Holidays | Finance Fox

Category: Holidays

Stat Holidays Are the Reason Why I Want To Strangle The Easter Bunny!

Posted Apr.06, 2012 under Holidays

Presently in Canada there are approximately 200 departments, agencies, commissions, crown corporations and councils that create over 500,000 civil servant jobs in Canada. Civil servants are hard working people, but than again who isn’t in today’s modern society. One thing that differs civil servants from the majority of the Canadian workforce is the amount of extra holidays that they get. I suppose civil servants work harder and tire more easily than us regular working folks.

This must explain why they get extra days off. And while the majority of the Canadian workforce will head back to work on Monday, civil servants will get an extra day to sleep in. The really creative government folks I’m certain will head for a 1.5 hr drive to enjoy the extra day off with a shopping trip in Buffalo.

And the rest of us…well we will head back to the grind consisting of another exhausting and maybe stressful workday as our recycling bins don’t get picked up, government phones are answered by voice-mails and oddly enough license and health card renewal lines will be non existent – government offices are closed for the day.

The only bright side for most of us this Monday morning is that the traffic will be lighter. Rather than taking me half-hour to get to work, now it will take me ten minutes. I guess that saves me 20 minutes and technically gives me an extra 20 minutes of sleep.

Even the banks are open on Monday and even the Pope will report to work on Easter Monday, which also happens to be one of the most holiest holidays for Christians. And despite all the holiness, Easter Monday is still not a stat holiday.

In my opinion I think the reason that civil servants get more days off than the rest of the working class…well I don’t have an answer for that, however I know that millions of dollars are lost in labor each time civil servants get the extra day away from work.

Let’s plugin some numbers.

According to Statistics Canada the average hourly rate for a civil servant is $32.78. Nice wage, huh? Anyways….$32.78 works out to $262.78 per day. Remember how many civil servants there are in Canada? Half a million roughly and if we multiply that half a million by the average hourly rate of a civil servant we get over $131 million of lost labor.

Hang on for a second though…..isn’t the Canadian Government looking decrease the post 2008 recession deficit and find innovative ways to manage their spending as introduced in Budget 2012. I guess they can afford to lose $131 million dollars of labor on Easter Monday and another $131 million on Remembrance Day (actually it’s slightly less than that, as Teachers work that day), but I’ll use the KISS method (Keep It Simple Stupid) and compute a total of $262 million of lost labor this year alone for the government.

This concludes my mini rant.

For the regular working class I hope you’re enjoying your long weekend, and if you’re a civil servant in Ontario – Happy shopping in Buffalo.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Eddie

Tags: Canada, Easter, Long Weekend, Stat Holidays, Stautory Holidays

7 Comments

Valentines Day Special – Love versus Career

Posted Feb.13, 2012 under Holidays

Choosing between having a career or making time for love is a tough decision, no matter which way you look at it. Some will say that choosing between love or career is simply common knowledge. Definitely it is common knowledge, yet it’s still a tough decision that a lot of people face daily.

There are many factors that affect your choice to be single or chase the corporate dream, yet there are those who’ve discovered the secret to achieving a healthy work life balance in which they manage both career and love life.

Some of us we measure our life success in terms of the life we have at home, how rewarding it is, and what we did to achieve that rewarding life. For others (married people) their identities are measured by their kids, the accomplishments of their kids, and through the love of their spouse.

So, which one do you choose? Love or Career?

For some the choice is clear, and for others it’s not an easy choice. Some people just can’t make the choice in choosing love or career, while the happiest people in modern society have discovered their own mojo towards balancing love life and chasing the career dreams.

Career Chasing

Many of people today choose to focus on their career first and love life second. This is especially true for today’s Y-Generation. The thinking behind this strategy is, while I’m young, single and have the time, I’ll devote my self towards my career by creating a solid foundation while I’m younger in order to serve me well for the future.

There are also those who would much rather have their independence and security than leaving it up to someone else to support them. Their career status and the money associated with it is much more important than any relationship.

Career chasing is most common among celebrities who choose to forgo love life in order to earn all the money possible.And there is nothing wrong with that. It’s a personal choice that they make for them selves.

Equally there are many who build their lives by devoting their young years towards their career. These same people becomes established by creating a sense of security in their life. Eventually once a certain level of security is reached, these career chasers are then more than willing to devote themselves towards love life in hopes of starting a family.

If you’re in this boat, congrats to you. You’re solidifying your future early on.

However, everyone’s life is different and so are the outcomes.

These two solid reads are both similar, yet very different; Love or Career and how one mother left her kids for her career.

Love Chasing

Love is blind as they say, and you’ll never know when cupid will strike. This is true to a degree, yet if you don’t make your self available for love, how can you expect to fall in love?

A wise woman (my mother) once said; “You can’t live off of love”

Now this is true.However, you’re always stronger as a team. If two people truly love each other, it is easier to withstand the curve-balls that life throws at them.Rather than worrying about love or career, lovebirds find ways to make it work.

For those who decide to go the love route and put the career on the back end, there are a few questions to consider:

Can you forgive yourself for letting go of a career opportunity?
Can you move forward after turning down a career opportunity?

Some lovers who choose love over career end up remorseful and begin to regret their decision down the road. This is especially true if two people get divorced.

Choosing love over career can be a tough decision. There are many ups, and equally many downs for going one way or the other.

Balancing Love and Career

True love is hard to find.

Love doesn’t come every day, and that’s what makes it so special. Falling in love is easy, while staying in love is a lot of work. It takes two people working together to support their life long goals.

One of the beauties of life is having choice. Fortunately, one doesn’t always have to choose love or career, and instead can choose to have a balance of both. If two people love each other, they can always figure something out that can keep the relationship strong, while helping each other achieve their career goals.

Sometimes balancing is tough, and other times, life simply does not give us a choice to choose between career or love. Other times we just got to suck it up and go with our gut feeling, and that’s why maybe quitting your day job and moving to Europe is the right decision. Krystal is one of the few lucky people who was able to quite her full-time gig and pursue her dream of being her own boss. Fortunately to be a writer today, all you need is a laptop and good writing skills. Location is not important.

Love Wins

If I had to make a choice between love and career, I would gladly give up career achievements and money for a happy family life. The degrees, nominations, awards, tittles, and money don’t bring us contentment. We’ve all heard the old saying “money can’t buy love”.

Sure we all need money to survive, but love is what ultimately gives us that feeling of fulfillment. We can earn all the money in the world, but it’ll never really give us the happiness that a happy smile or a warm hug from our partner can give us.

In our early career stages, we assume that we don’t need anyone to share our lives with. We love our selves too much to care about finding true love. Why would we need love? We have the toys, cars, money, and vibrant social lives with our friends. Year and after year passes, and eventually friends, friends of friends and distant family members start to settle down. So, what happens to the vibrant social life? Take a guess.

One thing that we should never forget is that life always keeps moving forward. We can’t stop it or pause it, yet as the years pass by, we’ll realize that self-love, career, promotions, awards and money will have no true value, because we have no one to share it with.

Love gives us more meaning to our lives, and it completes us when we share it with the right person.

Careers will always be there for taking. No one is going to lean over your death bed and tell you ” You did a good job.”

Readers, what do you choose, love or career?

Eddie

Tags: Career, Corpirate, Family, Life, Love, Valentines Day

4 Comments

Valentines Day Is For The Lovers, Not Retailers!

Posted Feb.03, 2012 under Holidays

Christmas has just passed and we’re already at our first big Hallmark holiday. I haven’t even had a chance to catch my breath, yet Valentine’s Day 2012 is less than two weeks away. February 14th marks a big day for the lovers, yet retailers pray for an equally big day by hoping for a large payout. It’s no secret that Valentine’s Day is a massive business day for retailers. On average in 2010 men spent roughly $158 on their significant other, while women spent $79 on their partner, according to a study done by the National Retail Foundation. Furthermore, $15.7 billion was expected to be spent by lovers for Valentine’s Day in 2011 according to the same study.

I’ve been guilty in the past of spending a nice chunk of change in the fading hours of Valentine’s Day for a last-minute gift for the significant other. Valentine’s Day this year arrives amid spiking household debt, higher than usual unemployment rate and a semi-hot housing market. Maybe it’s time for all of us to lay off and forgo the Hallmark holiday or at least do Valentine’s Day in a low key fashion.

Whatever you choose to do, it’s your money at the end of the day, I know I’ll be doing things a little differently this year with my significant other.

Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year and luckily enough I have a soccer game the same evening, I’ve decided to not do anything on the actual Valentine’s Day – Tuesday, February 14th,2012. Instead I’m going to do something with the significant other the following day – one day after Valentine’s Day.

It’s a strategy in which I hope to gain a nice return on, in more ways than one, but for the sake of this article I’m referring to the financial side.

We all know that pricing during any Hallmark holiday is stupid. A lot of sales with no true value and a lot of markups. Retailers know well that people will spend the money, so why not increase the pricing bv creating a deal that doesn’t really exist.

If you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, you can still do it on a shoestring budget with a little planning ahead. You don’t need to splurge to win your loved one’s heart. Planning ahead and being personal is always less expensive than being thoughtless at the last minute.

Here are a few suggestions on ways to keep more money in your wallet, yet still enjoy Valentine’s Day.

Flowers

Roses are a trademark of February 14th. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice the price for a dozen of roses is insane. You are being gauged by your local flower shop for the roses you’re purchasing or having delivered on Valentine’s Day. Markups are ridiculous. Maybe check with your girl (but really you should know this) if she even likes roses, a lot of women don’t, maybe she likes other types of flowers – tulips anyone?. If that’s the case, than you’re in luck and your wallet will thank you later.

Currently my local florist (god bless her, she’s an amazing woman) sells tulips for $30 a dozen. Fresh cut dozen of roses go for $85, from now and between Valentine’s Day. You see where I’m going with this flower thing?

We talked a bit and I divulged to her about my master plan (celebrating Valentine’s Day the day after). She recommended I come in on the Wednesday and if I needed roses, she’d have them at their regular price of $39 for a dozen. Damn, that’s a saving of $46. For the amount I save there, I can probably have an inexpensive dinner for two (minus the booze). I’m down, sign me up. I’ll be sure to visit her one day after Valentine’s Day to purchase my flowers at their regular price.

If you can’t wait till after Valentine’s Day and plan to celebrate the day of, that’s cool too, but don’t be surprised that you’re paying a lot more for everything. Rather than buying flowers through a flower shop, stop by your local grocery store and have them make a special bouquet for your loved one. You’ll save a nice chunk. Avoid the holiday markup, typically upwards of 20 percent by shopping ahead or if you’re bold like me, shopping the day after will do the trick too.

Dinner For Two?

You can save your self a boat load of money on Tuesday night by staying in, enjoying a gorgeous bottle of vino, home cooked meal, a romantic comedy and a lot of touching. If you’re unsure of what to cook for Valentine’s Day, check out some neat Food Network Valentine’s Day recipes.

If you really must go out for dinner, well I wish you nothing but the best. I truly only feel sorry for your wallet. Don’t be surprised if your dinner tab for two runs upwards of $100 or maybe even over.

The special Valentine’s Day dinners offered by restaurants are really not special at all. You’re paying way more than you would if you had dinner there any other Tuesday this year.

Join my movement by celebrating the big day the day one day after. You’ll avoid the price fix menu.Most importantly, restaurants will be less busy, you’ll be able to hear each other, you won’t have to wait for a table and if you have kids, it will be much easier for you to find a sitter the day after.

Gifts

Don’t forget this saying – “It’s the thought that counts.” Your gift does not have to be expensive to win the heart of your lover. They are with you for obvious other reasons, such as you’re caring, have a heart, easygoing, hard working and great in bed.

A new book and her favorite box of chocolates can go a long way. Save buying the jewelery for another day, when you can walk into a jewelery store and haggle with the owner, and you’ll have the upper hand, because it wont be Valentine’s Day. Your significant other will love you for the surprise, because who actually buys jewelery in July, unless it’s her birthday or your anniversary or maybe you’re ultra unique and spoil her for Canada Day.

If you’re the last minute type, I would suggest you be bold, like me and do Valentine’s Day on February 15th. You’ll be able to walk into your fave drugstore and get everything Valentine’s Day at 50% off. Talk about a deal.

Whatever you choose to do, at least be smart about it. The last thing your heart, and relationship need is your stress over the money you don’t have. A little effort, with a dash of planning and a pinch of your personal touch can go a long way. Personal gifts, and thoughts will go much further than any dinner or a dozen of roses. Be creative by having fun for Valentine’s Day, and don’t be afraid to save some cash.

Happy Valentine’s Day Lovers!

Eddie