Canadian Personal Finance Blog

So this home finance rant was caused by one of our family cats, Jinx, feeling unwell. I must preface this story with the statement that I love my pet(s), I am ranting at the high cost of keeping them.

Jinx is a long black furred cat (that’s his picture on the left, in our bathtub) and in the summer, he gets fur balls, throws them up and then his stomach is upset and he stops eating (even though I pay too much for “anti-furball” food, but that is another rant about the high price of pet food).

This year, Jinx gets so sick he goes to the vet, who rehydrates him (intravenously!), and suggests he stays over night, but luckily Mrs. Cheapy C8j convinces them that Jinxy should go home instead. Final cost of fixing this $90 cat (no complaints about that price, it went to the Humane Society)? $301.00 and at the end of it we saved $200.00 by him not staying over night Whoo Hoo!

The moral? Well, there isn’t one, it’s mostly me just ranting about the high price of Vets. I am happy my cat is well again.

Another option? Pet Insurance, I kid you not, click on the link, President’s Choice in Canada is offering Pet Insurance. I have not investigated it, but that is another option (but again, investigate thoroughly before putting your money down on this kind of thing).

Remember that before you get a pet (unless it is a goldfish) there are co$ts and responsibilities involved in getting a pet.

For those of my readers who don’t know I have been contributing to a few “Blogletters” and this is one of them. The Carnival of Personal Finance is a good cross section with articles submitted by many talented folks in the area of finance (who always have interesting ideas as well!). I submitted my rant last week about the Atkins diet folks and how it doesn’t need to make you broke to lose weight! Have a peek at Carnival of the Capitalists as well.

(I stole this nifty icon from the Free Money Finance folks, in case you were wondering) –C8j

OK folks, I realize I have my blogroll down the side of my blog, but it is a generic list of sites that I am interested in, so here are the sites that I link to and what I think of that site.

• The Canadian Capitalist an excellent site which discusses stocks but finances and other useful topics in general!
• The Dividend Guy and his battle towards financial independence, I like reading about other people’s hard work, it inspires me.
• FreeMoneyFinance blog lots of discussions about how to increase your net worth, and of course a nice moose on the page too!
• Everybody Loves Your Money good goal setting and ideas for how to be cheap and keep your money (a topic near and dear to my heart)
• UK Finances finances from across the Atlantic, helping any of my relatives from the UK out.
• It is Your Money with an Indian point of view on the discussion, always good to know how finances work around the world.
• The Wealthy Bloggers again give good ideas and advice for folks tackling day to day financial problems.
• All Things Financial very specific financial advise from a REAL financial advisor (in Texas)
• Stocks on line useful data on stocks.
• Quatloos a good site that outlines the SCAMS and FRAUDS going on in the Internet these days, well worth a read!

These folks have some great ideas, have a peak at them and I should have some new stuff in a day or two as well –C8j

I was sad to see the passing of fellow Canadian Peter Jennings, this past week from Lung Cancer (another really good reason to keep your money and NOT smoke). (rant begin)Speaking of rude smokers last night at a Little League baseball game a young lady lit up in front of us, we asked her to please put it out, and her comment was, “I’m outside!”, like my lungs somehow might not be irritated by her smoke because of this? (rant over)

The accolades and stories for Mr. Jennings were neat to see, but it was interesting to see that he never bought a NEW car in his life (he always bought a used one). What does this show, no matter how much money you make (and I believe Mr. Jennings made a nice pay packet) being FRUGAL is a lifestyle and not something to forget about once you get comfortable. Just because you can afford to buy a BMW, doesn’t mean you HAVE to buy a BMW, does it?

How much money is enough by the way? I think that may be my next spiritual question to be wrestled with, since I have found that no matter how much money I have, I could always use a little (or a lot) more.

–C8j