Volume 5 Issue 8 December 2011
Home Newsletter
Christmas is all about giving. But you don't have to give until
it hurts. And the time it hurts most is when your January credit
card bills start arriving! This year, instead of going deep into
debt, do yourself and your loved ones a favour by giving them
heartfelt, low-cost (or free!) gifts that are loaded with special
memories. Here are some thought starters:
it hurts. And the time it hurts most is when your January credit
card bills start arriving! This year, instead of going deep into
debt, do yourself and your loved ones a favour by giving them
heartfelt, low-cost (or free!) gifts that are loaded with special
memories. Here are some thought starters:
- Make a Christmas movie. Instead of sending out the dreaded Christmas letter, make a video of everyone in the family talking about what's new in their lives. Then edit it, record it to DVD and mail it to everyone on your list.
- Quality time. Print out your commitment to spend a specified number of hours with a loved one on a weekly or monthly basis.
- Decorate the family tree. Do some research into your family's genealogy, draw up a family tree and frame it.
- Give in their name. Make a card that explains you've made a donation in their name to a food bank, environment group or charity.
- Do-it-yourself gift certificate. Print a certificate that promises snow shoveling, garden weeding, tax preparation, house cleaning, babysitting, etc.
- Comfort food. Collect your mom's favorite recipes and print them in book form as a way of preserving all those heartwarming flavors.
- A gift to remember. Write down in book form or make a video of you sharing all the favorite memories you have of that person.
- Pass the dressing. Give your kids endless dress-up fun with a big box of funny, old-fashioned clothes from a second-hand store.
- Wrap up your expertise. Make a gift of your skills: weekly lessons in tap dancing, yoga, organic gardening, furniture refinishing, sushi making, computer training, etc.
- Bake up a storm. Make big batches of favorite cookies and treats, then wrap up a generous sampling for each person on your list.
How to Give WITHOUT Suffering a Debt Hangover in January.
Quote of the Month
"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
~Norman Vincent Peale
"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."
~Norman Vincent Peale
Thank You!!
2011 has not been a stellar year in the real estate market. With the exception of a few hotspots - Vancouver for example - sales have been down and buyer demand has been down.
The global financial markets have had an impact at home!
Regardless, Tony and Jim would like to thank you for the privilege of assisting so many existing and new clients in their real estate activity in 2011!!
2011 marks the first year where total number of referrals from our existing clients has exceeded the combined referrals from all other sources! To us, that means we have continued to focus on the right things and are adding value.
Thank you also to so many that came forward with a testimonial on your experience with our offices this year. These help us demonstrate the value of both our offices and of the broker model to people that are comparing different approaches to financing their home.
You can read them yourself at www.MyMortgagePlace.ca
The global financial markets have had an impact at home!
Regardless, Tony and Jim would like to thank you for the privilege of assisting so many existing and new clients in their real estate activity in 2011!!
2011 marks the first year where total number of referrals from our existing clients has exceeded the combined referrals from all other sources! To us, that means we have continued to focus on the right things and are adding value.
Thank you also to so many that came forward with a testimonial on your experience with our offices this year. These help us demonstrate the value of both our offices and of the broker model to people that are comparing different approaches to financing their home.
You can read them yourself at www.MyMortgagePlace.ca
Jim Takes the Plunge ...
Last month we talked about Google's Zero Moment of Truth, changing habits
of the consumer and some of the technology facilitating these changing trends.
So, breaking news … last week I deactivated my 8yr old+ nokia and moved to Apple's new iPhone 4S - and I love it. At the risk of this turning into a commercial for iPhones - and I fully understand the detractors - these are no longer phones +. They truly are hand held computers. In the palm of your hand, you now have a phone, gps, traffic reporter, 8 MP camera, high def video, full email and internet access, full MP3 player, video conferencing and as much entertainment as you choose to have - from games to movies.
What makes this go from good to great, for me, is the voice recognition system behind it. I don't have to punch out text messages or emails - I can speak them in with remarkable accuracy. And that same voice recognition software allows you to access the now famous Siri, the iPhone's personal assistant.
I can ask Siri to set an alarm, whether I will need an umbrella tomorrow, what 8 litres per 100 km is in MPG, to send a text message or read me my messages. A gimmick? Yes. A utility? Yes.
Could I live without it? I still sayYes - because, in the end, it really doesn't do things we can't already do in other ways using multiple other devices - but it is the interface - it is the efficiency of having so many tools readily accessible - it embodies for me the new revolution.
Somebody recently defined revolution as "throwing out the perfect to enable the impossible". The ability to access information and people so cheaply and efficiently is the basis of a revolution that is underway affecting how we live, how we work, how we interact, how we socialize and how we grow.
And the pace of change is accelerating! The reality is my new phone is already dated technology … oh well, it is still great!
of the consumer and some of the technology facilitating these changing trends.
So, breaking news … last week I deactivated my 8yr old+ nokia and moved to Apple's new iPhone 4S - and I love it. At the risk of this turning into a commercial for iPhones - and I fully understand the detractors - these are no longer phones +. They truly are hand held computers. In the palm of your hand, you now have a phone, gps, traffic reporter, 8 MP camera, high def video, full email and internet access, full MP3 player, video conferencing and as much entertainment as you choose to have - from games to movies.
What makes this go from good to great, for me, is the voice recognition system behind it. I don't have to punch out text messages or emails - I can speak them in with remarkable accuracy. And that same voice recognition software allows you to access the now famous Siri, the iPhone's personal assistant.
I can ask Siri to set an alarm, whether I will need an umbrella tomorrow, what 8 litres per 100 km is in MPG, to send a text message or read me my messages. A gimmick? Yes. A utility? Yes.
Could I live without it? I still sayYes - because, in the end, it really doesn't do things we can't already do in other ways using multiple other devices - but it is the interface - it is the efficiency of having so many tools readily accessible - it embodies for me the new revolution.
Somebody recently defined revolution as "throwing out the perfect to enable the impossible". The ability to access information and people so cheaply and efficiently is the basis of a revolution that is underway affecting how we live, how we work, how we interact, how we socialize and how we grow.
And the pace of change is accelerating! The reality is my new phone is already dated technology … oh well, it is still great!
Why Money is Good
The way you think about money has a direct effect on how much money you'll have.
One of the biggest challenges we face in getting more money is our negative attitude
toward it. A large percentage of the population believes money is wrong and the people who have lots of it are evil. This belief most likely originated in childhood when our parents told it to us to rationalize their own financial failures.
In reality, money is good. Without money, it's almost impossible to enjoy the necessities and pleasures of life, like a home, food, clothes, transportation and a feeling of security. Not having enough money can cause real problems. emotionally. If we don't have enough money, it can become an obsession.
Not only won't you be able to afford the physical things you need and want, you'll also suffer emotionally. One of the most common reasons for divorce is disagreements over money. Being obsessed with money can ruin friendships, business relationships and your health.
Keep in mind that how you think about money helps determine how much you'll have. Adopt a positive attitude toward money. See it as a constructive way to produce goods and services, create employment, and benefit others and yourself. Use it carefully and strategically, and chances are you'll always have enough. And that's a good thing!
One of the biggest challenges we face in getting more money is our negative attitude
toward it. A large percentage of the population believes money is wrong and the people who have lots of it are evil. This belief most likely originated in childhood when our parents told it to us to rationalize their own financial failures.
In reality, money is good. Without money, it's almost impossible to enjoy the necessities and pleasures of life, like a home, food, clothes, transportation and a feeling of security. Not having enough money can cause real problems. emotionally. If we don't have enough money, it can become an obsession.
Not only won't you be able to afford the physical things you need and want, you'll also suffer emotionally. One of the most common reasons for divorce is disagreements over money. Being obsessed with money can ruin friendships, business relationships and your health.
Keep in mind that how you think about money helps determine how much you'll have. Adopt a positive attitude toward money. See it as a constructive way to produce goods and services, create employment, and benefit others and yourself. Use it carefully and strategically, and chances are you'll always have enough. And that's a good thing!
The Health Benefits of the Acai Berry
The acai berry (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) is a dark reddish, purple fruit from a
palm tree native to Central and South America. Commonly thought of as a
"super food", acai berries have several important health benefits.
Acai contains anthocyanins and flavonoids which give the fruit its dark colour and are powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants are thought to interfere with aging and disease by neutralizing free radicals, which are harmful byproducts made by our bodies. By minimizing the damage caused by free radicals, antioxidants may help reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer. Anthocyanins are also what give red wine its heart health benefits, but acai has even more of these important chemicals and is free of the health risks associated with alcohol. Acai berries have higher antioxidant content than cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and even blueberries.
The acai berry is also a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, and omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, which are thought to have a protective effect on the heart and cardiovascular system. These fatty acids may also play a role in lowering cholesterol in the blood.
Due to the high level of antioxidants in acai oil, it's considered a safe alternative to other tropical oils for use in facial and body creams, and anti-aging skin therapies, so you can look as healthy as you feel!
palm tree native to Central and South America. Commonly thought of as a
"super food", acai berries have several important health benefits.
Acai contains anthocyanins and flavonoids which give the fruit its dark colour and are powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants are thought to interfere with aging and disease by neutralizing free radicals, which are harmful byproducts made by our bodies. By minimizing the damage caused by free radicals, antioxidants may help reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer. Anthocyanins are also what give red wine its heart health benefits, but acai has even more of these important chemicals and is free of the health risks associated with alcohol. Acai berries have higher antioxidant content than cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and even blueberries.
The acai berry is also a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, and omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, which are thought to have a protective effect on the heart and cardiovascular system. These fatty acids may also play a role in lowering cholesterol in the blood.
Due to the high level of antioxidants in acai oil, it's considered a safe alternative to other tropical oils for use in facial and body creams, and anti-aging skin therapies, so you can look as healthy as you feel!
The Origin of the Christmas Tree
LAST CHANCE - ONLY UNTIL DECEMBER 31 ...
The Christmas tree's history can be traced to Estonia and Latvia in the 1400s. Brotherhoods of merchants would put up a tree in the town square and dance around it. A hundred years later in Germany, spruce trees were decorated with apples, nuts, dates and pretzels, then on Christmas Day the decorations were given to children. By the late 1700s, candles were added to illuminate the trees.
The first Christmas tree in North America was erected in Sorel, Quebec, in 1781, by soldiers of German ancestry. By the 1800s, European royalty had adopted the tradition, and in the 1840s, Queen Victoria's German-born husband Prince Albert popularized Christmas trees throughout England. An illustration of the royal couple with their Christmas tree (retouched so they looked like Americans instead of British royalty) appeared in the US in 1850.
The scene was so popular that Christmas trees immediately took root in America and were common by the 1870s. And the first time a Christmas tree was lit by electric lights was 1882.
Famous Christmas trees include the Rockefeller Center Tree in New York City; the huge tree in Victoria Square in Adelaide, Australia; and the commemorative tree in Boston that's a gift from the province of Nova Scotia in appreciation of the assistance given by Bostonians during the Halifax Explosion of 1917.
The first Christmas tree in North America was erected in Sorel, Quebec, in 1781, by soldiers of German ancestry. By the 1800s, European royalty had adopted the tradition, and in the 1840s, Queen Victoria's German-born husband Prince Albert popularized Christmas trees throughout England. An illustration of the royal couple with their Christmas tree (retouched so they looked like Americans instead of British royalty) appeared in the US in 1850.
The scene was so popular that Christmas trees immediately took root in America and were common by the 1870s. And the first time a Christmas tree was lit by electric lights was 1882.
Famous Christmas trees include the Rockefeller Center Tree in New York City; the huge tree in Victoria Square in Adelaide, Australia; and the commemorative tree in Boston that's a gift from the province of Nova Scotia in appreciation of the assistance given by Bostonians during the Halifax Explosion of 1917.
Tony Antaya
AMP
Mortgage Agent
905.689.3213
tony.antaya@migroup.ca
138 Brian Boulevard, Waterdown
AMP
Mortgage Agent
905.689.3213
tony.antaya@migroup.ca
138 Brian Boulevard, Waterdown
Jim Cook
MBA, CMA, AMP
Mortgage Broker
519.396.6800
1-877-587-6800
james.cook@migroup.ca
819 Queen St., Kincardine
MBA, CMA, AMP
Mortgage Broker
519.396.6800
1-877-587-6800
james.cook@migroup.ca
819 Queen St., Kincardine
The MyMortgagePlace team has locations in Kincardine and Waterdown serving all of Ontario.
Registered trademark of Mortgage Intelligence Inc. 2009, Mortgage Intelligence Central Office 5770 Hurontario Street, Suite 600, Mississauga, ON L5R 3G5 FSCO 10428
Jim Cook Broker Lic. M08001302 Tony Antaya Agent Lic. M08001243
Jim Cook Broker Lic. M08001302 Tony Antaya Agent Lic. M08001243
