Weekend Reading – #BlackFriday deals, millennial struggles, bulldozing 24 Sussex, financial values and more #moneystuff
Welcome to my latest Weekend Reading edition where I share some of my favourite articles from the cold, cold Ottawa tundra…the week that was…across the personal finance and investing blogosphere.
I posted a recap about my CIBC stock purchase going back almost a decade. Read on about buying and holding CIBC then and now.
Math person? Don’t care about crunching some retirement numbers? Too bad. I think you should. Here are some reasons why I believe it’s never too soon to do some retirement math. Check out that post where I link to some FREE calculators to help you out. We all love free right?
Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends. I appreciate your ongoing and growing support of the site!
Shopping for any #BlackFriday deals? Nah, me neither. I mean, my wife got some Christmas shopping done recently but when it comes to flyers, online marketing and spending tons of cash on stuff I don’t need – nah. What are you shopping for this weekend?
Best wishes and see you here next week when I intend to write about some stock considerations for 2019!
Mark
Tom Drake talked with Bob Lai about FIRE. I liked Bob’s final take… “my life path is different than yours.” Simply said, life is all about choices at the end of the day.
Here’s my take on FIRE. “In my early 40s now, I value and appreciate time more. FIRE is something I’ll continue to read up on and give some consideration to but my wife and I are not ready to make any radical changes. More time and freedom would be great but instead of rushing towards this we’re more or less inching our way in this direction – enjoying the journey.”
Interesting article from the Globe and Mail recently – this couple starting saving late in life and wonders if they can still realize some retirement goals. First things first, forget U.S. real estate if your principle residence and Florida condo is more than 75% of your net worth. That makes no sense to me. You can live off your net worth. I explained why your home let alone a condo if you can’t afford one isn’t a good retirement plan here.
I enjoyed Andrew Hallam’s recent take about retirees and millennials in a massive tug of war.
Andrew wrote:
“Millennials invest in much less fertile ground. Today, U.S. stocks trade at nosebleed levels. The S&P 500 has a dividend yield of about 1.88 percent. That compares to a dividend yield of more than 4 percent in 1983. Today’s interest yield on a 10-year Treasury bond is about 3.2 percent. That compares to a 10.46 percent yield back in 1983.”
Fair, but let’s not forget this is the golden age for investing. Money management fees have never been lower. The array of investing options has never been wider. You don’t have to buy a house to build wealth. Options abound for many millennials – you have the internet growing up. I didn’t. I couldn’t make money using Atari.
Save your money!
Check out my Deals page here to save more, invest better, and keep more of your money!
From my oldie but goodie file….are you living your financial values? Do you have any? If not this post will be helpful. I hope to revive this post in the coming weeks so stay tuned.
Finally, I found an article that said we should bulldoze our Prime Minister’s residence – I say go for it – must cheaper than any proposed $30 million reno!
Mark
Mark
My name is Mark Seed - the founder, editor and owner of My Own Advisor. As my own DIY financial advisor, I'm looking to start semi-retirement soon, sooner than most. Find out how, what I did, and what you can learn to tailor your own financial independence path. Join the newsletter read by thousands each day, always FREE.
It depends what kind of small business. Firstly, one needs to have a unique, useful and attractive product to gain customers. Secondly, is it an online business or a physical one that incurs rental, electricity costs? A business that requires tens of thousands of dollars of start up cost could be risky if it doesn’t work out. I don’t have the brains to start a small business. Which explains why I am still holding on to a job that I both love and detest.
Fair points Rn. Folks should not start something just for the sake of it 🙂
The amount of time most people spend on investing – is next to nothing. However – a few of you in here – perhaps spend too much time (me for one – but i enjoy it!). If you could use some of your time (not you Mark – you have a blog to run) to start up a side business – why not? Its one of the fastest ways to less tax (write offs) and more money (in most cases pays more then the divs your collecting). What sounds better investing $50k in stocks that pay 5% divs and some gains (over time) or in yourself and a business that can more than double this in a year or less? It is actually easy to make more than $2500 a year off of $50k in a business (you control) than divs. Why don’t more people not start up a small business?
No idea Mike. Small business totally makes senses these days.
“Why don’t more people not start up a small business?”
That’s a double negative but to answer the underlying question, there may be lots of reasons.
Bob Lai seems to have a healthy view of FIRE.
I read that Globe retirement makeover. I don’t know where to begin with what’s wrong.
High investment costs with low return, real estate crazy, mortgage, little retirement cash flow, exotic costly investments suggested???
Mark, did you mean CAN’T live off net worth?
Andrew Hallams take was US so not so sure it applies exactly here. Personally I think it’s questionable to generalize all people based on when they were born. Lots of differences in circumstances, ages, behaviours etc even within particular stereotyped generations. As an example real estate has added virtually nothing to my boomer wealth here. I tend to agree with what you wrote Mark.
RE 24 Sussex, this shouldn’t be difficult. Shame on all our leaders kicking this can down the road. There’s nothing particularly redeeming about the place. Knock it down. Build something nicer and energy efficient that works for the Prime Ministerial role at half the cost of renovating where you’ll still have a pig.
“There is no magic bullet for retirement planning. You have to retire later, save more, spend less or improve returns.”
I completely agree with this comment from the Globe retirement article. No need to ask any expert, with simple math, everybody can tell the couple cannot retire with less than 1 million assets and expecting to spend $6,500 a month after tax.
Nope. The math doesn’t add up does it? You would think with all the online calculators, tools, etc. May that most adults would be able to figure out:
1. Save more, invest more, get higher rate of return, etc.
2. Work longer.
3. Spend less.
4. Any combination using 1 and 2 and 3.
Ah well. Time for a cold beer or 2 or 3 🙂
Correct, sorry, you can’t live off net worth – sorry to confuse!
The 24 Sussex ordeal shouldn’t be difficult for sure but sadly so much politics. Reminds of current day job. I hope my boss doesn’t read that 🙂 Ah well, it’s the truth.
I knew that’s what you meant. Politics and workplace = bad. Shame.
Yah, May & Mark those retirement #’s just don’t make sense.
Hope the beer tastes good. My home Red now does and next I’m shifting to a West Coast IPA.