Random Thoughts: Spring has Sprung

Allergies Ahoy!

Spring is here, for those with seasonal allergies, all the joys of watery eyes, sneezing and itching have arrived as well. A fairly quiet week in terms of money, other than the Gasoline Price explosion, which has almost doubled the price of gas from 1.5 years ago. I look forward to seeing what Stats Canada’s inflation numbers might look like this month, because many things are going up in price at the same time now. Our only saving grace is that the Canadian Dollar being so strong will slow down the assumed Interest Rate increases that would be used to combat inflation. In Ottawa we have seen Gasoline at $1.37 a liter, in Montreal it has gone over $1.50 a liter and even in Toronto prices are over $1.40 a liter. I note there are a lot more folks taking their bikes to work and taking the bus these days. Is anybody looking at Electric Bicycles? Another interesting commuting idea.

With spring comes flooding around Ottawa, but also across the country in Quebec and in Manitoba. The army is now helping out where it can, and we send our best wishes and hopes of a quick cresting to those folks dealing with rising flood waters.

More stories of the Jack Layton Daycare and their first unsure steps as the official opposition. It should make for a very interesting parliament, which is all I can ask for as a financial/political pundit. No word on any new exciting tax breaks from our new Harper Majority Government, but there is hope, if the economy keeps heating up.

An eclectic set of articles from me this week:

• Last week I found a video by the Wizard of Omaha on PBS in my post Video: Warren Buffett Talks about Ethics, Jobs and such, an interesting little piece.
• In Back to Three years Ago for Jobs, I pointed out that raw employment levels are back to where they were before the great financial apocalypse, and hopefully this will keep  going.
• With Alcohol + Money = Nothing Good I was up on my pulpit again preaching about the dangers of money and liquor.
• Given all the doom and gloom predictions of the week I took a tongue in cheek view on things with Doomsday and Money.
• Random Thoughts: Election’s Over Back to Work is a recap of the previous week when the NDP and Jack Layton steamrolled Quebec.

I actually do 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.

Other Financial Bloggers were a little more insightful about a few other topics this week, and certainly nothing to sneeze at:

• Michael James waxed philosophical about a family member who confided in him about what made her Feel Wealthy, which had nothing to do with her portfolio. Remember as Fernando used to say, “… it is better to feel wealthy than to be wealthy…” (at least I think so).
• Tom over at Canadian Finance Blog asks the hard question How Much Money Do I need to Retire? My answer to that question is, it depends, if you want a vineyard to retire to, you don’t have enough, if you want to live in a tent in the woods, maybe you have enough.
• Canadian Capitalist points out that TD E-series Accounts Are Not That Hard to set up, but as Michael James and I commented, that is like Einstein saying Quantum Physics isn’t that hard, either.
• Mrs. SPF goes on an interesting concept with a Green Cycle: Alternative Feminine Hygiene Products, which most of the women in my life severely eschew, but if that is what you want, read on.
• Larry MacDonald is harder to find these days as his RSS feed seems to have changed again, but he did write about Fixing the Vancouver Bubble in housing, and surprisingly it is not simply to move to Fredericton.
• Sandy the Spinster over at Yes I am Cheap is wondering why she is the Last of the Unmarried Mohicans, but she’ll never catch a guy writing that kind of post (yes I am kidding, it’s a very good post).
• Preet points out that if you are Buying a Big Ticket Item? Get a Second Opinion, which is good advice, never buy on the first offer you see, seek out experts to find out whether it is a good deal, and what about haggling? Yes most people don’t like it, but how do you think this economy was built?
• My Own Advisor gives us some of My Top Stress Busters, I typically kick the cat, yell at my kids and drive around town at high speed, but some of these ideas might work as well.
• Boomer and Echo write about Settling In To a Retirement Community, no it is not for Boomer, but maybe soon?

Remember

“The Autocrat of Russia possesses more power than any other man in the earth; but he cannot stop a sneeze“

Author: Mark Twain