Posts by Robb Engen
Weekend Reading: Labour Day Edition
Ever since the NDP gained power in Alberta, my Facebook newsfeed has been filled with strong opinions from my right-leaning friends about the provincial government’s “disastrous” decision to increase minimum wage to $15/hour. Now, with the federal election looming, raising the minimum wage has become part of the national conversation. One post showed a picture of McDonald’s…
Read MoreAnnouncing The Winners Of Our HUGE Anniversary Contest
Our massive five-year anniversary contest wrapped up yesterday and we were blown away by the number of responses and comments from our readers. When the contest closed we had a total of 2,935 entries from 509 unique entrants. And no wonder there were so many entries in the contest. We had some amazing prizes up for grabs –…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Market Comeback Edition
Last week’s theme was market madness, with headlines filled with dire predictions of the end of our lengthy bull market. I received many emails from readers and clients who were wondering what to do. Is this the start of a major decline? Is it a buying opportunity? My answer: I have no idea. If you’re comfortable with…
Read MoreOur Kids’ Summer Activities, Ranked
Like most parents with young children, we’ve spent the majority of summer trying to keep our kids out of our hair entertained. It’s a challenge to constantly find new activities while at the same time trying to keep the expenses within reason. We’ve had a fairly busy summer, and now that back-to-school time is (thankfully)…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Market Madness Edition
It was a bad week for the stock markets, highlighted by Friday’s 500+ point Dow Jones meltdown. Meanwhile, the price of a barrel of oil dipped below $40, leading to this cheery headline and photo in Business Insider yesterday: DOW SINKS INTO CORRECTION, OIL CRASHES BELOW $40: Here’s what you need to know: Rob Carrick also commented…
Read MoreOf Course . . . But Maybe
Comedian Louis C.K. closed his 2013 comedy special Oh My God with a hilarious (albeit crude) bit called, “Of course . . . but maybe.” I thought it would be fun to apply the same thinking to personal finance and some of the situations we run into every day. On sense of entitlement Of course…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Where’s My Mansion Edition
It’s no secret that ordinary investors have been getting screwed over by the investment industry for decades. If you want proof, look no further than Fred Schwed’s nearly 75-year-old classic book, Where Are The Customers’ Yachts?. This week I stumbled upon another gem, this one published in The Globe and Mail 10 years ago by…
Read MoreWelcome To Our HUGE Five-Year Anniversary Contest
I can’t believe it’s been five years! What started out as a mom-and-son blogging duo back in 2010 has turned into more than just our personal finance diary. Boomer & Echo has changed our lives, and we’re thrilled to know that the stories and advice we’ve shared over the years has made a positive impact on many of…
Read MoreWeekend Reading: Birthday Edition
I celebrated my 36th birthday on Friday (my 3-year-old asked if I was turning 76, but that’s beside the point). A birthday is a good time to reflect on the past year and I’ve realized how much my life has changed each and every year since we started this blog. Boomer & Echo has been a…
Read MoreThe Power of Asking: Why You Should Negotiate Everything
Most of us are creatures of habit – we crave routine. We bank at the same place where we first opened an account. We renew our mortgage and insurance policies automatically without shopping around for better rates. Then when we see a promotional offer from a rival cable or internet provider, we complain how loyal…
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