The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Be realistic with personal finances continued from p.18 Homeowners have benefited from the record high values of residential real estate. Many have owned houses because they carry very high levels of mortgage financing. When, and if, the value of real estate falls, those highly-leveraged group of homeowners will begin to lose their wealth. Declining real estate values do not, however, lessen the amount of debt owed on that real estate. What can be learned is that many people are not as affluent as they think they are. Affluence shifts depending on what you own and where you live. When it comes to personal finances we recommend proceeding with caution. We recommend you attempt to be realistic and develop a long-term perspective. Try managing cash-flow by spending on what you need rather than what you want. Your measurement of success is not based on materialistic consumption. Money and what it brings is not the key to happiness. It is not necessary to own the biggest house on the street. Why should you neglect other assets while being house poor? Pensions including RRSPs make up about 30 per cent of your assets according to the Statistics Canada report. Perhaps you should shift spending from expensive, leveraged housing to RRSP contributions and other investments. In the long run, that will give you more financial control over your life. From time to time Statistics Canada and other groups provide useful information about the financial strength of Canadians. It is beneficial to use that information to help guide you down the path to financial success. There is an illusion of wealth in Canada. Regardless of how financially strong you are or you think you are, it's recommend to exercise strong financial discipline. -- Submitted by Peter Watson, MBA, CFP , R.F .P ., CIM, FCSI., Certified Financial Planner Do you know how your 21 | Thursday, April 24, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com grows? garden 1 Yard Soil Sacs $ delivered starting from + taxes & deposit. 99 Cash & Carry Bags of most products available. LINGTON BUR GARDEN SUPPLIES LIMITED 905-336-7725 2273 Dundas St., Burlington, ON VISIT US AT burlingtongardens.ca SMiLeS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM OPEN HOUSE APRIL 30th from 9:00 a.m. ­ 11:30 a.m. Please call Andrea Williamson at 905.845.5830 ext. 814 or email awilliamson@smls.on.ca. The Educational Journey of Her Lifetime LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT PRESCHOOL PROGRAM? St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School offers an exceptional preschool and full-day JK and SK learning environment for girls so that she can start her education with the confidence that she can do anything. Come see our girls in action! www.smls.on.ca