I currently have a 7-year fixed term mortgage at 5.85% which will be up for renewal in 2015. Since I took out the mortgage, I have had to go on disability. I also co-signed on a credit card which now has a balance of about $20K. I have no problem managing my monthly expenses, but am concerned that my change in circumstances will make it harder for me to renew the mortgage when the time comes... asked by P.L., public service, Windsor, ON

There are a few different ways to approach this.

Today’s low rate environment will not last forever. The projections indicate that rates may be quite a bit higher in 2-3 years, close to what you are paying now. As such, you may want to consider early-renewal of your current mortgage. The best 5-year fixed rates are currently just north of 3%; the reduction in rate may make the change worthwhile. First though, you need to look into what your pre-payment penalty would be in order to weigh the pros and cons. If you feel that you are going to get stuck paying that credit card anyway, you may want to explore the option of rolling some or all of that into the new mortgage, should you decide to go ahead.

I have worked in fashion for the past 8 years and have built relationships with lots of local designers who sell locally but not online. I am thinking of building an online (e-commerce) store but I don't know how much I should spend to build it or promote it. How much do I need to get started? asked by Anonymous

I'm a 54-year-old, divorced mother of two that works as an educational assistant at a middle school. I enjoy my job and want to keep it, but I want to make more money on the side. I hear about people who are making money with online businesses, but I'm not that "tech savvy" and I don't know where to start. Any advice? asked by Anonymous