Canadian Personal Finance Blog

First, I was mentioned (yet again) in the Under 30 Financial Carnival hosted at EFIPO , they selected my quick outline on Dividend Reinvestment Programs. Go have a read, the author this week worked hard to make this more than just a list of articles.

How safe is your job? This week that hit home close to me and not too far away in Smiths Falls. Where I work is doing some downsizing and a few people I know have been affected (effected?) and Hershey’s has now made it official that they will be closing their plant in Smiths Falls very soon. This is always a touchy subject with me, and I remember a good question I once heard which is “How many pay cheques are you from living on the street?”. If you don’t know, maybe it’s time you figure that one out. Remember to hope for the best, and plan for the worst.

An interesting article about Canadians and who and how we go to the Doctor came out from Stats Canada this week. Most Canadians consulted a Doctor some time in 2004, which is good to hear. I think with all of it’s flaws and such, the Canadian Medical system is quite good. I think we could learn from the British system as well, but I think everyone should have access to Medical services, if they need them (which seems contrary to my normally small “c” conservative point of view, but I am a complicated kind of guy that way). Another subject close to my heart, for personal reasons.

Gas prices are soring here in Ottawa and in Southern Ontario thanks to a refinery fire at an ESSO refinery and the CN rail strike. The predictions have gas being over a $1.00 a liter very soon (if not today). Naturally I have to do a lot of driving this weekend, so I am just delighted with this news!

The Canadian Capitalist continues to scower the Blogosphere to find new and exciting financial blogs, and he has another list of new sites to have a look at.

I view with happiness and concern TD Financial’s latest results. I am a share holder so I am glad to see good results, but I also bank there and wonder how the heck they make so much money, then I remember how much I pay for “services” and realize where some of these profits come from.

All over the board today folks, but still an interesting Friday.