How much did a chocolate bar cost when you were a child? “10 cents” is the answer for me. At least that’s what the convenience store on the corner of Robson and Thurlow (where I returned bottles that I collected in the neighbourhood) charged. I even remember that it was only 9 cents if I went to the drug store across the street. It’s … [Read more...] about Going broke slowly, the true cost of inflation
Life
Navigating the facets of everyday life including managing finances, growing old, being single, staying healthy and more.
Do you remember?
“Do you remember?” is one of questions that anyone living with dementia will struggle to answer. It just slips off the tongue and the next thing you know, you’ve put them in the very difficult place of trying to do something (remember) that is not possible. It took me a while to train myself not to ask this of the seniors whose memories had faded. I used to approach them and … [Read more...] about Do you remember?
The Canada Pension Plan: Decisions, Decisions…
“When should I take my Canada Pension Plan?” is another one of those very commonly asked questions that I get. And the answer will probably surprise you. Obviously, it varies person to person, depending very heavily on one’s tax and health situation. If only we knew how much longer we had to live, it would make that decision so much clearer. Methuselah certainly would have … [Read more...] about The Canada Pension Plan: Decisions, Decisions…
The case for optimism, the world is becoming a better place
Lately I’ve found myself disturbed by the pessimism I hear around me. It seems to be Christians and non-Christians alike in this regard. Yes – there’s lots of bad news, but let’s put it in perspective. Overall, the world is a much better place than it was. And it is getting better. I once heard a wise person say that optimism was the only long-term reality – and if we really … [Read more...] about The case for optimism, the world is becoming a better place
A staycation in Kamloops during COVID
Because of COVID, international travel has come to a screeching halt. Instead, we are encouraged to take a staycation and visit destinations closer to home. We were anxious for a getaway so when travel restrictions were lifted, we made plans for a weekend away. Our destination was Kamloops. We chose Kamloops for a couple of reasons. We wanted to go somewhere we could … [Read more...] about A staycation in Kamloops during COVID