Spring Forward

March is the month that most of us in Canada change our clocks one hour ahead - spring forward!

This is also the month that many of us will see early signs of spring. When the snow clears, it's time to work in the garden. If you do this before the first signs of life reveal themselves, your planting will benefit greatly.

Your Flower Beds
Rake away the leaves, twigs and debris. This is also the time to pick up any garbage or other things that have made their way into your yard over the winter.

Your Shrubs and Bushes
Trim and remove broken branches on shrubs and bushes. Depending on where you live, snow can damage them.

Lawn
Rake your lawn thoroughly to remove dead clumps of grass and moss. With areas the grass has died over the winter, you can re-seed at this time.

Tip: Brown and green organic waste, such as leaves and grass, are great for composting.

Tip: Check with your local garbage pick-up schedule. Many places include extra pick-up days during spring.

After you're done preparing your yard, you will have a clean slate to begin planning a fresh new garden.

Season of the
Home Owner

Paying for your home is likely one of the biggest expenses you have. Homeowners can benefit from paying off their mortgage as quickly as possible.

By paying down extra principal at the beginning of your mortgage, you can significantly reduce the amount of interest you'll pay.

Paying off your mortgage is a long-term goal.
Here are 3 tips to save on mortgage interest:

1. When you can, double-up on your payments. The extra portion will really help pay down the principal.

2. Try at least once a year to pay an extra lump sum. A tax refund is a great opportunity to do this.

3. Even if your mortgage rate decreases, keep your payments the same. If the monthly payment has not been a problem to maintain, maintain that and pay down the principal faster.

Save a Little
Extra

The cost of living is on the rise. Here are some general guidelines to follow for saving a little extra.

Budget Accordingly
Homeowners should budget for approximately 30% of their household income to go to the cost of housing. This monthly expense is one that is like a forced savings plan.

Map Out a Plan
Food costs can vary depending on where you live. Budgeting for food is very important to keep track of. One of the easiest ways to control the food budget is to plan your meals and shop accordingly. Experts say you should estimate about 15% of your monthly budget for food.

Moving Around
Whether you're paying for public transit or fuel and insurance for a vehicle, you should expect to allocate about 20% of your household income.

Saving where you can will help
your bottom line and make for
a more happy and prosperous
future.

Turning Things Around

Kevin and Myrisa O., of Innisfail, Alberta wanted to complete renovations on their home. “At the same time we wanted to clear off some old debt,” Kevin explains. “The home equity loan helped to turn things around for us.”

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.

“It was everything we needed.”

March Sudoku

5
	1


4
	7	9

	7
2
	3

4	3	8
	5
		7

	6
7		3
	8

7
	8
5	1	3

	4
		6
	8

9	2
		1


	9
		2

Click here to view the solution

Request our new booklet: Borrowing for Success

How to Borrow What You Need to Succeed Guide

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.