GOOD CREDIT:

Credit is an everyday part of our lives.  From our phone bills, to credit cards, to our rent or mortgage payment, credit gives us the buying power to purchase goods or services over time.  And it’s a privilege you shouldn’t take for granted. 

Managing your debts effectively and begin to develop and maintain strong credit rating is essential.

With a good credit rating, you can ensure a strong financial future.  Take care to minimize problems that could affect your ability to borrow money. And remember – tomorrow’s credit starts today.

When establishing credit, consider the following:

-consider applying for gas, department store, or major credit card to start your credit history

-make your payments on time and pay off your debts quickly

-borrow only for those items that you NEED and can AFFORD.

-LIMIT spending on non-essential items to 15-20% of what you earn after taxes.

-don’t use credit cards when your employment situation is unstable or uncertain

-don’t use credit to purchase basic essentials such as food, utilities, etc. Unless you can pay off the bill each month

-Limit your use of credit if you’re a habitual spender and have trouble living within your means

-Avoid reaching your CREDIT LIMIT the maximum you can borrow

-Don’t use credit cards if you have difficulty making payments, or you consistently make late payments

Tips that can make a difference to you

Even Canada is getting in on the "Black Friday" experience.

Local Shops in Airdrie are gearing up for a long day and night to get those savvy shoppers into their stores.

With bargains to be had and to boost their year end sales.  Its going to be shear madness out there.

Malls in Calgary are adding more staff and Sales Stickers.  

I think good footwear, some energy boosting drinks are in order to make it thru what poses to be a day of long line ups and frazzled shoppers. 

BE SAFE out there...and be sure you set your limits...or the bills will be fierce.  And when in doubt....you can always scream into a shopping bag.... to regain your composure.

You can show your clients you really care by giving them a closing gift that might save their lives. A Simple Guide to Home Fire Safety, a DVD created by 27-year Ottawa Fire Services veteran Capt. Daly McLaughlin, offers fire safety scenarios presented in an easy-to-understand format ideal for the whole family.

McLaughlin created the DVD based on his experiences as a fire fighter. He says he has seen terrible things over the years that could have been prevented by taking simple measures, he says.

The DVD is divided into segments and doesn’t take long to watch. But the time will be well spent.

The one to three-minute segements are:

1. Children’s fire safety. “It’s not there to scare children. Kids have to know about fire safety,” he says

2. Survival tips in event of home fire

3. How to prepare a home escape plan

4. General home fire prevention tips including for the kitchen, fireplace and furnace

5. How to buy, operate and maintain smoke detectors

6. Fire safety in condos

7. Christmas fire safety

8. How to use a fire extinguisher

9. When to use a fire extinguisher

The big tip for all: Smoke detectors are the most important line of defence. “A smoke detector gives you a heads up (so you can) get out,” Capt. McLaughlin says.

Most of the information on the DVD can be found scattered on the Internet, but McLaughlin wanted to offer home and condo owners a convenient and time-saving tool that would make fire safety hard to ignore.

“Fire Safety Week in October brings fire safety to the forefront for a week, then it’s forgotten,” McLaughlin says. He hopes his DVD will help keep the topic top of mind throughout the year and he hopes Realtors can help him spread the fire safety word.

He says a Realtor he knows gives gift baskets containing fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, escape ladders and his A Simple Guide to Home Fire Safety DVDs. In fact, he came up with the idea for the DVD after his real estate agent aunt inquired about fire safety DVDs for her clients.

The DVD was filmed at McLaughlin’s house, with his 17-year-old son, Cody, recruited as an actor. Some footage, all shot specifically for the video, was filmed professionally and some is home video footage.

McLaughlin, who has been teaching fire extinguisher and commercial high-rise fire safety training for years, did the voice-overs. He used professionals to produce the DVD, design its cover and create his website, www.thefireman.ca.

The DVD sells for $9.95. A volume discount is available to agents. Visit the website for more information, or email info@thefireman.ca for details.