BFBD - The Bloody Flowers Bloody Die

BFBD is Canadian Pshyco-Electro Punk!

2012-06-05T07:22:00.005-07:00

Excuse me BFBD...What exactly does Canadian Psycho-Electro Punk sound and look like?! Does Punk exist in Canada?! How does the band get electricity to make the Electro part?! Well Punk does exist in Canada!! The electricity comes from dogsled wheels (think hamster wheels only bigger and colder)!

As for the look and sound, check it out! BFBD's Tracks on Youtube:

BFBD - Pretty

BFBD - Pink Nose

BFBD - Tongues

As for the looks - Updated info, photos, give aways and more can be found on the Official BFBD Facebook Page. Enjoy!

BFBD - Meet the Members

2012-06-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

Mr.Namakemono

Godbout

B-Rex

A second post about the band BFBD. Collected some information about the members. The band has 3 members, all of which are rather interesting characters!

Godbout

vocals/guitar

Godbout is the undeclared band leader, having the most experience in music creation and the industry, he tends to be the brain behind the music as well as the voice that projects it. Godbout is a firm believer in that analogue is best, which can lend to the music's intrigue and also cause minor migraines while recording and producing new material.

B-Rex

bass/style...?

B-Rex is the band's bassist and claims to be in charge of style, although what exactly being in charge of style entails has yet to be discovered. B-Rex is a minority which leaves him vulnerable to racial attacks from the other band members, however he has the developed the innate ability to ignore the banter (good for you B-REX!) . B-Rex is also the unofficial art director for the group, and his manifestations of insanity spring up often.

Mr.Namakemono

keyboard/electronica

Mr.Namakemono plays keys for BFBD, he also loves getting his dirty hands on anything electric and would be a DJ if he had more energy and wasn't so slow... Namakemono can be viewed as the ying to Godbouts wang...err...yang...due to his belief in all things digital, although he is not opposed to analogue methods. A near death experience inspired Namakemono's band name, it's said that he was nearly slashed to death in a Japanese petting zoo by a sloth...his pretty face was left unharmed :)

BFBD - New Toronto Based Band

2012-06-03T03:05:00.001-07:00

BFBD isn't related to the orange key in anyway but I wanted to show my support for a great band coming from my home town Toronto Ontario Canada. Please take a look at their work and help support an upcoming Canadian band!

BFBD: love.hate.sex

BFBD Facebook Page (OFFICIAL) The band can often be found on this page interacting with fans. It has links to photos, music and videos.

The BFBD YouTube Channel! (OFFICIAL) Listen to and watch videos/music posted by BFBD.

BFBD Street Team and Fansite This site is not run by BFBD but is recognized by them as the official fan/street team page.

INGDirect.ca Online Support - Crapfkntastic! (Part 2) Resolution

2012-02-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

Well having waited over a week and sending 3 follow up emails a response was finally issued to me by INGDirect.ca. Am I satisfied? Well Kinda. The email is good, what I had hoped for and more than I expected. However in the end I feel less secure about getting assistance from ING Direct Canada`s support staff. My advice to everyone is ask by email, and if you need to ease your mind go ahead and ask by chat but I wouldn`t act until that email response comes in. Or is you are daring and don`t mind interacting with humans you can just call. Two answers are better than one!

Here is the response

Hi,

My apologies for the delay in replying to you. Although this isn't an excuse, it's been busier than we've expected this month - adding more time than it usually takes for us to investigate, action, and get back to you.

I've looked up the chat and reviewed the emails you've sent us, and the agent you chatted with was incorrect. Mr.Pink has given you the correct answer that we don't accept travelers cheques for deposit. I've coached back the correct information to the agent you chatted with, going over all the types of deposits we can and cannot accept. We do have an internal knowledge base that our agents use, but as this agent was confident in his answer he did not consult it - and we've addressed that as well.

Thank you for your feedback, and for following up with us on this. Your feedback helps us to keep accountable and continually improve on our customer service. If you have any other good or bad experiences, we welcome you to share them with us.

All the best,

Q.
Savings Email Team

Not bad eh? Well thats all for now.

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 ) -See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

INGDirect.ca Online Support - Crapfkntastic! Poor Service Woes

2012-02-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

It`s really great that ING Direct Canada has online chat support! It`s so convenient to be able to simply ask someone a question directly and get an answer instantly. No waiting around for emails, you can keep chatting till everything clear and with ING you know you are speaking with a trained professional...or so I thought. I went from loving to hating ING online support within a weeks time. Although I have had good experiences in the past this one almost cost me up to $800. Below are my email transactions with ING, originally I had inquired by both chat and email about depositing travelers cheques.

Received: 01/30/2012 07:55 AM
Subject: travelers cheques
Hello I am an ING client currently living in Japan. I am wondering if I order travelers cheques from my Japanese bank if I could mail them to ING and have them deposited into my ISA. If so, what fee's would be involved? If not, are there any other types of foreign money transfer services offered by ING?
Thank you

Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2012 11:49:14 -0500
Subject: travelers cheques [Incident:]
traveler

Hi,
We don't accept travelers cheques, however, we can accept wire transfers sent to be deposited into your ING DIRECT account -fee free! To receive a wire transfer, you'll need our BIC code which is: INGBCATT. Generally, the funds take about 3-4 hours to be deposited into your ING DIRECT account. The exchange to Canadian dollars is done by the bank sending the funds to us. We can accept wire transfers from almost any country.
Be sure to check with your bank in Japan for any fees that may apply.

Thanks for saving with us,
Savings Email Team

That was all good, problem is that online chat support told me the opposite!!! Unfortunately I don`t have the original chat log yet. But I have these emails.

Subject: RE: travelers cheques [Incident: ]
Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 07:36:30 -0500
Hello,

Thank you very much for the email. Letting me know about the fee free wire transfer is quite helpful, I will probably do that.

I would like to bring to attention a serious problem, if you could please forward this email to whom it may concern.

After having asked my question regarding travelers cheques by email, I found that someone was available in chat support so I desided to ask them for a quicker response. This was Tuesday January 31 2012, morning between 8AM and 11AM. Unfortunately I do not recall who I chatted with but I am sure that chats are logged, a search of logs at that time for the phrase "japanese bank" should easily bring up the chat.

I opened by saying "I am wondering if I send travelers cheques to ING if they could be deposited into my ISA"
the reply was yes, perhaps "we can do that".
I asked if it was ok that my cheque came from a "japanese bank" and I was assured that it was no problem.
We discussed fees, and I asked if I send the cheque to the same address as when I first opened my account, the answer was "exactly".
That was the end.

This is obviously in contrast to your email response, and I assume that this email is correct and the chat support was wrong. After the chat I found the info needed to buy the cheques. I was planning to buy $10-15 thousand dollars worth. There would have been a 1.5% fee for the service, the exchange rate had about a 2% commission on it. If I had bought the cheques and found them unusable I would have to have then converted back to yen as a simple refund is not possible, a further 2% commission would have been taken.

My loss would have been 5.5% or $550 - $825 and somehow ING would probably not claim liability so I would be out.

I'm wondering how it was possible to be given completely wrong information. If there is a manual or bible to assist chat support with answers, was it used?

I would like a follow up with answers and an explanation. Also I would like to know what actions will be taken by ING.

Thank you for your help Paulo, unfortunately not everyone is helpful at ING.

I`m still waiting for a response and sent them a follow up today....

"One week ago I had a big problem with ING online chat support. I sent a complaint last week and am yet to recieve a response of any type. Below you will find my past email. I would hope to recieve a swift response having had none so far on this issue."

Whats your take on it? Have your own problems to share? Leave a comment and lets hear!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1)
-See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

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ING Direct Canada Raises Interest Rates

2012-01-08T02:20:00.000-08:00

     Well don't get too excited, the recent interest rate increase was only for the TFSA accounts. It seems that without notice when the new year rolled in the rates rolled up from 1.5% to 2%. I seem to remember the same thing happening before, but I lack the records or rather the energy to search for the proof. Seems like ING is playing games, raise the rates for a new years gift!...disappointingly lower them towards the end of the year and, wow! higher rates for the new year again!! lame.
     Anyways the rate is welcomed either way.
     What are your thoughts on the interest rates at ING? Anyone have the rate history to see when the increases and decreases take place annually? Maybe there is a pattern, maybe I've been drinking, perhaps the truth is out there. Yeah my grammar is poor, but so are the ING interest rates...ain't nothin you can do about it...

    -Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key  33885729S1 )
     -See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

ING Direct Double Bonus Coming to an End!

2011-12-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

    So have you made any referrals yet since the double bonus offer began!? Time is almost up, the are only a couple weeks left in the month and after that you`ll be stuck with the old $25 bonus and below average interest rates just like before...
    But it`s not to late! Get to work, work your family! Take hostages and negotiate their release only after all members of the SWAT team have used your orange key! Hmm...maybe that`s not a good idea...i mean you could get the money, but recently in movies people who take hostages always get caught, and we all know that the cinema reflects an accurate image of real life...

    Egg nog anyone?

    Anyways there are some tips in that tip tab at the top of the site, or you can find them in the older posts. Good luck with your referrals!


-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key  33885729S1 ) -See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

INGDirect.ca Orange Key Referral Bonus now $50!!

2011-11-20T19:34:00.000-08:00

As you may know the ING Direct Canada orange Key holiday bonus offer is well under way. from now untill December 31st INGDirect.ca is offering everyone $50 for each referral instead of the usual $50! The person signing up will also get the $50! Its a simple offer, no special strings aside from the usual sign up process.

An email given to current ING customers gives this link "Start referring at ingdirect.ca/doublebonus."

Here is the fine print...not really fine print though, straight forward stuff.

*Bonus deposits will be made into your Investment Savings Account, unless you have a THRiVE Chequing Account, then you'll receive your bonus there. If you don't already have either Account, we'll open an Investment Savings Account for you to make the deposit automatically. $50 will be paid out to you and your friend provided that your friend is a brand new Client to ING DIRECT and has opened an Account with at least $100 or more by December 31, 2011.

Take advantage of the deal now! You`ll regret it if you start getting the smaller $25 bonuses later and realize you missed out on the extra cash. Click this link if you need some tips for getting referrals.!

Gook luck!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 ) -See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

How to be an ING Direct Canada Salesperson Without Earning a Salary

2011-09-14T16:42:00.000-07:00

If there is a bank whose gotten advertising right I'd say it's ING Direct Canada. ING drew huge attention with their straight talking Englishman commercials which many companies even today are less successfully trying to imitate. ING has even been able to put a trademark on the term 'save your money' joining the ranks with other big companies who've been able to claim everyday phrases as their own.
Having said this maybe it's to be expected that they would create the orange key, one if the greatest sales tools employed by a bank.. The 'orange' bank knows what people want and they know how to take advantage of it without making you feel ripped off. The INGDirect.ca Orange Key bonus program is a win - win situation for all who take part, money for you customers for them. In ING Direct's eyes the referral bonus is a small price to pay.
So how can you make the most out of the orange key referral program? How can you be a star salesperson without a glorious monthly paycheck!? How can you get your $25 bonus and more!? Here are a few sales tips and techniques that can help you get more key referrals.

1. Lets star with a simple principal, sell don't tell. Tell someone to use your orange key and sign up at ING Direct.ca and they are likely to say no, a variation of no, or yes but mean no. So how can you get orange key referrals? Hook people, build up interest and make them want to sign up at ING Direct.ca. Give people a reason to say yes to you.

2. Choose your word wisely! Are you going to tell people they can "Get $25 at ING Direct Canada", "Earn $2000 using their own orange keys at ING Direct.ca", or "Make up to $2025 for singing up and signing up friends at an online bank"? There are so many ways to say the same thing, so many words to choose from and it's quite important to make the right choices. The post "How to Pop the Question" (coming soon) has more specifics on this topic.

3. Avoid looking or sounding like a con artist. As soon as someone has this impression of you, your chances of getting an ING Direct Canada referral are almost zero. You need to give people enough information to trust you but don't confuse them with too many details. Walk through the ING Direct.ca sign up process step by step with them. The question I heard the most is why do I need to send ING Direct Canada a $100 cheque. This question is usually followed by what happens to my money. These questions can be easily answered but saying I don't know will likely lose you an ING Direct Canada orange key referral. So what should you say? First tell the person asking that the cheque is used as a form of ID rather than having to mail a more important piece of ID. Secondly the cheque has the information on it needed to link your original bank account to your new ING Direct Canada online bank account, this is how you can move your money back and forth. Remind the person that the cheque is made in their own name so nobody else has access to the money, it will be deposited into their new ING Direct Canada account where they can do what they want wiith it.

4. Don't feed a lion Rice Crispies if they like raw flesh and Coffee Crisp. The same goes for people you are signing up to ING Direct Canada, don't pitch them on a product they won't be interested in. Keep in mind that there are products other than the ISA available at ING Direct Canada, take some time to become familiar with them it'll pay off!

5. Have a business card! A salesperson would have one and so should you, but you don't need to go overboard. Self-printed or free offer cards will do, just make sure they are neat and clean. What information do you need on your non-official ING Direct Canada business card? Start with your name for formalty's sake, follow it by a one sentance catch phrase (tip #2 had three examples), state your ING Direct Orange Key, and finish off with the ING Direct.ca website. One thing to avoid is making it look like an official ING Direct Canada business card, don`t infringe on any copyrights. These cards are really great for the times when a computer isn`t handy to complete the sign up and you want to leave the information with someone for later.

That marks the end of the tip list. Sales 101 is finished, hopefully you can pick something useful out of there to use for yourself when signing people up to ING Direct Canada with your orange key. Feel free to share your own tips in the comments!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.

Orange keys, Orange lattes, and Orange squid?

2011-09-15T20:32:00.000-07:00

We just launched our new Squidoo page "ING Direct Canada Orange Key Latte." Is it worth reading? Of course! Why? Because it's the spawn of abnormality.

Where the ING Direct Canada Orange Key blog attempts to maintain a basic level of formality, our Squidoo page makes up for it in relativly unmoderated musings. There might be something useful there but I won't garentee it. At least our ING Direct Canada Orange Key Latte page can make a nice toilet read for those with a means of taking this mess on the road. Check it out and let us know what you think!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.

It's Contest Time!

2011-09-16T21:43:00.000-07:00

It's contest time! Visitors to the site are starting to pick up and orange keys are being left so let's have some fun. The first contest will be kept simple. Post your orange keys anywhere on this site and at the end of the month one orange key will be featured in a new blog post! Also that number will be added to an ever updated list of contest winners! That means two opportunities to publisize your ING Direct Canada Orange Keys. Here's the catch, all keys will be entered into the contest but someone who not only posts their orange key but also contributes something meaningful to that post in their comment will have a much better chance of wining our ING Direct Canada Orange Key Contest. Remember to check back for more contests and also to see the winner at the end of the month. Good luck to everyone!

Do you have any ideas for future contests? Share your ideas and orange keys in the comments!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.

Mutual Mishaps

2011-09-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Of course this blog is dedicated mainly to the ING Direct Canada Orange Key bonus program but at times its also about other ING Direct products, online banks in general, bellybutton lint, and that stuff that collects behind your ear after a super lazy weekend...those last two will be covered at a later date, so perhaps a sooner date on our more risky squidoo page.

This time around I would like to touch on mutual funds at ING Direct Canada. Not about which Streetwise fund is the best, not about how great the ING Direct Canada mutual funds are, and not about how to use your orange key to pick your nose while eating oranges on an icy summers night in south eastern Canada (cause its a well know fact that that's what we love to do in the dogsleding off season...-_-...). This particular post will be about what not to do when starting up an ING Direct Canada mutual fund.

...Don't jump in too fast! A small yet useful piece of advise. Check out the daily prices for a bit, you will see that the ING Direct Canada mutual fund prices will fluctuate daily. The idea is to buy in when it's at a low point. Of course over the years you should see an increase in your fund value but this tiny thing can give you an extra 5 or 10 cent boost.

I am slightly bitter that I didn't do this with my tax-free mutual fund at ING Direct Canada. I took a look at the monthly performance only not knowing that there was also a daily pricing available after you open your fund...I maxed out my fund on opening at $10.64 only to find it drop to $10.58 the next day and $10.57 the day after that...It's not the loss I'm thinking about it because the fund will return again, but the missed opportunity to make that little bit extra is eating away at the fat that's building up around my brain. Oh well, I tryed to make up for it by opening a regular mutual fund at ING Direct Canada when I noticed the price drop.

Share your mutual fund or stock horror stories in the comments, ING Direct or otherwise, and leave your orange keys too!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

Not so ING but Still Orange Art!

2011-09-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not there is more to life than ING Direct Canada and the orange key program. There are more things to think about than just Canadian Banks, Online Banks, US Banks or any other form of money saving institution offering savings accounts...yes my friend there is life beyond INGDirect.ca, there may or may not be intelligent life outside Canada however...thats a debat for someone elses blog or at least a different post. It seems the insanity has begun spilling out of my orange key squidoo page and finding its way onto what was once a blog about a bank in Canada and it's mighty orange key!

Anyways here is a little orange art spawned from too many minutes of free time, enjoy!

Because if you don't the next coffee you drink might just be from this cup...and you sure as H*ll don't want to drink that bitter $hit...(Is the language excusable?)

We tend to forget that oranges are living organisms too...sure you can peel them but would you like to be peeled?

Good, garbage? Probably more interesting than the other orange key sites at least. What do you think? I'll probably be posting more at some point so come back and check!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

What Can I do with My ING Canada Orange Key?

2011-09-20T20:44:00.000-07:00

Because I know everyone is thinking these things now, I will answer the unasked questions in your head about the ING Direct Canada Orange Key!

Q. Can the ING Orange Key act as a master key to replace all my other keys?
A. Have you tried putting your INGDirect.ca Orange Key into a lock recently?...Try and ask again.

Q. Can my Orange Key from ING Direct solve the worlds political and social problems?

A. If you haven't noticed already politicians here hopeless, not even your mighty Canadian Orange Key can help them. As for the worlds social issues...Try and post a comment if you succeed!

Q. I failed to solve the worlds social issues using my ING Canada Orange Key, think I could at least conquer world hunger with it?
A. Not directly, but if you put all your referral money into an ING Direct Canada Streetwise Fund and pray for a miracle you might be able to feed yourself for a month, and that's how we change the world - one person at time.

Q. Someone told me that the ING Orange key is a plot by the government of Canada to take over the world, is it true!?
A. Don't be stupid...This is Canada, not a certain country that geographically exists south of our asses. The only thing we would plot is to boycott the beaver pelt industry in which case we don't need our orange keys. Oh and it's The Harper Government now fool! Get it straight or risk losing your overpaid government job...hmm...maybe Canada is capable of plotting.

Q. Is my orange key good for getting money at other Canadian online banks?
A. No, you need a purple key for that.

Q. Where do I get a purple key?
A. Sorry my lunch break is over....next time!

If you have any other questions you need answered about Canada, ING Direct, the Orange Key or any other thing you can think of feel free to post them in the comments!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

ING Direct Canada Orange Key Question Time (pt.2)

2011-09-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

Incased you missed the fun while it was fresh yesterday, here is another round of ING Direct.ca orange key questions left unsaid...perhaps for a good reason too...

Q. I'm still looking for a purple key, where can I find it?

A. Ok, ok...First make sure you are in Canada, second you need to be facing to the north. If you've done those two things then leave a good comment on each of this blogs pages. After doing so there is a possibility that a purple key will appear...somewhere.

Q. Does my ING orange key come with a Canadian maple leaf key chain?
A. No, INGDirect.ca doesn't charge bank fees, I suggest you don't ask the question again if you want it to stay that way.

Q. How many times will there be question time on this blog?
A. Most likely more times than needed...might even become a weekly thing.

Q. I had a question about online banking at INGDirect.ca but I can't remember it.
A. Too bad cause I had an answer for you.

Catch you next time!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

Useless but Entertaining Referral Tips

2011-09-22T20:39:00.000-07:00

Everyone can try and tell you the best ways to spread your orange key, I've done it too, but how many people share with you the useless yet entertaining ways to attempt and get referrals? Well I'm going to!

1.Write your orange key on a piece of paper, tie it to a helium balloon, let it fly and hope someone will eventually find and use it.

A word of caution before reading further, there might be an idea or two not G-rated ;)

1b. Same as above but use a love makin' latex cover :) try different brands, shapes, flavors...think the finder would try to use more than just the ING orange key??

1c. Use a pigeon instead, super old school!

2. Take the S.O.S letter out, put your ING Direct Canada orange key in the bottle and toss it into the ocean!

3. Rent a VHS movie from somewhere that still manages to rent them out, record your orange key over that last few minutes of white noise we always find at the end. Its a long shot I know...all the ideas are...

4. Pee your key into some snow on prime viewing real-estate...you know your Canadian when?

5. Carve your ING Direct orange key nice and big into the sole of your shoe and go make some footprints!

6. Broadcast your key through the airwaves in Morse code and hope that one of the thousands of Canadian spies listening hears and uses it.

Theres more to come but heres a bit for now!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

September Contest Winner!

2011-10-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

     September is over that means its time to announce the orange key contest winner! This months winner is:

Anonymous: Come get your 25$. Use this key : 34816645S1

     Congrats! Remember to post your orange keys somewhere on this blog for your chance to have you key focused in our contest winner post!

     -Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada
      Orange Key 33885729S1)
     -See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

ING Direct 2012 TFSA Kick Start Accounts Available!

2011-10-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

It`s that time of year again! What time...? ...The time when we put away our summer snowsuits, pull the winter ones out, tune up our dog sleds and train the lead dog...what happened to those good ole days eh?

...Sorry...

It`s also the time of the year when ING Direct Canada offers for a limited time their TFSA Kick Start accounts!

Not familiar with the Kick Start Account from INGDirect.ca? Take a look at this post to learn about Tax-Free Savings Accounts. If you know what a TFSA is then you should be aware that you receive a $5000 increase to your contribution space each year, the 2012 Kick Start Account will let you take maximum advantage of this.
From now untill the new year you can put $5000 into a Kick Start account and earn double interest on it! The extra interest will be given to you as a bonus on the new year. In addition, when the new year rolls in ING Direct.ca will automatically transfer $5000 from your Kick Start account into your TFSA, any money (intrest earned) in the Kick Start over that $5000 will be deposited into your regular account so you don`t need to worry about going over your annual contribution limit.
The idea is supposed to be that the double interest will cover any tax that you would usually have to pay the government for investment income from that $5000 essentially making it "tax-free"...ING pushes this point but it doesn`t really hit home for me...I just like the sound of double interest! ING Direct also mentions that by using the Kick Start account and its automatic transfer to your TFSA you won`t miss a moment of tax-free savings opportunity when the new year comes...Double Interest!! lol...I`m sure someone sees it the way it`s intended to be seen. Anyone?
Oh and one more point, I`m not sure if ING Direct makes this clear or not, but you`re not allowed to deposit more than $5000 into your Kick Start account, and only one account can be created. What happens if you try to deposit more?...well some people believe that the world will end in 2012.

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post About the ING Direct Canada Orange Key for more information.

-Keep an eye out on our Contest Page to see our latest contests and contest winners!

A Quick ING Direct Canada Orange Key Note

2010-10-17T03:48:00.000-07:00

This is not your usual ING Direct.ca orange key site, you might actually find it entertaining! Do you need a quick ING DIRECT CANADA Orange Key to collect your $25 bonus? You can use the working ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1! This number will be replaced and kept valid so you can count on it to work! Click HERE for more information on the ING Direct Canada orange key program offered at INGDirect.ca. Post your ING Direct orange keys here to get referrals in Canada! Read our posts for more info on INGDirect.ca and the Canadian orange key referral program, Online banks, savings account advice and more. Check back for upcoming contests remember to leave a comment and feel free to post your orange keys!

ING Direct.ca Savings Accounts

2011-08-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

ING Direct Canada offers a variety of great savings accounts for you to choose from. Whether your saving for short or long term you can find an account good for you with high interest rates! Here's what ING is offering and what they have to say about them (As of Aug. 24 2011):

Investment Savings Account (ISA) 1.50% - The product that started the revolution. Save your money and earn interest considerably higher than the average of the major banks. Unlike accounts that charge fees, require minimum balances and pay little or no interest, the Investment Savings Account allows your savings to actually grow.

RSP Investment Savings Account (RSP ISA) 1.50% - Saving for retirement has never been easier. Plus, enjoy all the benefits of our Investment Savings Account in a retirement savings plan.

Tax-Free Investment Savings Account (TFSA) 1.50% - The product that started the revolution is now even better. Save your money and earn tax-free interest considerably higher than the average of the big banks. With no minimum balances, no service charges, and now with high tax-free interest, all the money you put into your Tax-Free Investment Savings Account will grow like never before. Yet it's still there, when you need it.

US$ Investment Savings Account (US$ ISA) 0.50% - Do you keep US cash or are you a frequent traveller to the US? Save your US dollars at rates considerably higher than those available at the Big Five banks, get one of the most favourable exchange rates, and of course pay no fees or service charges.

Business Investment Savings Account (BISA) 1.25% - You need to have cash on hand to run your business, but typical business accounts pay little or no interest. Put your money to work. Earn interest considerably higher than the average of the Big Five Banks and pay no fees or service charges.

US$ Business Investment Savings Account (US$ BISA) 0.50% - You need to have US dollars on hand to run your business in the States, but typical business accounts pay little or no interest. Put that money to work. Earn interest considerably higher than the average of the Big Five Banks and pay no fees or service charges.

Use the Orange Key 33885729S1 at INGdirect.ca and get yourself an ING Direct Canada account and a $25 bonus!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )

-See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.

Comparing High Interest Savings Accounts

2011-08-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Of course ING Direct Canada is a great banking option, but what about the others?
I found this useful chart http://www.highinterestsavings.ca/chart/ it seems that its kept up to date. You can see quickly the interest rate offered by many different banks and institutions. You may notice ING has the lowest rate on the list (Aug 27 2011) but keep in mind a few things some of these places charge account or transfer fees, ING Direct doesn't. Online security, may very. Range of available products may very. Access to your money may be restricted...and so on. Basically do some research, don't open an account based on rates alone. That being said Canadian Tire might be a good choice, although I haven't tried myself (yet). Or use the Orange Key 33885729S1 and get yourself an ING Direct Canada account and a $25 bonus!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.

Tax Free is the Way to Be! (Another Great Innovation from Canada)

2011-09-03T05:59:00.000-07:00

Have you gone tax free yet? Tax-Free savings accounts aren't exclusive to ING Direct Canada they are offered at most (if I say all someone will prove me wrong) banks throughout Canada. If you don't have a Tax-Free savings account yet then each year you wait your are throwing away $5000 of savings opportunities! Let's find out more about Canadian Tax-Free savings accounts:

If you are 18 or older you can open a Tax-Free savings account and there are a large number of options available - Savings Accounts, GIC'S, High Interest Savings, Mutual Funds and perhaps more depending on your bank. Which one you choose depends on your individual style of saving but the tax-free element remains the same throughout all tax-free products.

Don't wait! Even if you don't have money for savings this year it's worth at least opening an account. When you open your account you are allowed to deposit a total of $5000 for the year. This is a total deposit amount, not balance! So if you put $4500 in, and later in the year take that $4500 back out, you are only allowed to deposit $500 for the rest of the year. What about that other $4500 of space? It's not lost, however you need to wait until the new year to use it again. Each year your account is open for you will unlock an extra $5000 worth of deposit space! You don't need to use all of it, but it will be there waiting for you, and it won't make a mess on your new rug if you take too long ;)

The interest earned onside a TFSA is tax-free. Its't not such a big deal the first year but as your savings grow larger you'll see the benefits more and more. On thing worth pointing out is what happens if you account goes over the $5000 limit due to interest earned. For example you deposit the full $5000 your allowed for the year into a Tax-Free Savings Account. At the end of the month you receive interest on that money and your account is now $5012.33!! Its $12.33 over but don't worry, interest earned inside the account does not count as a deposit to the account.

There are few more things worth noting. Unlike a RRSP when you decide to withdrawal money from your Tax-Free savings account you won't be taxed on it. The TFSA is truly tax-free. You can have more than one TFSA at more than one bank, however in total you have only $5000 per year of contribution room, not $5000 per account or per bank. You can't take money out of a Tax-Free Savings Account, and deposit into another TFSA! At least not if it means that you will go over your annual contribution limit, also it's not the best thing to do since it will eat away at your remaining limit. If you find yourself wanting to move money from one TFSA to another then you should as your bank about obtaining a transfer form. The transfer form will allow you to move your money without loosing contribution space. It takes a little time but its a much better choice than moving it by hand.

So how does ING Direct Canada play into all this? Well like other banks they offer a variety of Tax-Free Savings Accounts for you to choose from. Unlike some banks ING Direct Canada offers promotions at times giving you you a higher interest rate on their TFISA than they do on their regualar ISA. At the moment there is no promotion but my TFISA was at 2% and the ISA was 1.5%. for some time. Around the new year ING has been having an early contribution event, allowing you to put aside $5000 for the new year and doubling the interest earned on it! It's defiantly worth having both accounts I'd say.

As with the other products offered by ING Direct Canada you can use an orange key to open a tax-free account.

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.

ING Direct Canada Orange Key Goals

2011-09-05T00:21:00.000-07:00

We already had one main post abount INGDirect.ca and their orange key program, this blog post will focus on one particualr aspect of ING Direct Canada's Orange Key referral bonus. Of course getting free money is fun but what could add even more fun to it? What can entice us even more to try and sign our friends up at INGDirect.ca? Well I think ING Direct Canada got it right, they added a slight game aspect to it. So now not only do you earn money with your ING Direct Canada orange key, but also you have 'goals' to try and reach to 'unlock' bonus money!

The goal system is tier based, once you reach the designated number of referrals ING Direct Canada will give you and extra bonus on top of the $25 that they already give you for each orange key referral. Here is the chart which shows the details of the INGDirect.ca orange key goal system:

# of Referrals		Referral $		Bonus $
10	=	$250	+	$50
20	=	$250	+	$100
30	=	$250	+	$150
40	=	$250	+	$200
50	=	$250	+	$250

     In the left column you can see how many people you need to refer to unlock each ING Direct Orange Key Bonus. The tier system requires 10 referrals to unlock each bonus. The center column show how much money you will earn from INGDirect.ca normally for referrals using your orange key. Since you earn $25 each, each tier is worth $250. The right column shows the bonus amount that you can receive by using your ING Direct Canada orange key and unlocking the orange key goals. The bonus amount starts at $50 for 10 referrals and increases $50 each tier.
     So if you haven't done the math yet, or don't want to be bothered to do the math, it comes to a total of $2000 for 50 referrals! I think it's safe to say that's one reason why the ING Direct Orange Key program is great. If you used an orange key to create your account at INGDirect.ca then your total amount of potential free money sits at $2025! Not to mention any interest you can earn.
     If you don't have an account already what are you waiting for?

   -Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key  33885729S1 )
-See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.

What's the best Online Bank? How to choose an Online Bank.

2011-09-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

So you are one of tens of thousands of people on the internet asking "What's the best online bank?" Depending on who you ask this may or may not be a good question, but we think its worth addressing at least. Choosing an online bank shouldn't be a matter of joining the top online bank in a google search (ING Direct, last time I checked), nor should it be asking "What's the best online bank?" on an online bank forum and choosing the online bank that gets mentioned the most. If you are planning to join an online bank and start your journey in the world of online banking then you need to do your research!
By this point if you've read any of the other posts on this blog you may be wondering why I'm not plugging ING Direct Canada and their orange key referral program that can earn you $2000...well it was only a matter of time. But I'd like to try to offer some unbiased help when it comes to choosing an online bank, rather than giving you my list of top 5 online banks. Get some info, do some research, make your own 'informed' decision. This is the process you should follow.

Where to start...you can start in so many places, but I'll put your token at a good, safe starting point. Do you have any online banking experience? If you haven't used an online bank before I suggest getting some, and you probably don't need to know what the best online bank is to do it. You have a regular bank right? I'd hope so or else we need to step back quite a few spaces. Assuming you do thought, check out if your bank offers online banking. They don't?...garbage...but it't not my business who you bank with. Why not get an account at another local bank that does? Having an online bank account with your regular bank is a great place to start, and it's where I got my first experience online banking. The reason I'd recommend taking this route is because you know already you are choosing a credible online bank and also it should be a whole lot easier and faster to setup an account compared to other online banks. I won't go into further detail with this point, give it a shot, see how things are done and learn in a relatively safe environment about how online banks and online banking works.
Okay so you're lv.10 and ready to get off newbie island (...sorry, its another passion) what do you do? Well how about making a list of online banks. Browse the online bank forums, or even more helpful would be to ask friends and family what online bank or online banks they do their banking at. Got yourself a big list? Smell that list and make sure there isn't any crap on it (oopsie)! What I mean by that is are all the online banks on your list trust worthy? Are they all real online banks? This is your money we are talking about, don't get scammed! Look at your online bank list and type those names into google one by one, see if people are talking about the bank, find out if they are having good experiences or not. If you can't find much information about a particular bank or the top search result is about fraud maybe you should move on to the next candidate.
Now your online bank list is smelling like a rose and lost a few pounds thanks to the proven research diet (not Jenny), let's move on! Wait...not yet, one last thing to check. Are the remaining online banks insured? In Canada for example banks are insured by CDIC - Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation. It's really important in case something unfortunate happens (sometimes even a good bank has trouble). Do a little more research and trim down your online bank options a bit more.
Okay, now let's go! Not every bank is the same and this applies for online banks as well. Finding out what's the best online bank should be done through comparing a number of points and settling on the online bank which both comes out on top and you feel comfortable choosing. So what are the important points to consider when comparing online banks? Don't limit yourself to this list but use it to get started!
1. Bank Fees! High bank fees, competitive bank fees, low bank fees, no bank fees...You need to know what fees the online bank will charge you, when they will do it and how much it will cost. One popular online bank fee is the withdraw fee, you can put your money in for free but it'll cost you to take it out! However a few online banks offer no fee online banking service which is great.
2. Access to your money! Can you withdraw your money anytime you want? Is there a transaction limit? What holding times if any are placed on your money? Some online banks will place your money on hold until transactions pass, it's normal but you should know how long you'll need to wait before you can access your money again. Also you want to make sure thank you can reach your money when you need it. Can you withdraw straight from your online bank or do you need to transfer the money to your physical bank and withdraw from there? These things take a couple days...business days that is.
3. Product range. What do the online banks offer? Or what do you need your online bank to offer? A Savings Account, Tax-Free Savings Account, Chequing Account, GIC, Mutual Fund, Mortgage, Loan, RRSP, Savings Bonds...did I hit all the Keywords? I know there's more, see for yourself what your needs are and if the online bank can meet them.
4. Interest Rates! One nice thing about online banks is they tend to offer high interest rates, at least compared to a regular bank. THIS POST has a little more info on interest rates at various online banks, it's defiantly worth reading.
5. Customer Service! Not only is this important when choosing an online bank but it's something we take into consideration with a variety of subjects, don't let online banking be any different. If you need help will you be able to get it and how? Does the online bank have a toll-free number, an address to sent written letters, an e-mail address for your inquiries, or even a live chat option so you can ask on the spot questions about as face to face as possible with an online bank? Forums are a good place to find information on this topic, everyone likes to complain and share their horror stories it seems.
6. Promotions and Offers! Can you get anything for free from the online bank? A little bit of free money perhaps? Signing up, switching and transferring bank accounts are all reasons some online banks will give you a bonus. You are working really hard collecting information, you deserve something for it.

I don't know about you but I need a break...These six points should be plenty enough to start your search for an online bank. If you've researched all the points and compared the banks than a couple online banks should stick out above the rest. So online bank A or online bank B, which one? B! Always B!! Unless A is a better choice...Feel free to decide any way you want.r, has a catchier trademark, uses your favorite color in the interface. You should feel good about the online bank you choose, everything comes together to create your online banking experience, make it a positive one and if possible fun!
After a long read did you get an answer to the question 'What is the best online bank?' No. Why? Because you need to be smart when it comes to online banking and choosing an online bank, I'm not going to help you be dumb about it. But hopefully I gave you enough information to make a smart choice. Take your time, it' worth it!

What are your opinions? Leave a comment and let me know. If you want to post your favorite online bank then go for it, but try to give some useful info at the same time such as pros and cons.

And finally the links... If you think ING Direct Canada is a good choice then -Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 to get your free $25) See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.

How to Push Your Friends Without Getting Punched (An orange key survival guide)

2011-09-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Consider this your axe-wielding, zombie slaying, survival guide to signing your friends up at ING Direct Canada using your orange key (minus the axe, slaying zombies, and urgent need to survive...sorry if you are dissapointed).
Your friends are an excellent source of referrals, you should have a good relationship with them and a bit of trust between you. Throw in a pinch of influence and you have yourself $25. You should be careful though, if you become an annoying pain in the ass about it you might get punched rather getting an Orange key referral. If you are particularly irritating you might even lose a friend! Are you scared, can you feel the fear!?...oh sorry, this is a Canadian blog save that tactic for a blog from another country.

I doubt your going to get injured or have any friendship problems from trying to refer your friends to ING Direct. What this post is really about is how to make signing up your friends easier. Ready for some tips!?

1. Location, location, location...no we aren`t selling homes but your friends or anyone else for that matter can`t create an INGDirect.ca account without having access to their SIN number and cheque book! Your friends have one less excuse to give if you try to sign them up at their own home. Remember to bring your orange key!
2. Moderately impaired orange key referrals. People tend to be easier to convince once the edge has been taken off with a drink or two. If you and your targeted friend like to drink together then ask if they are interested in ING and the orange key program after a bit of liquid courage. I don`t think there's anything wrong with this approach, just don`t get wasted and spill beer in the keyboard, it'll cost you at least half of your referral to replace (if you go really cheap).
3. Be prepared! Why not get an envelope, write the ING Direct Canada address on it and if your really sharp throw some postage on it. If you make it easy for your friends they are more likely to be willing to complete the process. Why not offer to drop the cheque off in a mailbox for them while your on a roll.
4. Don't mention banking at all! Or at least try not to. Signing up for free money is much more fun than signing up for a bank account. Don't lie to your friends though, just omit certain facts until necessary. Wait until your friend asks why they need their SIN number before diving into the details. Combine this with tip 2 for maximum results!
5. Let`s finish this tip list here with, Open your Wallet! Don`t want to sign up for a new online bank account? What if I give you $5 cash? What if I buy you a beer? What if I gave you a beaver pelt and sang Oh Canada? What if I... you get the picture, offer your friends something more than they are already going to get. Your friends are going to get $25, but something on the spot would be nice too. Is bribing against the rules?

Are any of these tips against the ING Direct.ca rules? Best to check it out before you employ some of these. I'm not responsible for your troubles but feel free to thank me if you found the tips helpful or at least humorous. Share your stories of how you convinced your friends to sign up in the comments, and of course share your orange keys to!

-Sign Up Now at ING Direct.ca (don`t forget to copy an ING Direct Canada Orange Key 33885729S1 )
-See our original post about the ING Direct Orange Key program HERE for more information.