Category: Lifestyle

Millenials Starting to Become Home Owners – But Not By Themselves

Lifestyle

Millenials Starting to Become Home Owners – But Not By Themselves

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Did you know, that 43 per cent of 18-to-24 year olds are contemplating buying a house in the next two years?  But there’s a new catch – young buyers are more likely to purchase a home with a family member or friend.

Erica Nielsen, the Vice-President of Home Equity Finance at RBC said “For many millennials, home ownership is a natural part of their journey and we’re seeing the next generation eager to get into the market, even if that means exploring alternate options like buying with family or a friend. Whether purchasing on your own or with a partner, stress-test your mortgage to ensure affordability so you’re prepared, no matter what life throws your way.”

2016 2015 2014 2013
BC 30% 27% 22% 20%
Alberta 34% 27% 28% 22%
Man/Sask 24% 27% 21% 12%
Ontario 31% 25% 24% 14%
Quebec 26% 24% 23% 13%
Atlantic 23% 21% 19% 9%

 

In the next two years, 29 per cent of people are considering buying a home! And why not? If you have the finances, it can be a great investment.

 

Going in on a home with your friends and family can be tough though. You have to make sure to choose a friend or family member who you can live with, and you have years of experience with. Your drinking buddy from college? Maybe not a smart move.

 

 

 

Here are Nielson’s tips for first time buyers

  • Get on the same page:Open the dialogue on your absolute must-haves. There will likely be some different items on each of your lists so work together to come up with one list that you can both agree on.
  • Stress-test for affordability:Try out different financial scenarios to see how much you can really afford. Talk about what would happen if one of you lost your job or had a change in financial circumstances, and come up with a plan.
  • Get it on paper:Create a simple agreement that outlines your arrangement including what costs each party are responsible for, and don’t forget utilities, maintenance and moving costs. You both might agree on how to handle the home purchase in theory, but life and relationships change, so having a contract in writing is key to solving disputes going forward.
  • Have an exit strategy:Include in your agreement how you will deal with the property if one party would like to sell.
Virginia Black in the 6ix

Lifestyle Recipes

Virginia Black in the 6ix

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With Drake‘s new album dropping any day now (fingers cross!) everyone wants a little bit of the 6God. If you can’t wait for the album drop, then swing over the LCBO for a different Drake product!

Virginia Black Decadent American whiskey is coming to North America! You can be one of the first people to try this exclusive recipe as they take the 6ix.

You may know the man behind the label. A certain Toronto-born rapper, actor, and songwriter often known by the moniker The 6ix God is the mind behind the label. Yes, Virginia Black is a collaboration between Drake, and Brent Hocking, the founder and creator of DeLeon Tequila. Drake isn’t the first celebrity to have his own alcohol line; Justin Timberlake owns 901 tequila, while Dan Akroyd has Crystal Head Vodka.

On Tuesday, April 12th, 100 LCBO customers were invited into the LCBO Summerhil location to taste and pre-order the new spirit of the year. The feedback was phenomenal!
As much as the Toronto-born rapper is all about the big-money spending, the whiskey itself is on the lower-end of the price range; retailing for just $39.95. You can pre order it at the LCBO here 

 

#VirginMobile Wants To Help You Put Your Best Face Forward #April1

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#VirginMobile Wants To Help You Put Your Best Face Forward #April1

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Cell phone giant Virgin Mobile just announced their newest product – the FaceCase Beard Edition! It’s a case for your cellphone designed to make it easier for dudes to groom on the go. Merging the best in beard maintenance with high-end technology, Virgin Mobile is at the cutting edge of the industry.

“For generations, society has viewed bearded men with equal parts admiration and respect, but our increasingly busy lifestyles have made it almost impossible for guys to maintain many of today’s hottest facial hair styles,” said proud beard wearer Joseph Ottorino, managing director, Virgin Mobile Canada. “That’s why we’re excited to introduce The FaceCase Beard Edition™. Now you can ensure your beard is reaching its full growth potential anywhere, at any time.” 

Order yours here

The FaceCase Beard Edition™ includes:

  • Trimming scissors
  • Beard comb
  • Mustache wax
  • Mirror
  • Beard Bib

Send Virgin Mobile Canada a picture of your beard on Instagram, and if you’re deemed to have the most glorious chin mane you will win a special treat. Enter by tagging @VirginMobileCan and #FaceIt.

Vote for the #WorstRoadinOntario

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Vote for the #WorstRoadinOntario

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This months, Ontario residents will be able to vote for what they think is the worst road in Ontario. Do you know a road that needs some serious maintenance? Maybe it’s laden with potholes or just really needs a sidewalk? Maybe the road is unsafe for bikers? This is your chance to speak up!

Visit the CAA website now and vote!

Following the campaign, the CAA will unveil the Tpo Ten Worst Roads in Ontario
Join us for the #TangerineMoneyBack Twitter Party on April 5th!

Lifestyle Shopping

Join us for the #TangerineMoneyBack Twitter Party on April 5th!

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Tangerine Bank just launched it’s new Money Back Credit Card that includes phenomenal ways to save your money!

When you sign up for your Tangerine Money-Back credit card you can select two (or three if you have previously deposited your Money-Back Rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account) ways to earn 2% money-back. There are no caps on how much you earn, can you believe that? The money-back you earn at Tangerine gets deposited directly into your savings account.

The categories available for the tangerine credit card

You can pick two of the above categories to earn money back on while using the car. I love that you’re able to choose whatever category is most relevant to your own lifestyle so you can reap the most benefits possible.You can change your categories whenever you like! And perks of signing up by June 27th, 2016 – your chosen category will earn 4% back in the first three months!

More Benefits

The card has a 1.5% foreign transaction rate, in comparison to the usual 2.5% rate you can save a fair amount if you travel abroad frequently!

Rewards Features:

  • Earn 2% Money-Back Rewards on purchases in two 2% Money-Back Categories of your choice, and 1% Money-Back Rewards on all other purchases.
  • Have your Money-Back Rewards deposited into a Tangerine Savings Account, and get a 3rd 2% Money-Back Category.
  • Money-Back Rewards are earned automatically and paid monthly, and can either be applied towards your Credit Card balance or redeemed into your Savings Account.
  • No limit on the amount of Money-Back Rewards you can earn.
  • Change your 2% Money-Back Categories to suit your spending.
  • Orange Alerts are emailed to you so that you’re up-to-date on what’s happening in your Account.

Additional Card Benefits:

  • 1.5% Foreign Conversion Fee – one of the lowest in market
  • Free Cards for Authorized Users on your Account
  • Purchase Assurance and Extended Warranty1 – For most new purchases made anywhere in the world using your Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card, you may receive a lifetime maximum of up to $60,000 for the following insurance coverage:
  • Purchase Assurance, which may automatically cover loss, theft or damage, in excess of other insurance, for 90 days from the date of purchase; and
  • Extended Warranty, which may double the period of repair services, to a maximum of one additional year, when the original manufacturer’s warranty expires.

Want to find out more? Join us on Tuesday, April 5th while we talk about the #TangerineMoneyBack program.

Tangerine_MoneyBack2

 

More details are on our Twubs page so be sure to check it out here

Date: Tuesday April 5, 2016
Time: 8:00pm ET
Host: @TangerineBank
Guest: @krystalatwork
$500 in Prizing
No RSVP

Prizing for Canada Only except those in the province of Quebec

Curious for more information? Check out the great videos Tangerine Bank put together below:

Top Tech Trends for 2016 – GE Cafe & Keurig

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Top Tech Trends for 2016 – GE Cafe & Keurig

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Looking to find out what the technology trends are for 2016, and find out how they can be expanded into the kitchen? GE teamed up with TrendHunters to give us 5 of the top tech trends for the home:

Dual Purpose Prep

Nowadays, appliances have to have more than one purpose. And that’s because the age group that’s coming up as home buyers are some of the most tech-savvy, and have shorter attention spans. Millennials (1982-1994) work on an average of 3 screens (I know I use two), and Gen Z’s (1995-2009) have an average 8-second attention span.

Clean Connectivity

The evolution of the phone and the tablets show how clean designs are more intuitive for users. If a design isn’t intuitive, many would argue that it’s poorly designed.

Remixed Retro

There is nothing like bringing back classics designs, even if they were before your time. There’s a huge appeal for retro looking technology – but that’s brought into the 21st century.

DIY Health

As information becomes more and more accessible, and consumers are looking for ways to take control of their own health, there’s a surge in the desire to bring back a more DIY approach to health. Whether it’s simply growing fresh herbs in a window sill, or using less chemicals when cleaning.

Connected Home

There’s been a huge focus on the connected home, and how every piece of technology in the home can talk together. From biometric security systems to connecting thermostats and lighting to help reduce energy costs by connecting them to your smartphone.

The GE Cafe with Keurig

This is a first-of-its kind technology, coming out in May. You can free up some counter-space by bringing the Keurig brewing system right into your refrigerator door. This is your fridge doing Dual Purpose Prep.

lifestyle_dispenser-dispensing1

I absolutely love this. The fridge no longer just dispenses water and ice, but your fresh coffee and hot water (with 4 preprogrammed temperature settings). And the Precise Fill setting, will give you the exact amount of water you need – no guessing or holding down a button.

lifestyle_dispenser-precise

And to top it all off, GE’s Master Filtration System removes 15 different contaminants, and a minimum 94% of 5 trace pharmaceuticals from the water. So you know you’re getting good clean water.

Having your fridge do more than just keep your food cold is brilliant.

#Millenials – Here’s How to Conquer Retirement!

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#Millenials – Here’s How to Conquer Retirement!

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I know, retirement may be a long way away, but that’s no reason you shouldn’t start counting your pennies now! You may want to focus on saving for a new ride, a new house, or even a vacation. But a recent study conducted by Tangerine Bank found that this isn’t the case. 62% of millenials have already started saving for retirement!

You love living a happy life now, so why shouldn’t you have a great one down the road? By opening up an RSP, you can put a few pennies away a month and thanks to a great interest rate, you’re on your way to owning a great vacation property after retirement!

So how do they do it? 42 per cent of the surveyed millenials said they make it automatic by setting up an ASP (Automatic Savings Program), and 27 per cent said they participate in their company’s matching program.

So besides working hard and stashing away cash for the good life later on, what else are millennials prepared to do for retirement? Tangerine’s survey also asked about some interesting sacrifices – here are the results:

  •          59 per cent of millennials would only go out once a week to socialize with friends in order to retire before the age of 65
  •          47 per cent of millennials would give up takeout food and cook all their meals to retire before the age of 65
  •          Over  a quarter (28 per cent) of millennials would work 50+ hours a week for the remainder of their working career to retire in their 50s

So that being said, if you’re between 18-34 it may be time to start considering an RSP. Find out more here

#BlogHer16 Earlybird Registration

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#BlogHer16 Earlybird Registration

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The BlogHer16 conference is back in Los Angeles August 4-6. It is “the world’s largest celebrations of women content creators across social media, video, photos and the web.” Over 3,500 women attend this event! Just think of all that woman power in one place!

We’ve attended in previous years and it is an amazing and inspiring weekend. This year promises to be another incredible event with Keynote Speakers Sarah Michelle Gellar and Mayim Bialik.

Blogher Keynote Speaker Sarah Michelle Gellar

Blogher Keynote Speaker Mayim Bialik

But you’ve got to hurry if you want to get your early bird ticket pricing and save $150. Early registration ends Monday, February 29th! So what are you waiting for?! Head to their website to learn more about the conference and grab your tickets: Blogher.com

Blogher-conference-2016-early-bird

#PinkShirtDay

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#PinkShirtDay

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Did you know today is #PinkShirtDay?

Pink Shirt Day started back in 2007 when a young boy was bullied for coming to school in a pink shirt. That day started a nationwide movement where every year on February 24th, people across Canada join together to take a stand against bullying.

Three out of four Canadians have admitted that they have been bullied throughout there life. That ratio stands that probably you or someone you love has been bullied. It’s time to take a stand against this. Wear your pink shirt proudly today to show that you won’t take bullying lightly.

Check out www.pinkshirtday.ca for more information, and to find out how to donate. Net proceeds from official Pink Shirt Day t-shirts, buttons, and pins are donated directly to programs supporting children’s healthy self-esteem. These programs teach children empathy, compassion and kindness towards both others and themselves

Are you wearing pink today? Tweet or post a picture to Instagram using the hashtag #PinkShirtPromise