Live Small: “About your house...”

If our house is our most important investment or asset and it’s going down in value, should we worry about our future plans, e.g., adding an addition, early retirement?

Before we get our ‘business briefs’ in a knot, should we simply consider a smaller house near a bus route?

[Photo by G.Harrison]

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Do you already live in a small house near a bus route? Feeling secure during the dip?

Please click here for more Live Small

Live Small: “Are you saving for tough times?”

The saving $$ habit is almost completely formed. On a very regular basis, two seconds after I see my plastic savings jar beside my computer, I simply roll my chair over to the bookcase on the other side of my small den, take a buck out of the change bowl that sits beside my Speed Stick, roll back to my desk, and deposit $$ into the jar.

Why, if I live to be 100 I should end up with quite a stash. About $13,500! 

It took me about two months to get into the ‘save a buck a day’ habit and realize that, of course, I’m merely saving for future coffee breaks. Good thing I chose to live small during my work years and contributed to a pension plan and two RRSPs. 

'Tough times ahead': That’s why I now keep busy in the workshop and do a bit of freelance writing. And when the change dish runs dry, maybe I’ll learn how to sell a few things on kijiji. (Wanna buy an old coffee mug?)

Nobody else is going to pay for my coffee when I’m old and gray.

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Are you saving money today for tomorrow?

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Live Small: “Save money for tough times”

Almost every time I sit down at the computer I hear the call (sounds like Bob Dylan):

“Throw a dollar into the jar. Tough times are coming.” 

So I do. I’m even ready for tomorrow.

Are you saving - even a buck a day - for tough times ahead? Are you stealing from the jar?

[Photo by G.Harrison]

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RRSP? Savings account? Under the mattress?

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London News: “Turn away from Joe?” Part 2

 [From Sept. 25 issue of London Free Press]

Roberta C. encourages us to turn away from Mayor Joe and the culture of BIG.

And what should we turn toward?

Roberta says:

All good thoughts. However, many can participate now in building a more sustainable community - without City Hall’s leadership - by gardening, cycling safely on sidewalks, reducing our spending, paying down debts, saving money for tough times ahead, and doing so in cooperation with others of like mind. 

Don't wait for new leadership. Create a city with characters now!

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here to read London News: “Turn away from Joe?” Part 1

This Old Economist: “Economic vocabulary change”

We used to drive world economic growth relentlessly on the back of cheap oil and easy credit.

 [“We've had a good hard drive since the 1940s”]

The times, and economic vocabulary, they are a-changin’.

OUT   -   driving  relentless  unlimited  easy

IN   -   weak  slowing  recession  dampening  shrinking  contract

Slowly, reluctantly, and deep in financial and environmental debt we will change the Canadian or American Dream.

[Photos by G.Harrison]

        

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Please click here to read more This Old Economist

This Old Economist: “You’ve got 10 months”

Interest rates will likely rise soon, perhaps in mid-2013.

Those with rising household debt have little time to get their house in order.

Many countries have developed unaffordable, unsustainable lifestyles - and played fast and loose with the environment - for almost 70 years (“Bigger is better!!” proclaimed governments, business leaders and market economists).

How quickly will families adjust to a more austere lifestyle?

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Vulnerable? Please click here to read $$ FAX 12: The vulnerable Canadian

High household debt? Please click here to read more about the problem.

Small House: “They sell quickly in Old South, London”

One of my favourite sayings: Buy a small house or apartment near a bus route.

I should add, “Move quickly when one comes up in Wortley Village.”

 [8 Cathcart Street, across from Posno Flowers]

[Thirty steps away from a bus stop. Cool.]

It may have sold quickly because of price, location, size, the shrinking economy, or easy maintenance features. Or all of the above. Gone in a week.

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here for more from This Old Economist

$$ FAX 12: The vulnerable Canadian

Do you have a vulnerable side?

If you’re a consumer and your debt is growing, you do.

It appears average debt per Canadian household has increased 33% in the last few years.

If interest rates increase in the future, what will happen to your monthly payments?

Start saving up!

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here to view $$ FAX 11

This Old Economist: Certain economic recovery

Don’t let the headlines fool you. Even here in London. (E.g., Aug. 17, London Free Press)

Right now we may be slowly recovering from the superior or excessive GDP growth of the past, some of it spurred by WWII industrialization.

Right now we may be recovering from excessively high housing and consumer spending and years of indebtedness to wealthy banks and corporations.

Right now more and more people may be ‘rethinking contracts’, and are reducing spending, paying down debt, saving for tough times and looking for a wee house or apartment near a bus route.

Some sort of economic recovery is certain. Perhaps an upside down one.

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here for more This Old Economist.

$$ FAX 10: “We’re short”

We Canadians are crummy savers.

And too many of us bought into big homes, excess furnishings, expensive cars, plus more. Much much more.

Short? 

Reduce spending. Pay down debt. Save money, even $1 per day to create the habit.

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here for $$ FAX 9

$$ FAX 9: “Live smaller”

It’s hard to save money. Prices are up and there are so many temptations. Half-heartedness abounds also.

Survey says that young Canadians (age 18 - 44) are the worst savers. 

I say, “Start the habit. $1.00 a day for starters.” 

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here to read $$ FAX 8

Save Money

$1.00 a day, for starters.

Just to get into the habit, for tough times ahead.

Change.

[Photo by G.Harrison]

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Please click here to read $$ FAX 7

Live Small: Tough times mean "Eat less food"

According to $$ FAX 7, food prices are heading north next year.

And according to $$ Fax 8, many are already facing higher prices now.

It’s a big problem...

... and Canada’s Prime Minister appears to be dropping the squash.

What part of your grocery list can you trim to make up the difference in cost?

[photos by g.harrison]

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Please click here for Weather Havoc

  

$$ Fax 8: Prices up

Higher prices next year, for sure.

[August 8, D. Akin, London Free Press]

And... prices are higher right now.

So... for some people, it is already hard to save $1.00 a day, but we still need to do it.

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here to read $$ FAX 7

$$ FAX 7: Big change

Lousy harvests will affect grocery bills.

[August 8, D. Akins, London Free Press]

What will you trim to save at least a dollar per day for tough times ahead?

And why save $1.00 a day?

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here to read $$ FAX 6

Climate Change Concerns PT 4: “Buy less carbon”

Bet on climate change and severe weather havoc.

Also, save $1.00 per day (or more) and lower your carbon emissions. 

$1 x 7 billion per day = financial savings, and more. 

[Photos by G.Harrison]

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Please click here to read Climate Change Concerns PT 3: “Telltale signs of crime”

Click on ‘line one link’ to read recent news article about “betting on climate change” by Gwynne Dyer (July 14, London Free Press)

$$ FAX 6: “Expect change”

60 good years, 1945 - 2005, affected the brainpans of most Canadians alive today, left them thinking “all will always be well.”

“Be prepared for tough times ahead,” says the ant.

“We’ll be fine,” says the grasshopper.

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Please click here to read $$ FAX 5

$$ FAX 4

Europe is hanging on by its fiscal fingernails, and, as a result, Pres. Obama is deeply worried about the future of the U.S.

I think it would be wise for many U.S. citizens to prepare for a change in lifestyle. 

Recommendations: Look for a smaller house near a bus route. (Then... reduce spending, pay down personal debt and save money for tougher times). 

Photo by G.Harrison

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Please click here to read $$ FAX 3

$$ FAX 3

Financial and economic matters look grim in the U.S. (and Europe and developing countries like China and India). The future, however, could look grimmer if the U.S. tries to loosen the grip of growing debt by taking on more debt, i.e., stimulus spending.

My recommendations: Reduce your anxiety and unease related to economic recovery.

Reduce spending, pay down debt, save money for the future, learn to adjust to the smaller economy and lifestyle we can actually afford.  

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Please click here to view $$ FAX 2 

$$ FAX 2

Canadians, you know your economy is in trouble when?

When the Governor of the Bank of Canada looks so stressed.

When he wants us to drive our own economy on the back of oilsands oil, some of the dirtiest oil in the known universe.

When he already knows our households, on average, are in greater debt than ever before in history.

My recommendations: Live small, reduce spending, pay down debt. And consider adopting - for the first time in decades - an affordable, sustainable economy and lifestyle. 

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Please click here for $$ FAX 1