Happy Canada Day Weekend!
This weekend we celebrated Canada Day, also known as Moving Day in Québec. This day is a reminder of how lucky we are to live in such a good country. Do I think that we could do better? Sure. Our taxes are too high and spending has been increasing rapidly, and there are warning signs about the housing market.
However, at the same time, I believe that I am very fortunate to live here. I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to get food or shelter, and even when I was a poor student I didn’t have to worry about those things. I don’t need to worry about a military coup or a violent revolution. Sometimes I think we have it so good that more Canadians would do well to travel outside a bit as sometimes I think we live in a bit of a bubble.
This weekend my girlfriend left to go on a long business trip, so I actually spent my Canada Day with her, relaxing and saying goodbye. I won’t see her for three weeks, when I will be joining her in Ethiopia. That will be my first time travelling to Africa, and needless to say I’m a bit nervous, but I’m also excited and looking forward to the experience. The funny thing is that Ethiopia is actually colder than Canada at this time of year! The capital, Addis Ababa, is 2300 meters or 7700 feet above sea level, so despite its location it has a moderate climate with cool nights.
Here is some great weekend reading:
Weekend Reading
Investing
- 2011 Global Petroleum Survey: Top North American Jurisdictions for Oil and Gas Investment (Beating The Index)
- 3 Model Portfolios to Consider (Dividend Monk)
- How To Protect Your Portfolio If The Economy Does Double Dip? (Buy Like Buffett)
- My simple stock selection rules of thumb (My Own Advisor)
- Thoughts on Silver – Part 2 (101 Centavos)
Miscellaneous
- Being Rich Is Hard (Get Happy Life)
- Glamorizing black bean hummus… (Super Frugalette)
- Google Updates PageRank And The Yakezie Rises (Yakezie)
- How do you Ikea? (Super Frugalette)
- Overexposed: European Debt, Systemic Risk, and Stealth Bailouts (Balance Junkie)
- MBA SERIES (part 1); RISK VERSUS REWARD (Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance)
- Poor vs Rich on the Lake (First Gen American)
- Sustainability Tip #182: Rethink Your Sunscreen (Sustainable PF)
- The Hunt for a Home (Narrow Bridge)
- Vacations Spoiled: Ten Vacation Miseries and How To Prevent ‘Em! (Dr. Dean)
Personal Finance
- 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding (Prairie EcoThrifter)
- Eloping: Saving Money on Your Big Day (MomVesting)
- Financial Freedom At 45 (The Passive Income Earner)
- Networking Saves Money And Your Health (Financially Consumed)
- The Case for a Bigger Emergency Fund (Squirrelers)
Carnivals
- Canadian Finance Carnival #43 (Canadian Finance Blog)
- Summer heat Carnival of Debt Reduction (Carnival of Debt Reduction)
- Totally Money Blog Carnival #25 – Start of Summer Edition (Beat the GMAT)
- Yakezie Carnival – Tour de France Financial Factoids – June 26th, 2011 Edition (My Personal Finance Journey)
Hope you’re enjoying the weekend, and thanks for stopping by!
Squirrelers says
Thanks for including a link to my emergency fund post!
Also, that’s a pretty exciting trip you’re taking. You know, I actually really, really like Ethiopian cuisine. We tried it for fun about a decade ago, for an “exotic” meal, and personally I’ve become a big fan since then. Probably have it once every 3 months at least, venturing into the city to a favorite place.
I’m sure visiting there will be a great cultural experience. I’d be really interested in hearing about your experiences there, if you’d be willing to write a post on the subject sometime after you return.
Kellen says
Wow, visiting Ethiopia sounds cool, but I totally hear you on feeling a little nervous about it. I imagine it’s way different than any other place I’ve ever traveled to. But I bet it’ll be a great time and look forward to some blog posts about your trip.
From what I hear from Canadian blogger about housing prices, they do seem pretty ridiculous up there. Especially since (at least the part of Canada I lived in when I was there) has so much open space available. Obviously people want to live in the major cities, but really, housing sounds way too expensive.
Bret @ Hope to Prosper says
Have fun in Africa Kevin. I have always wanted to go there on a photo safari. Maybe I will take my wife in the future.
I have been to Canada on business lots of times and I love it. You guys do live in a bubble up there and you are very lucky.
Sustainable PF says
Thanks for the inclusion IIW! Hope you had a great Canada Day.
My Own Advisor says
Thanks for the mention! Wow, great trip! I’ve never been to Africa either, and would love to go someday. My bucket list is to travel and see all seven seas and all five continents.
Sure, our taxes are high (I agree with that) but for all the perceived pain comes many, many rewards that folks take for granted. The more you travel, the more you realize this 🙂 Have a great, safe trip!
101 Centavos says
Ethiopia is great! Been there and Eritrea several times on business, and never got to visit the castles at Gonder or the churches of Lalibela or Axum — one of my regrets. I hope you’ll hit some of those places, and write about it. The food there is amazing!
Thanks for the mention.
Get Happy Life says
You indeed live in a great country. I wish I lived in Canada. Have a nice time in Africa though 🙂