Post Number 1000

Indeed this is about posting number 1000 for me, and after over 4 years of writing, I am beginning to think that I still haven’t really scratched the surface when it comes to home finance, personal financial issues and investing from a consumer’s perspective.

Will I keep going? I am not sure. It seems most bloggers stop suddenly and just disappear, usually caused by the pressures of life or just disinterest. I am hoping to keep going for a while longer.

To help celebrate posting number 1000, here is a “Best of” list from me to my readers:

Personal Financial and Planning

1. Free Banking
   One of my favorite topics on how to get your bank to give you FREE banking for a while at least.
2. Quarterly Personal Finance Status Report
   A way for couples to keep each other up to date on their financial status.
3. Debt is Like Fat
   Another way to look at trying to get out of debt.
4. Debt Makes Me Sick
   A frank article on my feelings about debt.
5. I Should Divorce My Wife?
   An interesting point of view from the tax side of things.

Children

As most of you know I have kids and I write about their effects (affects?) on my financial life.

1. Real World Example: Kids Allowances
   Where I outline a system to ensure kids get their allowances on time. My kids were pretty mad at me until I implemented this system, and as a bonus, I am still watching them (financially).
2. Kippers
   Not just a salted fish eaten for breakfast in the U.K.
3. Hidden School Costs
   Not just for universities are there hidden costs in education, public schools rake a lot of money off parents too.

Investment

1. Einstein: The Rule of 72
   Understanding what a doubling period is, and how the rule of 72 can help you with this concept is important to the start of your investment plan.
2. RRSP or Mortgage?
   Should you invest or pay down debt, always a good question to ask.
3. Top 5 Investing Mistakes of my Life
   This one hurts to read EVERY time, seeing how much money I lost.

Parables

In personal finances sometimes a lot can be learned in parable format.

1. Parable: Money and the McDonald’s Play Structure
   How can my son getting stuck in a McDonald’s play structure have anything to do with money? Read and you will be amused to see where I went with this story.
2. Best Financial Advice Ever Given
   Outlines a parable my Dad told me when I borrowed a large amount of money from him. I have used this parable many times myself.
3. Don’t Pass it to the Other Team
   How does the Carleton basketball coach have anything to do with finances? Read and you’ll see a long stretch.
4. The Dangers of Advice
   How I inadvertently gave very bad financial advice to a dear friend.

Humor

I enjoy a good laugh, mostly at my own expense and here are some of my favorite personal finance posts with a humorous angle.

1. Always Have A Target
   OK, yes, my humor normally drops to toilet humor, but this one is funny too!
2. God and a Stock Broker?
   This is funny, except last week.
3.  Why Banks are always funny
   Going into banks, talking to banks, interacting with banks, etc., you had better have a sense of humor, because if you don’t you’ll go crazy.
4. Get Off the Throne
   A perspective on the Throne Speech, that Stephen Harper might not have appreciated.