I'm hoping the weather changes this weekend...if it does and you are looking for something to do with the family check out the Tulips of the Valley festival in Agassiz.

In Ontario we always had to wait until around the middle of May to see the blooms, I love living in BC and seeing all the flowers in full bloom at the beginning of April...especially this year when parts of Ontario had freezing rain yesterday and snow today! Yuck! Haha! to all my family and friends back east.

The Tulips of the Valley festival starts tomorrow and runs until the blooms are gone (approximately 2 weeks). The are open 10am - 5pm on the weekends.

Visit their website for the exact location and full details: 

Tulips of the Valley

As BC residents celebrate the passing of the HST, consumers and businesses are struggling with the return of GST. 

It seems that there are still many businesses across BC that have yet to figure out how to change their systems back to how things were before HST.

CTV reported today that a number of businesses are still charging HST. But what I find most disturbing is that consumers have to be savvy enough to know what should have GST only in order to question businesses. If they do realize they have been overcharged by paying PST on goods that do not require the tax then it is up to the consumer to take it up with the business if the tax charged is under $10 or to fill out a rebate form  in order to get the money back from the provincial government if the PST paid is over $10.

 http://bc.ctvnews.ca/check-your-receipts-7-eleven-caught-charging-wrong-tax-1.1221860  

For a reminder of which items are PST exempt visit the following link:
PST exemptions

I wonder how many unsuspecting consumers will pay more tax then necessary? Be sure to check all your receipts for the next few months until things get sorted out so that you don't become one of those consumers!

 

Wishing everyone the very best and hope everyone is having a Happy Easter weekend with their friends and family this weekend!

From all of us with the Bettina Reid Group! 

You could get upgraded insulation installed in all the walls of your home, or buy a new high-efficiency furnace and air conditioner. These improvements would certainly reduce your energy costs – but they each require a significant investment.

What if you don't have the budget?

There are a lot of little things you can do to make a big difference in your heating or cooling bill. Here are just a few examples:

• Turn down the thermostat a couple of degrees in winter. (And turn it up a few notches in summer.) Chances are, you'll hardly notice the difference in comfort, and you'll cut your heating/cooling costs by about 5%.

• Do you need the air conditioner on all the time during the summer months? Consider turning it way up, or completely off, at night when it's cooler outside.

• Invest in a programmable thermostat. That way, you'll be able to setup a schedule that uses less heating/cooling energy while you’re out of the house.

• Let the sunshine in through windows in the winter (and block the sun where possible in the summer.) "Passive heat gain" can contribute to up to 20% of the heat in your home. Best of all, the sun is free.

• Use energy efficient lights throughout your home. These can cut the cost of lighting by up to 40%!

• Be careful with outside lights, which can use a lot of energy! Turn them off before you go to bed or, better still, use programmable outside lighting that can be set to turn off automatically.

• These are just a few ideas for reducing your energy bill. If you dosome research, you can probably discover many other ways to cut your costs. It's worth the effort!

Now that Spring has arrived, it means warmer weather and summer is on it's way....which means BBQ time!

In our house, we BBQ year round, but at this time of year as you walk around your neighbourhood all of a sudden the smell of BBQ's grilling delicious meats starts to fill the air.

If you love BBQ why not check out the 2nd annual Big Red Barn Burner BBQ Competition in Chilliwack. 

The Big Red Barn Burner BBQ Competition in Chilliwack runs from March 22 - March 24th. There will be lots of entertainment, cooking demos and of course....great BBQ.

There will be a number of teams from across North America competing in the Big Red Barn Burner BBQ Competition in Chilliwack with 4 traditional categories. Cooking will take place on Saturday and the judging will be on Sunday. Tasting is free with your admission.

Adults $7.00 ($12.00 for weekend pass)
Seniors $6.00 ($11.00 for weekend pass)
Children 5-18yrs $2.00
Children under 5yrs are FREE

           Happy 1st day of Spring!!!
 
I am not a big fan of Winter and I would have to say Summer is probably my favourite season. But there is something to be said for Spring! The weather starts to warm up a bit and the flowers start to bloom. As soon as my crocuses come up adding some colour to my garden, it brings a smile to my face. Means Spring is on its way!

Happy Spring from all of us at the Bettina Reid Group!