Only On The Walters Post

Now, I’m not here to tell folks what to think, I’m just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.

You know, there’s talk now that the federal government could be cutting back almost 60,000 public service jobs. And to be honest, if that turns out to be true, I’d say it’s about time.

We’ve been paying through the nose for years now, supporting layers upon layers of government workers. Most of them don’t produce a thing, don’t build anything, and sure as heck don’t grow food or fix roads. They’re paper pushers, and the thing is, the government doesn’t have money of its own. It comes from us, the working folks. Every dollar they hand out, they first have to take from someone who earned it.

And here’s something that’ll make you shake your head: the Canada Revenue Agency, the very people in charge of squeezing every nickel out of your pay cheque, has more people working there than our entire military. Think about that. More folks sitting in cubicles auditing small business owners and farmers than we have protecting our country. That says a lot about where the government’s priorities lie, it’s not about service anymore, it’s about revenue and control.

Now let’s talk taxes. The average working man today loses almost half his paycheck before it even hits the bank. Income tax, CPP, EI, provincial tax, and then after that, sales tax, fuel tax, carbon tax, property tax, hell, they even tax the taxes in some cases. You work all day, every day, and by the time you’re done, the government’s taken more than your boss ever paid you.

And what do they do with it? Prop up bloated bureaucracies, hand out contracts to their friends, fund studies about studies, or send it out the door to other countries while folks here are lining up at food banks without a doctor. Meanwhile, we’ve got potholes swallowing cars and seniors choosing between heat and groceries. Doesn’t sound like good management to me.

Now here’s the real truth no one wants to say out loud:
If they stopped taxing the working man’s paychecks, they’d actually make more money.

Let the working man/woman keep their money and they will spend it. They’ll buy a house, upgrade their truck, invest in their land, build something new. And with every purchase, the government still gets its cut. How? Through sales tax, fuel tax, building permits, property tax, you name it. That’s the money that keeps a real economy moving, not these endless deductions on your paycheck and clawbacks.

So instead of bleeding us dry with payroll taxes, why not step back, let folks breathe, and let the economy do what it’s meant to do… move. When the working folks are doing well, everyone does well. Simple as that.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive. GW

Only On The Walters Post

Now, I’m not here to tell folks what to think, I’m just sharing what life has shown me. Take from it what makes sense, leave the rest, but maybe let it sit with you a while.

You ever notice how the banks make it sound like they’re doing you a favour holding onto your money? They flash around interest rates like you’re lucky to be there, but the truth is, you’re probably getting less than 1% — and that’s if they’re feeling generous.

Once in a while, you might see them offer 2 or 3%, which sounds good at first. But look close. That little bump only lasts a month or two, and only if you move all your money into their bank. It’s a trick to pull you in, get you settled, and then quietly drop that rate back to nothing when you’re not looking. That’s no favour — that’s just marketing dressed up as opportunity.

All the while, they’re taking your money and using it to make more for themselves. They invest it, they lend it, and they profit. You? You get crumbs. That’s the part they don’t tell folks like us.

But here’s the good news. You don’t need to be rich to invest. You don’t need a financial advisor in a shiny office. And you sure don’t need to let your hard-earned money sit around doing nothing.

Start Small, Build Steady

Even with just a little money, you can start growing something worthwhile. There are a handful of investment funds that pay you every month, and you can hold them right inside a TFSA so that money’s tax-free.

Here’s a few I keep an eye on:

• BTCC.B – a Bitcoin fund for those wanting a taste of the digital world.
• EIT.UN – a long-standing income fund.
• HDIV, HHIS, MSTE, USCL – all solid income-focused ETFs that pay monthly.

With these, you’re not waiting for the end of the year to see results. Every month, you’ll see income show up in your TFSA. You can let it sit, reinvest it into the ones that are doing well, or move it around depending on where you want to build next. That’s the power of seeing steady progress.

No Need to Panic

Now, don’t let the ups and downs scare you. Some of these might dip here and there. That’s normal. The trick is not to go running the second things turn red. Markets have always had their swings, but they’ve also always come back. Selling too early is where folks trip themselves up.

If the fundamentals are solid and the dividends are still coming in, just hold steady. Patience has always been one of a working man’s best tools.

It’s Easier Than You Think

Open a self-directed TFSA through a place like Questrade or Wealthsimple. It’s no harder than setting up online banking. From there, you can buy shares of the funds I mentioned, or others like them. No middleman. No one trying to steer you into something that benefits them more than it does you.

And once those monthly deposits start rolling in, you’ll see exactly what your money can do. It’s a far cry better than the banks giving you a fraction of a percent while they grow rich on the rest.

You work hard for your money — it’s time your money started working for you.

Until the next time, keep your minds open and your stories alive. GW