Magasin Festival Store,  owned by a manufacturer of corrugated boxes,is the place to buy (ask about the liquidated ones) boxes (1.5 to 6 cu. ft) for moving, storing and shipping, with special ones for mirrors, artwork, lampshades, golf bags, bicycles, dishes and crystal and wardrobes. Protective packing supplies are here, like bubble wrap, inkless newsprint, tissue paper and foam chips.  

Prices:  liquidated boxes  $.20-.40,  new boxes 1.08 & up. Festival will buy back their boxes at greatly reduced prices. You can even order custom boxes for strangely shaped objects

8286 Cote de Liesse, Ville St-Laurent
corner: Montee de Liesse
Phone: 514-340-1119
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-5
www. festival.ca

Other moving tips:

First box/last box. Label a box “first box” and put in the last things you packed so you can quickly access your sheets, covers, toothbrush, toiletries, phone, toilet paper, towels, cutlery, dishes or paper plates and shower curtain. On an exhausting moving day, you just want the basics quickly accessible to fall into bed.

Packing tips:

Pack 2 or 3 boxes a day, starting as soon as you find out you are moving and they will be magically done by the time you have to move. Save packing space and money by wrapping fragile things in towels, sheets, duvets and blankets. Don’t leave suitcases empty, move your clothes in them. If you don’t want to buy wardrobe boxes, for hanging clothing, tape hangers together and move in bundles.

Q1: Well, we have the sunshine outside so many of us will also want some wheels. Any ideas on how to save money on buying cars?

Buying a three or four year old car makes the most sense financially because it has lost 50% of its value and still has 70% of its life left and even your insurance costs are lower. These days with improved engineering and tighter quality control the average life span of an automobile is more than ten years.

George Iny, President of the Automobile Protection Association, says “Don’t be a price junkie. In buying homes the saying is “Location, location,  location”, but for cars it is condition, condition, condition.” He explained that, “you want to pay top dollar for a car in good condition, because the cost of repairs for an average or poorly maintained vehicle will usually be much higher than the price difference.”

If one vehicle is $9,500 and a similar make and model is $10,500, look seriously at the second one. And remember to budget about $1,000 for repairs you may have within the first 3 to 6 months for regular upkeep like the timing belt change at 100,000 km., tires and brakes

Q2: Where do you find a car?

There are some benefits to buying privately or and others through a dealer. Privately, the price is usually less and on top of that, you only pay one tax. You can also assess the condition of the car more accurately without it having been “prettied up”. Through the dealer, you have more consumer legislation covering you but you may not be able to find out who owned the car before and how well they took care of it.

Join the APA Automobile Protection Association. For buying new cars, they have a list of selected dealers who follow a code of ethics and have good prices. For buying a used car, they can recommend honest used car dealers or even offer a car finder to help you find a car. Members can also call them to determine the cost of any new or used vehicle.

To check for approximate prices on cars, buy the Auto Hebdo Guide d’Evaluation des Automobiles or look online at www.hebdo.net or www.autotrader.ca. This gives you an approximate book value, but many factors, including the mechanical condition of the car, the mileage and the appearance, will affect this.

Remember that prices of cars will go up in the Spring (April to July) perhaps by $1,000-$1,500, because the demand is greatest now. However, selection is always greatest now too. It is best to buy used cars in March and October. If you are buying a convertible, prices will be highest now too, and will go way down in the Autumn. Four wheel drive prices will go up in the Fall.

Q3:  How do you know if it’s a good car?

Mr. Iny made it quite imperative that “The MOST important thing to do is to get the car properly inspected.” This should be an independent inspection. The APA has a fabulous roadside inspector named Andrew Bleakley who will take his inspection vehicle right to the automobile that needs to be checked out.

He will do a thorough inspection, including an ultrasound of the body , mechanical inspection and a road test. He can tell you if the car has been accidented or is two vehicles welded together, and he even knows how to check to see if the odometer has been tampered with and set back.

Also, CAA Quebec has 2 inspection garages.

Q4: What are some of the steps to take when going to look at a car?

Here is an idea of the process to go through:
- Keep track of the details for each car, including phone number, where you saw the ad, price listed, etc.
- Do not negotiate on the phone about price. Wait until after you see it and have had it inspected, so that you know what repairs it might need, in order use this to negotiate with. Expect dealers to take $500 or more off easily.
- When you are looking for a car, limit yourself to only about 2 or 3 three models, so it will allow you to become more expert on them and be able to make a good comparison study as you check each one. You will also become familiar with the price range and know when you’ve found the right one.
- If  it is a private individual, ask how long they’ve owned the car. A real quick turnaround might be a negative indication. Either it is a lemon, they might be a curbside dealer, or maybe it’s even stolen.
- What is the mileage? It should be about 20,000 km. per year. Much less can be suspicious. And you must consider a rolled back odometer. Don’t let high mileage scare you off, though, because if it was all highway driving or used by a busy company rep whose company took proper care of it, it still might be a good buy. Andrew can reliably compare an odometer to the condition of a car.
- Instead of putting them on the defensive and asking about accidents, ask if it has the original paint and then what body repairs have been done in the past. (It`s hard to get a dealer to answer this question honestly)
- When can you see it? Daylight is important so that you can assess its physical condition.
- In a private sale, ask why they want to sell it. There is no right answer, but you can get a feeling if they might be hedging around some uncomfortable information.
- On the phone, ask them for a cosmetic description. If they say there is a little dent on one side and you find the whole door is pushed in, then you may wonder what else they are minimizing.
- At the site, check the house and garden to see how neat and tidy they are in general. If they take care of those things, it is most likely they also took good care of their car. Are there any oil spots in the driveway? Look in the trunk of the car; if it has cans of brake fluid or oil there may be problems
- Is the name the same on the registration and the insurance form, and is this the same individual that you are dealing with?
- If  there is a transfer paper on the back window, an X-plate, a dealer plate, or more than one car for sale on the driveway, you are probably not looking at a private sale.
- Has it been serviced lately? Ask to see a full service record, not just oil changes. Note the mileage at each inspection. Follow the numbers along and make sure they increase at a consistent rate and add up to what you see on the odometer.
- How much should you offer?- at least $500 off the asking price. Before the end of the negotiations, ask if they have some snow tires to throw in or other useful extras that belong to that car (like a roof rack).

Q5: What if you wanted to spiff up your car with a spoiler, where could you go?

Kit Motion, around since 1989, has been providing high quality car spoilers throughout Canada.
With more than 300 different models, they can quickly meet spoiler needs for North American or foreign cars - and also those for used vehicles. The company has a team of professionals including accredited painters and trained technicians who ensure the quality of the spoilers.

Most of the spoilers are made of ABS, the same material used in original OEM products. Most models come with easy-to-use hardware kits making installation easy.With their excellent service and high quality products, they have been the leader in car spoilers for over 21 years.

Kit Motion, 8180 Montview St, Mount Royal at Royalmount  Phone: 514-736-0800 www.kitmotion.ca

Automobile Protection Association (APA), Phone: APA-5555. www.apa.ca. By joining the APA ($65), not only do you get access to their vast knowledge of everything that’s happening with new or old cars, you get listings of all their recommended garages and access to their expert car inspector (see below for his details). For buying new cars, they have a list of selected dealers who follow a code of ethics and have good prices.

The APA also has group auto and home insurance. Before you buy a car, refer to their Lemon-Aid magazine, which comes free to members, and then call them to find out the true cost of any new (4 quotes per year) or used vehicle ). Their web site has warranty info - secret ones and extensions, tire recommendations and ratings of local garages.   www.apa.ca.

Andrew Bleakley, curbside car inspector, Phone: 514-890-5000. The inspection price for APA members is $80 and for non-members it is $90 for a thorough curbside inspection in the greater Montreal area. Take advantage of one of the best deals in town.

CAA, Phone: 514-861-7111. Besides the most popular reason for joining the CAA - their emergency road service - they have other deals. Car Inspection centers which charge $175-192 (non-members), or $131-145 (members) for a 160-point check-up, including a road test, are located at 2380 Notre-Dame o. (514-937-5341) or 550 boul. des Sources (514-636-1309), and are open by appointment Mon-Fri 8-5.

For general car repairs, they have a list of qualified service stations. The CAA also offers free trip planning, free travellers’ cheques and more. Other offices: Brossard, 3 Place du Commerce; Pointe Claire, 1000 boul. St-Jean ; Laval, 3131 boul. St-Martin o; St-Leonard, 7360 boul. Langelier.  www.caaquebec.com

Buying furniture and equipment for a new baby is overwhelming these days. So many of the accessories have bells and whistles on them which require comparisons and lots of decision making. In contrast, buying a crib is still simple. In fact it’s been made even simpler over the years, since safety councils in North America have addressed most of the problems associated with accidental crib deaths due to design flaws.

There are strict rules about their construction, and you no longer have to worry, because any new crib you buy manufactured in Canada will have followed them. Some of the problems that were addressed over the years:

- The slats must be less than 6 cm (2 3/8″) apart so a baby’s head cannot get stuck in them. An easy way to check this is to take along something about the size of a soda can when you go shopping. You should not be able to slide it through the slats.

- Corner posts cannot be more than 3 cm ( 1/8″) high so a baby’s clothing cannot catch and cause a possible hanging situation.

- Mattresses must not be loose, so that a baby would be able to get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib or slip under it. Mattresses are now made so tight fitting that they cannot be pulled up easily from the corners. You can check this by placing two fingers between the mattress and the side of the crib - it should feel snug. If you can fit in a third finger, the mattress is probably too small.

- There should be no rough edges in the wood that a baby could touch.

- There should be no missing, wiggly, or improperly installed screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib or on the mattress support.

- The crib frame should feel sturdy when you shake it. The headboard should be strong and the mattress support structure must have a firm fit. Wood joints should not be coming apart.

It is the drop side cribs that have had the most problems with recalls and the US is looking into discontinuing them altogether. They are  easiest for getting the baby in and out though. Make sure it is quiet and it moves effortlessly, as the baby might be asleep when you’re using it. Of course, the mechanism that you use should be out of the baby’s reach.

Try to buy a crib with as large as possible distance between the top of the side rail and the mattress support so it is more difficult for older babies to climb out. The top of the drop-side must be at least 66 cm (26″) above the support at its lowest position when raised and at least 23 cm (9″) above the mattress support when lowered.

There are cribs you can buy which can be converted to a toddler bed or double bed. This will give you many more years of use from the furniture. Some may need special tools or extra kits, so make sure you get them when you buy the crib, and try to remember where you stored them for when you need them years later.

Meubles Les Petits Mousses, 1629 Autoroute 440 West at Industriel Blvd. Phone: 450-681-0576. Hours: Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.petitsmousses.com If you want a solid birchwood crib (which converts to a bed) for your baby, made right here in Quebec, this factory-direct location offers you a few choices of styles starting at $229. You can have it made in one of eighteen colors, and complete the ensemble with a changing table, rocking chair, bunk beds or toy chest to match.

Bo Bebe, 9540 boul. St-Laurent at Louvain. Phone: 514-858-6336. Hours: Regular plus Sun 10-5  Being located up in the Chabanel area puts pressure on a store to live up to the bargain shoppers  who buy around here. Baby furniture, bedding, curtains, lamps, rocking chairs, pack’n plays and strollers are sold, and you can even buy a hardwood crib for $149. Baby furnishings and juvenile furniture are by Graco, Chicco, Safety 1st,  Baby’s Own, Spasilk, Avent and now there’s lots of baby clothing ((racks at $2.93, $4.93, $6.93). Other location: 1577 boul. Daniel Johnson 450-687-1661). www.bo-bebe.com

Bambino, 10412 Boul. Gouin, Roxboro, at boul. Commercial. Phone: 514-683-9364. Hours: Mon-Thurs 11-5:30, Fri 11-9, Sat 11-5, Sun 12-5. Bambino is a baby store on the West Island that is hiding in a graystone house. You can expect one-on-one service to help you select what you need or want. All the baby necessities are available: cribs starting at $199, strollers  (Graco and Perego), gliders, cradles, car seats, cotton sheets and bedding, drawer liners and Kushies products. Don’t be afraid to negotiate when it comes to price. Other locations: 6572 Papineau (514-729-2901); La Prairie, 554 ch. St-Jean (450-444-8636). www.bambinofurniture.com

Q1: Coffee, not bread is the new staff of life. Can you tell us what makes one bean pricier than another?

The price for coffee reflects rarity rather than quality. Coffee beans proudly keep the name of the country and area that they come from (Columbian, Jamaican Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Kona). If no country is mentioned on the label, it’s probably of a lesser quality. There are 2 main kinds of beans, arabica or robusta. Arabica is grown on steep slopes in higher altitudes and is considered superior quality as it seems to have a richer flavor. Robusta beans cost less as they are grown on lower slopes. Commercial blends and instant coffee use these.

Q 2: How does the roasting affect the bean’s flavor?

The taste of coffee is highly subjective. Regular roast is lighter and perhaps reveals more of the true bean flavor; Dark French roast (which cafes mostly brew) dispenses more dense flavor. A roast can be too dark and can overpower the bean flavor or even lead to a burned taste.

Q 3: Is there anything else we should know about buying coffee?

- Most importantly, how fresh is it? It should been roasted within the week that you drink it as the flavor rapidly deteriorates after roasting.
- To use word “fresh” means: just roasted, properly stored  and packed air-tight.
-  Ground coffee loses flavor more rapidly than whole beans.
- Storing in your freezer is best.
- Don’t forget too that coffee is 99% water and how the water interacts with it matters.

Q4: Does it matter what kind of a pot we use?

Drip pots make better coffee than percolators as the water pours over the beans only once. Also your pot, filters, plunger, and all parts must be cleaned regularly as they retain residues which may not be visible to your eye.  Soak your pot in boiling water for least 5 min. and lightly scrub it (try not to use soap) and rinse well.
Coffee retains  most potent flavor for only about 20 min after brewing, so sit down immediately and have a cup.

Q 5: So many of us splurge on the coffee made in our favorite cafes, is there anyway we can get those beans to brew at home? Yes, and you can even have them delivered to your door!

Made-to-measure coffee has brought java lovers to Café Union, a Montreal  institution since 1910. This wholesaler roasts the coffee right here, so you can choose one or custom blend your own from amongst the espresso, melange maison (regular and strong), french press, Kenya, Panama, Columbia Supremo, Fair Trade, decaf and Swiss washed decaf. Those who like flavors can buy Bavarian chocolate, Irish cream or hazelnut vanilla or one of the 30 flavored syrups (vanilla, hazelnut, caramel, etc.) to add in.

Coffee related products like iced cappuccino, or chai latte concentrate now line the shelves. Free delivery is offered for 5 pounds or more. They sell espresso machines (Saeco, Rancilio, Pavoni, Breville, Quick Mill, Jura La Spaziale) and teapots, too. Repairs to these machines are available.

Location: 148 Jean Talon St. West at Waverly St.
Phone: 514-273-5555
Hours: Mon-Fri 8- 5:30, Sat 9-3
www.cafe-union.com

The Coffee Gourmet Centre can deliver to you its trendy coffee beans in over 40 flavours (Yrgacheffe from Ethiopia, Italian espresso, Jamaican Blue Mountain, Hawaiian Kona, Costa Rican, Moka Java, Panamanian, etc.) and also pure Swiss water process decaf. You can also add to your order a wide selection of tea leaves: estate, white, green leaf, herbal.

Also available are gourmet goodies (Greaves jams, dips, balsamic vinegars, extra virgin olive oils) as they stock them for their custom gift baskets for all occasions. If you order over a kilo of coffee, you get free delivery on the Island, or you can pick up your order at one of their depots. Ask about the fund raising program for your school or organization using coffee and hot chocolate.

Location: 3966 Cool St. Suite 201,Verdun
Phone: 514-369-0368
www.cafegourmet.ca

A coffee or tea addict’s dream might be to have his favourite brew at a reduced price, delivered right to his door. Brossard Freres, open over 50 years, provides this service for a minimum order of 10 lbs. There are at least 20 kinds - regular coffee ($5.90 lb.), decaf ($6.90), flavours like amaretto, rum brandy, chocolate mint ($7.80), and ground for percolators, filter, Turkish, Melitta, Bodum, or espresso, but you can buy as little as one pound if  you come in person. About a  half dozen loose leaf  (herbal too) teas are $7.90 per lb. Delivery is the next day. Can you smell it brewing already?

Location: 10848 Moisan Ave, St. Leonard
Phone: 514-321-4121
Hours: Mon-Fri 7-5
www.cafebrossard.com

Q1 - Can I just expect to be able to just return a gift?

A purchase is like a contract you have made with a store. If they choose to change the terms, it is solely up to each business and not a consumer law. Don’t assume when you buy something you can just return it.

Q2 - So they don’t have to take it back?

They can choose to offer an exchange policy, a store refund, a one week or one month return allowance or none at all- a final sale.

Q3 - How can the customer know this? Are there any rules that a store must follow for returns policies?

- Posting information near the cash register or stamped on the receipt itself
- Ask the store what the policy is. Often after Christmas, there’s more leniency and some stores even have a stamp that they put on your receipt that allows gift recipient to return something  months later if you were an early shopper.

Q4 - What if it’s broken?

A defective product has to be returned to the manufacturer and it depends on the retailer’s policy who gets to return it. It is up to you to find out if you or they have to do this (preferably when you buy it).

Q5 - Any other important suggestions?

Make sure you are talking to the person that has the authority to remedy the situation. A spoonful of sugar really helps, so don’t be rude or super aggressive which will only turn them off.

If you are really stuck for ideas, I will be giving a few of my latest finds on Home Run on CBC today. If you really run into the very last minute, you can always run into any local pharmacy and find: charger stations, wine openers, electronic license plates, blackberry accessories, board games, juice extractors, Habs stuff, digital photo frames.

Location: CBC radio 88.5FM
Date and Time: Dec 21, 3:15 pm

Each Christmas, I get lots of calls from the media to do segments on TV and radio about the holiday season. This Friday I will do the 6 o’clock news on CTV.

I’ll be showing you some of the fun and useful gifts I’ve come across, all under $30 - now that’s smart shopping. Tune in and see what I have to say.

Outlet: CTV News
Date and Time: Fri  Dec 18th, 6-7 pm
http://montreal.ctv.ca

Q: Though buying online seems the quicker and easier way to shop for the holidays, this may not be true. Do you have any “buyer beware” advice?

- Who are you doing business with? Look for the full street address, (no PO boxes), Phone #
- Should accept all major credit cards
- Is there a customer complaint area? Is there a phone # or only e-mail. Phone number is important to be able to reach a live person.

Q: What kind of information should you have in hand for the people on your gift list before you start clicking away?

- For each product, you need detailed info on size, colors, options
- Warranty, or return policy: should be 100% money back guarantee for 30 days
- Beware restocking fees 10-15%
- Is there enough time for the delivery to recipient or to you?

Q: Okay, you still have to shell out the money, what should we know about that part of it?

- Use Visa or Mastercard which currently insure you for 100% of your purchase if you don’t receive merchandise
- Get a Pay Pal account so you don’t have to use your card
- Get a separate card just for online shopping
- Make sure they offer Secure Electronic Transactions which means there are encryption standards on a secure server. Look for little lock icon
- Explorer and Firefox show a padlock that is open or closed depending if it’s a secure site

Q: Is there anything we should know once we’ve clicked the buy button and ordered?

You might think you are finished here but the work just begins. After you order:
- Download photos off internet to show what you ordered and keep for your records
- Keep good records. Become an accountant to keep track of what ordered, received and sent
- Can you track shipping order, i.e. link to courrier’s web page so you can watch it’s progress?
- Be aware that the gift may not get there on time due to botched orders and late deliveries
- There can be delays at border and customs charges for clearing fees

Q: What if we are really not comfortable with this online method, how can we use the net to our advantage for holiday shopping?

Combine the two:
- You can still do your browsing on the Web and use a 1-800 phone # on the site to ask questions and to do the ordering
- Some brick and mortar retailers let you order online and pick up at store. This saves shopping time but still allows for you to see the items in person. Checking retailers on line first, lets you see if there are better online pricing deals

Hi fans,

Tonight I will be speaking at the Pierrefonds Library about “How to Save Money When Shopping“. The talk will cover all kinds of shopping: Clothing, Household, Leisure, Second-hand, Repairs, Annual Sales, Specialty Stores and Services, etc.

There is no charge for the lecture and I would love to meet you too. Come on out, say hello, and learn how to save a buck. There will be a question and answer period too.

Location: Pierrefonds Library, 13555 boul. Pierrefonds
Phone: 514-624-1110
Date and Time: Nov 18 at 7 p.m.

1 - Many of us have heard the word Chabanel or shopping at Chabanel, where is it and why bother to go all the way there to shop?

- It’s the name of a street, a district, and a nickname for the Montreal clothing industry
- Chabanel St is north of the Met, off of boul. St-Laurent. There are 7 buildings which are numbered from #99 to #555
- Manufacturers, now distributors, sell direct to public -samples, liquidation and stuff not sold elsewhere.

2 - When can we shop there?

- Sat morn about 9-1
- Be prepared that some may not open that week;  it’s all on the whim of owner. You may find new ones that were not open the last time you were there.
- Certain spots open during week 9-5, like  the 4th floor of the #99 building, or lunch hours or Thurs & Fri 10-4 or whatever they feel like.
- It’s a bit like a treasure hunt.

3 - How is shopping different there?

- You have to look for signs on doors, building entrances, posted on walls, near or in elevators. Sometimes there are people  giving out the flyers.
Check entire showroom, outfits get split up or great,  sample racks might be  in back.
Prices are not always marked, just ask.
Buy immediately. It might not be there when you return

4- Is there a way to approach this for beginners?

- Dress for easy try-ons. You will be probably using a bathroom, an office, or an area behind a curtain (which might be communal).
- I like to wear a money belt so I’m all hand’s free.
- It might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once you find favorites, those are the ones you’ll go back to next time. - Perhaps think of the first visit there as just exploratory.
- Take elevator to top and work down by staircase

5 - Just how good are the bargains?

Taxes are usually  included and prices can be up to 90% off.

- Bargaining can work here. But when prices are already at $5, $10, you don’t have to if you are uncomfortable.
- Cash (tax included) is usually the method of payment - and no returns
- Last week I bought 2 men’s polo shirts, 1 ladies sweater and a digital thermometer for $12!