Welcome to the Globe and Mail Personal Finance Reader. I’m Rob Carrick, personal finance columnist at the Globe, and twice weekly I compile a list of articles, blog postings and websites that represent the best of what the online world has to offer on money-related subjects.
A plague of niceness afflicts the personal finance blogosphere. Bloggers who cover the investing and financial beat do great work, but there’s a chirpy, upbeat tone to most of the writing that wears on the reader after a while.
For some welcome relief, check out a recent post on the Squawkfox blog titled "The Real Reason You’re Broke." Kerry Taylor, the author of this very good blog, is a nice person. I know because I’ve spoken with her for The Globe’s Let’s Talk Investing online video series (the videos will be posted in the weeks ahead). But in this recent post, linked below, Ms. Taylor offers what she calls some serious tough love to people who won’t take responsibility for their financial failings. Great stuff.
This rest of this Reader edition brings you Personal Finance Comics, complete with superheroes, as well as some thoughts on the savings available from energy conservation, 10-year mortgages, real-life Gordon Gekkos (the villain of the Wall Street movie franchise) and cheap but good wine.
Found something on the Internet that your fellow investors might enjoy? Talk to me at rcarrick@globeandmail.com.
Must reads from The Globe and Mail
If you're broke, maybe you should get married. Angela Self explains why being in a serious relationship can make you more wealthy, and has a questionaire for couples to strengthen their financial goals.
When it comes to educating children about personal finance, the earlier the better. That's just one of the recommendations Canadians have made to the task force for financial literacy.
Want to cut your year-end tax tally? Tim Cestnick has five tips for how to do so.
Must Reads From Around the Web
Blame Yourself
A great post from the Squawkfox blog in which she gets a friendly sort of mean with people who won’t face up to their financial failings.
Retirement Savings Checklist
This CNNMoney.com article is U.S.-focused, which means that 401Ks are mentioned instead of RRSPs. But there’s still something very useful here – a list of things you should have accomplished in your retirement savings from age 35 to 55.
PF’s Comic Side
Introducing Personal Finance Comics, where superheroes vanquish debt, credit cards and more.
Inflation’s Bright Side
The New Yorker’s James Surowiecki is my kind of financial writer because he puts clarity and simplicity first in explaining complex topics. Here, he shows how a little inflation might not be a bad thing for the economy.
Electric Savings
A skeptical look at how much you can save on your electricity bill by taking energy-saving measures like replacing your incandescent light bulbs.
Be Careful Out There
Tony Boeckh, author of the well-reviewed book The Great Reflation, says the United States is at a tipping point in terms of its debt, and he advises investors to focus right now on preserving wealth.
Long, High and Safe
Some thoughts on 10-year mortgages – higher rates, but a decade’s relief from worries about rising interest rates.
Wall Street Rogue’s Gallery
Ten real-life versions of Gordon Gekko, the fictional corporate raider turned prison inmate whose story is told in the movie Wall Street and the new sequel Wall Street Money Never Sleeps.
Sweet Wine Deals
Toronto Life’s list of the 10 best wines for less than $10.
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