2010 Financial Plan: Q1 Update

By 2 Cents on April 5th, 2010 | Category: Planning | 5 comments

The course of life is unpredictable . . . no one can write his autobiography in advance.

~ Abraham Joshua Heschel

Update: This post is featured in The Carnival of Money Stories #49 at Foreigner’s Finances. Thanks!

When I wrote about Our 2010 Financial Plan in January, there was a lot of uncertainty about our income – both in terms of quantity and stability. I quoted Jon Bon Jovi, who said, “Map out your future, but do it in pencil.” Well, once again, my eraser is worn down and my pencil, no more than a stub.

At the beginning of this year, Mr. Cents, our sole income earner, had just started on another new job and we were counting on a modest salary plus commission. We wouldn’t have the income we were accustomed to a few years ago, [...]

Read on and enjoy … 2010 Financial Plan: Q1 Update

Category: Planning | Tags: , , , |

Why Are Mortgage Rates Rising?

By 2 Cents on April 2nd, 2010 | Category: Debt | 9 comments

People are living longer than ever before, a phenomenon undoubtedly made necessary by the 30-year mortgage.

~ Doug Larson

Update: This article was included in the Carnival of Financial Planning #136 posted at Bargaineering. Thanks!

On Monday, several Canadian banks boosted their fixed mortgage rates by 60 basis points (.60%). That’s a pretty big hike all at once. The Globe and Mail ran the following headline: Mortgage Rate Boost Signals Rock Bottom Era Is Over. Can’t you just hear all those folks who just signed up for variable rate mortgages scurrying to lock in fixed rates?

We had to renew our mortgage a while ago when rates were higher and currently have a 5-year 5.49% rate. Unfortunately, (or fortunately?) it’s not as easy to renegotiate mortgages in Canada as it is in the U.S., so we have tried to do [...]

Read on and enjoy … Why Are Mortgage Rates Rising?

Category: Debt | Tags: , |

20 Cents from March 2010

By 2 Cents on April 1st, 2010 | Category: 20 Cents | One comment

Here’s my monthly gathering of 10 of my favourite articles from around the web. The bad news is: there are usually way more than 10 articles that I could include here, so some great ones inevitably get missed. The good news is: I just joined Twitter, so I’ll be able to share articles with you throughout the month. If you want to follow me on Twitter, I’m @BalanceJunkie. Enjoy!

1. Man vs. Debt had a guest post from Carmen on 8 Effective Ways to Raise Frugal Kids. There are some great ideas here, but I don’t see many of the parents I know implementing them. That makes it a lot harder for others to try them out. I guess #4 (socializing with like-minded families) would help a lot.

2. If you want to elicit angry and sometimes downright nasty comments, mention anything to do with [...]

Read on and enjoy … 20 Cents from March 2010

Category: 20 Cents | Tags: , , , , , , |
 
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