Canadian and US Retirement Accounts – Navigating US Retirement Accounts As A Canadian

 
Canadian and US Retirement Accounts – Navigating US Retirement Accounts as a Canadian

Retirement accounts are an incentive to enable workers to put money aside and plan ahead for their retirement whilst at the same time allowing for a lower tax bracket and some flexibility. In this article, I will discuss the Canadian System and the American System, highlighting the benefits of each.

Image by jcomp on Freepik

 

Eczema Era and How to Navigate Through It

Eczema Era and How to Navigate Through It

JGI/GETTY IMAGES

 Ever since I moved to the West, my skin became more sensitive, my teeth became sensitive (Sensodyne). Heck, even my feelings became more sensitive!

In a beautiful summer day in 2018, I found out I had developed Eczema. It first started off as a very bad allergic reaction around my eyes to a renewed formula of a mascara I have been using for years. That coupled with a high amount of stress I was going through at the time, caused a severe Eczema reaction. One thing worth mentioning is although I was living in a cold dry climate like Canada, I had never moisturized before.

What is Eczema you may think?

According to Mayo Clinic, it is "Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a condition that causes dry, itchy and inflamed skin. It's common in young children but can occur at any age. Atopic dermatitis is long lasting (chronic) and tends to flare sometimes. It can be irritating but it's not contagious.

People with atopic dermatitis are at risk of developing food allergies, hay fever and asthma. Moisturizing regularly and following other skin care habits can relieve itching and prevent new outbreaks (flares). Treatment may also include medicated ointments or creams."

How to Fix a Table with Ripped Screws !

 
How to fix a Table with Ripped Screws and Make that Profit!

Living in a world of constant change, I try to convince myself I know how to hustle. Moving somewhere new presented itself as an opportunity to furnish my apartment. What is a balcony with a spectacular view if you don't have a nice patio set? 

First thing I did is look at Facebook Market Place but all high quality sets were above a $100. Eager to get the best bang for my buck, I searched on Marshalls online store. Needless to say, I buy everything from Marshalls! Not only do they have good deals for great designs but also, they have great customer service.

I bought the first set for my lovely balcony. With all eagerness to its arrival, it came broken with an important piece screwed off. I called in and sent pictures of the damage as requested. In a little less than a week, a new set was sent to my door.

I was left with this table that has a misplaced piece which technically could be fixed should I wish to pursue a solution. Little did I know I can be Mrs. Fix it.

What you need to buy:

1. Tooth picks
2. Wood Glue
3. Sand Paper
4. Screwdriver
5. Pocket Knife

Easy to follow steps are found below:

1. First you need to fill the holes with wood. The issue at hand is the holes are bigger than the nails. Hence, why nails cannot be screwed back easily. The way this is done is by inserting multiple tooth picks into the hole so that its filled -- with wood glue in between all of tooth picks and surrounding the hole itself. 
   
   
   
   
2. Next, shorten the tooth picks by cutting the excess amount above the hole's level using a pocket knife.
3. Do this for all holes and wait for it to dry.
4. Once dried, use sand paper to level the entire playing field. This ensures the screws will fill the holes perfectly well.
5. Once done, rescrew the nails into the flat surface in the approximate location where the holes were. The nails will penetrate the toothpick wood in the hold and be held in place.  
6. Before you know it, you're table is all set!

Now, back to my plan of trying to be a hustler. I have an extra set I can sell for pure profit and so can you if you are ever presented with a similar situation!

Canada to USA | The Cross-Border Move Done Efficiently — Car Registration and Moving

Canada to USA | The Cross-Border Move Done Efficiently — 
Car Registration and Moving 

Moving can be both an exhilarating and cumbersome experience. Driving away with Toronto skyline in my rear view mirror felt like I was headed towards home. I was ready to close that chapter of my life and to start anew … In TEXAS.

I decided to pack-up all my belongings, sell what I can, donate what I can’t and ship my car and what’s inside it whilst figuring out the process of registering my car in Texas.

1|      CROSSING THE BORDER

 I took advantage of Ontario’s proximity to the border. One thing to keep in mind is shipping your car directly from Ontario to Texas would cost me approximately $500 USD more. The reason is this process requires more third party participants:

a.       Canadian Shipping Company: Ships vehicle from Ontario to Michigan ($350 USD)

b.       US company to ship the car from Michigan to Texas ($1,300 USD).

c.       A paralegal to handle customs for the vehicle—which they would hire for that process with an hourly rate between $150 - $300.

d.       Any additional fees by the US customs on what is inside the car

Looking to cut costs and simplify the issue at hand, I worked with only one US Shipping Company to move my car from Michigan to Texas and drove the car myself to Michigan. The quote I received at the time by AutoStar Transport Express was for $1,300 USD but it changes since fuel costs fluctuate. The way this process works is AutoStar coordinates with a driver to deliver your vehicle within a week’s timeframe. This means you need to move your car to a “safe reliable place” for a week’s duration. Hence, the adventure continues and I drove my vehicle to Michigan and left it at a relative’s house with the keys. Please note that Canadian insurance companies have a limit of how long they will insure you out of the province you were in. Mine was up to two months.

Keep Shining! | Mar. 2009 ✧･ﾟ✧

Keep Shining! | Mar. 2009

I'm filled with optimism, I'm finally the light
& I never ever knew anything that could feel this right
Like a power that washes away my dreads
Yet at the same time, clears most troubled heads

I'm so calm, I'm serene
The darkness in me is obscene
I never knew that the best love out there
is to love one self, it's THE endless flair
So right now, I'll never feel as good
But hey, it's fun to push the limit to see if I would

Crashing Waves of Instability | Aug.28.2022 ✧･ﾟ✧

Crashing Waves of Instability | Aug.28.2022

Longing for a truth that soothes my soul
A lingering feeling that glues me whole.
Looking through shattered pieces of maybes and doubt
I hear the echoes of memories replaying aloud
All the different routes that I could’ve taken
All the times I have navigated forsaken
Unharmed, yet strong winds thrown against my way
Will I keep my anchor or be swayed into decay?

So Close Yet Almost Always So Far | Nov 26, 2017 ✧･ﾟ✧

So Close Yet Almost Always So Far | Nov 26, 2017

Crumbling leaves decomposing to its basic carbon form
As I remain my silence & stand still throughout this transforming storm
Ages of confusion, ages of doubt
Unmasking glory of mystery and spiritless drought

Guided by a trail of comfort and hope
Always close to grabbing on shreds of its rope
Almost with it reunited as it slips through my fingers
A feeling of strandedness emerges and lingers
So close yet... almost always so far
A battle against myself, I wage the war.