Canadian Personal Finance Blog

People ask me that question occasionally, and it always makes me think that since I can’t name the 5 things I want straight off the top of my head, there must be something wrong with me.

Ask yourself that question right now, and write down 5 things that you think you need this Christmas. Do it, this is an exercise, you ready? Let’s move forward then.

Of these 5 things, how many do you need so badly that any of the following might happen:

1. A loved one will leave you.
2. You will lose your house or job
3. You will die a painful death
4. You’ll remember this gift next Christmas
5. You’ll be using it in six months

Yes (1), (2), and (3) are WAY too dramatic, but are any of the things you want in that category? If so, I hope you get them!

How many gifts that you got last year, do you remember? Do you remember who you got them from? Do you remember why someone bought you this gift? I know I got socks last year, because I didn’t have enough socks (I never have enough socks), I got a cloth bracelet that says “P.U.S.H.”, and I got other wonderful gifts like that (when my wife reads this, I know I will be in trouble, since she will then quiz me about what she got me, as well).

I think this is why people say you should think about the gifts you give for the Holidays (be it Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, Ramadan, or Druid Shortest Day of the Year). My problem is, I am just that thick that I can’t figure out what people REALLY need. I tried a couple of times, but the reaction I got suggested I missed on what I thought that person wanted.

Oh, and another piece of advice is you can never spend too much on a gift at Christmas, however, no matter what the price of the gift there is no guarantee the recipient will remember it a week later either. I know my son won’t, he might eat the ribbon, but it’s doubtful he’ll remember this Christmas much (but we’ll have it on video for him to enjoy later).

Put some thought in your gifts, or better still put your thoughts down on paper and give them, or tell the person you are giving a gift to why you are giving this gift, it might help the gift last a little longer (in their hearts).

–C8j

Winter has finally come in all it’s glory and force to Ottawa. Great storm, not really that bad, but all those folks who seem to think All Season tires work fine in snow are learning how well this hypothesis works in application.

So here is an interesting question, if you live in the Northern part of the Northern Hemisphere, how do you get your snow removed?

• Heave it yourself using a trusty shovel, or scoop?
• Have a burly son or sons who heave it for you?
• Hire someone to clear the snow from your driveway?
• Have a snowblower (like me)

All of these have economic expense, but it all boils down to what you are willing to pay. I paid about $800 for my snowblower 6 years ago, I have had it overhauled once for about $110. How many times have I used it? That’s hard to say, but I bought it at my old house which had a single car driveway but moved to a house with a double car driveway.

My guess is I have used the blower about 90 times in these 6 years or so, which makes it about $10 a use (now that is not including gasoline costs). I also like using the blower, because as a kid my Dad made me shovel the driveway, and I hated it. When I cleared the driveway myself, I got very sore the next day as well (when I got older).

We had a contractor do our driveways one year, but then you run into funny rules about how much snow is enough to make them come and clear it, how many times they clear on a snowy day, etc.,. Now some of the contractors offer money back if they don’t come enough times (say 10 times), which is neat too, but I like to have the snow cleared when I want it cleared, not when someone can get to my house.

What’s the best way of doing this? Well, given my son is only 9 months old, I can’t send him out yet, so I am happy with my snowblower, but for you other options may be optimal.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…. -C8j

One of my daughters has an excellent coach who’s two favorite expressions from the bench are “There it is!” and “Attack, attack!”. Both have to do with offensively what the girls should be doing on the court, and I particularly like “There it is!”.

This expression in Basketball terms is, “You are the open player, who should make the offensive move”. The equivalent of reaching Nirvana in a basketball offense, and in my Financial Life I really wished and wish there was a voice or a sign of “There it is!”, it would make life so much simpler.

Some examples would be:

• Driving by a Bank that will give me good service and no fees, a voice yelling “There it is!”, would be helpful, instead of having to slog my way around to three separate banks and horse trade with them to make them give me the services I want for free.
• Seeing a Used Car that is in good shape, and the price is good, “There it is!” would help out to no end, but without that voice, I need to take the car to my mechanic and have him tell me whether this is a good deal or not.
• I hear about a company that may be turning around it’s fortunes, but I am not sure whether I should invest in it, where is that “There it is!” voice? Nowhere, so I have to do the math, do the research and then take the risk on whether I should put my money there.

Nope, sorry folks, there is no Voice or sign that says, “There it is!”, but there is always ways to at least give yourself a feeling of confidence that you have made the right decision, which is really what “There it is!” is all about, isn’t it?

Now if I could find the “There it is!” for buying Christmas gifts for my family, I’d be tap dancing down the lane for an easy layup! –C8j