How to pay off your Mortgage sooner

One of the highest financial priorities of Canadian homeowners is to pay off the mortgage as quickly as possible. The faster you pay off your mortgage, the less money you’ll spend on interest & the more equity you are building in your home. The majority of our lending institutions provide you with the following options to help you create your own amortization schedule by paying off the mortgage much sooner:
* Prepayment options of up to 15% of the total mortgage amount on an annual basis without penalties

* You may also increase each payment by up to 15% without penalties.

* Double up your mortgage payment on any scheduled payment date without
penalties
Pay-Off Tips:

* Use your salary bonuses and tax refunds to pay down your principal. More Canadians are becoming aware that, since mortgage interest is not tax-deductible in Canada, (as it is in the US), you are making mortgage payments of both principal and interest with money that you’ve already paid tax on – “after tax dollars”. This makes it even more important to eliminate the drainage of disposable income as soon as possible!

* Keep your payments the same if interest rates drop if you have a variable mortgage as fixed rates do not change throughout the term of your mortgage

* Choose accelerated bi-weekly payments to get a “free” principal reduction equivalent to one full mortgage payment every year – painlessly. Unless you are paid weekly it makes little sense to make weekly payments. All you’d be doing is making a smaller payment, and deferring the difference for a week.
* Choose a shorter amortization period – but do keep in mind that a higher amortization term allows your first five years of expected scheduled payments much lower, allowing you to adjust to being a first time home-buyer. The amortization period can be changed when the term of your mortgage is up. Even if you start out with an extended amortization period, the above pre-payment privileges help you reduce your selected amortization period.
* Use your RRSP-driven tax rebate religiously as a mortgage prepayment method. Even if you can only prepay annually, make sure these funds are set aside for that purpose. Many Canadians will borrow (at prime) to buy an RRSP to ensure the maximum rebate. When applied to the mortgage principal, this refund is a “gift that keeps on giving”. Combining the refund with the tax-free interest earned on the RRSP over the subsequent years will quickly outpace the short-term interest costs of the RRSP loan
Today’s rate special: 3.99% Five Years Fixed
(Applicable Under Quick Closing Program. Special conditions may apply.)

Today’s Fixed Rates
Term | Bank Rate | Our Rate
1 Yr | 4.50% | 3.50%
3 Yr | 5.20% | 3.90%
5 Yr | 5.55% | 4.05%

Today’s Variable Rates
Five Yrs Convertible: 3.30%
Five Yrs Open: 3.50%
Home Equity Line of Credit: 3.50%
(Above Rates are Based on Current Prime Rate of 2.50%)
Brought to you By: Debbie Gomes-Andrade
Mortgage Agent
Lic.# M08010945

Lets Talk FIBRE

 Dietary fibre is the part of a plant not completely broken down during digestion. It protects you by reducing blood cholesterol levels, keeping blood sugar levels stable and helping the gastrointestinal system function smoothly. Fibre-rich foods also help prevent overeating, because they make you feel full longer. The recommended amount per day is 25 grams of fibre each day. Here are  some easy ways to add fibre to your diet:
Build a better bowl
Start your day with a whole grain cereal containing a minimum of four grams of fibre per serving. Better yet, consider mixing a whole grain cereal that contains at least two grams of fibre per serving with a very high-fibre bran cereal-many of which contain more than 10 grams of fibre per serving.

 
Grab your five to 10 a day
A good way to reach your fibre goal is to eat at least five-to 10-servings of fruit and vegetables every day. While some produce is higher in fibre than others, the best plan is to eat a wide variety.Keep the skin on whenever possible. For example, the skin of a large baked potato contains more than four grams of fibre.
Go whole grain
Choose 100 per cent whole grain bread, pasta, bagels, crackers, tortillas, muffins and brown rice. But BEWARE and  carefully check labels: “whole wheat flour” means it’s whole grain; “wheat flour” doesn’t.

Try beans
Beans, have about seven grams of fibre per half-cup (125 mL) serving, this is a great choice. Beans are also loaded with vitamins, minerals and plant compounds that help fight disease. Enjoy them in soups, salads or chili or wrapped in warm tortillas.

Snack wisely
Nuts, seeds and dried fruit are good fibre sources, making trail mix a great snack (control calories by limiting serving size to half a cup/125 mL). Enjoy air-popped or low-fat microwave popcorn, roasted soy nuts or baked tortilla chips with salsa. Add fibre to your diet gradually and drink lots of fluids. Too much fibre can cause gas, and fibre without fluids can result in constipation.

The 411 on fibre-rich foods (based on single servings):

Whole grains
• bran muffin, medium, 4 g
• whole wheat spaghetti, cooked (1 cup/250 mL), 3.3 g
• whole wheat bread (1 slice), 2.5 g

Whole grain cereals
• Kellogg’s All-Bran Buds (1/3 cup/75 mL), 13 g
• Weetabix (2 biscuits), 4.6 g
• Post Spoon Size Shredded Wheat (2/3 cup/150 mL), 3.7 g

Beans
• chili (1 cup/250 mL), 8 g
• soy nuts, roasted (1/4 cup/50 mL), 6 g
• hummus (2 tbsp/30 mL), 1.7 g

Nuts and seeds
• almonds (1/4 cup/50 mL), 4.2 g
• flaxseed (1 tbsp/15 mL), 2.3 g
• peanut butter (2 tbsp/30 mL), 1.9 g

Fruit
• pear, medium, 5.1 g
• apple, medium, 3.3 g
• banana, medium, 3 g

Vegetables
• squash, cooked (1/2 cup/125 mL), 4.5 g
• peas (1/2 cup/125 mL), 4.4 g
• potato, with skin, medium, 3.8 g

Snacks
• baked tortilla chips (27 chips), 3 g
• popcorn (2 cups/500 mL), 2.1 g

BEAUTY FOODS!!! YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

What you consume through your mouth will effect the way you look. Eat junk, it will show all over your face and body. Eat a well balanced diet with fruit and veggies you will have a nice healthy glow and slim figure!

The benefits of fruit and veggies go beyond improving your health. Fruit is a very versatile food. It’s good for both your  health and beauty. Believe it or not, you can actually treat your skin to a little tender, loving care with fresh fruit.You got it!, fruit is the secret ingredient behind exquiste skin.

It’s what most of the most famous models and actresses rely on to replenish their skin. You don’t have to spend large cash$$$ on beauty products. Nor do you have to go for expensive spa treatments on a monthly basis. Anything they can do at a spa, you can do in the comfort of your own home… for a whole lot less.

So the next time, you’re taking a stroll through the produce section of your local grocery store, add these fresh fruits to your buggy… And what you don’t use on your face will surely satisfy your stomach… hehe

Remove skin debris – tired of dull looking skin: smooth on pumpkin filling and nutmeg. Get a can of pumpkin and keep it in the refrigerator. Take a scoop and mix it with a sugar honey, this creates a fantastic exfolian! buff away that dullness and reveal a beautiful glow. (its taste good too!!!!)

 Apply cranberry juice as a cleanser- at the spa they usually use a fruit acid on your face : Try cranberry juice and apple juice it has the same acidic properties and has antibacterial properties, so it tones while cleansing at the same time.  A great Two in One!!!!

 Crush a peeled tomato- Got combination skin, sometimes oily sometimes dry : Try a crushed peeled tomato, spread it over your face. Tomatoes contain acids that balance the skin’s pH levels and tighten pores.

Want skin that is irresistably soft to the touch: Try  mashing half a banana and rub it into clean, dry skin. Leave it on for five minutes. Then rinse well. This mask will leave your skin baby soft, plus the potassium in the bananas will help erase any circles under your eyes.

Love peaches?! : Mash half a ripe peach, and rub it into your face in a circular motion and you will bring out that grogeous glow.

BURN AN EASY 100 CALORIES!!!

Some days we’re working long hours or overloaded with extra responsibilities, we tend to put aside our workouts until things calm down. Instead of bailing on your exercise plan, try some of these easy techniques to squeeze in to burn some extra calories.Listed below are easy ways to burn  and extra 100 calories. You might want to add one per day or a few per week. Try not to look at it as, “this isn’t enough.” Instead, focus on the overall effect. Meaning, if you perform even just one of these activities per day, that’s 700 calories burned in a week and 2,800 burned in a month. That will make a difference.

-  Vacuuming — 25 minutes of vacuuming around your home will burn just about 100 calories.   

 -Gardening — Like to garden? It’s the digging and raking that will reap the most fitness benefits. These are the bigger calorie burners when it comes to gardening. In fact, you can burn up to 100 in just 15 minutes with these movements.Plus you will build the strength in your upper body.

- Walking — The easiest and one of the most natural movements known to human beings. Fifteen minutes of brisk walking will burn approximately 100 calories. A brisk daily walk at lunch time or after work will make a difference.Or make it a routine to take your dog out for a nice stroll after dinner for about half hour. 

-Ironing clothes — Hate ironing?!?!?….Well if you have to do it for the whole family you might as well know the calories you’re burning. Just a bit more than 100 calories in 25 minutes

Dancing — Get down and shake that booty!!! 20 minutes of dancing at a moderate pace will burn 100 calories. You know you love to do it, so have some fun!!!

Biking – How about a light bike ride? A light intensity of approximately 10 mph will burn more than 100 calories in just 40 minutes. Take the whole family, pack some snacks and drinks and make it an afternoon outing.

Car waxing –Forget the drive thru  car wash. Do it yourself on a nice day. Just 20 minutes of waxing your car will burn more than 100 calories, plus build nice arms and break a sweat!

Painting –Need to give a face lift to a room in your home or condo? You can burn approximately 100  calories with 20 minutes of painting. Plus, you get a better-looking room at the same time!

TURN THAT FROWN UPSIDE DOWN!!!

Sometimes we  feel stressed out, upset, sad, angry, even nervous or anxious, we often look to find something that will calm us or make us feel better. And many of us find relief in food. People who use food as a tool to satisfy themselves  are known as “emotional eaters”. And emotional eating can wreck your diet goals

 Happy people are often more outgoing, active, energetic and slimmer! There are ways to avoid emotional eating. First, point out whether you are in fact hungry or you are eating out of emotion. Stop, think. Do I really want this? If you find that you are hungry, choose a healthy low-fat and low-calorie snack food as an alternative to salty and sweet foods. Try not to keep unhealthy snack foods around, because once the emotions kick in it is hard to turn back.
The next time you feel down in the dumps don’t turn to food to put that smile on your face, look elsewhere for comfort! Here is our list of little things that can make you smile:

1. Go for a Walk                                                                                                                            
Stay active! Take a nice relaxing walk outside or perhaps if you are feeling up to it, go for a run. Doing exercise will make you feel good about yourself and will let you release some tension. Though you may find yourself dreading exercise, once you start you are guaranteed to feel fantastic! Plus, while relieving stress you are getting in shape! Its also a great way to reconnect with yourself, and let out your frustration.

2. Doggies
 Go take visit your local pound or puppy shop! These adorable little pups are sure to put a smile on your face. Does your neighbor have a dog you can’t get enough of? Offer to walk their dog once in while. You will feel great about the kind gesture and get to spend some time with one of your favorite lil buddies. Dogs release a great energy once look into those adorable puppy eyes you will be sure to have a big smile on your face!

3.Compliments
Whether it is directed to you or you give someone else a compliment, it will make you feel great inside! A boost in self-esteem can increase happiness, confidence and overall personal satisfaction. Three little words such as “you look nice” could make someones day.

4. Yoga

Try a relaxing yoga class. This will help you relax your mind and soul, reconnect with yourself. Think over what your stressed about and try to release all the bad energy. For one hour and can leave all your problems behind you and concentrate on your inner self. Think of all the good things, and think of all the positives in your life. You will leave the class feeling rejuvenated, refreshes and weight lifted off your shoulders. Its also a great way to tone and lengthen your body!