Today, we are experiencing a late version of winter, with a nasty snow/ice/rain storm that proves that you might be mistaken just when you think it is Spring. It has already caused a great deal of consternation for University Students, since many schools have rescheduled exams and now these lucky students get to wait until the end of exams to do write their exams (yes one of my daughters is effected by this). Some might say it’s just snow, however, many foolish folks have already taken their snow tires off, so the drive on Friday will be interesting (especially for me, should I choose to go to work). The City of Ottawa will be ready for it, or at least that is what they are claiming, it remains to be seen whether they live up to their claims.
In much warmer and sunnier Augusta, Georgia the creme de la creme of Golfers are playing on grass so green it would make the emerald Isle blush. The prestige of the Masters cannot be denied, it should be interesting to watch this sporting tradition. Do I play golf? I did play golf, but have not for many years, we shall see whether I pick up my clubs this summer.
The final window replacement has occurred in the Big Cajun Chateau which hopefully will mean lower energy costs, less drafts and less outside noise. It has been an expensive renovation (or repair if you like) but in the end I think it was needed to keep the house livable. After seeing how much we have spent on just this makes me wonder if renting might have ended up being cheaper, but I’ll save that discussion for another post.
My Weekly Recap
A diverse cross-section of posts from me this week, with a little bit of real data from Stats Canada too:
My Writings for Week Ending April 12thIt is Spring ? Could have Fooled Me! | ||||
My New Born needs a Social Insurance Number?A rewrite of an older post, which points out the importance of getting your kids SIN’s ASAP. |
Job Picture Less Rosey in March for CanadaStats Canada points out that the Canadian Job market is not top shelf just yet, and the lost generation continues to not have luck finding jobs. |
March Madness in FinancesIs past performance a good measure for a stock? Many folks (including myself) say, no, and you better have a better reason to buy a stock than “… it has done well lately”. |
Tire Storage the BusinessHow many folks store their tires with their mechanic? Surprisingly a very large number. |
RDSP Update: Nice PaybackIf you have a disabled child, should you get an RDSP? YES, is the very simple answer. |
Links for the Week
This week RBC got in trouble for hiring foreign I.T. workers at “indentured servitude rates, they are apologizing for doing this, however, they are going to continue to use these modern-day serfs, interesting employment world we live in :
Top Stories of the Week of April 12thGround Hogs Lie Like Cheap Rugs! | |||
Confessions of a Tax Accountant -2013- Week 2If you aren’t reading this interesting view of the world of accountants and Taxes by the BBC, why not? Well written and lots of useful tips too! | Model abuse… stop it now!The Physics of Finance comments on a commenter who pointed out how a lot of financial models are being used in very interesting ways. | Can I Claim a Charitable Tax Deduction Credit for a Donation Made Outside of Canada?Frequent commenter Bet Crooks asks one of those interesting Tax Questions, that you should know the answer to. |
Budget 2013 clamps down on Advantaged ETFsThe Canadian Capitalist warns us about ETFs that use “character conversion transfers” and how the new budget is going to change the rules governing them. |
Fraser Institute Studies Public and Private Sector WagesMichael James gives his point of view on the Fraser Institute report I had in last week’s #Shoutouts. Yup public sector has a much better set of benefits, but you have to work for the government to get them. |
Link Went Away |
 How to Use Credit Cards ResponsiblyCommenter KrantCents brings us an interesting essay on how to use Credit Responsibly. My point of view is, just don’t use it, but that is me being me. |
 2013 Financial Goals – April UpdateMark from My Own Advisor updates us on his goals, which I can’t tell whether it is bragging or just being very brave (no I am not divulging that info on my site (ever)). |
South Korean stocks getting cheap in a hurryLarry MacDonald writes that Kim Jong Un’s interesting behavior is not helping the South Korean stock market either. | 5 Ways Hackers Could Kill You Right NowPopular Science got my attention with that title, and it is quite scary what a “script kiddy” could do to kill you and how easy it might be to do it. | At last, new rules for water heater sellers (and others)Ellen Roseman gives us good news about Water Heater Sellers (and other folks) and the new rules they will have to live under, glad to hear it! |
Selling a condo? The taxman might comethPreet had a guest columnist come on to scare all you Condo Buying folk, with the news that the CRA has a new “Condo Project”, which is never a good thing (if you own a Condo that is). |
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.
Feel free to delete one of my comments. Massive fail at the CAPTCHA code means I had to post more than once.
Not sure it I need or caffeine or if I should just give up and go back to bed.
Financial independence means not having to spend 30 minutes chipping ice from your car and staying in bed instead on these bad weather days.
Thank you for mentioning my post on market based GICs. The potential return is high and there is no risk of losing the principle but I still can’t decide if it is a good idea.
No bragging BCM. Just trying to keep myself honest (and motivated) on my financial journey. Don’t forget, I also have some posts where I’ve mucked up. 🙂
Thanks for the mention. Hopefully spring will come at some point.
Mark
Thankfully the snow/rain/gunk wasn’t that bad around us but I am amazed how people continue to drive like there isn’t anything nasty falling from the sky. People’s behaviour still manages to amaze me sometimes.
At least the lights are still on in most of Eastern ON. Every time I hear the words “freezing rain” I get flashbacks to *THE* ice storm…..
And many thanks for the kind mention!
We were “reminiscing” at my office about that exact storm, and what a mess things were afterwards, and North of Toronto is not looking too good right now either.
Thanks for the links, I am in good company.