Archive for September 2014
Downsizing: Should You Buy Or Rent?
One of our readers, Joy, commented on the decision to downsize from their large home to a small rental bungalow. She states, “At this point we don’t expect to own a home again – we plan on being renters…the whole concept of being a renter is very freeing.” Joy mentioned that their lawyer told them…
Read MoreHow Behavioural Biases Kept Me From Becoming An Indexer
I’ve spent the last five years convincing myself – and many of you – that I’m a sophisticated do-it-yourself investor with a sound strategy that will outperform the market over the long run. My dividend growth investment approach has indeed performed well, returning over 16% per year since 2009. But the stock market in general…
Read MoreIntroducing Two New Cash Back Cards from American Express
Travel rewards credit cards got all the attention in the big Aeroplan shake-up last summer. But now the cash back segment is getting a much-needed shot in the arm with the introduction of the new SimplyCash and SimplyCash Preferred Cards from American Express. New SimplyCash Card from American Express The SimplyCash Card – simply put…
Read MoreNever Scrimp On These Things No Matter How Broke You Are
Everyone likes to save money, but sometimes buying cheap or eliminating necessary expenses altogether can cost you in the long run. Some things are so important to your health and safety that it isn’t wise or cost effective to look for the cheapest option – or skip altogether. Don’t cut these from your budget no…
Read MoreYou’re Not Raiding Your Retirement If You Use The Home Buyers’ Plan (Unless You Are)
From what I can tell, most of the arguments against using the Home Buyers’ Plan are really arguments against buying a house you can’t afford, or castigations of the government for incentivizing home ownership…because people are buying houses they can’t afford. Related: First Time Home Buyers – HBP or TFSA? Remember: reduced to its simplest…
Read MoreExtended Warranties: Good Deal, Or Cash Grab?
When we downsized a couple of months ago we had to dispose of most of our furniture, as it just would not fit in our new home. As a result, we have been doing a lot of shopping lately! I’m not normally much of a shopper, so I was surprised that almost every transaction ended…
Read MoreWealthing Like Rabbits: Book Review And Giveaway
I’ve read a lot of personal finance books – I mean A LOT – and for the most part, unless there is a hook like the latte factor, or it is written in a unique “story” perspective like Jonathan Chevreau’s Findependence Day, the books are boring and the advice all sounds the same. Wealthing Like…
Read MoreInvest Like A Billionaire? No Thanks!
Exchange traded funds have surged in popularity over the last decade, and for good reason. A low cost, broadly diversified fund that tracks a stock index like the S&P/TSX 60 or S&P 500 doesn’t need to pay an expensive management and research team to deliver its mandate – saving you money. But a disturbing trend…
Read MoreWhen Is The Best Time To Invest?
It’s not surprising that investors (especially first-time investors) often worry about the timing of their stock purchases. They believe they can accurately predict when it will rise and fall. The financial media is obsessed with market timing. Market timing doesn’t work for the average investor – or even most professionals – so don’t listen to…
Read MoreBan On Embedded Commissions Coming, Despite Industry Objection
In 1996, following one of the worst mass killings in history, the Australian government made sweeping reform to its gun control laws, banning semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, and limiting ownership to an extremely narrow range of purposes. As a result, the government bought back nearly 650,000 of these weapons and now just 5 percent of…
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