Random Thoughts:Spring has Sprung?

The Grass has Riz?

In Ottawa, spring seems to be starting very early this year, with the second week of March looking more like the last week in April, but those of us who have lived here long enough know it is a little early to start thinking about taking off your snow tires. I will keep them on until the start of April, and even then, you never know.

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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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My Spring Views

• Confessions of an Ad Man remember to shower afterwards.
• Let’s Roll Up The Rim(TM) always a fun time of the year.
• Time Waits For No One unfortunately.

Thoughts in Personal Finance

The financial bloggers had some thoughts for this week, which don’t reflect the weather, but still might help you get a spring in your financial step:

• Larry MacDonald wonders if those of us in Ontario show Buy Before the HST Hits? Makes me think I should get my new windows put in before July 1st.
• Michael James has been busy this week, being a proud Dad, watching his son win a Gold Medal at OFSAA, but he did have time to post a review of the book, The Investor’s Manifesto, which does have one great line in it: “…If you act on the assumption that every broker, insurance salesman, mutual fund salesperson, and financial advisor you encounter is a hardened criminal, you will do just fine…”, wow!
• The Couch Potato talks about The Ethical Couch Potato and whether ethical investing is a good idea or not. Ethics and making money are an interesting mix.
• Preet at WhereDoesAllMyMoneyGo has a guest poster talking about Going Bankrupt and Rebuilding Credit in Canada (this is a pointer to the first in a series of posts). Bankruptcy is serious business that is for sure (even in Canada).
• A re-vamped Canadian Capitalist talks about Auto & Home Insurance Premiums on the Rise in Ontario. The Capitalist is getting some folks saying he has “sold out”, me I wish him good luck and hope his new look works.
• Do you like to Talk Money with Your Honey? Evidently some folks don’t and this worries Gail Vaz-Oxlade a great deal (and I agree, money is the 800 lb. Gorilla in the corner nobody wants to talk about).
• Million Dollar Journey has a guest post that points out that Life’s Lessons Are Not School Chemistry Chapters and thus easily forgotten. Very true, hopefully we will all remember the valuable (if not painful) lessons we learned in this latest economic downturn.
• Video sedation should never be discounted in it’s value especially on long car trips (for children) and Four Pillars learned that when they purchased a Portable DVD Player to Amuse Kids on Car Trips. It’s a great idea, the only issue is, then kids expect movies everywhere, what do you do then?

Enjoy the budding trees, growing tulips and sprouting grass (and for those of us with seasonal allergies our daily dose of anti-histemines). Enjoy the weekend.

Random Thoughts from 2010

• So many financial questions and more random thoughts, too, to start the year.
• The Rideau skateway opened in 2010, with more financial posts too.
• Got the end of 2009 Inflation perspectives with other stories.
• Chutzpah and financial discussions always go hand in hand.
• I’ve written about financial shock collars before with some Random thoughts.
• Valentine’s Day 2010 was an OK time but I still complained.
• Remember the 2010 Vancouver Olympics? Those were heady days, moneywise as well.
• What does the Canadian National Anthem have to do with money? In 2010 it did.
• Random Thoughts: Spring has Sprung? better watch out for ragweed.
• Random Thoughts: Let the Madness Begin! as it does every year.
• Inflation: Facts and Figures You Should Know important to know.
• Practical Financial Tips For Navigating a Rising Interest Rate Environment seems a bit long winded.
• Random Thoughts: A Financial Haiku We explore the train of thought about value and a financial haiku. Keep it clean! Optimized for Google and including the keyphrase ‘haiku’ twice.
• Let the Playoffs Begin! New rules for the NHL playoffs and financial institutions: Get ready for taxes in the springtime with these updates!