Fun ways to make Dad feel loved on Father’s Day.

Sure, it’s easy to buy Dad another tie or golf shirt, but what he’d really like is some quality time with you. Here are some fun gift ideas—from free to moderately priced—that will bring the two of you together and create lasting memories.

Ongoing car wash certificate. Make a certificate that says you’ll drop by once a month to wash and vacuum his car. Be sure to make time for coffee and a visit on each occasion.

A walk down memory lane. Pick Dad up, drive him to the neighbourhood where you lived as a kid, and spend a few hours walking and talking. Point out where he taught you to ride a bike, coached your little league team, bought you ice cream, etc.
Movie night at his place. Gather up the family for a monthly or weekly movie night. You provide the popcorn, beverages and DVD (he gets to choose the movie).

A sunny afternoon at the game. Enjoy baseball, soccer, cricket, lawn bowling, whichever sport Dad likes best. And treat him to a hot dog or ice cream cone!

Ongoing outings with the family. Give Dad a family membership to an art gallery, museum, botanical garden or science centre, then get everyone together once a month for an afternoon of fun.

Pre-loaded digital picture frame. Gather up all your most meaningful photos of Dad and you, get the old ones scanned, then load them all onto a digital picture frame for his viewing pleasure.

Play his favorite game with him. Spend a fun afternoon playing golf, horseshoes, chess, basketball, crib, croquet, Scrabble, etc.

Take him on a mini road trip. Load up a CD or MP3 player with Dad’s favorite tunes, pick him up, then spend an afternoon driving to a destination of his choosing.

Your Credit Score: What it is and how to fix it.

Your credit score is a three-digit number that lenders use to predict your creditworthiness. Credit reporting companies calculate your score based on your payment history, how much you owe, how long you’ve had credit and how often you apply for new credit. In general, the higher your score, the less likely you are to become delinquent on credit. If it’s above 650, you’ll probably qualify for a standard loan. If it’s lower, you may have trouble getting new credit.
Because your credit score and credit report are constantly changing, it’s important to review them on a regular basis, at least once a year. Since there are two main credit reporting companies in Canada—Equifax and TransUnion—it’s a good idea to check your records with both companies. This helps you identify and correct any inaccurate information, detect any fraudulent activity and gauge your overall credit health.
If you’re planning on applying for a mortgage, it’s especially important to check your report a few months in advance. If your credit score is under 650, your mortgage options will be reduced, and you’ll pay a premium on your loan -- perhaps as much as 2 to 3 percent more than borrowers with excellent credit. You may need to provide more documentation than those with higher scores, including a formal appraisal of your home’s value.
Still wondering what your credit score is and how to improve it? As an added value to our subscribers, we’ve put together a special Free Credit Repair Guide titled, “12 Simple No Cost Methods to Repair Your Credit.” To get your free copy of this informative guide, call us today at: 1-800-685-1029 ext. 300. Call now while supplies last!