges/withdrawals.

For more detailed information on identity theft, and to track the current trends in this area, Ontario residents can visit PhoneBusters. You can also use this resource to report any suspected criminal activity regarding your finances.

Most Canadians throughout the country will at some point in their life will apply for a mortgage. As with any other financial transactions, it is a good idea to do your homework and understand the complexities of your mortgage. Having a solid understanding of your finances as well as the different mortgage products available can help you make the best choice. Your mortgage will probably be the most important debt of your lifetime; making a well informed decision will benefit you for years to come.

You must determine how much you are able to afford to spend when buying a home. This includes not only the purchase price of the home, but all of your other financial obligations. Do not assume that the maximum amount you are pre-approved for is an amount you can actually afford. Figure out what your monthly expenses are, including car payments, insurance, groceries, cable, telephone, etc. You may want to track these expenses for a few months in order to get an accurate total of your monthly expenditures. It's also a good idea to set aside money for emergencies, i.e. car repairs, house maintenance, etc. Subtracting the amount of the monthly expenses (including savings) from your monthly income will give you an estimate of how much you can afford for a mortgage payment. The general rule is to not exceed 32% of your gross monthly income for housing costs, and no more than 40% on monthly debt payments.

Once you've decided on the amount you can afford, you will need to shop around for a lender. Banks, mortgage companies, insurance companies, trust and loan companies as well as credit unions can all offer mortgages. Different companies will offer different prices as well as conditions; talk to several different lenders, as well as types of lenders in order to get the best product for your specific needs. You may also want to consider using a mortgage broker. A mortgage broker does not directly lend money, but rather finds a lender best suited for your needs. Because mortgage brokers have access to a wide range of lenders you will usually have more choices regarding products and terms. If you choose to use a mortgage broker, remember that not all brokers have the same access to financial institutions so you may want to consider consulting with more than one broker.

When shopping for a mortgage, obtain the information you will need in order to compare products. In Canada it is federally regulated that all banks, insurance companies and trust and loan companies must provide you with the following information before you sign a mortgage agreement. If you are shopping for a fixed-rate mortgage you must be provided with:

• The amount being lent
• The term of the loan as well as the amortization period
• Total amount of payments at the end of the term, as well as how much of that total you will have paid in interest
• Annual interest rate, including the real annual percentage rate which includes any and all extra charges (APR)
• The actual date on which interest will begin to be charged
• The amount of the payment and the due date
• If your payments are first applied to cover the interest and other applicable charges, and then to the outstanding principal
• Any optional services, i.e. disability or life insurance, that you have accepted, as well as the cost and the penalties, rebates and/or charges that will be applied if you decide later to cancel these services
• Any default charges that will be applied if your mortgage is in default
• Description of any property that is being provided as security for the loan
• Any broker fees that are paid by the lender to a broker that are included in the amount being lent
• The fee you will have to pay to discharge the mortgage after it has been paid off
• Any other charges that may apply, including the type of charge and the amount

If you are applying for a variable-rate mortgage you must be provided with:

• The annual interest rate of your mortgage as of the date of the disclosure statement
• How and when the annual interest rate is calculated
• How much your payments are based on the annual interest rate
• What your total payments will be at the end of the term based on the annual interest rate
• If the interest rate variations are linked to a public index you must be provided at least once a year with a disclosure statement that contains the annual interest rate and outstanding balance and the beginning and end of the period covered by the statement. You must also be provided with the amount of each payment and when it is due based on the annual interest rate that is applied at the end of the period

If you are applying for a variable-rate mortgage and the amount of your payment is not automatically adjusted to reflect changes in the annual interest rate you must also be provided with:

• The annual interest rate above which your payments will not be sufficient to cover the interest due on your loan for the period
• You must be made aware that negative amortization can happen. This occurs when your outstanding balance increases even when payments are made in full

Federal law also prohibits the financial institution from unduly pressuring you to buy their other products as a condition for accepting your mortgage application. For instance, the institution cannot deny your mortgage application because you choose not to buy your mortgage life insurance from them. You have the right to shop around for not only your mortgage, but for any other financial products that you may need for your new home. It's wise to always compare different products from different institutions, lenders and/or brokers in order to assemble the best package for your personal needs.

Having a budget that actually works for you can be a great tool to help achieve your financial goals. By having a spending plan that accurately reflects your goals, you can truly understand how and where you spend your money. Making a budget can also show you where you are unnecessarily spending money that instead could be going towards a more important purpose.

The first step in making a budget is to gather up all your financial statements. This includes bank statements, credit card bills, utility bills, etc. Also include items that may be paid on a yearly basis, i.e. car insurance, life insurance, property taxes, etc. The more information you have on your expenses, as well as income (i.e. bonuses), the more accurately you can define your spending and saving habits.

Calculate the amount of all sources of income. When using the amount of your paycheck, record the net amount (the amount after taxes).

Once you have all your documents together, create a list of monthly expenses. Items that are paid on a yearly, semi-annually or other non-monthly basis should be divided by 12 in order to figure out the monthly cost. Include this cost in your monthly expenses, as it is the amount you should be saving for that specific expense. Also include in this such financial items as retirement savings, RRSP contributions, etc.

Divide your expenses into 2 categories: fixed and variable. Your fixed expenses are the expenses that stay relatively the same each month. These include such items as phone, cable, electric bills, etc. as well as credit card payments. While these may change slightly, they will not increase or decrease dramatically throughout the year. For items such as car and life insurance, property taxes, etc. divide the total amount by 12 in order to find out the monthly amount of money that should be put away for that expense. This ensures that you are not stuck with a large bill that you have not budgeted for.

Your variable expenses are your expenses that tend to fluctuate more throughout the year, i.e. groceries, entertainment, clothing. This is also the category where you will be able to have more control over where to cut expenditures if necessary in order to reach your goals. This also gives you a more comprehensive understanding of your daily spending habits. You may be surprised to actually see how much, for instance, you spend on buying take-out coffee everyday when you see the weekly or monthly total.

People tend to only factor in the major expenses and bills. However, by keeping a daily log of how and where you spend your money, you will have a greater understanding of where exactly your money goes. By doing this for a week, you can have an accurate record of your daily spending habits. This is usually a category where spending habits can be changed in order to free up more money for either other expenses or for savings.

Once your expenses as well as sources of income are calculated and accurately identified, total the amount from each category. If your income is higher than your expenses, then you can prioritize this excess to such areas as retirement savings, paying more on credit card debt, etc. However, if your expenses are higher than your income, you will need to make changes in your expenditures.

Remember to review your budget on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. This will give you the opportunity to review your spending habits, as well as how well you stuck to your budget. You will always need to revise your budget for any financial changes, i.e. raise in pay, major expense (new car, etc) as your budget will have to be re-worked to reflect the changes.