THE MAGAZINE FOR COSTCO MEMBERS

December 2024

© Lauren Brown

Pete Walsh (peakcoach.com) has been a leadership coach advising business owners for 25 years.

BY PETE WALSH

Create a multi-generational team

Finding good talent can be the single biggest obstacle for business success. Yet, for the first time ever, a number of businesses have up to five generations of workers actively employed on their team. This diverse demographic presents both opportunities and challenges for business owners. To help you navigate and leverage this trend effectively, I have identified strategies for success.

Use the expanded workforce to

your advantage.

Most business owners struggle to find qualified candidates to fill their staffing needs. A strong workforce comprised of multi-generational employees can help minimize that challenge with a broad pool of talent. Adapt your job roles to accommodate different generational preferences and skills.

© tomertu

Foster a flexible and inclusive culture.

Successful businesses create an environment that caters to the needs and interests of their employees across different age groups. Be sure to use a mix of traditional and innovative approaches to engage your team.

Harness the power of intergener­ational teamwork.

Your senior staff will bring long-term perspective and can mentor younger team members

to embrace challenges and be more patient for success. The younger staff will infuse your team with energy and their desire to use new technologies.

Facilitate bidirectional mentoring within the team.

Ideally, the older and younger generations will realize they both have things they can teach each other. This opportunity to build multi-generational bonds can often be a

substitute for relationships people are missing in their personal lives.

Create training that highlights the strategy and reinforces key skills.

Pro­vide training to reinforce the values of inclusion, mutual respect and bidirectional mentoring. Reward employees who model the right behaviours and promote them into

positions of leadership.

Courtesy of chris white

Chris White

is a chartered financial analyst charterholder and is a senior investment analyst with 5i Research.

Through an exclusive arrangement, Canadian Money-Saver’s ex­­perts partner with the Costco Connection to share advice about relevant financial topics.

Email topic suggestions to moneyinfo@canadian

moneysaver.ca.

Costco members are offered a one-year special intro­ductory price with on­­line subscription. Go to Canadianmoneysaver.ca

and click “Subscribe,”

or call 519-772-7632. Online, use “Costco”

for the discount code

at the bottom of the page.

BY Chris White

A guide to year-end charitable donations

There is a real-world impact to charitable donations, and oftentimes the act of giving can induce a ripple effect of generosity. Year-end charitable donations can be a good way to give to others and feel good, but there are also positive financial implications.

As a Canadian, if you donate to a registered charity, you are eligible to receive charitable tax credits in the following year. These tax credits differ from tax deductions: Whereas tax deductions reduce taxable income, tax credits reduce taxes payable. If you are looking to donate this year to be eligible for a tax credit in the New Year, there are several rules and qualifications. Here are a few considerations:

© Irina Strelnikova

Understand charitable tax credits.

In Canada, when you donate to a registered charity, you are eligible for charitable tax credits. There is no “one-size-fits-all” for how much you will receive in tax credits, and both federal and provincial tax credits apply. There are limits to how much to claim in donations, but if the donations exceed the limit, you can carry forward the excess for up to five years.

Consider donating securities.

If you own stocks, bonds or mutual funds that have appreciated in value, it is possible to donate these directly to a registered charity. Certain charities will allow for securities to be donated

in-kind, where the donor will not have to pay capital gains tax on the appreciated value.

Keep accurate records of donations.

When submitting charitable donations on your tax filing, it is critical to keep accurate records of donations. This includes keeping all official donation receipts from charities, as well as bank statements or credit card statements for donations made online. If there is an audit, these are important documents to have readily available.

We like to view charitable donations as a win-win—they not only spark a ripple effect of generosity, but they also have positive tax implications for donors. During this holiday season, we feel year-end charitable donations is one way that Canadians can improve their tax bill next year and feel good around this time of year.

Please do your own due diligence when making any financial decisions. This column is for general informational purposes only and may not apply to all provinces. It is meant to get the reader thinking about their finances; it is not meant to be used in lieu of advice from a professional.

Sevag Sagherian

Marc Saltzman

(@marc_saltzman) is a tech journalist and host of the Tech It Out podcast. He answers selected questions in this column and regrets that all questions can’t be answered individually.

Email

cdnconnection@

costco.com

Please include

“Tech Connection”

in the subject line.

BY Marc saltzman

Tips to make the most of your smart TV

They used to be called idiot boxes, but today’s TVs are smart­—and versatile. Because they’re internet-connected, you can install apps or stream video content on smart TVs to use them in ways not usually associated with TVs.

The following tips can help you get started using your TV in new ways.

Cast content

If your mobile device is on the same Wi-Fi network as your TV, you can wirelessly “cast” content from your smartphone, tablet or laptop to the big screen.

ILLUSTRATION : KEN BROMAN

When you’re playing a video on a gadget in your lap from a source like YouTube or Netflix, look for a “cast” icon (it looks like a small TV screen with a Wi-Fi signal) on the video.

Press the icon and select your TV from the list, and within a second or two the content will appear on the big screen. AirPlay support is also available on many smart TVs, which lets you mirror your iPhone, iPad or Mac on the TV screen.

Use it as a monitor

Would you like to use your TV as a giant computer monitor? Connect your laptop or desktop to your screen via an inexpensive HDMI cable.

It’s a giant smart speaker

Many smart TVs have a built-in personal assistant, such as Google Assistant, which allows you to use the TV as a voice-enabled smart speaker.

By pressing a dedicated button on the remote, verbally ask for something to watch; request news headlines, sports scores or weather info; and control your smart home devices.

Make video calls

While your smart TV likely doesn’t have a built-in camera, most have a USB port. That means you can plug in a webcam and set it on top of your set. If you install an app like Google Meet or Zoom, many TVs will allow you to video chat with friends and family. It’s ideal for group calls, since a few people sitting on a couch fit in a frame.

victor dorff

Lisa TE Sonne has travelled all seven continents and is

the award-winning author of several travel books, a TV series and an Oscar-winning film.

BY LISA TE SONNE

Mexico, Florida and the Dominican Republic are all ideal for an unforgettable vacation

Your ultimate spring break

may involve floating in warm tropical waters, laughing with your kids on a roller coaster or climbing the steps of an ancient pyramid. Whatever rejuvenates you, you’ll find enticing options in Mexico, Florida and the Dominican Republic.

Find solace in Mexico

Cancun was once a small Yucatan fishing village, but developers in the 1970s began transforming the area into a vacation paradise. Today it is the most popular tourist destination in Mexico.

© Simon Dannhauer

Paradise Beach in Tulum, Mexico, just south of

Cancun

Cancun’s warm turquoise waters meet a long, white, sandy strip lined with hotels, pampering resorts, savoury restaurants and alluring boutiques, with a humming town nearby.

Jet Skiing, surfing, snorkelling and sunbathing opportunities abound. And you can spoil yourself at the area’s spas. Hotel pools offer everything from kid features to swim-up bars.

With the comforts of many all-inclusive resorts, you may never want to leave your “happy place,” but if you desire more, Cancun is a great place to book excursions. Memorable tours to Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba ignite the imagination with visits to ancient Mayan temples, ball courts and pyramids. You can walk through underground rivers, rappel into cenotes (deep limestone sinkholes with a pool at the bottom) or be blessed by local shamans.

The Sunshine State

Florida’s lovely beaches, unique resorts and diverse activities make it a great place for spring break. You can see wild manatees up close along Florida’s Nature Coast (on the Gulf of Mexico), or strap in to launch a space shuttle simulator at the Kennedy Space Center on the Space Coast (on the Atlantic side of central Florida).

Orlando is the theme park capital of the world. You can enjoy Walt Disney World Resort, which encompasses Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and more. Check out ICON Park, which includes the Museum of Illusions and a giant Ferris wheel.

With more than 60 immersive experiences across Universal Orlando Resort’s theme parks, guests can experience the newest additions like DreamWorks Land—inspired by DreamWorks Animat- ion’s beloved characters from Shrek, Trolls and Kung Fu Panda; Minion Land on Illumination Avenue; Jurassic World VelociCoaster; The Wizarding World of Harry Potter; and much more.

Orlando also offers themed hotels and resorts for 24/7 immersion.

Island in the sun

The Dominican Republic (DR) is a beguilingly diverse Caribbean island. Postcard-perfect beaches on more than 1,600 kilometres of coastland, four mountain ranges, lush forests and cenotes await. Zip lines, nightlife

and amazing golf courses also beckon.

Punta Cana, where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic with beautiful beaches at the easternmost point of DR, offers lush tropical wildlife at Indig-enous Eyes Ecological Reserve. Other activities range from casinos and nightclubs to excursions to the Cave of Wonders, with its almost 500 pictographs drawn by the Taino people 500 to 800 years ago.

For vibes of DR history, head to Puerto Plata, on the north Atlantic shore. You’ll find warm Dominican hospitality, Victorian architecture, a 16th-century colonial fort, an awesome amber museum and eateries that showcase fresh Dominican seafood.

Wherever you go, this spring break could make your dreams come true. The choices are yours.

Matthias

Cable car cabin on Mount Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

DVisions

The Saturn V rocket at the Kennedy Space

Center on Merritt Island, Florida

History of

hot chocolate

Paitoon

According to Thespruce

eats.com, hot chocolate wasn’t always hot. Originally, the Mayans mixed ground cocoa, water, cornmeal and chili peppers into a foamy, cold chocolate drink as early as 500 B.C.

Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés then brought cocoa to Spain in the 1500s, where members of King Charles V’s court removed the peppers, sweetened the cocoa and served it hot. This version gained popularity and spread across Europe by the 1700s.

In late 18th century London, Royal College of Physicians president Hans Sloane introduced his colleagues to a Jamaican recipe that mixed chocolate with milk.In addition to being sold as a luxury beverage, hot chocolate was prescribed as a medical treatment up until the 19th century.

Costco members respond to our poll,

posted to Costco’s social media

© OLENA RUDO

Apple cinnamon tea.

Nusret Taras

Chai hot chocolate: It’s sooo good!

Ran Kel

Half coffee, half hot chocolate. Yum!

Elfie Morgan

Chai tea.

PamandNina Belanger

Hot apple cider and hot chocolate,

of course.

Cleofe Proctor

Dark roast coffee.

Grace Chatterpaul

Hot chocolate all the way!

Steph_schell_canada

Peppermint hot chocolate or white

hot chocolate.

Elaine Crabb-Sheppard

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