2016 may feel like a world away, but its lessons still echo—economically, socially, and personally. In this post, we revisit the year with a “pitter patter, let’s get at ’er” attitude, drawing from Canadian pop culture and personal finance reflections. From shifting markets to evolving habits, 2016 was a year of movement, motivation, and momentum. Whether you lived it loud or barely kept up, this recap blends wit with wisdom—true to the Canajun style.
Keywords: 2016, pitter patter, Canadian finance, year in review, Letterkenny, financial habits, motivation, economic outlook, personal growth
The CBC had an interesting story about a disabled person who had both legs removed, who had to re-file to keep their disability claim (effectively to prove their legs had not grown back). While this sounds horrible, it was most likely an admin error at the CRA, as normally they are pretty good on the disability claim side of things. The CBC however also trumpeted, Delay at CRA hurting disabled Canadians, advocates say, which is sensationalized, but has some ring of truth. The entire disability claim system is complicated and quite daunting for a lot of folks, if you want proof check out my article CRA Child Disability Benefit (How To) and the 160 comments on it from various folks asking for help. The article also talks about the private firms that folks engage to help the process that end up gouging their customers (in my opinion), which I outline in Disability Tax Credit: Please Do It Yourself. No one should be profiting on someone’s disability claim. I also agree with the assertion that the system needs to be made simpler for the average person to make a claim, or there needs to be more help for those folks. The CRA does have a Nurse on call that can help out with disability claims, if you tweet their account (so keep that in mind as well).
Sad to hear we have lost another great musician with the death of Prince this week. Remember folks, your hero age the same way you do. I never saw Prince live, but evidently it was something else.
The Queen and 3 generations of her children
Remember that your tax deadline is April 30th, and there is no extension planned by the CRA. You had your chance to have free Turbotax, although I have 5 licenses to give away, and only 3 comments on my giveaway post, who knows?
The Queen turns 90, and continues to work a withering (to me) schedule of events. I have problems getting to work in the morning, and this nonagenarian still works harder? I gotta step up my game, God Save the Queen!
My Writings for the Week Ending April 22nd
Another week where I wasn’t overly motivated to write. I assume this is a short lull, so I continue to find older writings from my archive of over 220 unfinished posts, with A Personal Spending Surplus ? If you have a spending surplus, you should pay off debt, and then once that is done, you should save it, stop lifestyle creep!
A Money Thought
Time is the only limited resource in your financial plan, keep that in mind!
Loose money policies continue, but we still can talk about other things like hockey, free stuff and tax season as well! Tight money would be a bad thing.
Remember that Tax Season is in full swing, so it might be time to file your return (primarily if you are owed money). Don’t loan the Government money. Make sure you neither owe nor get a huge rebate.
You can call the CRA if you have questions about your taxes, but remember, many folks are panicking working on their taxes right now as well, so be patient with the wait and with the folks trying to help.
This week, a big snowfall should remind folks who live in Ottawa that Spring may be in the air, but that does not mean there won’t be any more snow. Most of the snow is gone, but does that mean we are finished with the white stuff? Not until after your taxes have been filed!
The Panama Papers leak seems to be causing a great deal of consternation for many of the 1% and many politicians. I guess my question is, would you rather be mentioned in the Panama Papers or the Ashley Madison leak? (maybe both?). RBC was mentioned in the Panama Papers, and they don’t think there is anything wrong with it.
April 2nd was Autism Awareness day. At our house, we call it Saturday. It’s also my Daughter’s birthday. Autism awareness has a noble goal. However, frankly, more services and support would be great too. The new Ontario Autism services model isn’t going to help. We are fortunate my son is higher on the spectrum. Nonetheless, that does not mean I deserve little (or no) services because he is older. People assume I am evidently rich.
My Writings for Week Ending April 8th
A busy week meant I really only got 1 article written. However, I continue to put up my best on my Twitter feed. There is a lot of other great stuff too.
We are getting close to Tax time. Tax Reflections for 2016 highlights the things I keep forgetting for my taxes.
I was saddened to read the passing of Ronnie Corbett, a noted English comedian and one half of the Two Ronnies. I grew up with his humor, and still enjoy watching the Two Ronniesskits on Youtube (look up Four Candles). Watching this show was very much a family event in our house (whereas my Mother refused to watch Monty Python with us, as it was much lower brow humor).
And it’s Good Night From Him
I suppose I could stay with tradition and write a swerve paragraph about financial planning, given it is April Fools Day, but given how things are going in the world, I can’t write anything that would sound implausible. The U.S. Elections seem to be ruining any attempt at ironic humor, as it is just flat-out Nuts!
I guess I could write a Debt is Good post, but no one would believe anything like that coming from me.
My Writings for Week Ending April 1st
I continue to work on my backlog of articles, and found a couple I could work with.
I suppose I am showing how paranoid I am about the financial world with Advice From a Rich Man, but if I knew how to make a bloody fortune, do you think I’d share that information? Not likely.
“There was a fire at the main Inland Revenue office in London today, but it was put out before any serious good was done.” –The Two Ronnies
All Daddy really wants is the big piece of chicken, but the problem is there are too many Daddies out there trying to get that big piece of financial chicken.
“All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my right hand.” –The Two Ronnies
An After Easter Thought
Everything happens for a reason. Sometimes that reason is you are stupid and you make horrific choices. Stop doing that.
