Canadian Dollars Blog

You know that savers have an image problem when they're mocked on television. I'm not a regular watcher of Two and a Half Men, but while flipping channels I caught a bit of the show. One of the dorkier characters was giving the little kid some advice about saving money and watching his money grow - prudent advice. However, when he leaves, Charlie Sheen tells the kid how ridiculous that strategy that is - making the other guy out to be a loser. Since when was it uncool to be a saver? If anything it's probably cool to be a saver now than any other time in history. Why? Because everyone is out there saving so little, you'd be a leader and not just following the status quo. It's a shame that popular culture makes fun of those that save. I hope that people with some brains can see through this and realize the true importance of saving and not just to live life paycheque to paycheque if they don't have to.

Those that follow this blog know that I'm a lover of technology. I'm quick to adopt the latest gadgets whether it's a new notebook, xbox, or camera when they're released. There's one area that I've been neglecting while I notice everyone else 'catching up' - the smartphone. Although I totally understand the utility and amazing features that come with owning a fancy smartphone, I haven't really bitten the bait. I can honestly say that I have been tempted though. So why the hesitation you might ask? As with most of my purchasing decisions I make them based on two main factors: price, and utility. Cost: The truth of the matter is, in Canada our cell phone and data rates are atrocious. We pay the third highest rates in the world and the mobile competition is a giant oligopoly. The fact that our regular bills are higher means that those that opt for smart phones will end up paying close to $100 a month on the data and phone services alone. This ...