My house is for sale. If you would like to check out the listing, you can check mls #9601976.
http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=8123331
This is a tough market so I'm not sure how long it will take to sell. It doesn't help that my next door neighbour has listed her house for less money.
Oh well, if it doesn't sell, at least I'll have a nice place to live in on my vacations. And I'll be able to enjoy the yard and have lots of beer drinking/hammock time this summer.
Cheers
BB
Friday, April 10, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Investing classroom
If anyone is interested in learning more about investing, there are some great tutorials available at Morningstar. Here's the link:
http://www.morningstar.com/Cover/Classroom.html
Please let me know once you have finished all 172 of the courses so that I can call you up to ask for advice. I'm too lazy to do the courses myself. lol
BB
http://www.morningstar.com/Cover/Classroom.html
Please let me know once you have finished all 172 of the courses so that I can call you up to ask for advice. I'm too lazy to do the courses myself. lol
BB
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Budgeting
This post is in response to an excellent reader question.
I find that the best budgeting tool is a small notebook, rather than on-line software. I buy books with columns that are set up for keeping financial records but a simple notebook or some foolscap in a binder would work too. You can get them from any store (Zellers, Staples, etc) for less than $10.
One advantage of the book is that it is hacker proof.
It is also easy to use and cheap to purchase.
On-line software is good too but it tends to suck time out of your day if you find yourself using the chart and budget tool too often. Let's be honest, it doesn't matter how often you stare at the numbers, they are always the same. If you do want software, use a simple and cheap program like Microsoft works. This software should already be available on your home computer and won't cost you anything.
I've used Quicken in the past and it was easy to use but expensive to purchase. There are other good programs available too.
Just be careful. You don't want the act of budgeting to take up too much of your time. It is a tool to help you meet your life goals - not an end in itself. Budgeting should not be a black hole that eats up all your spare time. Also, budgeting is not an end in itself, it is merely a tool to get you to where you want to be over time.
If you want to find a way to live the good life without spending more than needed, you can try setting up a price book. This can be as simple as a little excel spreadsheet that lists all your favourite grocery and drug store items. Then you look through the weekend flyers of your favourite stores and write down the prices of each of your chosen products. Sometimes the savings can be dramatic and once your spreadsheet is set up you won't need to spend much time on it at all.
Have fun and don't forget to drop your calculator and go outside for a nice walk once in a while to clear the mind.
Cheers
BB
I find that the best budgeting tool is a small notebook, rather than on-line software. I buy books with columns that are set up for keeping financial records but a simple notebook or some foolscap in a binder would work too. You can get them from any store (Zellers, Staples, etc) for less than $10.
One advantage of the book is that it is hacker proof.
It is also easy to use and cheap to purchase.
On-line software is good too but it tends to suck time out of your day if you find yourself using the chart and budget tool too often. Let's be honest, it doesn't matter how often you stare at the numbers, they are always the same. If you do want software, use a simple and cheap program like Microsoft works. This software should already be available on your home computer and won't cost you anything.
I've used Quicken in the past and it was easy to use but expensive to purchase. There are other good programs available too.
Just be careful. You don't want the act of budgeting to take up too much of your time. It is a tool to help you meet your life goals - not an end in itself. Budgeting should not be a black hole that eats up all your spare time. Also, budgeting is not an end in itself, it is merely a tool to get you to where you want to be over time.
If you want to find a way to live the good life without spending more than needed, you can try setting up a price book. This can be as simple as a little excel spreadsheet that lists all your favourite grocery and drug store items. Then you look through the weekend flyers of your favourite stores and write down the prices of each of your chosen products. Sometimes the savings can be dramatic and once your spreadsheet is set up you won't need to spend much time on it at all.
Have fun and don't forget to drop your calculator and go outside for a nice walk once in a while to clear the mind.
Cheers
BB
Sunday, January 18, 2009
National Thrift Week
January 17 to 24 is national thrift week in the blogosphere. If you want to join in, try celebrating this way:
- Have a Bank Account Day
- Invest Safely Day
- Carry Life Insurance Day
- Keep a Budget Day
- Pay Bills Promptly Day
- Own Your Home Day
- Share with Others Day
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
What credit freeze?
My bank just increased my credit line without being asked. I rarely use it and they don't make any money off me so this won't help their bottom line.
Don't the banks know that there is a credit freeze on in Canada?
Don't the banks know that there is a credit freeze on in Canada?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The details
The techies in my family have asked for details so here they are.....
I bought a Samsung 42" plasma $659 with a Samsung Blu Ray player $179. Both from Future Shop - best price and free stuff thrown in. I got 3 free blu ray movies and 6 months of a free HD TV upgrade from my existing service provider included in the price. The deal is that I continue to pay my normal rate for TV service and they install a HD dish, HD receiver and give me free channels for 6 months. After that I'll be hooked so I'm sure they will get their money back. lol
My next TV will have all the bells and whistles but this one is great for the money and I'm really happy with it. I was very impressed with the Panasonic Viera but just don't have the extra few dollars right now. It was selling for $1399 with a sale price of $1299. I loved the TV but would have had to wait until after Christmas to buy it if this was the set that I wanted. The reason is that I just bought new living room furniture and don't have tons of cash right now so I'm pacing myself.
The only thing that I don't have is a surround sound system. To be honest, I have never had a good sound system so I don't miss it. My living room opens onto about half the house so it would be hard to position the speakers for good sound quality. It wouldn't be a bad thing for me to wait until I get a house with a more enclosed TV room before I buy a good surround sound system. I was intrigued with Cycling Potato's Bose suggestion and I'll definitely think about it and will have a listen in the stores.
I might be the last person in Canada to get a nice TV but it was worth the wait. Great TV at a great price. Can't beat that.
BB
I bought a Samsung 42" plasma $659 with a Samsung Blu Ray player $179. Both from Future Shop - best price and free stuff thrown in. I got 3 free blu ray movies and 6 months of a free HD TV upgrade from my existing service provider included in the price. The deal is that I continue to pay my normal rate for TV service and they install a HD dish, HD receiver and give me free channels for 6 months. After that I'll be hooked so I'm sure they will get their money back. lol
My next TV will have all the bells and whistles but this one is great for the money and I'm really happy with it. I was very impressed with the Panasonic Viera but just don't have the extra few dollars right now. It was selling for $1399 with a sale price of $1299. I loved the TV but would have had to wait until after Christmas to buy it if this was the set that I wanted. The reason is that I just bought new living room furniture and don't have tons of cash right now so I'm pacing myself.
The only thing that I don't have is a surround sound system. To be honest, I have never had a good sound system so I don't miss it. My living room opens onto about half the house so it would be hard to position the speakers for good sound quality. It wouldn't be a bad thing for me to wait until I get a house with a more enclosed TV room before I buy a good surround sound system. I was intrigued with Cycling Potato's Bose suggestion and I'll definitely think about it and will have a listen in the stores.
I might be the last person in Canada to get a nice TV but it was worth the wait. Great TV at a great price. Can't beat that.
BB
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