So the Fed in the U.S. have hiked their key rate from 0.5 % to 0.75 % for the first time in a year, and only the second time this decade? (I hadn’t realized how stable we have been). That hike is a 50% actual jump (if you want to sound alarmist), but what does it mean for Canada? I don’t really know. It does not look like Canada will follow suit, and when Mr. Trump becomes Emperor Trump, things may change again, but no one is really sure just yet. The one thing I know is that millions of words analyzing this change are out there for you to read, about the interest rate hikes.
The most intriguing part of the announcement is that there are 3 planned rate increases for 2017? This is in reaction to an inflationary trend being seen in the states. Canada may not react with an interest rate hike right away, but a reaction seems likely (unless gas jumps to $120 a barrel in which case the Canadian economy will be back in boom mode).
What should you do about this? Lower your debt, now, before it become more expensive to hold, thanks to these interest rate hikes.
The TFSA limit for 2017 is going back to being $5500 (you should know this for your end of year and start of 2017 financial planning). Doesn’t look like the limit is going to go up in 2018 either, which sucks. Don’t be financially stupid, still take advantage of the TFSA program (even if the rates suck).
My Writings for Week Ending December 16th
With the holidays next week, and getting together with family and friends, I wanted to help out with those interactions with my simple idea, Christmas Advice: How to Deal with Uncle Frank the Financial Expert. Every family has the one relative who is a know-it-all and wants to tell you what you are doing wrong.
A Money Thought
The CRA likes to think they can help out with your end of year account close outs, and remember to give this holiday season.
Planning to donate over the holidays? Calculate what you’ll receive in tax credits with this easy tool: https://t.co/XQontdQPfG
— Canada Revenue Agency (@CanRevAgency) December 15, 2016
Tis the Season
I think a lot of my favorite writers are getting ready for the season, but there are still a lot of great stories out there. Remember to stay in tune with my Twitter feed (bigcajunman) where I broadcast some of my archives and my favorite articles of the week too.
- There are two certainties, death and taxes, and Mark from the Blunt Bean Counter covers both with, U.S. Estate Tax for Canadians, how does he keep track of all this stuff? I can see where in the states, some folks call Estate Taxes, death taxes. Taxing death, now that is where the money is!
- Robb from Boomer and Echo has a great set of New Years Resolutions in his My 2017 Financial Goals (yes we should be thinking about next year as well). I hate resolutions myself, but goals I can get on board with.
- In Ottawa, the new Phoenix pay system continues to be a big news story. For those who are thinking, who cares if Civil Servants get paid, remember all the problems here are added costs that end up coming out of taxpayers pockets.
- On the festive side of things, if you were to ask my favourite Christmas song, I’d have to say the Pogues – Fairytale of New York. The song sums it all up nicely to me.
- There are countless “end of year” pieces being written, but I like all of them, and Mark from My Own Advisor gives us a good one with Year end tax tips and financial housekeeping. Read these articles, you would be surprised what you might forget during the festivities at the end of the year.
- Michael James found an excellent article about how life can be unpredictable, and he writes about it in, How Life Can Mess Up the Best-Laid Financial Plans. It is important to make sure you understand the financial coverage that you have, because life can change in the blink of an eye.
Learn About Investing #3: Compound Growth
Money School continues on trying to educate us about investing, this week compound growth
The Rules of Monopoly
A helpful video for all those Christmas monopoly games!
2016 Random Thoughts
- January 7th, Market Meltdown, TFSA, WildCard Weekend and #MoneyStories
- January 14th, Cheap Oil, Cheap Dollar, Dead Folk, and #MoneyStories
- January 21st, Loose Money, High Household Debt, Weak Loons and #MoneyStories
- January 29th, Doomsday Clocks, Rogue RRSP Receipts, Cash Crops and #MoneyStories
- February 4th Bouncing Loonies, RRSP Season, Superb Owls and #MoneyStories
- February 12th Lent is Here, Bricked iPhones, Love Day and #MoneyStories
- February 19th Digging Out, Ransomware, RRSP Time and #MoneyStories
- February 26th RRSP Time and #MoneyStories
- March 4th Welcome Americans and #MoneyStories
- March 11th Bank Rate Stays Put, Spring Forward and #MoneyStories
- March 18th Financial March Madness, Budgets and #MoneyStories
- March 25th, Easter is Here and some #MoneyStories
- April 1, Money Fools, Ronnie, and #MoneyStories
- April 8, Tax Time, Spring Delayed, Panama Papers and #MoneyStories
- April 15,Loose Money, Free Stuff, Hockey and #MoneyStories
- April 22,Disabilities, Tax Time, The Queen and #MoneyStories
- April 29,Pitter Patter Tax Time, RESPs are For Rich Folk and #MoneyStories
- May 6, Fort Mac, Mothers and #MoneyTalk
- May 13, Panama Papers, Google & PayDay Loans, Full Moons and #MoneyTalk
- May 20, Victoria Day, The People’s Elbow, Haircuts and #MoneyTalk
- May 27, Loose Money and #MoneyTalk
- June 3, CRA Itunes Pmts, RESP Scams and #MoneyTalk
- June 10, Portal to Hell Opens in Ottawa, BoC FSR and #MoneyTalk
- June 17, Fathers Day, Trump Housing Bubble, and #MoneyTalk
- June 24, Brexit, Fete National, Enhanced CPP and #MoneyTalk
- July 1, Happy Canada Day and Best Mid-Year Financial Stories
- July 8, Brexit Market Mayhem, Millenial Bashing and #MoneyTalk
- July 15,Brexit Hurts, Loose Money, Postal Strikes, Recounts and #Moneytalks
- July 22,More Pensions, New CTC, and #MoneyTalk
- July 31, Unknown Long Weekend, Windows 10 and #MoneyTalk
- August 5, The Olympics, Topless Spelunkers, and #MoneyTalk
- August 12, Women Rule, Less Jobs and #MoneyTalk
- August 19, Obnoxious 30 Year Old Retirees, Olympics and #MoneyTalk
- August 26,Farewell, EpiPens, Ombudsman Report and #MoneyTalk
- September 9,iPhone 7, High Tuition, Loose Money & #MoneyTalk
- September 16, Unemployment Up, On the Money, Debt and #MoneyTalk
- September 23, Rate Rises, Winter is Coming, Access Neutrality and #MoneyTalk
- September 30, Bye Bye CSBs, 36 Million Strong and #Moneytalk
- October 7, Thanksgiving, Knuckleheads, Debt & the Buddha & #Moneytalk
- October 14, Henson Trusts, RDSP Gripes and #MoneyTalk
- October 21, RDSP , New Mortgage Rules Hurts Economy and #MoneyTalk
- October 28, Overvalued Housing, EU Trade Deal, Overcharging Banks & Scary #MoneyTalk
- November 4, Curses Broken, Doomsday, and #MoneyTalk
- November 10, Grating America, Shocking Mornings, Making Debt Great Again and #MoneyTalk
- November 17, CPFC16, Black Friday, Mortgage Hikes and #MoneyTalk
- November 24, Black Friday is Here, Exciting Tax Calculations and MoneyTalk
- December 2, Air Miles Blinks, Advent Begins and #Moneytalk
- December 9, Xmas It Gift, Loose Money and #MoneyTalk
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Hope you enjoyed the latest dose of the white stuff!
Thanks for the mention. Happy holidays!
Mark