If you're in the market for a new house or simply looking to
renew your existing mortgage, I'm sure you've noticed the "Mortgage War" being waged by most of Canada's big banks. RBC, TD, Scotiabank and BMO have been offering long term, fixed rate mortgages for 2.99 per cent. This is among the lowest fixed rate mortgages you're likely ever to see.

On the one hand, this has been a bit of a strange move from an industry that has expressed worries in the past about mortgage debt in Canada. On the other hand, now might be a terrific opportunity for first-time buyers to get into the market. So, what should you be conscious of if you're thinking about a rock-bottom mortgage rate?

With the warmer season upon us, it certainly becomes easier to let our minds wander. As sunshine filters in through the office window, it's much more tempting to think ahead to summer vacation at the cottage or what patio you're heading to after work. Here are some proven ways to keep your mind focused on the job in front of you. Let's face it, if you work hard you'll have even more time to play harder during the summer months.

Click on a photo below to see what five simple things you can do, to boost your concentration and productivity at work.

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With Mother's Day approaching, I find myself shamelessly
hinting to my husband and kids about what they can treat me to that will show their appreciation for me simply being the Mom of the family. I have to admit, Mother's Day is one of those occasions when I actually do feel like I deserve a bit of pampering or a thoughtful gift for the many sleep deprived nights I've experienced -- not to mention the many diapers I've changed and seemingly endless clean-up tasks I've endured. For anyone looking for gift ideas to appreciate all that Mom has done for you, here is some guidance on what Moms really want. In the under $50 range, you can actually go quite far with your money.

There's hardly been any job growth in Canada in the last little while -- in fact, a recent Statistics Canada report shows that employment growth has stagnated. Meanwhile, nobody seems quite sure where the economy's heading. As a parent of two young boys I find myself worrying about what opportunities will exist for them when they're ready to embark on their own career paths.

What I'm realizing is that when it comes to kids and their future, there's no time like the present to start teaching them skills that could eventually turn into employment. There are many classes and camps for kids offered as after school programs or on weekends that could be fun ways to learn skills or spark an interest that will help them find their way to a career later in life.

It's that time of year when no matter how busy we are, we get the
urge to exile every last stale winter dust specimen from our homes. Perhaps it's the extra light we're getting throughout the day that shows up the excess particles floating around. Or could it be with the arrival of spring comes the instinctual urge to renew and refresh? Whatever it is, a thorough clean is something that takes a lot of time, which most of us don't have. I spoke with Molly Maid franchise owner and cleaning expert Amelia Mackie to get some tips on how to be efficient and pick priorities during a spring clean.

1. Set goals and get organized
Being prepared and setting attainable goals are important to keeping your sanity. Make sure you have all the necessary cleaning tools before you start and make sure you have time to finish each task. Organize your work into smaller jobs, like cleaning level by level or room by room.This way, focusing on smaller areas can be less intimidating. Draw yourself a cleaning task map, so to speak, and your journey will be a smooth one.
Helpful tip before you start: Decluttering is probably one of the most important tasks to perform prior to spring cleaning -- it's the only way to clean efficiently and effectively.

Many cities in Canada have placed their bets on casinos to help drive economic activity and stimulate development. With the economy continuing to sputter along, many places are looking to felt covered tables and one-armed bandits as saviours. Once thought of as 'Toronto The Good', Ontario's capital is the latest municipality thinking of going Vegas, but is the glitz and glamour all it's made out to be? Let's take a look at how a casino can help or hinder a city.

Tax Revenue
Gambling in Canada is big business. Last year, all legalized gambling contributed $13.7 billion in net revenue to governments. Casinos contributed 34% of that total. While this certainly sounds great, some research shows that governments that build casinos don't always spread their new wealth as expected. Instead of building roads and schools, for example, there is evidence that governments use gambling revenue on other priorities like debt reduction, which don't have the same immediate impacts on the people living in the shadow of the casino.

Another year another federal budget. This is Canadian political theatre so, of course, we mostly just tune it out. At best, Canadians tend to shrug when the federal budget is announced. At worst they ignore it all together. This year though there are a few things in the budget you should take note of because they're going to impact you.

Old Age Security
This year's budget might determine when you retire. The Old Age Security (OAS) program currently pays benefits of $540 a month to qualifying Canadians age 65 and older. Beginning in 2023 though, only Canadians over the age of 67 will be able to start collecting their cheques. This means everybody who is currently under the age of 54. Many Canadians rely on a combination of company pension payments, RRSP savings, Canadian Pension Plan payments and OAS payments to get by in retirement so delaying when you can access one of these can have a pretty big impact. Everybody keeps telling me that 40 is the new 30 so I guess 67 is the new 65.

Just like everything else, the cost of food is rising, making it more difficult for most of us to eat well on a budget.

Pricing of food has risen by 4.4 per cent, according to a recent report from Statistics Canada. Food staples such as milk, eggs, fresh vegetables, coffee and bread are not immune from the price hikes, meaning the bottom line on everyone's grocery bill will be effected.

Registered dietitian Cassandra Reid at Cleveland Clinic Canada offers some advice on affording good nutrition throughout the year.

You told yourself you couldn't afford it and that you could forgo a vacation this year.

But as grey day turns into greyer days you find yourself needing some sun and relaxation or at the very least a change of scenery but you've got nothing planned.

The same thing happened to me a year ago and I've learned my lesson. Though we greatly enjoyed getting away to a warmer climate, my family endured many extra costs resulting from our last minute decision.

As Travelocity Canada's in-house travel expert Brian Simpson said on Walletpop recently, if you book last minute you may not end up with an "ideal" vacation. But if you're cautious and do a bit of research (which we didn't) you can end up saving and still having a stress-free time. Here are some last minute budget destinations that won't have you regretting your impulsiveness.

To view the gallery, click here or on the picture below:

It seems like every year we get collective amnesia as tax season rolls around. It's like we've all forgotten how much we hate it.

We grumble as we reflect on how much of our hard-earned cash is deducted from our paychecks but at least the rationale for income tax is pretty straightforward: as a society we have to pay it in order to maintain a decent standard of living.

What really drives us all nuts are those taxes that are not at all clear, and just seem downright unfair. In honour of tax season, here are the top five most irritating money grabs:

PHOTO GALLERY: Click image below to see "The Five Most Hated Taxes."



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