16 ~ Wednesday, August 25, 1999 — North Shore News CC Teaching money habits DURING a game of Monopoly last night, my niece Tess, 11, turned to her brother Dauiiel, 9, and said: “Don’t spend that money you just got on a house, Danicl. You should always keep some money in case you have to pay it out, so you don’t have to mortgage your Property.” Then turning to me she added: “I’m trying to teach him, because it’s hike chat in real life.” Ifan 11-year-old can teach her sibling about sound money management, we par- ents better not be far behind. As summer gives way to school once again, this might be a good time co review allowances and other means of providing youngsters with - cash, unless you already con- duct such a review on birth- days. In a survey of some 1,060 youngsters, Zillions magazine (published by Constmer Reports/ Consumers Union in “y the US.) showed those aged cight to ninc received allowances averaging $3.74 a week, 10-1] $5.19, 12-13 $6.66 and 14-year-olds $9.45. However, the total weekly take was triple that amount, with the extra money coming from spending money from parents, extra pay for extra chores or outside jobs, and gifts from relatives. The survey showed kids who received regular allowances were almost twice as likely to put money into savings and to contribute to charity than kids who just received sperding money. There’s no one right way to provide kids with money. But you should come up with MORTGAGES WHEN THE BANKS SAY “NO” a clear system (ideally, put ic in writing) which family members accept and which you review at feast once a year. Give voungsters increasing amounts of money — and increasing responsibility for managing that moncy — as they get older. Teach them about the different savings and investment options, from savings accounts to GICs and CSBs to mutual funds and stocks, especially those of companies with which they are familiar. Give them the freedom to make spending and invest- ment decisions, to fearn from poor consumer purchases and running short of money as well as from wise moves like having 4 cash reserve and sav- ing for specific objectives. The Zillions’ survey showed younger kids were happier with their pay than older kids, girls were happier than boys. Nearly ail the youngsters had to do chores (cleaning their rooms and car- ing for pets were the most common), whether or not they got an allowance. Mike Grenby is a columnist and independent personal Financial adviser. He'll answer questions in this column as space allews but cannot reply personally, Contact him at PO. Box 50029, Sout: Slope R.P.O., Opening day ScotlaiicLeod investment executive Chris Carter, Western Canada managing director Hamish Angus and associate director Richard Kortje celebrated the grand opening of the newest financial services branch on Lonsdalo Avenue in North Vancouver Aug. 12. ~ 687-2020 2 oy Soin pane Burnaby, B.C. V5] 5G3; e- i mail . * mest cars + Rear Brakes (stos “ mosicars. LIONS GATE BRIDGE CLOSURES "Financial Services Led. VISIT OUR WEBSITE wuw.l ad.com Lender Broker fecs may apply Cleaning Service. from *45.00 ej at ‘SUNDAY AUGUST 29, 1999 - 7:00 am — 7:15 am 8:00 am - 8:15 am _ The Lions Gate Bridge will be closed to all i. - e@ffic for two. 15-minute periods the morning of ‘Sunday, August 29. The closures are required to protect public . ‘safety while construction equipment is bein; delivered to the North Tower of the bridge by helicopter. This work is being comp!cied as rart of the Lions Gate rehabilitation project. Alternative routes ducing these closures inclade the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Bridge or SeaBus. Your patience is appreciated during these short delays. “, FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE LIONS GATE Project, : . please cal} the Information Line at (604) 473-1500 or. Toll Free 1-877-473-0202, : . ‘visit the Lions Gate Web Site idge.gov.be.ca Accept the fact that computers freeze From page *S of when your computer fails. For the moment we're not concerned about why. Just accept the fact chat from time to time your PC will, for no apparent reason, stop respond- ing. When this happens, you are forced to reboot or restart your system. Typically you can press the Crrl, Alt, Delete keys simultancously, hit the reset button or simply turn the machine off. Unfortunately most Windows operating systeins today require a proper shut- down. Windows gocs through a shutdown protocol and if it is interrupted, when you reboot you will be prompted to scan your computer to fix lost or broken chains of files that were inadvertently created whin the compytter was pre- maturely shut:thown. as Unfortunately in these situa- tions we have little choice. On this particular day when I rebooted I gota - strange message that indicated that che partitions on my hard drive could not be read, and the initial startup sequence was stopped dead. No matter what I did, or whatever expertise I brought to bear I was begin- ning to sense that this was not going to be a fun birthday. The computer would not ini- tialize or complete its initial sequence before the windows operating system kicked in. Not a good sign. Computers based on Intel-compatibic - processors use a Basic Input Output System (BIOS) at computer start-up. The BiOS is your primary software that instructs the computer on how to function and how to man- age instructions among your system devices, including your hard drives, keyboard, opera:- ing system and your applica- tions. When this primary soft- ware brain doesn’t do its job, your computer will noi initial- ize and you are prevented from starting your conyputer. I soon realized that I need- ed some expert advice, and I slowly began to suspect that I had been hit with the now infamous Win95/CIH (a.k.a. Chernobyl) virus. I took my computer to a repair facility later that morning and sy sus- picions were confirmed a short- while later by a technician. This family of viruses, which first appeared last year, is typi- cal of the new brand of mali- cious Trojan horse-type infec- tions. My only option was to grant him permission to refor- mat my hard drives, effectively erasing two years of personal data, applications (including all upgrades), fixes and patches and configurations that I had accumulated over that period. I would have to reinstall every-- thing. And I was sc looking: forward to celebrating . - . 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