Weekend Reading: Visiting Seattle Edition
I went to Seattle this week for a work-related conference. We stayed at the beautiful Grand Hyatt downtown and had plenty of time to explore the city over the three days, including the famous Pike Place Market where we ate at Lowell’s overlooking the Olympic Mountains and Port of Seattle.
I also went to my first major league baseball game in fifteen years (since a visit to Chicago in 2000), watching the Seattle Mariners hit a record six home runs in their 11-4 win over the visiting San Diego Padres.
The light rail link between the airport and downtown made it easy and affordable to get around. A one-way ticket cost just $3 and the train must have come around at least every ten minutes.
I liked the city overall and think it would be a nice getaway for my wife and I to go shopping (for her) and see some of the other attractions that I missed (like the Space Needle).
This Week’s Recap:
On Monday I looked at the new Momentum Savings account from Scotiabank that pays bonus interest when you leave your money in the account for 90 days.
On Wednesday Marie explained how the occasional splurge can actually be good for your budget.
And on Friday I shared why cash back beats travel rewards.
Over on Rewards Cards Canada I wrote about a generous offer from TD for its First Class Travel Visa Infinite card that pays up to $260 in travel and cash back incentives.
Weekend Reading:
Adam Mayers shares why changes to the sex-ed curriculum might be a good model for helping young people become financially literate.
Preet Banerjee explains why moving too often can be a wealth killer.
Life is expensive, debt is easy, and saving is hard. That’s why Kerry Taylor decided to play the lottery.
Carl Richards on why saying “just this once” too often can lead to major spending problems.
Part of the Globe and Mail’s debt binge series, Rob Carrick enlists a Money Coach to help a couple struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments.
Jason Heath explains why living off your dividends in retirement may be a mistake. I wrote a similar piece a few weeks ago.
More Canadians are tapping the value of their homes to make ends meet as they head into retirement. Is it a good idea? Adam Mayers looks at the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage.
Nelson Smith at Financial Uproar is interested in how to invest in reverse mortgages.
The Globe and Mail’s Tim Cestnick shares a cautionary tale about overtaxing the rich. Meanwhile, Bridget Casey explains why that barstool economics parable is a fairy tale.
Sheryl Smolkin looks at a wrongful dismissal case and how to mitigate your damages by making adequate efforts to look for a new job.
Mark Seed reviewed The One Page Financial Plan by Carl Richards and is giving away a copy of the book.
Big Cajun Man lists some important financial questions to ask on a first date.
Is renting your home on AirBnB worth the risk? Dan Wesley looks at the pros and cons.
Uber is disrupting the taxi business, and in this post Barry Choi explains what the ride-sharing app is all about and whether you should use it over a traditional cab.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Never been to Seattle but want to go. Sounds like you had fun!
Thanks for the mention Robb!
Mark
For airplane enthusiasts, don’t forget the Boeing Air Museum. When I went many years ago, one inside display was a SR71 Blackbird, the legendary US spy plane used from the 1960s to the 1990s…
Even if you’re not an airplane enthusiast, the Air Museum is worth a visit. It is a fabulously interesting place. It’s easy to spend an entire day there. The SR71 was great, but the one that really sticks out in my mind is the Corsair. Black Sheep Sqauadron was one of my favourite shows back in the day.
Though it has been about 17 years since I last visited, I wouldn’t hesitate visiting again.
Back in 2010, when I was president of the Alberta International Air Show Association*, we chartered a plane from Lethbridge to Seattle to attend an Air Show conference and got to have a private tour of the Air Museum. It was incredible!
The conference was in and around Sea-Tac airport, so we never got a chance to explore the city that time. I’m glad I got to go back.
*Fun fact: That was the year the CF-18 Hornet crashed during a practice run at the Lethbridge airport. Talk about a stressful weekend!
After watching that Netflix series, The Killing, I’m not in a rush to get to Seattle. Based upon that series (and I know it was all part of the mood creation), it’s always raining, has just rained, or is about to rain there.
Hi Tom, that was my experience. I don’t think we saw the sun more than a couple of times. The west coast is great to visit, but I don’t think I could live there full-time.
Thanks for the mention, I haven’t been to Seattle for a couple years but it’s a great city. I am hoping they get an NHL team in the future so I can go down there for some games
You always have really good links. I like this post every week.
I love that article by Tim Cestnick. That’s a great way to explain his point to just about anyone. Problem is some would still say it’s not fair even after the explanation, ” just because”….