Open a Tangerine Bank Account and Receive a Bonus

Tangerine Bank is one of the few banks in Canada that offers a no-fee Chequing Account. Tangerine is not a regular bank because they don’t have physical branches and that’s one of the ways they can offer the customer more in terms of savings like no-fees and higher interest rates on Savings accounts.

As a customer of Tangerine bank, you can conduct banking via Café locations, contact centres, mobile banking, ABMs, and of course online banking.

I’ve been a Tangerine bank customer for over a decade now and have enjoyed the benefits of banking with them. The bank launched in Canada, in April 1997, under the name ING DIRECT. In November 2012, Bank of Nova Scotia (also known as Scotiabank) acquired ING Bank of Canada which resulted in the name change to Tangerine. One of the benefits of this acquisition is that Tangerine customers now have free access to all Scotiabank ABMs.

They have many retail banking products that the top Canadian banks offer like Savings and Chequing accounts, Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs), as well as other investment products like RSPs, RIFs, TFSAs, and Tangerine Investment Funds. Additionally, the bank also offers borrowing options like the Tangerine Mortgage, Home Equity Line of Credit, and RSP Loan.

As indicated earlier, I’ve been banking with Tangerine for more than 10 years and have nothing, but positive things to say based on my experience banking with Tangerine. That’s why I would recommend Tangerine to any Canadian who wants to experience a positive banking experience.

In fact, Tangerine will start off by giving you a bonus if you become a new Tangerine customer when you open a bank account with them with a minimum of $100 deposit. Tangerine will give you a $50 bonus (generally it is $25). In order to avail of this bonus, you will have to use my Orange Key 14707720S1. However, this is a limited time offer which ends on December 31, 2014.

To open a Tangerine bank account visit: tangerine.ca.

You can watch the video below from the Peter Aceto, President & CEO of Tangerine.

Disclaimer: If anyone opens a bank account with Tangerine (with a minimum of $100 deposit) using my Orange Key, I will also receive a $50 bonus. You have to be a first-time Tangerine customer to be eligible.

Image Credit: Image in this blog post belongs to author.

The 'Tangerine' trademarks are owned by The Bank of Nova Scotia and used under licence. Forward Banking is a registered trademark of Tangerine Bank.Orange Key is a registered trademark of Tangerine.

Remembrance Day 2014

Remembrance Day is special day reserved for observing and remembering members of the armed forces who lost their lives in the line of duty. Poppy Day, as it is also known as, is observed in Canada and across the Commonwealth of Nations member states in the month of November.

The red poppy that you see in this picture has become a symbol of Remembrance Day. Canadians remember and honor our veterans by wearing a poppy; attending Remembrance Day events in their local communities; and other ways in schools and business places.

“In Flanders Fields” is one of the most famous war poems written by Canadian physician Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. The poem was written by him in May 1915 after the funeral of one of his fellow soldier who dies in battle. The poem is often recited during Remembrance day observance events.

This Remembrance Day is especially takes on a new meaning given the events that unfolded in Parliament Hill in Ottawa on October 22, 2014 where Corporal Nathan Cirillo was shot down while standing guard at the National War Memorial. And a couple of days earlier, Warrant Officer, Patrice Vincent was run over by a vehicle driven by Martin Couture-Rouleau in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

You may be new to Canada and may not fully comprehend the importance of remembering our veterans. But, we are able to live in a free and beautiful Canada because of the sacrifices made by man and women who gave their lives for this freedom. So do your part in remembering and honoring our veterans this Remembrance Day…lest we forget!

If you want to learn more about Remembrance Day, visit the Veterans Affairs Canada website or click on the banner below, where you will find a wealth of information and learning resources.

Image Credit: Intro Remembrance Day image created by author

Beware of the Silent Killer

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is often called the “Silent Killer” because it is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas which can be lethal if it is above a certain concentration. Many Canadians are hospitalized every year due to Carbon Monoxide poisoning and in some cases it’s takes lives. Most Canadians who lost their lives to CO poisoning, did so in their sleep.

Carbon Monoxide is produced by combustion and is present in the exhaust of internal combustion engines, for example, vehicles, as well as from portable or back-up generators. CO is also a by-product of incomplete combustion of fuels like natural gas, wood, coal, propane, and other bio-fuels.

Levels of Carbon Monoxide indoors can quickly rise to toxic levels, enough to become lethal. Some of the most common symptoms of CO poisoning include headaches, nausea, breathlessness, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and confusion. If CO levels are high, symptoms can occur within 20 minutes.

In the province of Ontario, a new regulation has come into effect on October 15, 2014 making it mandatory to install CO alarms for homes and buildings with no more than units of residential occupancy. And buildings with more than six units of residential occupancy are mandated to comply by October 15, 2015. You can learn more about the new regulations and compliance schedule at the Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services.

Carbon Monoxide alarms are designed to monitor and detect airborne concentration levels of CO and when the concentration reaches harmful levels, they sound an alarm. Essentially, CO alarm help save lives by making the silent killer, audible. There are different types of CO alarms like battery-operated, plug-ins, and hard-wired. The cost depends on the type of the CO alarms and can range between $25 to $100. Combo alarms are also available that include both, CO and smoke detection. Make sure that CO/Smoke alarms are CSA (Canadian Standards Association) approved.

CO alarms should be installed near sleeping areas. Unlike, smoke alarms that should be installed on the ceiling, CO alarms can be installed at any level as Carbon Monoxide mixes with the air. However, it’s important to note that if you buy a combo alarm, it should be installed near or on the ceiling. CO and smoke alarms sound different, so make sure to test the unit so you are familiar with the different sounds and ensure it is working.

If your CO alarm goes off, everyone in the home should immediately move outdoors and call 911. Do not open windows to let air in because when emergency services arrive at your home, they will not be able to effectively investigate the CO emergency.

You can watch this informational video below to learn more about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide:

Be CO aware, spread the word, and save lives!

Image Credits: Images on this web page created by the author, unless otherwise mentioned or linked to.

Daylight Saving Time Ends on November 2, 2014

Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends at 2:00 am on Sunday, November 2, 2014. So don’t forget to turn your clocks back ONE hour. Yaay, we get one extra hour of sleep on Saturday night!

Not all countries follow this practice of daylight savings which was first proposed by entomologist, George Vernon Hudson who hails from New Zealand.

The idea behind DST, which starts in the Spring, was to benefit from more sunlight during the summer months. Basically, we end up with much more sunlight, thereby having extended daylight during the evenings during the summer months.

As far as I know, initially, the main benefit from proponents of DST was to conserve energy. When I first came to Canada, I also heard that DST was to help the farmers give them an extra hour of day light. However, I found out that it one of the myths of DST. In fact, I’ve heard many farmers rally against it.

Many believe there is no benefit to Daylight Saving Time. In fact, some studies that were conducted, concluded that there no savings in energy resulted from DST. Also, some studies state that DST has adverse effects on human health. Whatever the case maybe, the fact remains that we currently practice Daylight Saving Time.

Here is what I plan to do to make the best of the one extra hour:

• Of course, take the opportunity to catch up on my sleep;
• Catch up on some of the things on my To-Do list;
• Check the batteries in the smoke alarm detectors;
• Take time to call my mom overseas before I got to bed on Saturday night;
• Finally, remember to turn all my clocks back one hour on Saturday night.

By the way, experts recommend that we try as much to stick with our normal sleep and wake times. Ultimately, our bodies will automatically adjust to the time change in a few days. Some people adjust to it much better than others. Whatever you do, try and make the best of it and enjoy the extra hour.

In 2015, Daylight Savings Time will start on March 8, 2015 at which time we will move our clocks one hour forward again. Yikes...and the cycle goes on!

Image Credit: Image created by author.