Can’t believe we’re in the middle of summer already.  SUMMER IS ALREADY HALF OVER!!! I feel like there’s so much more to do- hang out at the beach, read, hang out with friends on beach, watch fireworks etc etc.  Summer in Vancouver is really great- it really makes the other 300 days of rainy miserable weather worth it.

Last weekend we went to Kelowna (aka WINE COUNTRY) and it was fantastic.  Kelowna is about 4 hours drive from Vancouver and is famous for its beautiful wines.  Free wine tasting- can’t go wrong with that. Kelowna is great- beautiful desert weather (35 degrees), beautiful huge Okanagon lake, fun activities, wine and golf.  As Bob Marley says, red red wine, stay close to me! A trip to Kelowna didn’t break the bank too, I spent less than $250 for three days AND went boating, wine tasting, fruit picking.  Not to mention I came back with four bottles of wine.  Yum.  No wonder everyone wants to retire there.

Readers, do you have a place you retreat to close to your city that doesn’t necessarily break the bank?  Please share!

Here are some great personal finance reads from this week.  Have a great weekend!

• The Financial Blogger lists the 50 Best Canadian Dividend Stocks
• Well Heeled Blog teaches you how to talk yourself out of buying and spending (good tips!)
• Darwins’ Finance asks whether fresh grads should go back for more grad school given the weak job market
• Enemy of Debt asks you what your approach is to vacation spending?
• Given the hot hot heat, Out of Debt Again gives you some tips on saving some $$ on using home air conditioning
• Wealth Pilgrim shares 19 great jobs that you don’t need a college degree for- and how to get them fast
• Canadian Finance Blog shares 6 ways to save money on a road trip
• Moolanomy has an interesting list of five things you shouldn’t cheap out on
• Financial Samurai proposes the ultimate solution for a fair income tax policy in the States
• Len Penzo was also in the mood for talking about weddings (because Chelsea Clinton is getting married) and shares his view on people splurging for the big day (spoiler- Chelsea Clinton’s wedding cost $3.3 million dollars!!!! Say what?!?!)

I hope you enjoy the first weekend of August.  Savour it like a cool and refreshing glass of chardonnay on that hot summer day.

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