Just so I don't forget

Storage in Victoria, BC

2008-12-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

Storage prices don't include GST, which is 7%. No PST is assessed.

Millstream Self Storage
4 x 5 x 8     $53.00
5 x 5 x 8     $66.00  unheated, 5% off 1 yr prepaid

Adams Storage - 474 4755

Town & Country - 953 5330
5 x 5 x 11    $69  downtown, heated, will know availability ~ Dec 15th

Langford - 478 5008
5 x 5 x 10    $68   heated, 1 month free = 8.3% savings

The Self Storage Place  - 386 4144, 242 Mary Street
5 x 5 x 9     $56.93 incl., unheated, 13th month free = $683.16 / yr
6.5 x 6 x 9   $76.19 incl.  351' sq.

U-Pak
7 x 9 x 7     $79, $75 delivery + pick-up, 12th month free, $75 drop-off

HUB Storage    5 x 5 x 8   $74 incl.
Target Storage 5 x 5 x 8 $106.51   heated
Old Winery Self Storage  4 x 6 x 8   $70 incl., $66 for up-stairs unit

Working in Australia

2008-09-24T16:36:00.000-07:00

This is some information I pulled together while researching options for my girlfriend and I to move to Australia for a year. I would like to work in IT and she would like to study.

Initial findings are that the Working visas are expensive! The Working Holiday visa is much more doable but has some restrictions on how long you can work for an employer. This should be fine as long as I am contracting.

Australian Immigration Website
Australian High Commission Canada
First Working Holiday Visa Application for applicants outside Australia. And to continue a saved application...

Processing time for the Working Holiday visa should be about 6 days.
For the sponsored employee visa about 2-3 months.

Health requirements

We likely will not require a health exam. I've sent an email to the consulate asking about this. I've also asked whether I will require Australian health insurance upon arrival in Australia and whether or not I have to have a return ticket booked to be granted entry.

Skilled Migrant Visa

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

Cost: $2105 + $2925 = $5030 AUD = $5145 CAD (according to them) = $4337 CAD (according to google)

SOL (Skilled Occupation List)

I am on the list: Computing Professionals – Systems Programmer, ASC Code 2231-19, SOL Y, POINTS 60, ACS Y

Points test

120 points required for Skilled – Independent (Migrant) visa (subclass 175)

My points standing:

Age	30
English language ability	25
Nominated skilled occupation	60
Skills assessment	-
Recent work experience or two (2) year study	-
Location	-
Health	-
Character	-
Australian Values Statement	-
Specific work experience	10
Australian work experience	0
Australian qualifications	0
Occupation in demand/job offer	15
Community Language	0
Regional Australia study	0
Partner skills	0
TOTAL POINTS:	140

Working Holiday Visa

Cost: $200 CAD
18-30 years old.
Valid up to 12 months.
Cannot work for more than 6 months with the same employer.

If you are granted this visa you can:

enter Australia within 12 months of grant
stay up to 12 months
leave and re-enter Australia any number of times while the visa is valid
work in Australia for up to 6 months with each employer
study for up to 4 months.

If you have completed three months of specified work in regional Australia on your first Working Holiday visa, you may be eligible to apply for a second Working Holiday visa. If you hold a second Working Holiday visa, you may return to work for a further 6 months for an employer with whom you worked on your first Working Holiday visa.

Work and Holiday Program

Not suitable.

Australia's Work and Holiday Program allows young professionals from arrangement countries to have an extended holiday in Australia by supplementing their travel funds through incidental employment.

Applying for a Tax File Number (TFN)

If working in Australia you need to apply for a TFN.

Canadian RRSPs and High-Interest Savings Accounts

2008-09-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

Canoe Money has a great comparison of leading Canadian institutions RRSP rates. They also have comparisons of GIC rates and lots more.

I don't know how often the rates are updated, but I can see that the ING Direct rates are a bit out of date because ING have recently come out with a 1.5yr GIC that pays 4%.

Personally I have been pushing the RBC eSavings account which was paying 4.0% when I joined sometime in 2008, and which is now paying a paltry 2.75%. (I spoke to RBC and they said that the rate is adjusted whenever prime changes.) ING's rates have been more consistent, paying anywhere from 3.75% to 3.15% at the time of writing. Which is a damn sight better than RBC.

Let me know if you find anything out there (registered or not) which pays consistently high-interest.

Update: I just saw that as of Jan 2009 Canadians won't be taxed on savings interest up to $5000, so that's nice. You can sign up to getupdates on the Tax Free Savings Account at INGdirect.ca

The Phonetic Alphabet

2008-07-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

I have just started flying lessons with Island Pacific Flight Academy and we naturally use the phonetic alphabet when spelling out call signs, runways etc.

Here is the list of words corresponding to the letters of the alphabet:

Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel India Juliet Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiskey X-ray Yankee Zulu

To go through the list using Spreeder click the button below.

First Time Home Buyers’ Plan

2008-05-06T16:52:00.000-07:00

This information summarizes your roles and responsibilities under the Canadian First Time Home Buyers’ Plan. Current as of May 2008.

HBP Conditions

You must enter into a written agreement (Offer of purchase) to buy or build a qualifying home. The agreement may be with a builder or contractor, or with a realtor or private seller. Obtaining a pre-approved mortgage does not satisfy this condition.
You intend to occupy the qualifying home as your principal place of residence no later than one year after buying or building it.
Neither you nor your spouse or common-law partner owns the qualifying home more than 30 days before the withdrawal i.e. you have to apply for the HBP no later than 30 days after the closing date (of the sale).
Once you have withdrawn funds under the HBP you have to buy or build the qualifying home before October 1st of the following year.

HBP Participation

You can only withdraw RRPSs which have been deposited more than 90 days ago.
Fill out a T1036 form for each withdrawl.
You can withdraw a single amount or make a series of withdrawls throughout the same year until the end of January of the following year.

HBP Repayments

Repayments must be made during the year the repayment is due, or in the first 60 days of the following year.
Repayments start in the second year following the year in which you made your withdrawals e.g. you withdraw in Feb 2006 and start repaying in 2008 (or within the first 60 days of 2009).
You have up to 15 years to repay.
You have to repay at least 1/15th ($1,334.00) of the total withdrawals each year.
If you don’t repay the minimum amount you have to declare the amount you are short as income and pay tax on it. Your HBP balance will be reduced accordingly.
If you repay more than the minimum amount your minimum repayment for the following years is your HBP balance divided by the number of years left.
HBP repayments do not affect your RRSP deduction limit (how much you can contribute to your RRSP and claim as an income tax deduction).