Financial Jungle

• Economists used to think consumers made rational purchasing decisions. But a new field of research is revealing neural forces that leave classical theorists scratching their heads.
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce released a report predicting that Canadian house prices are likely to double over the next two decades.
• Most owned stocks by admired investment gurus.
• Money, Matters and More Musings on Can You Save Too Much On Emergency Fund.

It has been four months since my wife and I moved to downtown Vancouver from Port Coquitlam. Currently, we are renting a small condo for $1,450 per month, but we are also contemplating purchasing a unit in the future. We had always wanted to experience the downtown life, since Vancouver is such a vibrant city and we both work there.

Admittedly $1,450 a month is more than mortgage payments for most folks, however there are benefits that come with renting in downtown. Every morning, it takes me literally 5 minutes to stroll to the office, and I have my skinny legs to prove it. Our four- legged friend, Odie, loves roaming around Yaletown, Kitsilano beach and SeaWall chatting with new friends, especially his Pomeranian cousins. The 17 hours we save each week on commuting enables my wife and I to hit the gym more often, spend quality time together, and pick up new hobbies, such as writing this personal financial blog. Monetary-wise, each month we save $300 on the Westcoast Express train commute, $200 on utilities, $10 on parking tickets, $220 on property tax, $40 on water & sewer tax, $80 on home insurance and various repair costs.

If you would like to learn more about Vancouver, please visit Discover Vancouver.