"A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”

Henry D. Thoreau

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Wednesday
Dec192018

Does Spending Money make you Happy?

We recently had “Black Friday” followed by “Cyber Monday” when people queued up to buy stuff that in all probability in many cases they didn’t really need. Knowing that people love a bargain, stores take the opportunity to dispose of old stock, discontinued lines and outdated items.

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Friday
Dec142018

FYI - MHV Ladies' Auxiliary Presents: Seed to Seed Jan 10 2019

Wednesday
Dec122018

High Oil Prices or Low Gas Prices

Tar sands in alberta 2008Two posts on my Facebook timeline, one scroll apart, show just how bizarre the political economics of oil are these days.

In one post, a PC MPP from Ontario brags about how the Ontario government has lowered gas prices. The other was a news article about how Rachel Notley and the NDP government of Alberta will finally begin reducing production in order to address the glut of bitumen that’s currently driving oil prices down—that is, they’re trying to increase oil prices.

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Thursday
Dec062018

One year of Solar Panel Experience

One year ago, when my solar panels came on line, I expected to produce about 7 Megawatts of power annually based on advertised averages and assumptions. My experience fell slightly short of that by producing 6.3 Megawatts, about 90% of my expectation.

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Tuesday
Nov272018

Why I Won’t Stop Shopping at the Thrift Store

There’s no question that shopping at the thrift store saves me money. A lot of money. Considering that the average Canadian household spends over $3300 a year on clothing and accessories[i], and the thrift store easily offers 90% savings, the math is not complicated. But the other day a friend of mine challenged me. He asked why I shop at the Thrift Store, when I make a good salary and can afford to pay full price. How is it fair for me to take the benefits that should go to people in our community who can’t afford to buy new? It’s a good question, and it made me think.

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