18 — Wednesday, February 18, 1998 — North Shore News TWENTY-FIVE years ago, almost to the day, I wrote my first money column. The prime rate was 6%. As I write this, the prime rate is again 6% — after having risen past 20% in the carly "80s. The Dow Jones industrial average was hovi ering around 1,000 points. Now it's toying with 8,000 points (as long as the market hasn't crashed by the time you read this). The TSE index was at 1,250 compared with around 6,700 now. The Canadian dollar was at par with its U.S. counterpart. Now it’s struggling to stay at 70 cents U.S. In those 25 years, real estate prices have jumped by as much as 10 to 12 ames in many parts of Canada. The most important lesson T have learned is a personal north shore news - BUSINESS one: be grateful for the loyal readers, newspaper editors and advertisers across Canada who have made the column possi- ble — and I thank you all! for your interest and support. Your feedback has made this job really worthwhile. For example, the couple who said my columns encouraged them to pay off their mortgage faster and build up an RRSP; the teenager who picked up that the true bottom line of financial planning is “seizing the day”; the editor who bought the house next door ~ as a first rental property investment. This is certainly not my last columa. But after 25 years this does seem like a good time to summarize what ! have learned financially, advice T have given others and applied myself, and tips that hopefully will help you get the most for and from vour nioney. Keep it simple. Basic moves really pay off over time, like increasing your automatic monthly debr payment or RRSP/non-RRSP savings by perhaps 10% every three or six months. Boost income and save tax by taking in a tenant or hav- ing 2 self-employed sideline. Learn about vour financial planning choices through the newspaper, books, Internet and seminars. Use unbiased, professional advisers to help with vour investments (inter- Employment service probed From page 17 people who think somehow or ether we have authorized them to do what they do,” said Waters. Dave Ages, who's investi- gating Employmenc Services Canada for the Ministry of Labor's Employment Standards Branch, said he’s concerned with nwo parts of Employment Services Canada’s operations. He’s trying to determine whether the means by which the company identi- fies possible customers (job stckers) is contrary ‘to the Employment Standards Act. People, he said, cannot misrep- resent the availability of a job. The company has run ads saving positions are available and when job hunters contact the company they are offered the resume service rather than an interview for an actual job. The company says it has signed contracts with emplov- ers and those ads are legitimate, said Ages. He said he hasn't seen signed contracts and whether the company is telling the truth is under investigation. Secondly, investigators are looking at whether employers can access lists of resumes at no charge. The company said it doesn’t charge for that service. The company, which is nora licensed employment agency, would be committing a viola- tion by charging a fee. Said Ages: “So far, [haven't found arybody who actually gota job through this service, bur that’s not to say people haven't gotten jobs.” MacLzan said the company is located in downtown Vancouver, The News phoned NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING GREATER VANCOUVER REGIONAL DISTRICT ELECTORAL AREA C ZONING SYLAW The Greater Yancouver Regional District proposes to amend the “Greater Vancouver Regional District Electoral Area C Zoning Bylaw No. 785, 1995” by the adoption of “Greater Vancouver Regional District Electoral Area C Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 876, 1998”. The purpose of the proposed amendment bylaw is to: (a) Update references to Provincial statutes. (b) Regulate the height of earth-fill landscape elements. (c) Revise the method, of calculating site covertge and floor space ratio in residential zones. (d) Establish provisions for giving notice prior to the issuance of development variance permits. A public hearing to consider the above noted amendment bykiw will be held on Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 7:30 p.m. in the Cedar Room of the North Building Delbrook Recreation Center, G00 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, BC. All persons who deem their interests to be affected by the proposed byhiw are invited to attend the hearing and to present their views. Copies of the proposed bylaw may be examined at the Electoral Areas office of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, 15th Floor, Metrotower 2, Metrotown, 4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC, on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. from February 10 to February 26, 1998, inclusive. February 18, 1998 Paulette Vetleson, Secretary & Greater . te Seeperespenreee Vancouver 8 Regional Greater Vancouver Regional District District SUKI ¢ 654DE No pricey gimmicks - just a good quality, heavy duty serger for all your sewing & crafts. FEATURES: o 2,3, 4 thread “SS o differential feed jd a) o easy built-in rolled hem NO PAYMENTS pluS NO INTEREST 90 DAYS 0.A.C. est instruments, mutual funds, individual securities, property, a business), tax saving, insur- ance and estate planning. Write down the reason(s) for your moncy moves, to motivate you to develop and stick to a financial plan. Involve your partner and fam- now 839" ily. Success comes from consis- tently dealing with your finances on a daily or monthly basis. And the only bottom line that counts is quality of lite — yours and thar of those you affect. — Copyright 1998 Mike Grenby Mike Grenby is a columnist and independent personal financial adviser; he'll answer questions in this column as space allows but cannot reply personally - contact him at P.O. Box 50029, South Slope RPO, Burnaby, B.C. V5] 5G3; e- mail Marenby@aol.com. BONUS PAK FEATURES: 5 Japanese quality v 3/4 thread & differential W lower looper threader ow only 635" EURO-PRO s NO PAYMENTS NO INTEREST 90 DAYS 0.A.C. Employment Services Canada numerous times, but the phone was not answered and messages were not returned. Pam Smith, spokesman tor the province's Information and Privacy Commissioner's Office, said the commissioner's guide- lines don’t extend to the pri- vate sector. NORTH SHORE S2027S school senior girls’ basketball championship PAGE 34 KIDZ Follow the Foot Prints. vg to KIDZ BIZ. 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