Random Thoughts: Slash Into Lent

Lent is Here, Let’s Celebrate

Yes, it is that pious time of the Christian calendar, but we can celebrate it financially as well, by healing our financial self.

Another fun week with gas prices continuing to stay very high, threats of higher food prices (from Loblaws parent company), and China announcing a trade deficit. If the largest population in the world starts consuming at North American levels, where will that leave us all was the question that popped into my mind when I read that one. It is already causing gas usage to sky-rocket, what will be next? With the TSX suddenly plummeting on Thursday, does this mean we are in for another fun ride on the roller coaster?

More political scuttle butt in Ottawa about the Harper Government falling and a spring election. Living in Ottawa you get to enjoy Federal politics a great deal more than most Canadians. A spring election could make for a lot of interesting discussion points for me, so bring it on.

I got another sobering life event, with my oldest child turning 21 this week. The fact that I have a 21-year-old child is only mitigated by the fact that my parents have a 21-year-old grandchild. When did I get this old? Yesterday I was listening to the Sex Pistols and Nash the Slash, now I complain about the young folks music, guess that’s just the way life goes.

Lots of Lenten bravado this week from me:

• I pointed out that you can call the CRA if you have questions, but you had better have a specific question, because you might not like the answer you get (just ask Michael James)
• I was all afloat in an ocean of pancakes on Financial Shrove Tuesday which I thoroughly enjoyed eating as many pancakes and ham as I could
• I am not daunted by the tepid response to my Lenten Financial Challenge folks can continue to sign up, and we’ll see if we can whip up a bit of reader frenzy on the topic
• If anyone finds a huge lost fortune based on Found money is the Best I expect a cut. I think I may have found a friend of my parents’ who have left some money, but I’ll send the link on and see what comes of this.
• Random Thoughts: Winning! is a recap of the week where Charlie Sheen melted down in 2011.

As a note, I actually enjoy all comments (even the ones that question my sanity), and will try to respond to most comments, so please feel free to comment away. I have been getting more SPAM lately again, but that is OK, it’s fun to see the weird things folks try to promote on my site (and those that scrape my content too).

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From the Blogosphere

As usual I include some of the posts that made me go hmmmmm.... this week, for your reading please.:

• The Canadian Couch Potato brings up one of my favorite topics in investing in their piece A Drip in the Bucket, pointing out that Claymore and others have Dividend Reinvestment Plans for their ETFs (I also had that pointed out to me by Claymore's CEO Som Seif, as well).  DRiPs are great because it is a "fire and forget" methodology, which I really like (i.e. I don't have to remember to do anything).
• Michael James tackles an interesting question about Why Men Make More than Women, and while his arguments are interesting, he does miss out on the all important "Right Place, Right Time", portion of sudden wealth accumulations. He points out that Sexism is a key factor, which is important to point out as well.
• Tom over at Canadian Finance Blog asks How Much Mortgage Can I Afford? Given how well Tom's blogging is going, my guess is more than me.
• Canadian Capitalist points out that Home Insurance Premiums (will be) Increasing Sharply, another wonderful piece of news, given my property taxes are already jumping 2.5%.
• Sustainable Personal Finance gives us some hints on How To Sell Your House Quickly, which is useful in the current housing market.
• Larry MacDonald pulls out a very obtuse stock tip with Protein Stocks, where he points out the changes in emerging market's eating habits could be putting Protein Supplying countries in an advantageous place.
• Sandy at YesIamCheap (a Lent challenge acceptor) implores Fire! What Does Your Insurance cover? Which is a good thing to know about given you are going to have to pay more for that insurance.
• Preet writes about his love for Vomma, which is odd, given I have never met Vomma personally, but it does sound like a fun word to say in a party, to see how people react, "... this Vomma is just delightful...".
• Million Dollar Journey had a guest post from Robb from Boomer and Echo decrying Why a Strong Loonie Does Not Mean Better Prices, which most Canadians won't like to read.
• Jim Yih asks Should You Give Your Kids an Allowance, which I have chatted about, it's an interesting question for all parents (of kids of all ages too).

Carnivals this Week

I also had some submissions accepted to various carnivals, so go have a read of these as well:

• Clariity hosted the 3rd Edition of the Family Finance Carnival which highlighted my Lent Begins on Wednesday post.
• Broke in the City hosted The Carnival of Personal Finance: March Break Edition which featured my post Scared Straight for Finances

Remember

"Teething,seething, his greed is undefined"

Author: Nash the Slash