Summer, At Last

The kids are out of school and it's time for summer vacation. Maybe you've planned a road trip to visit Grandma and Grandpa, or maybe you're going on a camping trip. No matter what your plans, here are some helpful summer travel tips.

Sun protection is an absolute necessity. Bring more than enough sunscreen for the whole family, and don't forget about sunglasses and sun hats.

Be prepared for changes in weather. Include basic rain gear and extra clothing in case you experience some cooler weather.

If you're vacation will be a road trip or you're driving any distance from home, then pack an emergency kit in the car. Include jumper cables, flashlight with new batteries, first aid kit, and your roadside assistance membership if you have one.

If you're traveling with kids, then be sure to bring along enough forms of entertainment to keep them occupied. You can bring travel board games, books, or even a portable DVD player with a good selection of movies.

Summer vacations can be some of the most enriching times a family spends together. From the Capital Direct family to your family – we hope you have a wonderful summer!

Sticky Trick

Did you know that since 2002 the FDA has
required sunscreen companies to remove the
word "waterproof" from their product labels?
For many consumers, the lure of waterproof
lotion is too much to resist, but the fact is, that
waterproof doesn't really mean waterproof.

Sun lotion products have improved so that they
adhere better to your skin. However, regardless of
the claims, you will have to reapply the lotion. This
is especially important for children who might be in
and out of the water all day long. If the product you're
using says "waterproof", or "very water resistant" on
the label, you should reapply every 80 minutes. For
labels saying "water resistant" you should reapply
every 40 minutes.

Start the Day Right

You've probably heard about those studies that show how children do better in school when they've had breakfast. It shouldn't take much more thought to realize that adults will feel and perform better as well.

We skip breakfast for too many reasons: we're running late, need to take care of the kids, and so on. Sometimes skipping breakfast is used as a strategy for losing weight, but it's not a good one.

Actually, having breakfast is great for weight loss. Studies show that people who eat breakfast maintain a healthier weight. A healthy breakfast each day doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming.

It's as simple as a bowl of high fibre cereal, or some fruit with yoghurt. You can boil a couple of eggs and have them with multigrain toast. The key to a healthy breakfast is to include some protein and some fibre.

Summer time is a great time to make a healthy lifestyle change.
Go ahead - why not?

A Natural Decision

Mark D. of Calgary, Alberta had dealt with Capital Direct before. “It was natural to go back to Capital Direct when I needed some extra money,” Mark says. Mark was getting his home ready to sell and he wanted to do some renovations to it.

“The banks are just so rigid about the rules with a home equity loan,” Mark explains. Cherie at Capital Direct helped Mark get the home equity loan he needed to complete the renovations and increase the value of his property.

Every month, Capital Direct helps Canadians just like
you to realize their dreams. What about you? Your
home equity is something you've worked hard
to build, so why not 'let your house lend
a hand' © when you need it most!
Contact a Capital Direct mortgage
specialist to discover your
options.

“The banks are just so
rigid with the rules.”

Summer Sudoku

5		1
		9
	6

9	3
7		1
	8	2

4

		3
		8
	2


2	6	3

	9
1
5



		6

6	2
3		8
	9	4

	3
9
2		7

Click here to view the solution

Capital Direct's Eco-friendly Calculator

Do you know how large your home’s eco-footprint is? Under the ecoEnergy Retrofit program, homeowners can take advantage of available grants when improving the energy efficiency of their home. Not only will you be reducing your home's energy consumption but you can receive money back through available grants.

Visit Capital Direct's Eco-friendly Calculator online at, https://www.capitaldirect.ca/eco-calculator. Calculate the environmental impact of your household and find out ways of reducing it, then give us a call to learn how we can help you apply for available retrofit grants.

Request our new booklet:
How to Borrow What You Need to Succeed

Learn how you can use your home equity to your greatest advantage.
To receive your FREE copy of this informative new booklet, email us at [email protected] with the subject line: “New Guide Request”. Please include your full name and postal address, and we'll send you a copy via Canada Post.