Dodgy Loans, More Hockey and Some Random Thoughts

As a financial kibitzer, I take a fair amount of good-natured abuse from my friends in the mainstream media, and rightly so; I make simple commentaries from my point of view, but I seem to have rattled a few cages with a simple statement about the alternate mortgage loan industry in Canada. Have a look at my post and read over some of the comments from one or two lenders in that area, didn’t mean to kick the hornet’s nest. I guess I should just hush up and let the grown-ups talk about this.

I also figured I’d have some fun and pose a few simple questions and I got very little response as well. Just goes to show that I have no idea who is reading my site, and what they think is fun and what they might find interesting. Feel free to add comments to this post about what you’d like me to research next, here is one or two suggestions:

• The use of young ladies in spicy outfits on financial web sites and whether it causes me to want to use their services?
• What do tobacco companies and lenders have in common?
• etc., etc., you get the thematic premise.

More hockey to come, both Ottawa teams continue to fight on (the 67s and the Senators). Unfortunately, the Canadiens are sitting next to the Blue Team on the same park bench, comparing their golf scores.

Weekly Recap

Some interesting topics this week, that seem to have evoked some quite visceral responses:

And thanks to those who added me on Twitter. Check out my Facebook page as well .

• It’s Hockey Night and Sunday’s Best, outlines my love of hockey and points to many of the old chestnuts I continue to re-post on Twitter.
• The job hunt has changed a great deal over the past few years and with Job Hunting: Your Facebook Page is now your Personal Reference, I want to point out how easy it is for future employers to find you, and do some in depth research on you.
• The hornet’s nest was kicked with Stupid Mortgages in Canada, where I ask some questions, and if you check the comments get some interesting “answers”, which you should research before believing as well.
• I didn’t get many responses to Financial Fill in the Blanks Test, too bad, I was hoping to have some highlights, maybe next week.
• While Rates Remain Down in Canada, the Bank of Canada’s rhetoric seems to imply this may not last very much longer (but then again, I have been saying that for the past 3 years too).
• The Stanley Cup Playoffs and Random Thoughts For we hockey lovers the orgy of hockey that is the first couple of rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has begun, and we can watch as much hockey as we want, whenever we want.

Links for the Week

It was a busy financial week in the world, with a few folks finding a few less controversial topics to discuss:

• Mr. Money Mustache and the rye sense of humor I really appreciate and with News Flash: Your Debt is an Emergency! I really did chuckle, you must add this site to your RSS feed. Any post that talks about Debt being like KILLER BEES is OK by me!
• In other news BCE reported lower profits prompting Leafs GM Brian Burke to fire Ron Wilson (again), not funny? Canadian Couch Potato reminded me of that kind of humor with Why Daily Market Commentary is a Joke.
• The Blunt Bean Counter gives us the final installment of Confessions of a Tax Accountant, reminding us about things we should not forget (or things we should be doing).
• Larry MacDonald is wearing his Dr. Doom mask with Global Economy Weakening, says experts, remember Larry, don’t worry be happy, and take out lots of shaky loans.
• Michael James takes a second look at Canadian Homeowners ‘ Sensitivity to Interest Rates, with a very pithy comment from Warren Buffett as well (get well soon Wizard of Omaha).
• Canadian Capitalist discusses whether Owning too much real estate may not be prudent, what is that bubbling noise in the background?
• Our Financial Kin at My Own Advisor talks about What He Did With His Tax Refund, but you aren’t supposed to get one of those, if you planned it right, right?
• Echo of Boomer and Echo writes yet another list with 10 Fees That Are Worth Paying, they should be careful, I may have to write another list of my own!
• Miranda at Planting Money Seeds, asks Women are you leaving $500,000 on the table? If you are, can you point out the table where you were sitting, I’d like to go clean it up for you.
• Gail Vaz-Oxlade takes a page out of the Big Cajun Man Rant book with Gail Rant: I’m so sick of this BS! Careful, Gail. I know of one of my commenters who may take you to task about your commentaries on debt.
• Yes I am Cheap gives us Money Traps You Should Not Give Into, I note refinancing your mortgage is there? That is another interesting topic… hmmm…
• Preet finds an interesting pairing with Buffett and Gekko both recommend Index Investing, an interesting pairing of a Scoundrel and a Wizard (but which is which?).

Budgetary Quotes for 2012

“In advertising, sex sells. But only if you’re selling sex.”

– Jef I. Richards quotes (US advertising professor)