Why I Mix Content

Wide Array of Subject

If you are a regular ADJ reader, you have noticed that I write on a variety of topics ranging a wide array of subjects. Although my main niche is Personal Finance, you will stumble on articles, pictures, videos nowhere related to personal finance on ADJ. So far, I have never had any complaints from my readers. However, my friends and readers, who know me personally, always ask why a personal finance site would have a mixture of content on a variety of subjects. Today let me answer that in this post.

So Many Personal Finance Sites, Only a Few worth Reading

There are countless personal finance sites exist these days. All these sites (or majority of them) have something in common - these are for professional investors; hardly will you find something for amateurs or regular persons who are trying to enhance personal finance knowledge to build a secure financial future. All these high-end sites will discuss similar kind of topics such as:

Which stock are paying good dividends

How to perform wash trades in your discount brokerage account

How to make million dollars

Ins and outs of Exchange Traded Funds (ETF)

How to hedge Hedge Funds

Ins and outs of Smith Manoeuvre

I am a personal finance author with both education and work-related finance background. However, sometimes I find it hard to apprehend and absorb these articles. What percentage of population are high-end investors holding dividend paying stocks or performing wash trades in their discount brokerage accounts?

Would You Do Same Stuff Over and Over?

Another thing I have noticed about majority of personal sites is repetition of subjects. They discuss same boring complicated personal finance stuff repeatedly. If you look at a few articles of these sites at a glance, you will see it is the same drink in different bottles. How long you can continue reading the ins and outs of Exchange Traded Funds or Index Funds. May be one year, two years, or five years? You will get tired of it one day, and will look for something simple enough and more related to your daily issues.

Why I Mix Content

The main reason – I don't want you to get bored hearing personal finance and money related issues on a daily basis. I try to balance personal finance and non-personal finance articles (including pictures and video clips) on a weight of 50 by 50 percent, or 40 by 60 percent, or something like that. Most of my non-personal finance articles are very useful and there is something in it for you to learn. Some of them may not be useful all but that's what a blog is about. Let me elaborate this in the next paragraph.

The Essence of a Blog

Blogs connect authors with readers on a personal level, and blogs build lasting relationships. Readers, who are reading ADJ, are interested in connecting my journey with theirs. Now, all aspects of my journey may not be useful to everyone, and that is fine - readers understand that. Sometimes I post video clips, pictures, and articles from my personal life journey. These elements foster a connection between me and my readers, and that's exactly why readers are reading this blog. They are searching for that connection, personal touch, and a relationship – which a non-blog site cannot provide.

I Was Shy and Afraid

I started posting pictures and video clips showing myself just recently. I did not do it before because I was shy and afraid thinking what if I loose my readers once they get to see myself in these videos, pictures? I thought may be it was just little too personal showing myself, or may be I should just post pictures and videos without showing myself. Then one day, I gathered enough courage to post my first video. Then I posted another video after a few days, and I kept posting more and more. I was keeping a sharp eye on my daily visitor and RSS stats. Instead of going down, it kept going up and up. I tested something and I got the results. Readers accepted as I am and they are more comfortable and connected to me than ever before. They know now the person behind ADJ and they have found the rapport they have been missing. That's why they keep coming back and recommending this site to their friends (I get comments from my readers stating someone else recommended this site).

Final Word

I learned something which may sound little too simple but it is very important. Readers love reading a blog and recommending it to their friends when they find these elements in it:

Simplicity – ADJ posts are always written in very simple and spontaneous way.

Honesty – I am what I am. I don't lie about anything and there is nothing to hide.

Arrogancy – There are lots of things I do not know. As I mentioned above, I have difficulty apprehending some of the personal finance sites (both Canadian and American). I write about what I know or at least I tired to know and learn.

Readers are the Lifeblood of ADJ – ADJ is ADJ because of my readers, whether it is first time visitors, or returning visitors. If you are reading this right at this very moment, you are a part of ADJ, and ADJ survives because of you. You read ADJ because of our mutual trust and relationship, because of our connection; not because I know more than you, or I claim that to be true. We all can learn from each other.

When I started this article, I thought it would be a short one; but look what I did! I feel great to let everything out and I know you will appreciate it. I thank you for becoming a part of this blog and hope we will continue our journey in the years to come
First Published: Sep 9, 2008 ADawnJournal.com

What Will Happen to Canadian Tire Money?

Canadian Tire Triangle Rewards Program

Canadian Tire is digitalizing its rewards program to launch their new “Triangle Rewards Program”. With this facelift, Canadian Tire’s 60-year-old rewards program with 11 million members will be able to blend into the everchanging loyalty program environment on the Canadian market.

Today, I will answer some common questions you might have about Canadian Tire paper money and its new Triangle Rewards Program.

 What Will Happen to My Canadian Tire Paper Money?

Canadian Tire paper money isn’t going anywhere and will still exist. You will be able to earn and redeem Canadian Tire paper money at Canadian Tire stores. When you pay with a non-Canadian Tire credit card or pay in cash, you will be receiving paper money just like the traditional way.

Where Will I Be Able to Earn Triangle Rewards Points?

You will be able to earn Triangle points at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Gas+, and participating Mark’s and Atmosphere locations.

Do I Need to Sign Up for the New Triangle Program?

If you have a Canadian Tire account or Canadian Tire Option Credit Cards, you don’t need to sign up and you will be a member of the Triangle Rewards Program automatically. If you don’t have either of those, you can sign up in-store or online when the Triangle Program launches.

I have a video on the Triangle Rewards Program coming soon. Also, there will be two new Triangle credit cards: the Triangle MasterCard and the Triangle World Elite Mastercard. I will do a video and write about these cards as well.

Should You Hire Family For Your Business?

Hiring Family Members for Your Small Business

When you decide to start your own business, chances are you will not have the money to go out and hire employees. However, what do you do when you need some help but don’t have the money. Well, that is where family comes in. Family can be a huge help to your business in the early years of its formation but there are some things you need to keep in mind.

First of all, when you decide to hire a family member, even if they are not being paid, do they have the right attitude and personality for the position. You don’t want to force your kids to take part in the business if they are just going to hate it because that can cost you business, time and money in the end. You want to hire your family members if they are easy going, can accept challenges and don’t worry too much about stress. On that same note, they need to have a can-do attitude and be ready to help make the company a success. If they understand that their hard work makes the company successful, and by extension the family more successful, then they are the right people to be working at your business.

If you are worried about hiring family, then you can give them a trial in the company. Let them work in the company for a month and see how they do. If they don’t do well, then you may want to consider not having them in the company anymore. One person with a bad attitude can cause big problems for your company, even if it is someone you love.

When you hire family, especially siblings, it is very important that you ensure they know you are the boss. If you hire your children, this won’t be a problem, but hiring older brothers or sisters can cause problems with authority, especially if your siblings have always been the ones in charge. Make sure from the very beginning they know that you are the boss and they are the employee. On that same note, it does not mean you are just going to boss them around. Everyone needs to be treated well and with respect and you have to do the same with your family, more so than with other employees.

Another thing to consider is do your family members have the skill set to make the company successful? If you open up a mechanics shop, does your 15-year-old son have the skills to change a transmission? No? Then you may not want to get him doing that if he is not ready.

Hiring family can be difficult, and sometimes it can be hard to let family go if they are not working out, especially if you live with them, but that does not mean you shouldn’t hire family. Hiring family can save you money and it means the entire family has a vested interest in the success of the company.
First Published: Feb 2, 2011 EntrepreneurJourney.com

My 2010 Cuba Trip and Some Perspectives

Destination Cayo Santa Maria, Cuba

First Published: Jan 22, 2011 EntrepreneurJourney.com

Island Beyond Imaginations

Our China-made, super-sized resort bus was cutting through the pitch-black night along the Atlantic Ocean via a 30-mile man-made Causeway. The Causeway is a road in the middle of the ocean, connecting the island Cayo Santa Maria to the mainland. The Causeway was entirely made from rock and earth, without any concrete foundations. Many bridges were included in the Causeway to keep natural ocean water flow uninterrupted - thus keeping the damage to the Cuban archipelago to a minimum. Once you hit the Causeway, you will have the feeling that it is taking you straight into the ocean. I was pulling my hair (in my mind) for not being able to view this heavenly view in the daytime. However, the night time view had its own charm and meaning.

Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria Resort

The Barcelo Cayo Santa Maria Resort is located on a small island called Cayo Santa Maria, which is situated on the north coast of Cuba. Cayo Santa Maria is 90 minutes away from the Santa Clara airport and connected to the mainland by the 30-mile man-made causeway I just described above. Local Cubans do not have access to this Island. Before entering the Causeway, vehicles have to go through a police checkpoint and a tollbooth. The most fun part of our trip was that our bus did not have to pay the toll because the tollbooth was empty. Our guide said the guard probably went to the town to visit a show, leaving the tollbooth unattended.

We reached the resort just little bit before 12 midnight. Barcelo is a 5-star resort and it is fairly visible the moment you enter it. A very friendly person named Smith put us on a golf cart-like vehicle to take us to our ocean view bungalow. He said we would get lost for the first few days while going around inside the resort without assistance. And he was so right. My nephew and I got lost 3 days in a row many times, reaching various sections within the resort. The most striking part of our bungalow was its ocean view balcony. My nephew and I stayed on the balcony whenever we were inside our suite.

There is not much to tell about the resort itself. Inside the resort, you wont feel like you are in Cuba. It’s no different than living in Canada, except the weather. When it was - 10°C and lots of snow in Canada, we enjoyed 24°C in Cuba. For Canadians, having weather like that in December is like living in heaven.

Let me describe the ocean a bit. The ocean and the beach are very different in Cayo Santa Maria than anything else I have seen before. Crystal blue sparkling ocean waters and immaculate pristine white sandy beaches make Cayo Santa Maria a place beyond imagination. The sands are white, very fine and smooth. When you walk on the beach, it feels very smooth. This area was designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Deep Inside Cuba

Our Jeep Safari excursion into a Cuban village gave me an opportunity to experience the real Cuba I was waiting for. During this day trip, I tried to talk to as many people as possible to get a feeling of what it’s like to live in Cuba. The whole system upon which Cuban society and economy are based on seemed to be complicated to me. I was unable to understand many simple things, such as how the system works, even why it works, how the government keeps track of everything considering there is no modern technology available. Once you read the following insights, you will realise what I mean.

My Insights and Some FAQs On Cuba

Here are some points based on my trip, talking to both Cubans and non-Cubans, and doing some research. I may not be right on every point - I am just presenting whatever I have perceived so far. This is my feeling: to get a good grasp of how things are done in Cuba, someone will have to stay and live there with local Cubans for at least one year.

• Cuba was the first country in the Caribbean with which Canada established a diplomatic mission.
• Following the Cuban 1959 revolution, Canada and Mexico were the only two countries in the hemisphere that did not break relations with Cuba.
• Canada is Cuba's largest source of tourists.
• When the Soviet Bloc was diminished, Cuba faced a severe economic crisis and financial hardship. Canada came forward to help Cuba at that time on a massive scale (unparalleled by any other countries) both economically and technologically.
• Cuba has two currencies: CUC (The Cuban Convertible Peso) and CUP (The Cuban Peso). CUC is the currency for foreigners and CUP is for Cubans. While I was in Cuba, 1 Canadian $ bought 0.80 CUC and 1 CUB was around 24 CUP.
• In Cuba, the government owns everything. Let’s say you have a cow - this cow is the government’s property, not yours. The milk you get from the cow will have to go to government - you can’t consume it or keep it.
• Every Cuban is supplied with a ration card and basic necessities are provided by the government.
• A doctor, general labourer, or a chemist would earn almost the same in Cuba. It is a common practise for many professionals to give up their jobs and drive taxis or sell products in the market.
• Cubans are not allowed to talk to foreigners or ride in the same vehicle (non-public transit). However, foreigners can use public transit.
• Cubans are prohibited from using the Internet, foreign TV channels, books, magazines, etc. I did not see any newspapers or magazines anywhere; in towns, in the resort, or even at the airport.
• Health care and education are free in Cuba and Cubans have equal access to them.
• Crime rate is very low in Cuba and the lowest among other South American countries. I noticed people leaving doors open in towns/villages and girls were walking on the street at midnight. This is not a common scene in other 3rd world countries.

What’s The Best Part of Cuban Society?

Health care, education, and basic necessities are taken care by the government for everyone. Unlike many 3rd world countries, at least people are not dying out of poverty. The low crime rate is also worth mentioning.

What’s The Worst Part of Cuban Society?

All others, except the above. Cubans cannot start a business and make money like anywhere else on Earth. Cubans are not allowed to leave the country and they are not even allowed to leave their own province. There is no freedom whatsoever.

Changes On The Horizon?

Just recently, Raul Castro has relaxed some regulations to encourage privatization on a limited scale. For example, farmers now can obtain tools and lands to produce crops, the general population can have cell phones and open small private operations like barber shops and taxi services, etc.

A Brief Pause on The Airport Tarmac - The Final Word

On my day of return, after passing the Cuban immigration and on my way to the plane, I got out of the line and paused for a brief moment and stood on the airport tarmac - looking at the Santa Maria Airport on my left and my plane on my right. I am privileged to go anywhere on Earth. For Cubans, going to a different country is like a dream that will never come true. All those moments that gave me new perspectives on life were passing quickly through my brain; like the genuine happiness I saw after giving toothpaste to someone in the resort (I literally had tears in my eyes), the immaculate gratefulness I observed when I gave my maid the equivalent of one week’s salary as a tip, how utterly surprised the help-desk person was after finding out that my watch was worth more than his one-year salary … I came back to reality all of a sudden. Airport personnel were calling me to board the plane - it was about to leave.

Aeroplan Points for Amazon Shopping

Amazon and Aeroplan Team Up

If you shop on Amazon and feel frustrated for not getting any rewards, there is good news on the horizon. Amazon customers will soon be able to collect Aeroplan miles for spending money on Amazon. However, there are a few conditions that apply and I will go through those in this post.

Here is what you need to know to collect Aeroplan shopping on Amazon:

-          Starting April 24, 2018, Aeroplan members will be able to earn miles for shopping with Amazon Canada. This is only applicable to those shopping from Canada on Amazon Canada.

-          Aeroplan members will be able to earn at least one mile per dollar. Elite members will earn more; Black and Silver members earn at least 2 miles per dollar and Diamond members earn at least 3 miles per dollar spent on Amazon.

-          You must visit the Aeroplan website first to earn miles. Shopping directly from Amazon or their app will not earn you any Aeroplan miles.

Once you go to the Aeroplan eStore at aeroplan.com/estore, look or search for Amazon.ca. Then click and enter your Aeroplan number and last name, and hit shop now. This will take you to Amazon’s website and then continue shopping on Amazon as you would normally do to receive Aeroplan miles.

This is a good opportunity to earn lots of miles for those who shop on Amazon a lot. It’s even possible to earn miles 3 separate times on the same transaction. I am not talking about earning 3 miles but earning on 3 separate instances. I will do another post on how to do that after April 24.

Keep an eye on my YouTube Channel and on this website for more to come. I will see you shortly.