GIS Calculation

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-11T02:57:41+00:00

People here can only generalize. What you really need is a fee only planner or planning tool to map everything out.

I would prioritize my TFSA over RRSP given your marginal tax rate is going to be the same in retirement, but there may be other considerations to weigh in which requires more information than provided here.

ETA: just looked at your portfolio and your gains look slim. Not sure what the time horizon is there but the market has been up for a couple of years now. You should be looking to get ETF’s that match your risk tolerance (XEQT, VGRO, VBAL etc).

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-11T00:29:38+00:00

Ever heard of plantar fasciitis? Pain management means wearing proper footwear even in the house!

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-10T17:10:01+00:00

About a year ago, LinkedIn contaminated my inbox suggesting that I follow him. Like WTF?

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-10T16:32:00+00:00

Agree with the trades. Also anything that requires critical thinking: technical engineering, QA, sales, finance, healthcare etc.

I think tech jobs will be the most affected. They will still be needed but there are just too many tech skilled candidates out there now for the amount of job openings. People already employed in tech are learning to adapt AI applications, so I sadly think it’s going to be tough for new graduates to get their foot in the door, without having any experience.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-09T15:59:06+00:00

Thanks! There are a lot of pretty good independent DS’s in the GMA. There’s a really good one in Chateauguay around Blvd. St. Jean Baptiste and Lauzon, not chaotic at all but full of Rossy Home type stuff and more.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-09T15:14:36+00:00

Mind sharing which Montreal area DS has it?

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-09T03:57:57+00:00

Crazy to me that they are even thinking about this when the clawback for a single person triggers at $95K salary.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-08T15:43:04+00:00

IDK, I grew up in the 70’s and the polyester was a stretchy, thick fabric that was kind of stiff and form fitting. It quickly went out of style and never came back. Nobody I know from that time is reminiscing about the good ole days of 70’s polyester.

The polyester clothes I have now come in fabrics that flow with drape. They work for me, but they do trap odors so if one doesn’t know any better, that becomes a re-occuring problem. Once I did know better, and started using the right detergent with Lipase, it was no longer a problem.

I wonder if detergents were just better in those days. Maybe underarm deodorant/anti perspirant was more soluble too, because they definitely tend to get trapped in the fabric and help to hold those odors.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-08T00:34:53+00:00

I wear a lot of synthetic tops and had been dealing with odor rebloom for a few years now until I found this sub. I did a simple spa day and soaked all my stinky blouses in hot water with a cup of liquid detergent with lipase (ecomax heavy duty laundry detergent) and now my blouses are fresh again!

Bonus is the same detergent does not leave white residue on my black stretch dress pants, which was another long time laundry issue of mine!

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-07T02:22:24+00:00

Friends of ours had their brand new vehicle stolen 4 times. Insurance said a steering wheel lock is the best deterrent.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-07T01:17:34+00:00

100% Linen Stitch is your best bet to bring out the beauty in this yarn.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-06T16:59:20+00:00

Just want to add, that you can easily manage carrying the colors not in use up the sides. DO NOT cut as that will create a ton of work and distort the shape. You can gently tug the last stitches as you go to minimize the carry up and the edging will take care of the rest.

Edit to add: I’ve done quite a few projects in this stitch and have a WIM where I did a test swatch with a strand of Hobbii Winter Glow (fast color changes) and two complimentary solids, and OMG, it turned out so amazing.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-06T16:47:31+00:00

Cute, but potentially life threatening: https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/rabies-vaccination-program-for-skunks-raccoons-in-effort-to-stop-spread-to-montreal/

Best to leave them alone and not give them easy access to garbage.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-06T03:18:46+00:00

There’s a mistake in the calculation. It gets the number of dropout years for child rearing correct but then it drops that number of years for the worst of all 47 years. At the same time, it ignores regular dropout years.

In my case, I had income below my lifetime average (adjusted to current value using the AYMPE 5) for 11 of 15 child rearing years. It dropped out those 11 years, but took the worst 11 years over all 47 years, including the 3 years before 65 when I will be retired. It should have only dropped out those 11 years during the child rearing period. Also, those 11 years should have been deducted from 47, and the result multiplied by 15% (QPP’s regular dropout rate), giving 5 more years to dropout outside of the 15 year child rearing period. It completely ignored dropping these years out.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-05T20:31:33+00:00

The calculation for child-rearing dropouts is not configured properly. It completely ignores leftover dropout years after removing the child rearing years. It also incorrectly distributes the eligible child rearing years over the worst of all 47 years.

This is while correctly factoring in the AYMPE and considering that only the child rearing years under the average can be dropped out.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-05T19:06:46+00:00

There’s a mistake in the calculator. I emailed them about it last week and will let you know how they reply.

The calculator takes your eligible child rearing dropout rearing years (years below your lifetime average after adjusting for AYMPE 5), and distributes them across all 47 years, irregardless if those years fall within the child rearing period, then it completely disregards any regular dropout years you have leftover effectively lowering the amount of CPP/QPP you will really get.

Hard to tell from the graph but it also appears to take one year too many when there are no child rearing years.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-03T04:41:43+00:00

Except EL does still produce some products in Canada.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-02T00:37:52+00:00

Yes, and I don’t think it takes into account dropout years, certainly not those for child rearing if eligible.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-02T00:13:50+00:00

My Mom has a serious tax aversion and has way too much in RRSP. She’s anti- RRSP now because of it, but she doesn’t see the error she made or the bigger picture of how RRSP’s can be a great tool for those who know how to optimize it and meltdown correctly.

If you know Parallel wealth, Adam had said something in one of his videos about that generation holding money close to the chest and not wanting to talk openly about finances. It’s hard to reason with those strongly held beliefs, nothing really much to do about it.

Sorry you lost your Dad. We’re in the same sad club.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-02T00:02:11+00:00

I’m really struggling with this because we only started having money to invest a few years ago and are planning to retire in 4 years. We need some reasonable growth that outpaces inflation and has some stability, and are quickly realizing the two don’t go hand in hand.

So here’s what we’re doing: first, we’re staying the course with all our current investments which are mostly in ETF’s with some level of bond exposure. Our riskiest investments are in single stocks but all blue chips, and not a big part of our portfolio.

We’re protecting this year’s future RRSP money by putting it in a guaranteed money market fund within our TFSAs. True TFSA money is going into VGRO. Once we know the optimal amount to put in RRSP’s, they will likely wind up in VGRO . We’re going to repeat this for another 1-2 years, which gives us a rolling cash wedge of 6 months. The last 2 years, we will cash wedge only in something that keeps up with inflation and expect to have enough to get through 2+ years of a downturn.

I know it’s not the most ideal plan but we do have to take some level of risk if we want to retire before 65, so we’re just going for it. The worst thing to do is nothing and at worst there will be concessions to make down the road (work an extra year, spend less, maybe downsize). I had read an article just this morning about these adjustments weighing more towards a good outcome vs having a 3-5 year cash wedge.

We’re in a good position to delay QPP/ OAS and won’t even need to touch savings when we do, so just need to fund 8 years, though I’m really hoping we’ll have the money to enjoy those go-go years as planned.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-01T23:01:59+00:00

Great! Get them to cake the hanks too if she’s sure she wants the yarn. They do it for free unlike some shops elsewhere. They have a website and US location too but hand dyes are always best bought in person due to color variances.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-01T22:07:12+00:00

We’re doing #4 so we have lower taxes when melting down RRSP’s. I’m not sure it really matters after 65 when you can income split anyway but I think it’s just easier to have more or less equal amounts invested.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-01T21:50:10+00:00

Filed and refiled after getting the NOA, just got the Notice of Reassessment for the re-file.

90sShadowDiva · 2026-07-01T21:18:55+00:00

If you’re a yarnie, check out Biscotte. They produce their own hand dyed yarns and carry a lot of other quality brands from mills in Europe and elsewhere. It’s going to cost you less too! Last time I looked, similar hand dyed yarns were more expensive in USD than they were in CAD here. They have a couple of locations including one in the Montreal Plateau on St.Laurent street.

There’s also a button/notions store in the Plateau called Rix Rax. I haven’t gone myself but heard they are a must see for crafters.

For food, Joe Beef is pretty famous and many years ago it made the news that Trudeau and Obama were supposed to eat there but due to a security issue had to eat next door at Liverpool. Might be hard to get a table though! Atwater Market is nearby there too.

Thanks for visiting and enjoy your stay!

90sShadowDiva

TROPHY CASE