Canadian Personal Finance Blog

Archive for the ‘Red Cross’ Category

For those of the male persuasion you have learned the joys of St. Valentine’s Day , and while Saint Valentine (Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) ) may have been martyr’ed in the first century his memory has caused a great deal of Financial Martyrdom for those “in love” or wishing to show love.

I realized what a huge industry Saint Valentine’s day was when I first became entwined in a romance and attempted to buy roses (the traditional thing) and found out just how expensive these plants can be at this time of year. It used to be that the prices could quadruple for long stem roses, but thanks to the open market place, the prices really only double, but are still an exorbitant cost. 

Laura Secord chocolates is a nice place to visit, but giving someone you love, rich dark and sweet chocolates these days seems to be frowned on (trying to make them fat or worse drive up their blood sugar level). I like chocolate and the endorphins released eating it is wonderful for a short while too.

Blowing upwards of $200 on flowers and chocolates and then blowing $2-300 on a meal out (try to find a reservation at a restaurant on Saturday night, I dare you (no Swiss Chalet and MacDonald’s do not count)), just seems irresponsible in these hard economic times.

What to do instead?

• Do something for the “apple of your eye”: let them sleep in, clean up the house, take the kids out and give them some peace and quiet.
• Buy them a nice Toblerone Valentine’s chocolate (less than $10 I think).
• Buy a card if you want (but don’t go wild) better still write your own card with your own words or a quote like:
  

  The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

  -Helen Keller

• Go give blood, the Red Cross needs that Red Stuff in your veins, that is a good metaphor for Valentine of Rome. That shows love to someone you don’t even know.
• Spend time together at a movie (I hear the new Friday the 13th movie is coming out), or just go for a walk.

Bankrupting yourself financially is not a sign of love (it is a sign of a feeble financial mind).

What does Valentine’s Day Mean to Me?

To me Valentine’s Day has always meant love, but in a different way. It is my parents’ anniversary on that day (they have been married for 56 years), so I celebrate their lives together on that day as much as the love I have for my wife and her saintly patience.

RRSP deadline is March 2nd. Complete your taxes with QuickTax before the deadline.

Today in Canada is Remembrance Day where the citizens of Canada thank the Veteran’s of all wars for their sacrifice and thank them for what they have done for all Canadians and for many others world wide. 

As a teenager I wanted to be a fighter pilot and I was sure I was going to be able to cut it, but two things derailed that plan, one was my eyesight which went just bad enough to disqualify me from being allowed into the elite fighter pilot program. I still went in to talk to a recruiter at my High School, and he was a very nice man who pointed out that I had one other point against me, I am 6′4″ tall, and that is too tall to fit in the jets, due to how the ejection seats work. Had I not had those two issues, I am pretty sure I would have tried to be a fighter pilot.

Lest We Forget

Lest we Forget

I wear my poppy with pride (if not some pain from the straight pin that keeps sticking me when I put my jacket on, but that shows I may not have been cut out to be in the military if I am worried about being stuck with a straight pin). 

This picture shows to those of you who are not sure what I am talking about. The poppy is the symbol for Remembrance day, and we wear it proudly.

Thank you to those present and former members of the Canadian and British Armed Forces, who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we remember you, and you have our humble thanks.

“Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9:7)

Why would anyone give their money away in a cheerful way? We work hard for our money, and we have many bills to pay, so why would you give it away cheerfully?

Here are a couple of reasons I can give:

• It’s going to do some good for my community, my family or my friends. Pretty selfish reason, but a good reason to be cheerful giving money to a local charity or local community group.
• It’s going to help someone I love, like say paying for my kids’ University Education (yes, I complain about the price of it, but the money is given happily).
• It’s going to help someone, I give to the United Way for that reason. I know the United Way has a high overhead, but some of the money is going to do someone some good (I really hope).
• It’s going to help someone get better, like when I give blood (#14 two weeks ago, which is not much, but it is a start).
• It’s going to make me feel good too. That is the usual reason I give to charity is the selfish happy feeling I get (maybe it’s smugness, I don’t know) that I am helping in some small way.

Give Cheerfully, and enjoy the feeling

So I have just finished giving blood for the 7th time (not much, but it’s a start). I give because I have it, and it’s a minor inconvenience in my day (and I get to eat as many powdered donuts as I can snarf back, with very little guilt). I have used blood products, my family has, as have friends, I think it’s important to pay back.

If you are in Canada, contact the Canadian Blood Services or click on this link to find a clinic near you, if you are in the States, I think you still go through the Red Cross. If you can’t give blood, or don’t want to, donate some money then, or better still volunteer to help out. I never grew up to be a doctor, like I thought I should (sometimes), but at least I am helping someone now.

I challenge bloggers (expect a tag from me soon), to give! –C8j