Posts by Robb Engen
Weekend Reading: May Long Edition
May long weekend is traditionally for camping, gardening, or venturing out for some of the first outdoor activities of the summer. Unfortunately the weather hasn’t been kind to those of us in southern Alberta who were looking to spend some time outside enjoying the long weekend. So we’re staying indoors and fortunately there was plenty of great reading…
Read MoreWhy Does My Car Dealer Want To Buy Back My Car?
Last week I got a letter from our local car dealer (Hyundai) offering to buy our 2012 Sante Fe and giving out big incentives to purchase a new 2016 Hyundai vehicle. I recall opening a similar letter last year. It went something like this: We want to buy back your Sante Fe. As you…
Read MoreConfessions Of A Rewards Credit Card Addict
It was all about practicality when I applied for my first rewards credit card and started using it to earn free groceries. After a while I “graduated” to a cash-back credit card, which paid a higher percentage back on grocery and gas spending. I liked the simplicity of funnelling my spending onto one no-fee cash…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: A Surprising Bank Freebie Edition
It’s unusual for a big bank to go out of its way to offer something for free but to my surprise that’s exactly what happened when I called TD Direct Investing this week. You see, before I sold all of my individual stocks and moved to a two-ETF portfolio at the beginning of last year, I had…
Read MorePriced Out: Why It’s Crazy To Buy A Home In Vancouver Or Toronto
When central and southern Alberta experienced catastrophic flooding in June 2013 there were 32 states of emergency declared and over 100,000 people displaced throughout the region. Reports of price gouging at various retailers surfaced on social media; one story in particular claimed that an unscrupulous Calgary retailer was selling individual bags of ice for $20. Given the urgency…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Fort McMurray Edition
Our hearts go out to the residents of Fort McMurray who earlier this week were forced to abandon their homes and flee the city as a massive wildfire continues to devastate the northern Alberta community. The fire, which is said could double in size by Saturday, has sent 80,000 evacuees to nearby work-camps, hotels, and recreation centres in…
Read MoreWhy 30 Year Olds Aren’t Screwed
Five years ago, financial blowhard advisor Kurt Rosentreter published a newsletter with the daunting title, “Canadian 30 Year Olds Are Screwed.” The author displayed the kind of “get off my lawn” finger wagging attitude all too common in generational wars; using ridiculous and patronizing claims like, “people spend more time on the Internet than their finances,”…
Read More11 Model Portfolios To Simplify Your Investments
Using a robo-advisor can be a great way to lower your investment costs, diversify your portfolio, and reduce the time you spend worrying about investing. But if you’re a DIY investor like me then you can lower your costs even further by building a portfolio of index funds or ETFs on your own. Here are…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: FOMO Edition
Millennials are experiencing FOMO – or the fear of missing out – a social angst driven phenomenon that appears when something exciting or interesting may be currently happening elsewhere. FOMO, a close relative of YOLO, is fuelled by social media and the desire to stay constantly connected with what others are doing. When it comes…
Read MoreFacebook vs. Kijiji: Secondhand Economy Smackdown
When we moved into our new house my wife and I vowed to keep our home clean and clutter-free. We’re not minimalists, exactly, but the last thing we wanted was a basement or garage full of stuff we don’t need or use. We’ve kept up that promise, for the most part, but as our kids…
Read More