photo credit jayled2
The first week of summer has passed already, only eight or so more weekends to take in and savor. Hope everyone is having a great summer so far.
I went shopping (walked through, really) Holt Renfrew yesterday and saw that there was sale. Holt Renfrew is this high end designer department store (super duper duper high end). People were shopping there like there was no tomorrow! It honestly did not look like a recession to me- what happened to saving money and not succumbing to instant gratification? Just out of curiosity, I checked out the shoe section and browsed at some of the shoes that were there. Coach shoes, Manolo Blahniks, Jimmy Choos…all these shoes were in the price range of $350-$800! I stuffed my foot into a $500 shoe (just for kicks- sorry- had to say it… get it? kicks??) just to feel what $500 would feel like on my foot. It felt nice, the craftsmanship of the shoes were really nice, but I can not justify paying $500 for a pair of shoes…that’s like a month’s rent!
Last night my sister called me and said her car ran out of battery at the grocery store. She didn’t have the jumper cables in her car so I went to save the day. I hooked up the jumper cables (and managed not to electrocute myself, to which I am grateful for) and we started our cars and nothing happened. I did have a suspicious that it might not start because my battery was leaking (and had been leaking for quite some time). A nice lady came to really save the day. She hooked up her car to my sisters car and voila- my sister’s car was good to go.
The Good Samaritan said that someone helped her when her battery died and it was pouring buckets (yes, the 300 days a year when it’s raining here in Vancouver), and so she wanted pass it on. She asked us to pass on the good deed too (as well, told me that my battery needed changing). Thanks and I will!
So Good Samaritans still exist!
Have you encountered any Good Samaritans that have helped you renew your faith in mankind lately?
Here are some links from around the web:
- Financial Samurai concludes that West Coast Living- is really that much better (can’t agree more!!)
- Early Retirement Extreme gives some tips on how to spend less eating out
- Len Penzo tells you to visualize your financial future
- Money Funk gives you tips on how to control emotional spending
- Wealth Pilgrim analyzes whether it’s a good time to buy a house
- Bucksome Boomer‘s first blog cheque came in the mail! Woot woot!
- Little House looks at strategy discount shopping
- Money Reasons tells the Financial Neo to Wake Up (Keanu Reeves can wake up next to me, too??)
- Frugal Zeitgeist lets you know how long to keep financial records
- Squawkfox gives you a great tip on how to make Pie in a Jar to give as presents
- Financial Cents has a 5 part series analyzing which Telco to buy
Have a fantasmic weekend everyone!!
You might also want to check out these posts:
- Weekend Ramblings & Link Love: good bye $100 yearly fee edition
- Weekend Ramblings and PF Blog Love: Doggy Love and Usher Love Edition
- Weekend Ramblings and PF Blog Love Edition: Spring is FINALLY here Edition
- Weekend Ramblings and PF Blog Love: Bikes & Yakezie Love Edition
- Weekend Ramblings and PF Blog Love: Homeless Man Edition
In Kansas, many good samaritans stopped to offer help on two occasions with car troubles (once for us and once for our son).
I can’t say it’s happened here in California in the 30 years I’ve lived here.
Thanks for the link love!
Thanks for the mention! I really enjoyed your piece about the being a good Samaritan.
Some times being a Good Samaritan is small. Like when I’m rushing to get to a indoor soccer game (for my son), and someone sees me running and hold the door for us. Or even yells, “Sir… You dropped something”.
People like that make you appreciate humanity
@Bucksome Boomer- really?? That’s quite shocking…but perhaps you didn’t have any car trouble while in California for the past thirty years? You’re welcome for the link love! =)
@Money Reasons- Thanks! those are good examples. When I was at the Dallas airport on a stopover once, I dropped my passport and a good Samaritan told me I dropped my passport- otherwise, I’d have been screwed!
West Coast for life!
Thanks so much for mentioning my link! The battery story reminds me of the whole pay it forward idea. All good deeds need to be reciprocated.
Thanks for the mention! Like the X-files, “they’re out there!”, kind people that is.
About your love and addiction to shoes, my wife is getting close to owning about 40 pairs. I think I have about 6. I can’t rationalize spending over $150 for a pair of shoes…I haven’t yet
Cheers!
@Financial Cents- Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve spent more than $150 for shoes yet either…! I’ve spent that amount for a good pair of jeans though (gotta love my Hudsons).
@Little House- Speaking of Pay it Forward- that was a good movie too wasn’t it? =)
@Squirrelers- That was such a nice story- I’m sure you really made that gentleman’s week! Often there are a lot of seniors out there (and people really, in general) who feel very isolated. Especially in this day and age where we’re all so rushed and in a hurry to get everywhere- it is really rewarding to take the time and talk to people… and really talk to people!
I have had several family members help in times of major need, and have been blown away by their generosity – especially as I had, in the past, not been one to ask for a lot of help with much. Truly makes you feel thankful.
Last week, I helped an elderly gentleman who I had never met before. The guy was in a motorized wheelchair, was all alone, and didn’t look well physically. He had dropped a book, and asked me to pick it up for him. When I did, he expressed extreme appeciation, and told me that others refused this very simple act. You could just tell he looked lonely, so I talked to him for a few minutes.
It’s so easy to give in simple ways like that – and sometimes, it can have a big impact on someone’s happiness. It can make you feel good too.
This is a good topic, I will be exploring it sometime soon as well.
It would be interesting to see how your pension plan fits into your net worth on a month by month basis. Get ‘er in there for next month!
@meb- thanks for the nag! =) (kidding!!) okay, I’ll try and put in my pension plan into my net worth.
Thanks a million for the link. I’m glad the good samaritan helped you and your sis…. The world would be so much better if we was all like that!