Fuel, Food and Inflation

Stacey Unsworth, a 36-year-old actor and independent contractor, is squeegeeing the windows of his Dodge Caravan at a gas station on Highway 7 in Vaughan. The cleanliness of his car is something he still has control over; the soaring cost to get from A to B however, seems inexorable these days. What once cost him around $50 for a fill-up is costing him nearly $75 today. “I live in the suburbs and commute, which millions of people do every day. Unfortunately as much as I would like to throw my hands up and start biking, like a lot of Torontonians or people in the GTA, we’re held captive by the oil companies. We have no choice but to drive,” says Unsworth. Though he’s bitter about the spike, Unsworth knows that he’s not the only one suffering from what’s been referred to as ‘pain at the pump.’ “I feel that oil prices are grossly inflated for no real reason at all, but I think that’s the general consensus of a lot of people,” Read more

Retiring Rich: Suburban Millionaire

You can retire a millionaire. Yep, that’s right, a millionaire – without winning the lottery, either. A long time ago this was a dream reserved for the few and the fortunate, but income today is different from what it was 50 years ago. It certainly isn’t a rarity for seasoned veterans to make anywhere from $60,000 to over $100,000.

Of course, not everyone will make this kind of income, and according to a recent survey by the Canadian Payroll Association, 59 per cent of Canadian workers say they would be in financial trouble if they missed even a single paycheque. Such alarming numbers suggest long-term planning and saving is even more crucial for financial security. However, with some careful financial manoeuvering, consistently putting money into savings and avoiding frivolous spending, you too can achieve millionaire status. Read more

Ladies on the Links Golf Tournament

With over 80 golfers on a bright, cloudless September day, the third annual Brampton Board of Trade Golf Tournament was held at the Caledon Golf and Country Club. The September 23rd event, Read more