Tick. Tick. Did you notice that? No, I didn’t either. Well during the last weekend this blog offically turned two years old and I forgot about it. I’m still trying to decide if that is a good thing or not.
Well after two years of doing this I’ve come to certain key realizations about personal finance and this blog. They are:
- The Basic Math Is Easy. Really it all comes down to living below your means and getting into the habit of saving. After that it’s all just details and math to determine what is right for you.
- The Emotional Is Hard. Getting to know your own head and why you do certain things is the most challenging aspect of personal finance. Can I really handle a 30% loss in my RRSP’s? I wasn’t sure until recently and now I know I can sleep well with that.
- Happiness is Better than Money. Yes you read that right. I think people dreadfully under estimate how important it is to be happy in your own life. The trick is to find a balance point. You may not love your job, but if you at least like it, it pays well and you like your co-workers you are well on your way to being happy.
- Conventional is Over Rated. Do what works for you and don’t worry about what others think. You are living your life not their life.
- You Guys are The Best Readers. No really you are! I mean I can be sick and miss a post and you take it in stride. You provide great feedback and interesting post ideas. I don’t think I’ve ever had to delete an attack comment on anyone because if you disagree you at least keep it civil.
So to celebrate I’m giving away two gift cards to a store of your choice. First prize will be a $75 gift card (CDN $) and second place will get a $25 gift card (CDN $). To enter this contest you have two methods:
- Leave a comment on this post for one entry.
- Link back to this post from your blog to receive a second entry.
The winners will be picked from a randomn number generator. The contest closes on Nov. 21, 2008 at 8pm (CST - SK Time). Maximum of two entries per person (one from a comment and one from a link to this post). A valid email address is required for me to contact the winner. Gift cards are limited to stores I can either buy the gift card online or purchase in person in Regina, SK. Best of luck.
110 Comments to this entry.
I really enjoy reading your blog. Way to go Canadian Dream!
Happy blogiversary Tim! This is a great site, and hopefully all that extra vacation time will give you plenty of time to write going forward.
Congrats on your anniversary!
Especially like point # 3. Happiness trumps money every time.
Great blog & congrats on the new job.
Congrats. Here’s to another 2 years, and a growing portfolio.
Happy Anniversary!!
I have been following your blog and I love it. Congrats on the new job!
This is a great blog…I think it’s inspiring me to start my own. Thanks for writing.
Thanks for taking the time from your busy life to write your blog! I really enjoy reading it and hope you continue writing it.
Great blog!!
Happy Anniversary!
I only just recently discovered this blog but it’s now been bookmarked and I check in every day. Happy Anniversary and here’s to the next 2 years!! Your point #4 is a big one for me. All my life I’ve been brought up to believe that I should be “Conventional”. I can definitely see how negative an influence this can be. Hopefully it won’t be too long before I discover what really works for me!!
Hi Tim, congratulations. I am not a frequent commentator, but I am always here
And I liked #3.
Excellent blog! I am a daily visitor. Keep up the good work.
oh oh terrible 2s…. I don’t think so… looking forward to another year of great posts.
Congrats on the anniversary. Love the blog!
Congrats on the anniversary, and remember: we’re all in this together!
Congrats on the milestone, and keep up the great blog!
Great blog! I just stumbled on your blog recently and have been reading since.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Great blog! I read it every day. Here’s to many more years.
I always look forward to reading your blog. Congratulations on your 2nd anniversary.
Two years already?? I guess that means that 2 years is coming up for MDJ also! Keep up the great work Tim!
Congrats on the milestone! Keep up the good work.
Congrats!
I applaud you for coming up with new content every day.
I know I certainly could not do what you do on this blog.
Winning free money, now that’s fun
Congratulations on your two-year anniversary!
Congrats! I’ve been viewing this blog for about 1 year now. Keep up the great work.
You know how to spur a lot of comments
Thanks for writing a great personal finance blog that incorporates a simple living and frugal philosophy. I look forward to reading your next two years’ worth of entries.
Happy blog birthday!! And many more….
I have enjoyed reading your blog over the past two years, keep it up.
As always, an awesome blog. Keep it up!
[...] Tim from Canadian Dream: Free at 45 is celebrating the second anniversary of his blog by giving away free stuff! First prize is a $75 gift card to the store of your choice! [...]
Congratulations Tim! Keep writing ‘cos we’re reading!
[...] Canadian Dream is celebrating two years of blogging by giving away free stuff. [...]
You owe all of your success to yourself, you’re a great blogger.
Grats! Love the blog.
…and the older you get, the faster it goes…
Congrats on the big milestone!
[...] « Two Years - Where Does the Time Go? Green Spot: Growing Up Posted by Canadian Dream on November 14, 2008. Filed under [...]
Congratulations on your anniversary!
Congrats on your 2nd year anniversary.
Here’s to many more. Cheers!
Happy Anniversary!
Contests are great for reminding me to read great blogs that I’ve just forgotten about. Time to peruse the archives…
Congrats and here’s to many more!
Congratulations!
Happy Blogiversary!! It’s a daily read for me. Keep it up!
pick me pick me!
Congratulations!
Happy Anniversary!!
Yes, I read my husband’s blog every day, how else am I going to understand what goes on in his head regarding personal finance?!?!
Great blog. Congrats on two years!
Keep up the great work!
Happy Anniversary!
Congratulations!
Congratulations - your articles have helped us and many of our 20-something and 30-something friends!
Looking forward to more ~
Congratulations
Good stuff. Keep going!
The bit about happiness is key IMHO. It’s easy to start focusing on a goal like “retiring early” and lose track of the fact that we’re sacrificing our daily happiness for a retirement that we may never see anyways.
Congratulations!
Congrats!
Congratulations on two years!
Saskatchewan time, eh? No daylight savings time for you! Too bad about the Riders.
Congratulations! I grew up in Regina, and was there last weekend. Enjoy the prairie skies for me!
Wicked! Keep up the good work
Good stuff…
Happy Anniversary!
Be careful what you wish for … my father-in-law will be “retiring” from his job at CanWest in a couple of months.
Congrats on the anniversary!
Congrats on the anniversary & I really love this blog!
congrats! enjoy reading your posts
Wow, 72 comments. I enjoy your blog and congrats on 2 years!
Congratulations!! I really appreciate your acknowledgement that finances are an intensely personal thing, no one else can tell you what is important to you. Thank you.
Congratulations! Love the updates…keep up with being unconventional and encouraging us to be as well!
Congratulations on 2 years of blogging. I hope you have many more ahead of you.
Congrats!
Hi. I love your blog. Happy 2nd Anniversary. You are one of the reasons I’m trying so hard to plan for early retirement. If you are interested, please visit my blog for some ideas on how to make your own Christmas Gifts or at least some Christmas Add-ons.
Been reading for quite some time, and I really value your site as a great resource.
Keep it coming!
I enjoy your blog and especially agree with #3. Ppl often think they need a lot of “stuff” to be happy. Or that if life isn’t perfect then you’re not happy. You need a lot less than you think and happiness is not so hard to maintain.
Congrats! Great work!
Happy Anniversary!
Great website (Like doing a read always!)
Keep on believing!!
Congratulations!
[...] not the only blogger having a second birthday and giving away stuff. The Financial Blogger is giving away up to $200 in [...]
And we’re all still reading.
[...] Dream is giving away $100 worth of gift cards in his 2 year anniversary celebration and all you need to do is leave a comment. Hurry though, the contest closes today (Nov 21) 8pm [...]
Happy Anniversary!
Congrats on the anniversary! Great work, and #3 is definitely the most important thing of all. Thanks!
Congratulations on the anniversary!
Like the blog. I need to retire at 45 for sure!
Congrats on the anniversary. Your point about time is an excellent and often undderlooked one. When many people think about becoming rich, the “get rich quick” schemes start to attract, and those do not have as great a chance of working as does slow and steady.
“Conventional is Over Rated. Do what works for you and don’t worry about what others think. You are living your life not their life.” That is a piece of wisdom to live by. May I quote you? (LOL) I pass on famous quotes to my lottery group each week and I hope to use yours next! Congrats on a successful two years.
Happy Birthday!
CONGRATS!
Congrats.
Comment
Congrats!
love the blog…congrats on 2 yrs.
I love reading your blog. I especially like that is canadian content.
Congratulations on 2 years and here’s to another 2 …!
Thank you for a real-life, enjoyable read. Nice to see great Canadian personal finance content online.
Congrats on the 2 years and more to come..
I love reading your blog. Keep up the good work.
Congrats! Keep it up!
I’m very new to this blog but I appreciate your point #1 because it’s so easy to forget that when everything is said and done, if we work, spend judiciously and invest, the power of numbers, such as staying in the black and building equity, and having your investments double in 7 years (on average) will always work in our favor and propell us to achieve our goals. We need to trust that being aware of our spending, making things stretch, or being more frugal when possible is going to benefit us, and any benefit or “good feeling” from spending for the sake of showing off is very short lived.
Congrats on the anniversary!
Congratulations on your two year!! Hope you have many many many more years to write.
congrats on the anniversary.
Congrats! Here’s to another year.
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