Random Thoughts: Two More Sleeps ’til Christmas

Yes, it all comes to a tumultuous end on Sunday, presents strewn around the room, food piled high and people swearing they can’t eat another bite (and then do). Christmas is a magical time for many folks, but remember to give some money to Charity as well, because there are a lot of folks not as lucky as we are, and they need our help.

Was there a Santa Rally on the Markets? Kind of, but then again, everything is so screwed up, I can’t tell which way is up either.

Hope we all enjoyed the shortest day of the year yesterday (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), days will start getting longer now, which is great, given how bleak and dark it has been in November.

Note:Even we diligent Financial Bloggers take some time off on the holidays, but fear not, I will have posts going up (I hope) over the holidays, but it may be the infamous Top 20 Posts of 2011, stay tuned, and enjoy the festivities with your family and friends.

Weekly Recap

The Winter Solstice didn’t get mentioned this week, but there were a few interesting posts from me:

• At the end of it, it was not Tebow Time this past Sunday, but an interesting video from PBS about kids and money as well
• Many folks have commented to disagree, but they didn’t get the jist of why not just give ca$h which was don’t give gift cards, give cash (don’t give your wife cash, unless that is what she wants)
• I was in a weird place when I wrote decisions made in haste, are liable to bite you on the ass, not sure why I wrote it, but it’s a good rant
• Unfortunately CPI is still hot for November in Canada, which will not help the economy recover much
• What does Motorhead have to do with Personal finance, read eat the rich to find out how big a stretch I took

And thanks to those who added me on Twitter I am now over 960 folks who follow me, wow!. Check out my facebook page as well.

Links for the Week

Was it as festive on other folks’ personal finance sites this week? We shall see:

• If you think I go on interesting money tangents, read The Physics of Finance especially the Higgs Boson — and the value of money your mind will spin like an electron in a covalent bond.
• Speaking of Physics one of my Faves Cocktail Physics has a Guest Post: Gifts for the Little Scientist on your list some interesting stuff here.
• Michael James wonders why there is a war on loyal customers, no one wants to keep customers, they just want new ones.
• Our happy finance hombreMy Own Advisor brings us an odd rendition of ‘Twas the night before Christmas … the personal finance and bloggers edition, an interesting read too, and festive!
• Echo of Boomer and Echo wonders will you be better off financially next year? I honestly have no idea.
• Ellen Roseman argues that a Rogers-Bell Collaboration is BAD for Canada, and I agree, open markets, not more monopolies, please.
• Lou from Lou’s Land is fixing the misconception from his video where he puts up the card to “fix” her., read the post if you are interested in a parents view on Autism
• Preet gives us some a lump of coal for Mutual Fund fees over 25 years… Ouch, look at the numbers if you are using regular mutual funds.

Carnivals this Week

I did make it into a few carnivals this week too:

• Tom over at Canadian Finance hosted the Canadian Carnival of Finance #67 which included my article TFSA Limits Don’t Rise (Again) but CRA Thresholds Do

Other Bookkeeping

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Remember

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ”

Author: – St. Luke ii however whenever I read that, I hear Linus’ voice from Charlie Brown reading it.