My Favorite Posts of the Year 2012

Friday, I indulged myself. I told you about some of my favourite articles written by some of my writing mates around the personal finance world. Today, to end the year, I give you the posts that I wrote this year that I enjoyed. I may write another article on my most read articles, but as I have said, why folks read what I write and how many of them is not really my concern, it is what I enjoyed writing the most for today.

For me this has been a financially challenging year having 3 kids in University and a son with special needs (which I may start writing about more next year, that remains to be seen). My wife is also working hard to help out, but my guess is this will be a challenging few years for me helping out my kids. The posts in the coming year may seem a little more raw, which may not be to your liking, but remember I am writing this tome as much as a cathartic rant for myself.

Remember to watch my Twitter feed as well. It has some of my quick thoughts. No, it is not just a sounding post for my writing.

Some of my Favorites

I’ll give you a title and a quick explanation of why I enjoyed or liked what I wrote this year:

• Losing Sleep and Money was me pointing out that Debt and Money worries can become a health issue if it gets too far into your psyche. I believe I wrote this after another sleepless night of my own, just goes to show I do usually write about what is directly facing me at that moment. The same can be said when I wrote Loveless, Sexless Marriages and Money, which is a quote from Preet but Money worries can destroy relationships as well.
• I was genuinely pissed off when I read the headline The Worst Place to Lose Your Job? on the CNN web site. Having lived through a life derailing lay off, I can assure you I know of a small handful of folks who walked away from layoffs unscathed, it is never a good place or time to be laid off.
• Where you work and what you do usually sculpts who you are and your point of view, and having worked in the Private Sector in Nortel for 20 years becoming a Civil Servant has changed my beliefs somewhat and with that I then wrote I am a Civil Servant and Civil Servants: Another Point of View .
• There is a trend with some of my brethren to take cheap shots at each other, I try not to do this (mostly, I have my off days), but Insultingly Rudimentary Advice came from one site that seems to specialize in this kind of one-upmanship.
• I have 4 kids and with my older kids I have been quite clear, but I figured other folks might want to read Parenting Tip #327 Large Expenditures, remember the Bank of Mom and Dad cannot pay for it all. My Fatherly instincts show in many of my posts but I am proud of all my children (make no mistake there either) however What Do Fathers Worry About points out that your Dad worries about you even after you leave home. So That is What $50,000 looks like is a thought I had while watching my eldest graduate (best money I have ever spent).
• I seem to find a lot of issues with semantics again this year, thus I ended up hitting that topic a few times with Don’t Confuse Spending Less with Saving, Let’s Define Debt, and Let’s Define Retirement.
• You might think from my writings that I am a complete cynic, however, as a Christian (yup, sorry that was a big C) I have faith in a lot more things than you might think and with An Easter Story: The Leather Coat, that faith is confirmed (again).
• I am tired of hearing how you must live your life and Buck the Fucket List (which was evidently quite controversial) is just me pointing out that success or failure is a frame of mind. I am really not sure why I wanted to bring back this interesting story from my youth, but Sometimes You Have to Set the Toilet on Fire.
• Are Canadians Financialy Stupid? Well we are misguided sometimes that is for sure, given the number that use Pay Day Loans: The Crack Cocaine of Personal Finances. The best way to combat ignorance is to learn more about the subject (you can get it for free at the Library).
• When Should You Try to Pay Down Debt? The answer is obvious, and that is a topic that I keep repeating throughout the year too. Don’t let Debt ruin your dreams.
• I got a lot of positive feedback from Ten Things I have said that Have Saved Me Money, see if it can help you. They are all quite simple, and I am not sure why more people don’t do this.
• Time is the Most Important Variable when it comes to money planning and you should keep that in mind. I have been working for over 30 years and if I had done some simple things when I started working, life now might even be easier.
• Favourite Posts of 2012 Some of my favourite posts of 2012 in the financial world are from myself and some other folks. Mostly written by other folks though.

Finally I was lucky enough to celebrate 25 years of marriage with Mrs. C8j and while I think we have lived a good life I still did end up having Advice for me 25 years Ago, I am pretty sure I wouldn’t have listened back then either.

Here is hoping that 2013 starts well and brings us all , much happiness and satisfaction in our lives.

---

---