Loblaw’s ‘ugly’ food line provides big savings + MORE Mar 17th

Family tax cut and other deductions can double your tax refund (Getty Images / Peter Dazeley)
It’s a brand new tax year—new tax filing adventures await, and this year I have great news of much bigger refunds for families under the new Family Tax Cut. Last year’s average tax refund was about $1,700, but this year’s refund will be up to twice that for some. Ah yes, now I have your attention! Here’s the lowdown on how to claim the Family Tax Cut, along with some of the other changes introduced this year.
The new Family Tax Cut
Introduced with great fanfare by Stephen Harper on October 30, this new provision will reduce the amount you have to pay in federal taxes, as long as you are a two-parent family with children under age 18. And you won’t need any new information to claim—just a sharper pencil.
To get the credit, you must re-allocate up to $50,000 in income from one spouse to the other using the new Schedule 1-A. The credit may be claimed by either spouse for a maximum tax savings of $2,000, and you’ll see the biggest benefit if one spouse has an income that’s much higher than the other…

When it comes to sharing about our finances, many Canadians are being less than truthful, according to a recent Ipsos Reid poll. Just over half (51 per cent) of respondents said they fib to those closest to them – family, friends and co-workers – about their financial situation.
Why all the deception? The main reason cited is to protect loved ones from worry (36 per cent). The poll also finds men are less truthful about their money than women, with 54 per cent admitting to to lying versus 47 per cent of females. These findings are not encouraging, especially since fighting over money is the top reason for divorce, according to a BMO poll.
Canadians Lie Most About Failure to Save
The poll finds Canadians are more deceitful about some financial situations over others. The top three reasons were their savings or the ability to manage in a financial emergency (51 per cent), retirement plan (48 per cent) and lifestyle, entertainment and vacation affordability (47 per cent).
“The poll reported that savings, or the ability to manage a financial emergency, was the leading reason people were untruthful at 51 per cent of respondents,” says Doug Jones, Trustee in Bankruptcy for  BDO Canada Limited…

FRANKFURT – Police in Frankfurt, Germany, have put up barricades and barbed wire around the headquarters of the European Central Bank as they brace for potentially violent demonstrations against government austerity and capitalism.
The Blockupy alliance says activists plan to try to blockade the new headquarters of the ECB ahead of a ceremony Wednesday inaugurating the building, and to disrupt what they term capitalist business as usual.
Some 10,000 people are expected for a rally in Frankfurt’s main square, the Roemerberg. Organizers have chartered a special train bringing demonstrators from Berlin and are busing in others from around Germany and other European countries.
Frankfurt police say most demonstrators are expected to be peaceful, but that violence-prone elements could use the crowds as cover.
The ECB, along with the European Commission and International Monetary Fund, is part of the so-called “troika” that monitors compliance with the conditions of bailout loans for financially troubled countries such as Greece…

Loblaw’s new line is practically imperfect in every way.
The retailer is jumping on the ugly produce bandwagon with the launch of a No Name Naturally Imperfect line of fruit and vegetables.
Starting with potatoes and apples, customers can purchase smaller, misshapen produce at Real Canadian Superstores and No Frills locations in Ontario, and some Maxi stores in Quebec.
The imperfect produce costs up to 30% less than traditional items in the produce section, according to a Loblaw press statement.
Fruit and veggies in the program were previously used in juices, sauces, soups, or may have not have been harvested due to their small size.
“We often focus too much on the look of produce rather than the taste,” said Ian Gordon, senior VP, Loblaw Brands in a release. “Once you peel or cut an apple you can’t tell it once had a blemish or was misshapen.”
While the discounts of the produce will benefit consumers, Loblaw says the program will also help farmers have a market for the smaller, misshapen fruit they would otherwise throw away…