Canadian Personal Finance Digest January 2024

bigcajunman

February 2

Given I seem to be writing a bit more these days, maybe a digest of my monthly Canadian Personal Finance writings would be useful.

My Canadian Personal Finance Writings January 2024

I will take the liberty of including my previous writings from a while back. I have not bound them together for a while.

Back to School, Food Inflation, and #MoneyTalk, that was back in September a good long while ago, but Food Inflation is still very much an issue these days.
Good idea Terrible implementation is the story of an exercise bike, and a rehash of an older story.
I think you can guess what Happy Thanksgiving 2023 might be about.
CPP, CPP2 and EI for 2024 introduced the exciting new concept of CPP2, the next generation for those who make a little more than most.
Advent Calendar Box 1 is a rewrite of the previous Financial Advent Calendar.
Inflation seems to be getting better but Food Inflation at 5.4% points out things aren't that good.
I have written about RESPs a lot and Saving for Education? Invest in an RESP is more of my standard statements about the RESP.
Festivus and the Airing of Financial Grievances 2023 is an updated list of financial things that are getting on my nerves!
The end of the year is important especially in the area of investing.
Christmas time 2023 came and went.
No good matches on Boxing Day 2023 either.
My wife tried to use cash as a budgeting tool this past Christmas. She ound out that Cash is not King any more.
I do enjoy lampooning Top 5 lists and with Top 5 List I have my tongue firmly in cheek.
Will 2024 be a Happy New Year? So far it has had a few bumps along the way.
One of the big questions in investing is when to start. In my opinion, with RDSP the question is about when to get Grants, the answer is, it depends.
Easy bank to bank transfers is me lamenting how complicated the whole thing can be.
ChatGPT is supposed to be useful but when I asked about a Quicken Catch-up Plan the response was less than useful.
Closing estates in Quebec, has an extra spice. Is This the Actual Will I point out one area where you must get both Federal and Quebec verification of the will.
Ensuring Your Financial Security This Birthday and Beyond is another good list of things to remember on your birthday.
Who can Sign for the Disability Tax Credit? The list has got longer, which is a good thing.
There is no such thing as free services. With Free Services Don't Get Surprised I point out how I almost got snookered a few years past.
My Top 5 Investing Regrets needed to be updated, so here are some more from me.
Savings as a Financial Misnomer points out that because something has Savings in it's title, does not mean it is only a Savings Account.

Other folks' writings

Michael James writes about a Misleading Retirement Study, not surprising really. Trying to convince folks they have enough/not enough money for their retirement seems to. be a full-time job for. a lot of "Financial Influencers".
Doug Hoyes asks College & Student Loans, are they really worth it? An interesting perspective on a hot topic these days.
Is now the time to sell? Preet interprets one alleged sign of the coming Polar Bear Market, and as usual, debunks things for us.

Happy New Year Numbers

Inflation	3.1%	Bank of Canada Rate	5.0%
Food Inflation	4.7%
Unemployment	5.3%	Canada Population	40.7M+
TD Prime	7.2%	Scotiabank Prime	7.2%
BMO Prime	7.2%	EQ Prime	7.2%

Some Fun Numbers January 31st, 2024

Random Thoughts from the Past

Back to School, Food Inflation, and #MoneyTalk what did things look like a year later? Inflation was down, but not for food. Life went on.
Inflation , TZ3, Interest Rates and #MoneyTalk were back in May of 2022. Note those very different numbers compared to now.
April Ends, Tax Time, Pandemics and #MoneyTalk is the first best-of posting of the year. A bit of a hack job, but not a bad read
Happy New Year 2022 and #MoneyTalk how the year began, little did we know what fun that was to come?
Emancipation Day and #MoneyTalk was a good long while ago, but still some interesting info.
Good Friday, COVID continues, XRP, Tax Time and #MoneyTalk Good Friday was still during the odd time of full COVID lockdown too. (April 2^nd)
Happy New Year 2021 and #MoneyTalk wrapped up the year that was (2020) and talked of new and exciting days ahead (January 2^nd)