RBC Offers RBC MyProject MasterCard to Pay For Projects - But Is It Worth It?

RBC Launches MyProject MasterCard

First Published Date: August 12, 2012

To start a brand new life after the wedding with heavy debt, and to put more Canadians into debts with their everyday projects such as renovations, vacations, or anything else you can possibly think of, RBC came up with an innovative idea to offer a credit card and a loan built into one called RBC MyProject MasterCard. However, the question is, is this credit card + loan worth trying for?

RBC MyProject MasterCard – How Does It Work?

For the first six months, RBC MyProject MasterCard works just like a regular credit card. You make purchases and accrue no interest during your first six months purchase period. After six months, RBC MyProject MasterCard balance will convert into a loan and monthly payments will start. The loan can be either a variable rate loan or a fixed-rate loan with an amortization period of up to 15 years. If you want, the loan can be paid off in full at anytime you want.

Is RBC MyProject MasterCard Worth It?

RBC MyProject MasterCard offers an unbeatable deal if you finance any projects for free for six months. Instead of spending cash, use RBC MyProject MasterCard and pay off the loan by the end of the six month purchase period without paying any interest. If your project is something that must be done even with paying interest, then use an RBC MyProject MasterCard instead of charging your regular credit cards and paying 20% interest. However, I would recommend you call RBC first to check what their variable and fixed interest rates are, and then check with other banks if they can offer a line of credit accounts below RBC’s interest rates.

Casio F-91W – The World's Best & Cheapest Value Watch

Casio Black Classic Casio F-91W - The Legendary Watch Everyone Should Own

If you ask around and show the legendary Casio F-91W, most likely people would be able to recognize this watch.

The Casio F-91W is one of the best, cheapest, and the most popular watches in the world. You can buy many other cheap watches these days, but a watch with the same high quality as the Casio F-91W will be hard to find.

Casio started producing the F91W in 1989, and it’s still in production to this day. Casio produces 3 million units per year. The Classic Casio F-91W has survived and stood the test of time and remains the most popular watch in the world.

There are several factors that made the Casio F-91W become so popular: it is durable, unique, simple, functional, looks good, and feels comfortable to wear.

The learning curve to get acquainted with the Casio F-91W is not steep. It is very easy to learn and looks remarkably good on everyone, whether you are young, old, male, female, or kids.

The Casio F-91W is a minimalist watch that offers a simple LCD screen, three buttons or pushers, a stopwatch, a calendar and a battery life that can last somewhere between 7 to 10 years.

What I don’t understand is how Casio can still make and offer this timeless watch so cheap without compromising quality and features.

In Canada, you can grab the Casio F-91W for around $20 CAD. In the USA, it’s a mere $10. That’s a shocking value price given the fact that these days a fast-food meal costs around the same amount.

My video review of the Casio Classic Black is available below:

Timeless Classic Casio F-91W The Best Cheapest Watch

Do You Really Need A Visa Debit Card?

What Is A Visa Debit Card?

Published Date: September 23, 2012 ADawnJournal.com

Recently, I have noticed a steady stream of Visa debit ads as Canadian banks are trying hook up more clients with their comparatively new product, the Visa debit card. Today, I will discuss a few things about the Visa debit card.

The first thing you need to know is that although the name has Visa attached to it, the Visa debit card is not a credit card. Think of it as a bank card, but with international usability. A regular bank card issued by any bank becomes a worthless piece of plastic when you board a foreign-bound plane. However, a Visa debit card becomes your friend when you are in a foreign country.

You can make purchases around the globe with a Visa debit card – just like using a Visa credit card. However, the money comes out of your bank account instead of your credit card account. Visa debit card transactions are made through Visa’s network and protected by same security features and zero liability Visa offers like a Visa credit card.

Now the question may arise – why do you need a Visa debit card when you can use a credit card? Actually you don’t. If you have no problem paying your credit card bills on time in full, you may not need a Visa debit card. However, a Visa debit card is a good option for those who don’t want to deal with credit cards or do not have credit cards. Because money is coming out of your bank account directly, there is no question of ending up with credit card balances. You only buy what you can afford.

Although my bank mentioned that they will be sending me a new Visa debit card to replace my regular bank card, I will continue using a regular reward credit card when I travel outside Canada. And to carry a minimum numbers of cards, I will leave my Visa debit card at home.

TD First Class Visa Infinite Offers $200 Worth Travel Reward Points

TD First Class Visa Infinite $200 Promotion Offer Expires On Sep 14

Published Date: September 9, 2012

Annual fee based credit card TD First Class Visa Infinite currently is offering extra points if you sign up by September 14, 2012. These 40,000 TD Points translate into $200 worth in dollar value. Some of the advantages of TD Points are that they never expire, there are no blackout or seat restrictions, and can be redeemed not only for travel expenditures but also for merchandise or towards grocery or gift cards.

TD First Class Visa Infinite card offers most of the benefits like other high-end cards such as Aspire Travel World MasterCard. Some of the features TD First Class Visa Infinite offers are:

– Trip interruption and cancellation coverage

– Delayed and lost baggage coverage

– Travel medical insurance

– Purchase protection and extended warranty

– Preferred rates for Avis and Budget car rentals

– Various VISA Infinite benefits (complimentary concierge services is my favourite one) 

However, one of the major benefits TD First Class Visa Infinite does not offer is the Flight Delay coverage. But if you are already a TD bank client and want to deal with TD for everything without minding Travel Delay insurance, TD First Class Visa Infinite is worth considering. Visit TD Bank for more info

China’s Trade In Africa

China’s Investments and Forward Thinking Strategies In Africa

First Published Date: October 24, 2012 ADawnJournal.com

The United States, once Africa’s biggest trading partner, no longer holds that position. Three years ago China captured that position, and became its number one trading partner with its robust business activities. In just ten years, from 2001 to 2011, bilateral trade grew 16 fold from $10.6 billion to $160 billion. China also provided millions of dollars in food aid and as a good gesture gifted the African Union’s headquarters (cost: $200 million) in Addis Ababa.

Bilateral trade expected to reach $300 billion by 2015 and investments expected to rise 70 percent from 2009 to 2015 by $50 billion. Also, China has consistently offered loans to the African countries and currently has a $20 billion loan offer on the table for the next three years. China’s non-judgemental approach to the African countries and easy terms for loans and businesses brought China closer to Africa, while slowly pushing western countries beyond boundaries.

However, criticism exists that China is in Africa to implement its long-term forward-thinking strategies. According to many, these strategies are:

– To exploit Africa’s natural resources

– To pursue neo-colonialism by bolstering brutal and corrupt dictators

– To grab business opportunities away from the local people

– To flood the African market with counterfeiting, and cheap, below-standard quality products

– To shift China’s manufacturing infrastructure in Africa and thus shifting its population gradually into China

In spite of these criticisms, anti-Chinese protests, kidnapping and killing of Chinese workers, China’s heavy engagement and projects are distinctively visible across Africa: from stadiums in southern Africa to hydroelectric projects in the North, from government offices in the east to cultural buildings in the west. Today, China is in most African countries except these few countries that recognise Taiwan: Burkina Faso (Formerly Upper Volta), Gambia, Swaziland, and Sao Tome and Principe (the second smallest African country after Seychelles). And China’s heavy engagement will only grow in the years to come.