Life

VICTORIA — A couple of readers responded indignantly to this column’s recent reference to the NDP “trumpeting distorted statistics” about child poverty.

It’s a little late to practise early tax preparation this year— but make it your practice for next year and you will keep more of what you earn. That’s because early tax prep and planning pays off in many ways.

It’s a little late to practise early tax preparation this year— but make it your practice for next year and you will keep more of what you earn. That’s because early tax prep and planning pays off in many ways.

Families or close friends are often called upon to respond when an aging loved one is in the emergency room, and Wendy Johnstone offers some tips to help.

Imagine if, instead of one charitable bond paying out $20,000 per year, that there were 10 charitable bonds in place, or 100 bonds in place — imagine the difference such planned generosity could make to our community, to the organizations and folks that need a helping hand from those of us than can afford to do more.

Transitions between homes are difficult. Differences between parental homes are significant even when parents are perfectly aligned and co-operative. Parents can ease kids through smoother transitions with planning. Plan to welcome kids into a calm environment.

Supporting your testimony in traffic court with illustration is often a good way to show what is difficult to describe with words.

There’s no deadline with a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), it’s a great place to invest your anticipated tax refund, and it’s a tremendously flexible way to achieve tax-free savings growth.

Time, or lack of it, is one of our biggest enemies when we drive. Sometimes we must make instantaneous decisions, and a built-in safety factor can give us an extra second or two to make that decision correctly if we factor in safety whenever we get behind the wheel.

The cyclamens are blooming — safe from Molly the dog's "thunder paws" — and the pink flowers are giving a garden-starved enthusiast a much-needed boost to the spirit.