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.
Thanks for the link!
thanks for sharing
The weird thing about summer in SF is that you never know really when it stats or ends, b/c it’s generally always the same!
It does get nice and warm in August September though, just in time for Crush Season in Napa! That’s the best.
@Financial Samurai- lol- that’s true.. What’s Crush Season in Napa? I wish I went to the Napa valley when I was down in San Fran- but not enough time… mmm really really can’t go wrong with wine country.
I am surprised BC is going this way. There was a Supreme Court case a while back where a Quebec couple split and one tried to argue that the same law should apply to them as a married couple who splits up. The Court said that it was important to maintain the difference between common law and married because it is a choice by the partners. I tend to agree. If you choose not to get married, the law should respect that choice.
@Jenn- Oooh didn’t know about that court case. What are the common law rules in Ontario? (You’re from Ottawa right?). I wonder if it’s only BC that’s swinging this way?? I agree with you completely on this. I guess it won’t happen til next year, and it might even get overruled should there be sufficient backlash against it.