To quote that noted newscaster Kent Brockman, without knowing precisely what the danger is, would you say it’s time for our viewers to crack each other’s heads open and feast on the goo inside?.
I have read and heard stories of the impending apocalypse and such, thanks to President-elect Trump’s policies. However, I am more concerned about the Angry Old White Man Party (aka the Republicans) now being able to run the table. It would not surprise me if, at the end of all of this, Mr. Trump ends up being the voice of reason (yes, I threw up a bit in my mouth typing that), in the Grating America.
For those who did not wake up a cold morning in 1975 to find the PQ in power in Quebec or a dark October morning in 1990 when Bob Rae became Premier of Ontario, the only advice I can give is, Chill out for now, and watch closely at what happens. No one can say for sure what will happen, and if they say they know, they are probably trying to sell you something. I do like the #CalExit folks, given that California is the 6th largest economy in the world.
Meanwhile in Canada Canadians debt load increases (according to TransUnion). To quote our friends at Transunion:
Canadian consumers saw average non-mortgage debt balances rise by 2.3% between Q3 2015 ($21,195) and Q3 2016 ($21,686).
Note that this is non-mortgage debt as well, so yes, maybe Mr. Brockman was asking the right question?
So one of my new tricks these days, is to combat the deluge of really great deals that arrive in my mailbox (Canada Post), I have taken to saving the really great deals (and coupons), for a special task. Any time I get a great deal (like the new CPP upgrade program, that looks like a Government program, but comes in a blank envelope) with a paid postage return envelope, to say thank you, I put some great coupons and deals in this envelope and mail it back to those helpful folks.
Yes, it is Juvenile, but that is who I am.
My Writings for the Week Ending November 11th
Another more quiet week from me, but I did write one thing to help parents out Helping Kids With University Costs, Idea #214, for those of you thinking your kids will be able to leave home to go to University. Day to day living expenses for your kids, if they are not at home, really do add up.
Toblerone the Christmas Grinch
Really Toblerone? Really? I may be boycotting my favourite Christmas candy. #BoycottToblerone #BoycottTheValley
Is there any Good New This Week ?
Given the gloom, despair and agony being written this week (if not, out-and-out shock), was there any good news this week?
- Two of my favorite money people on a podcast? You bet I like that, and Preet invited Mark from Blunt Bean Counter to chat about Family Dynamics & Estate Planning - Mostly Money Mostly Canadian Podcast
- My "go to guy" for Dividend discussions is Mark from My Own Advisor, so his piece, Top Canadian Dividend ETFs for your portfolio 2016, and his advice about the ETF that fell off his list, I have followed up with (and moved to a different Dividend ETF).
- Looks like Tangerine Investments are expanding and the Canadian Couch Potato writes about it in, Tangerine Expands Its Lineup (well titled).
- Robb from Boomer and Echo, wants to show what a little financial literacy can do, as he is Sharing My Top Financial Wins
- CBC reported on about how Financial literacy to be incorporated into Ontario curriculum, let us see if this works (hopefully it is less controversial than the new Sex Ed curriculum )
- Frugal Trader answers a reader's question, Should I buy Whole Life Insurance for my Children? The answer is a good one.
- Blessed by the Potato had one of his students ask about,Trump and Investing, and now may not be the time to panic.
- Barry from Money We Have wants to help with your financial literacy as well with his piece, Your money questions answered: Getting personal
- For those that are curious, Spearphishing did have a huge impact on this past election, so be careful. All it takes is clicking one link and you may as well open your wallet, because the Bad Hombres have got you!
- Michael James seems to have found his muse, and wrote a bunch of great pieces this week, but staying with the Trumpian Thematic Premise, he wrote Some Financial Policies to Watch for with a Trump Presidency. I think the statement that financial regulation will ease (greatly), might be a safe prognostication.
Food For Thought
Before you decide you must be out of the market due to all this news, watch this clip from one of my favorite money movies (Trading Places), about who makes money on your trades
2016 Random Thoughts
- January 7th, Market Meltdown, TFSA, WildCard Weekend and #MoneyStories
- January 14th, Cheap Oil, Cheap Dollar, Dead Folk, and #MoneyStories
- January 21st, Loose Money, High Household Debt, Weak Loons and #MoneyStories
- January 29th, Doomsday Clocks, Rogue RRSP Receipts, Cash Crops and #MoneyStories
- February 4th Bouncing Loonies, RRSP Season, Superb Owls and #MoneyStories
- February 12th Lent is Here, Bricked iPhones, Love Day and #MoneyStories
- February 19th Digging Out, Ransomware, RRSP Time and #MoneyStories
- February 26th RRSP Time and #MoneyStories
- March 4th Welcome Americans and #MoneyStories
- March 11th Bank Rate Stays Put, Spring Forward and #MoneyStories
- March 18th Financial March Madness, Budgets and #MoneyStories
- March 25th, Easter is Here and some #MoneyStories
- April 1, Money Fools, Ronnie, and #MoneyStories
- April 8, Tax Time, Spring Delayed, Panama Papers and #MoneyStories
- April 15,Loose Money, Free Stuff, Hockey and #MoneyStories
- April 22,Disabilities, Tax Time, The Queen and #MoneyStories
- April 29,Pitter Patter Tax Time, RESPs are For Rich Folk and #MoneyStories
- May 6, Fort Mac, Mothers and #MoneyTalk
- May 13, Panama Papers, Google & PayDay Loans, Full Moons and #MoneyTalk
- May 20, Victoria Day, The People’s Elbow, Haircuts and #MoneyTalk
- May 27, Loose Money and #MoneyTalk
- June 3, CRA Itunes Pmts, RESP Scams and #MoneyTalk
- June 10, Portal to Hell Opens in Ottawa, BoC FSR and #MoneyTalk
- June 17, Fathers Day, Trump Housing Bubble, and #MoneyTalk
- June 24, Brexit, Fete National, Enhanced CPP and #MoneyTalk
- July 1, Happy Canada Day and Best Mid-Year Financial Stories
- July 8, Brexit Market Mayhem, Millenial Bashing and #MoneyTalk
- July 15,Brexit Hurts, Loose Money, Postal Strikes, Recounts and #Moneytalks
- July 22,More Pensions, New CTC, and #MoneyTalk
- July 31, Unknown Long Weekend, Windows 10 and #MoneyTalk
- August 5, The Olympics, Topless Spelunkers, and #MoneyTalk
- August 12, Women Rule, Less Jobs and #MoneyTalk
- August 19, Obnoxious 30 Year Old Retirees, Olympics and #MoneyTalk
- August 26,Farewell, EpiPens, Ombudsman Report and #MoneyTalk
- September 9,iPhone 7, High Tuition, Loose Money & #MoneyTalk
- September 16, Unemployment Up, On the Money, Debt and #MoneyTalk
- September 23, Rate Rises, Winter is Coming, Access Neutrality and #MoneyTalk
- September 30, Bye Bye CSBs, 36 Million Strong and #Moneytalk
- October 7, Thanksgiving, Knuckleheads, Debt & the Buddha & #Moneytalk
- October 14, Henson Trusts, RDSP Gripes and #MoneyTalk
- October 21, RDSP , New Mortgage Rules Hurts Economy and #MoneyTalk
- October 28, Overvalued Housing, EU Trade Deal, Overcharging Banks & Scary #MoneyTalk
- November 4, Curses Broken, Doomsday, and #MoneyTalk
Thanks for the mention – will Tweet out your weekend material as always.
Good to see Robert getting some nice, positive press – he did a fine job with his book.
Mark
I can only hope that the banks don’t insert themselves into the financial literacy curriculum, but I won’t hold my breath.
They will be the wolves in sheep clothing unfortunately. As others have said, the banks will do what makes them money.
“Yes, it is Juvenile, but that is who I am.”
We can not stop our bodies from aging but we can try to keep our mind fertile.
RICARDO
Thank you, I like that! 🙂