Saturday May 10, 2008
Latest Columns 
IPP may give retirement savings a boost
Online Edition: Thursday, May 8, 2008 06:00 AM
Can accumulate up to 65 per cent more than RRSP
Give your retirement savings a potential boost: Look into an IPP
Published: Thursday, May 8, 2008 12:00 AM Page B16
If you're like many, you're probably looking forward to retirement. You'll have more time on your hands to do what you want.Consider Leo Hill of Lakewood, Colo. Mr. Hill decided to spend time in retirement as an amateur consumer advocate. He became suspicious of toilet paper manufacturers and concluded that there were fewer sheets per roll in a 12-pack than in a four-pack. He counted 60 rolls, sheet by sheet, and concluded that he was being short-changed by one sit-down session per roll in the 12-pack. He took his findings to the media, where a reporter tested his theory, but did not come to the same conclusion, even after testing nine brands.
Last-minute tax tips
Online Edition: Thursday, April 24, 2008 06:00 AM
Procrastinators take note: This advice could save you some tax dollars
Procrastinators take note: Last-minute tax tips
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:00 AM Page B17
Here we are, in the home stretch. Just a few days left to file your tax return for 2007. If you've been procrastinating in preparing your return, you're not alone.
Put dollars in your pocket
Online Edition: Thursday, April 17, 2008 06:00 AM
When filing your return, avoid these costly mistakes
Put dollars in your pocket by avoiding these costly mistakes
Published: Thursday, April 17, 2008 12:00 AM Page B17
The truth is, failing to be careful can cost you thousands of dollars. The good folks at the Pentagon learned this recently when investigators discovered that the U.S. military had paid too much money to a small company from South Carolina that fraudulently overstated shipping costs when sending two washers (valued at 19 cents each) to a military base in Texas. The total invoice came to $999,785 (U.S.) for the two washers. The military also paid $293,451 for an 89-cent washer to be shipped from South Carolina to Florida. You see, the Defence Department apparently had a policy of automatically paying all shipping bills if they were labelled ''priority.''
Doing little things right can help save tax
Online Edition: Thursday, April 10, 2008 06:00 AM
Six suggestions to get you started
Doing the little things right can help save tax
Published: Thursday, April 10, 2008 12:00 AM Page B14
My good friend Beth asked me to take a quick look at her tax return this week, just to make sure she wasn't missing any great opportunities to save tax. Beth is a teacher, but actually aspires to be a ballerina, and so she's been saving up for lessons by working as a welder part-time on the weekends (no kidding - she's multitalented).
Reducing debt with tax refund is usually wise
Online Edition: Thursday, April 3, 2008 09:03 AM
Right answer depends on interest rate on debt
Paying down debt with tax refund may be right move
Published: Thursday, April 3, 2008 12:00 AM Page B14
It's not every day that I get a phone call from my niece Lexi. But I did speak with her this week. She was excited because she had just filed her first tax return (which, on the surface, may not seem like a thrill to the average person).
