Archive | September 2016

Selling Gold for Cash

So you’re looking for some quick cash and you suddenly remember the gold watch grandpa left you. Or you have a glass jar filled with some flake gold and gold nuggets you panned yourself in the Yukon in your younger days. You know you can get cash for gold somewhere in the range above a thousand dollars an ounce. What’s the best way to convert that gold into good old Canadian dollars?

One good suggestion before you even start looking for a gold buyer is to check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against your prospective buyer.

Here are some proven tips for selling gold for cash:

Know the Current Price of Gold

The world price of gold is in continuous flux due to supply and demand, economic conditions or rapidly developing political issues. But unless something drastic happens to send gold prices spiraling up or down, you should know the general current price range of gold when you negotiate a sale for cash. A buyer who realizes you know the current price of gold will be less likely to take advantage of you when he presents his offer.

Get Several Price Quotes

This is particularly important when selling gold jewelry. With an accurate scale, you can weight raw gold fairly accurately. But with jewelry, a scale can’t tell the weight of gold contained in that necklace or ring. If two separate jewelry quotes are far apart, get a third appraisal.

Understand That You Won’t be Getting the Published Gold Price

If gold is quoted at $1,200 an ounce when you are meeting with a buyer, don’t expect to get that price. The buyer has to make a profit. The price offered to you should be within 10 to 15 percent of the market price, or $1,080 to $1,020 per ounce on the $1,200 price. If the price offered is lower than that, look for another buyer.

Deal with Reputable Gold Buyers

Longevity is a positive factor when looking for a gold buyer. Cheats and frauds don’t last long in the business. Deal only with buyers who have a long history of satisfied customers in the gold buying business. If you call them on the phone and talk to someone about the company, you can usually get a good sense of the way they do business.

Online Gold Sales

A number of gold-buying companies now advertise and work through the internet. You mail your gold jewelry to then in an envelope they supply than wait patiently for a reply with a high dollar quote.

The best option is to visit the gold buyer in person and watch as they analyze your gold jewelry and discuss how they made their appraisal. You might be interested in visiting Pinto Gold and Jewellery Buyers for more information.

Financial and Tax Considerations Associated with Pre-Paid Funeral Planning

Planning for death is not something the typical Canadian relishes. Funeral homes typically are thought to be something dreaded and avoided. On the other hand, reasonable efforts to plan for a person’s passing is not necessarily something that should be ignored.

In Canada, a majority of adults do not pre-plan with funeral homes. They may place some directives in a will or tell a loved one what they might like to see in the way of a funeral. However, most Canadians to not pre-plan their funeral arrangements.

Establishing a Pre-Paid Funeral Account

Section 148.1 of the Canada Tax Act permits the ability to establish a funeral expense account. A person actually can place funds into an interest-bearing vehicle. The money need not sit idle.

Pursuant to section 148.1 of the Canada Tax Act, any interest earned on a funeral expense account is exempt from taxation, provided the earnings on such an account do go to pay bona fide funeral and burial expenses. This is an important feature of the applicable law.

A person can establish a pre-paid funeral expense account by placing a lower amount of money into the fund with the idea that it will earn interest over time. This strategy is particularly helpful for a younger adult who hopefully, and statistically, has years to live before the need to pay for funeral and burial expenses. In theory, an individual could fund the account with a relatively small amount of money and rely in accumulated interest over time to aid in paying for expenses when the need arises.

The 21st Century Funeral Home

The typical funeral home in North America is dedicated more to making arrangements for the presentation of the deceased, the planning of a memorial, and burial. A funeral typical funeral home in Canada is also providing other key services to a person with an eye to being proactive in regard to his or her funeral and burial arrangements. This includes assisting with appropriately establishing a pre-paid funeral account.

A funeral home is also well-situated to assist a proactive planner in making sure that his or her wishes and desires are locked in and not to be adjusted unnecessarily by a potentially well-meaning family member. The staff of many a funeral home receives special training to assist an individual in feeling comfortable with the idea of taking control of his or her funeral and burial issues.

A final note about final arrangements involves flexibility. A funeral home is able to do a wide spectrum of different things in regard to memorial services, cremation and burial when the ultimate subject of these arrangements is involved in planning them in the first instance. For additional info, visit Aftercare Cremation and Burial Service and learn more from their online references.

Top Wedding Ceremony Tips

Your special day is fast approaching. You want everything to go perfectly. The memory of your wedding ceremony is something you’ll hold forever. You desire for your officiant’s speech to be on point, your dress to be flawless, and your vows to be meaningful. To ensure that you and your guests experience the perfect wedding day, follow these tips.

Get To Know Your Marriage Officiant Ahead of Time

Many wedding officiants require a meeting with the engaged couples before the wedding. Take this opportunity to meet him or her and get to know each other. Share stories of how you two met, what you love most about each other, and how you fell in love. Get an idea of their officiating style. This meeting will personalize your ceremony. Also, consider premarital counseling. You may not think you’ll need it, but the extra time you and your future spouse will spend with the marriage officiant will create a relationship that will reflect in your ceremony.

Have a Backup Location for Outdoor Ceremonies

So many dream of having their wedding under the sun, but Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate. While your dream may be to have your wedding outside, it’s impossible to know what the weather will be months ahead your ceremony. The last thing your guests want to do is wet their nice clothes, and you certainly don’t want to ruin your beautiful dress. That’s why you should plan an indoor backup location, just in case. Make sure it’s in a venue that you’ll be proud to have your wedding in, so you won’t be too disappointed if you’re forced inside.

Don’t Underestimate the Time To Get Ready

Hair and makeup will usually run you at least about 45 minutes each. Don’t rush yourself, or your stylists, by underestimating your hair and makeup time. Even if you aren’t naturally into glamour, you’ll want to make sure everything is perfect for this once in a lifetime day. Your guests, wedding party, and officiant will become annoyed with you if they’re forced to sit for an extra hour or two while you put on the finishing touches. Make sure your ceremony starts on time by incorporating at least two hours for beauty in your schedule.

Don’t Be Afraid Of Getting Creative

Even if you’re a die-hard traditionalist, there are still some personal touches you can incorporate into your wedding ceremony. You can choose a different kind of music, have a reader, create a unique program, or incorporate a cultural tradition. You can even do something completely original.

If you’re getting married in a venue that may limit your options, you can try a unique decoration such as colorful backdrops or aisle runners, accessories on your bouquet, or a family photo display.

This is your special day, so make it about you.

The wedding ceremony is nothing to skim over. Put careful planning into it to make sure that your day will go as planned. It will be a memory you’ll cherish forever. For more information, please check out the Young, Hip & Married website.