Lent is finally upon us, have you started making your plans? No? Me neither, I just haven’t had a heck of a lot of time to think about this kind of stuff, but something may strike me in the next day or two. Remember this is an excellent time to try out a financial concept in the short term (i.e. cash only living or paying down debts aggressively). Think about it.
Yes, that was a shocker, a Pope stepping down while still breathing? Been over 500 years since that has happened, failing health is the given reason, let’s hope that is the case. Must be serious if you let him retire 5 days before Lent? It’s kind of like Santa Claus putting in his resignation on December 20th, a little late don’t you think?
Something else that might be nice to see resign is all our appointed Senators. It has now reached the level of ridiculous, given the tom-foolery that is currently being reported. I grew up in Quebec, where cronyism and “you wash may back” is actually part of the Province’s Coat of Arms (it’s in Latin), but this has gone off the rails completely! This group of throw-backs and bag-folk (don’t want to sound sexist and say BagMAN) need to go find another career that employs them for the rest of their lives and is paid for by our taxes. The only way I’d change my mind is if I get appointed to the Senate myself, then I’d be OK with all of it. Justin Trudeau claiming it only need a few tweeks, is sorely mistaken, scrap the whole damn mess!
It’s RRSP time too! Yee-haw!!! Have you bought your RRSPs yet? OK, read that sentence again, and if you think there is nothing the matter with it, you need to go on a refresher course on Finances. You set up RRSP savings vehicle, and you BUY the constituent investment in the vehicle (the next one of my acquaintances that says that will be getting a Pious and Vitriolic rant on that very subject).
Vote Early and Vote Often : For THE Canadian Personal Finance Site (that’s me), so far I have 1 vote, let’s see if we can double that this week?
Two other notes:
- I will be announcing the winners of the On Line Turbo Tax on a rare Saturday post, so there is still time to try to win Go Here
- I have updated the site, but if any issues arise with the mechanics of the site, drop me a line at bigcajunman AT canajunfinances.com with your issue.
My Weekly Recap
Lent is here, the Sens are crippled (no not the Senate, the Hockey Team), and an Asteroid will hopefully fly by the Earth (real close) but I only touched on Lent:
My Writings for Week Ending February 15th
| |||
Less Jobs in January in CanadaYes, less jobs, which is hopefully not the shape of things to come for Canada. |
RDSP update and a TD ExplanationIsn’t it great when I can keep writing about the same thing over and over and over? |
Happy LentYes, Lent is here and hopefully you will use it to renew and restart your financial plans for the year |
Happy Love DayYeh, OK I got a real hate on for the whole Valentine’s Day machine, so sue me! |
Links for the Week
The big discussion in the USA is whether Wal-Mart should sell Bazookas and Tanks or simply sub-machine guns (I jest with my over armed friends down south), but remember folks, the most important thing right now is the ECONOMY :
Top Stories of the Week of February 8th
| |||
Passive Income GoalsMichael James is not saying your goals for income should be passive, just a discussion of your dividend income goals might be. |
Sports Agents Fees – A Large non-deductible Expense for NHL Players in CanadaThe BBC writes but for someone who claims to not care about this season he sure points that out a lot. Me thinks he doth complain too much? I wish I could make enough as an NHL player to then complain that agent fees are not deductible. |
January 2013 Dividend Income UpdateMark @ My Own Advisor proudly writes of his dividend income plans and his progress. A brave man, I tend to keep that information to myself. |
When business owners shouldn’t make RRSP contributionsLarry Mac gives some advice for those rich folk who own their own companies on when it might be better not to put money into your RRSPs. This of course is advice for the BBC and his massive holdings, but not for a simple pauper as yours truly. |
When Does The New Year Of RESP Contributions Start?Mike Holman a real expert when it comes to RESPs, answers the question at hand and then elaborates on strategies to maximize your RESP grants too. |
Energy Efficiency Programs/Financial Incentives in OntarioMillion Dollar journey outlines for Ontarians some incentive programs that you might want to take full advantage. If you can make money and it saves you money, maybe you should sign up? |
Edmund Phelps trashes rational expectationsI don’t think I understand all of the logistics in this article by the Physics of Finance but it is interesting to see that folks attempt to overlay a “scientific method” into a financial model? Sounds a little obtuse to me? |
RRSP Deadline is fast approachingJim Yih points out that there isn’t much time left if you want to pack your RRSPs for tax year 2012. If you think this is a good idea, better get your tail in gear! |
2 Spousal RRSP Rules to KnowGail Vaz-Oxlade knows that it is RRSP season and wants to make sure you understand all the rules behind this savings mechanism |
Near-Miss Asteroid Highlights Earth’s Risk Of A Nuke-Sized CollisionHow close are we to being obliterated by an asteroid? Evidently 14 minutes away from doom and gloom (wow). Have I mentioned I love Popular Science? | No longer available |
Why 2.5 Billion Heartbeats Might Change The Way You Think About MoneyA great video by the REAL Preet (not the pasteurized one on OWN), well worth watching (in fact check the end of this post if you can’t wait 🙂 ). |
Needs any improvements. This site is also in the Kindle Blog list, if you are interested.
A Financial Video to Think About
If you have got the time, enjoy this frank presentation by our friend Preet on Money and how squandering it now might not be the best thing to do:
Best of 2013
Some of the best of posts from 2013
- CPP Reform, Snow, Christmas, Boxing day and #FreeFormFriday Did the CPP reform of 2013 fix much? Kind of, but Christmas was coming too.
- No Verizon, Microsoft Phones, NFL Kick Off and Friday #ShoutOuts Verizon won’t enter the Canadian wireless market, meaning Mobilicity may disappear and consumers will pay ridiculous monthly charges. Learn why with this blog post!
- Mandela gone, Canada “Post”, Gail on the Shelf and #FreeFormFriday Nelson Mandela passed away on December 5, 2013, after a long illness.
- Christmas is Coming, Christmas Lay Offs, Electric Fees, Commie Pope and #FreeFormFriday Celebrate Christmas with more online shopping – BMO and many other companies announce layoffs during the Holiday season.
- Giveaways, Vacations, No Sun and Friday #ShoutOuts Win a software worth almost $100 and go on the vacation of your dreams! Enter my intelligence test and get the chance to take the trip of a lifetime. #vacation
- Stock Frauds, Senate Expenses, Twitter wrong and Friday #ShoutOuts Canadians beware of stock fraud? U.S. Justice department investigates alleged penny stock swindler. Senator Pam Wallen scrutinized for spending. Find out more about the scam!
- Black November, Bitcoins, Tablets, Unloseable Lottery and #FreeFormFriday So Black Friday is upon us, however, it seems to be losing a lot of it’s “thunder” thanks to the “sales” starting earlier.
- Mad Dog, English Men, I’m OK and #Shoutouts Maurice Mad Dog Vachon was a tough son of a gun, but did he have a financial impact too? Read on to find out.
- Toronto Circus, Prince Charles Retires, More Word Puzzles and Friday #ShoutOuts This whole Toronto thing really is just a reality TV show gone off the rails, isn’t it? The three-ring circus that is unfolding in the media
- Identifiable, the Iron Sheik, Remembrance Day, More Word Puzzles and Friday #ShoutOuts So my concerns that if I put my natural face on my Social Media accounts were just paranoia.
- Incestuous Bloggers, Word Puzzles, RDSP Menu, All Saints Day and Friday #ShoutOuts Sometimes blogs become a little closed in and don’t recognize new folks and we become incestuous bloggers.
- Senate Fun, Apocalypse Averted, Asteroids and Friday #ShoutOuts News Canadians can’t ignore: investigate the scandal and discover if the Harper Government’s demise is near!
- Kicking the Can, Throne Speech, Windows 8.1 and Friday #ShoutOuts Seems our friends down south had so much fun with almost upending the world economy, they’d like to try to do it again in January.
- Government #Defaults, Fake Reviews, Turkey Time, Fall Colours and Friday #ShoutOuts Given that for some odd reason shutting the government down wasn’t enough our friends down south are now attempting to disrupt or possibly completely f*ck the world economy by defaulting in a few days.
- Government Shutdowns, Hockey Returns, New iPhone and Friday #ShoutOuts Explore the debate surrounding the US government’s shutdown with insight into potential resolutions outside of the standard back pay for civil servants.
- Financial Bloggers, 35 Million Strong, Odd CRA Cheques and Friday #ShoutOuts I had a very good time at CPFC13 where I got to moderate a panel of Investing Smart folks, and I learned a great deal from a few outstanding presenters,
- A Better Friday and #CPFC13 Not a regular Friday after this week and my preparations for the coming weekend, I didn’t really get enough time to put together my regular Friday Random Thoughts, but here is a shortened version.
- Friday the 13th, Private Royal Mail, Canadian 1% and Friday #ShoutOuts Watch out for bad things on Fridays – it’s Friday the 13th! Don’t subscribe to the concept? Tuesday is the most evil day. September 11th was a Tuesday! Don’t forget about ladders and black cats either. UK privatizing the Royal Mail? A price tag of £3B pounds!
- King Louis, Braun Follies, Lice and Friday #ShoutOuts Greetings and Happy Birthday to Prince George Louis Alexander Windsor (and future King of Canada), welcome to the media “sh*te storm” that will be your life.
- Loose Money, Faster Sites, the Heat is On and Friday #ShoutOuts The new Bank of Canada Governor announced on Wednesday no change in the interest rates for now, with the overnight rate continuing at 1%.
- Floods, Explosions, See Thru Lu Lu’s and Friday #ShoutOuts Looks like the Engineer is now being “thrown under the train” as it were (i.e. the finger of blame is being pointed at him by his CEO).
- Egypt, July 4th, Sweltering Summer, Alfie and Friday #ShoutOuts Interesting how the Egyptian military throwing out an allegedly democratically elected President is being hailed as a great democratic change.
- Canada Day, 4th of July, Flooding and Some Random Thoughts A hard week in 2013 for my family with the passing of my Mother-in-law to Cancer. One day that disease will be done.
- Fathers, Corruption, Horton’s Hedgings and Friday #ShoutOuts Hopefully everyone enjoyed Father’s Day, I know I did, very nice day, lovely meal and some peace and quiet.
- Stanley Cup, Turbans, Car Tracking and Friday #ShoutOuts The Stanley Cup finals have started, and hopefully all the games aren’t going to go that late into the night, or I will need to start working the night shift at work.
- Baseball “Cheats”, D-Day, Fun with Fiji and Friday #ShoutOuts It seems baseball is embroiled with yet another “performance enhancing drugs” scandal with a few very well-known names being implicated by yet another “wellness clinic”. Are the accusations true?
- Obliterating Rock, Floods, Senators and Friday #ShoutOuts If you are reading this after 4:35 PM May 31, 2013 I guess we survived another close fly by of a “Civilization Killer” lump of Rock.
- Senators, Twisters, Water and Friday #ShoutOuts To say the entire Senators Expenses Event is more ridiculous than a Christmas Panto (usually an excuse for men to dress up as women
- Mothers, Hab Nots, Trains, and Friday #ShoutOuts What does a Walrus, Model Trains and Mother’s Day have to do with each other? Not that much but more financial stories too.
- Taxes Done, Drones, Playoffs and Friday #ShoutOuts Hope your taxes were in on Tuesday, because if not, you might be in trouble (especially if you are part of the $29 Billion dollars still owed to the government in Taxes).
- Disk Crashes, Daffodils, Password Trappers and Friday #ShoutOuts High Tech always proves that it is much like Mother Nature, in that, you should never ignore it or take it for granted, because things can change very quickly at the most inopportune times.
- Loose Money, Trudeau-mania II, Nut Bags and Friday #ShoutOuts If you missed it on Wednesday the Bank of Canada continued to keep their key overnight rate at 1%.
- Snowmaegedon, the Masters, Windows and Friday #ShoutOuts Today, we are experiencing a late version of winter, with a nasty snow/ice/rain storm that proves that just when you think it is Spring, you might be mistaken.
- Final Four, Dark Matter, Tax Time and Friday #ShoutOuts The NCAA Men’s basketball Final Four is this weekend, and my bracket is completely shot.
- Budgets, Dark Side of the Moon, Eight Years Later, Palm Sunday and Friday #ShoutOuts Minister Flaherty gave us a very vague budget (2013) yesterday. For Hockey Moms, reasons to rejoice, given tarifs on Hockey equipment, Golf Clubs, Baby Clothes and a few other things are now gone.
- Pope Picked, Pi Day, St. Patty’s Day and Phriday #ShoutOuts Seems our Catholic brethren have chosen a new Pope (Francis) this week, thus ending one of the greatest talent hunts of the year.
- Thanks Stompin Tom, Loose Money Continues, Tax Time, Pope Picking and Friday #Shoutouts Stompin’ Tom Connors a true Canadian treasure has left us, and I for one am sad to hear it.
- St David’s Day, Snow, RRSP Season Over, Tax Time and Friday #Shoutouts Happy Saint David’s Day to all my Welsh brethren today.
- RRSP Time, Winners, Tax Time, Short Weeks and Friday #Shoutouts Yes, it’s that magical time when your Savings Institution pressures you to top up your RRSP account so you can take full advantage of the savings on your taxes.
- Lent , Pope Out, the Senate, RRSP Time and Friday #Shoutouts Lent is finally upon us, have you started making your plans? No? Me neither, I just haven’t had a heck of a lot of time to think about this kind of stuff.
- Lent , Pancake Tuesday, and Love Day Soon and Friday #Shoutouts For those of you unaware, Lent begins next Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) February 13th, so here is yet another chance to restart (or start) your financial plans for the coming year.
- Groundhog Day, Farewell Penny, No Vine and Friday #Shoutouts Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, so then we shall see how well a ground hog can prognosticate the weather (about as well as I can prognosticate financial stuff is my guess).
- Loose Money Continues, Polar Temps, More Info Lost and Friday #Shoutouts Wednesday our friends from the Bank of Canada kept their loose money policies in place.
- Hockey, Armstrong, Idle Folk, Lost Loans and Friday #ShoutOuts What happened the week of January 18th in 2013? Some NHL stuff, but a lot of interesting financial stuff too!
- Drop the Puck, Death Pills, Strikes and Friday #Shoutouts For those die hard NHL fans (like me) there will be hockey soon.
- Bye and Thanks for all the Fish, CBC Questions, Holiday Hours and Friday #Shoutouts Well it has been fun, but I guess it all had to end some time, it’s been a good run.
Preet’s talk must have struck a chord with you: “learn to hate debt again”. Thanks for the mention.
BCM, thx for the link. How’s the doghouse? No flowers, no nice dinner, I know someone who had no sex last night 🙂
Tough break for Sens. The foot in the air by Cooke is a bit strange, but really hard to tell if there was intent or not. In regard to my “doth protesting”, all I can say is have yet to watch the first period of a game, but I did watch 2 periods in a game this week so maybe I am slowly breaking down.
If I feel I have to spend $120 on roses to get in my wife’s slacks… hey that sounds like a great post title! Actually Mrs. C did actually get her roses (very late thanks to ordering them from Costco (but I did also get a gross of toilet paper with it)).
As for Mr. Cooke, was he going for a pirouette or something, because having your leg in the air like that is pretty weird.
As I said, I hope to one day make enough money to then have to hire an agent and then NOT claim their fees on my taxes.