Houses, Two Men Talking About Personal Finance on a Bus

Two Men Talking About Personal Finance on a Bus

Monday, May 28, 2012 at 4:56 AM

One of the great things about taking the bus is the interesting conversations you get to eavesdrop on. The other day, I?was privy?to?one such?conversation about personal finance between two middle aged men from East Vancouver. Now, these men weren?t telling each other ?Oh yes, I just love the rate my TFSA mutual fund is giving me right now.? Oh no. Before they started talking about money, Guy #1 was telling a story about how he hid his aunt?s pot from the cops one night when they were drinking together at his apartment. Let?s just say, these guys definitely aren?t accountants or stock brokers for a living.

Anywho, Guy #1 mentioned to?Guy #2?how he found it impossible to save money. Whenever he got it, it was gone just as fast. Guy #2, who I guess considers himself the more responsible one out of the two,?told?Guy #1 how?it?s really important to start saving money. When I heard this,?it kind of made me forget that they were just talking about drugs, and I wanted to say ?Ya! Personal finance is cool!?. But then?Guy #2 went on to?suggest that Guy #1 send a cheque to a friend he trusted for safe keeping until he needed it (and of course he suggested himself to be that friend). WTF? What?s worse is Guy #1 was seriously considering doing this! I wanted so?badly to turn around and say ?That?s the worst idea ever. Just put it in the bank or lock it into a GIC so you can?t touch it!?

But I didn?t. I just got off the bus and kept walking. I guess what really got me frustrated was that I just couldn?t understand how two people, in their 30s or 40s, didn?t have basic financial common sense? I know lots of people aren?t financially literate, but come on! Send a cheque to a friend for safe keeping? Really? If they represent the thinking of the majority of people, God help us all!

Thoughts?

-Mo? Houses out!

Image: UggBoy/flickr

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