Random Thoughts: HST, HST, HST!!!!

HST Welcome Evil Tax Overlord

The big news of the week is the coming of the HST and it’s ramifications on folks in Ontario and B.C.’s wallets and pocketbooks. Is it going to be a tax grab, Yes. Are some vendors going to try to grab a little more, Yes. Sorry this is the law of the jungle, watch out for any added taxes that maybe shouldn’t be there, just in case someone tries to Bazinga you.

With Canada Day falling on a Thursday I assume most of my good readers (who can) are taking an Enormously Long weekend, so enjoy your time off.

My Musings for the Week

• Random Thoughts: Shake, Rattle and Roll is a recap of the previous week’s best.
• G-20 Not Just for Rioters Given all the fun and excitement in Toronto this past weekend, we might forget that a group of world leaders met and attempted to create some semblance of continuity in the world economic recovery.
• Punishment Fit the Crime? (TFSA Overpayment) Does the punishment for a TFSA overpayment really fit the crime? Seems a little stern for a mistake (hopefully) but I suppose it is needed.
• Happy Canada Day ! Happy Canada Day. Canada is the greatest nation in the world, and we should celebrate its existence.

From the Blogosphere

In the blogosphere this week, there was a lot of interesting chatter (not just about the G-20 fun and games in Toronto too).

• Michael James asks the question RRSP vs. CPP , and whether we should just all be left to our own devices to deal with retirement savings, that is a harsh view, in my opinion (but if so, I might buy a lot of Purina stock given how many will be living on Cat Food).
• Preet announces a bold Experiment: A Wiki For Canadian Investors which could be interesting, but remember Wikis can sometimes be inaccurate (since it’s input is from it’s readers).
• The Canadian Capitalist points out that even though Canada never had a Ca$h for Clunkers program it does have The Retire Your Ride Program, which is useful if you drive an old beater like he did.
• Larry MacDonald quotes me in his post about Earthquake Insurance, where he actually went out and found out how much that might cost!
• Should you use Index Funds or ETF’s asks the Canadian Couch Potato, which is a good query, I guess the one  you understand best is the best answer.
• Can BP Go Bankrupt due to the Oil Spill? Not sure but the Million Dollar Journey does ask that very question, just glad it wasn’t Petro-Canada.
• Gail V-O has a Financial Literacy Rant, which asks some very pointed questions about this push to be Money Savvy.

Weekly Reminder

Remember that if you enjoy these weekly review of useful links in Personal Finance and Investing to subscribe to my Twitter feed where I retweet many great articles by some of my featured writers (and make the occasional odd or off colour commentary on life (in 140 characters or less)).

Enjoy the tenuously long weekend!