Globe and Mail personal finance columnist Rob Carrick brings you the Personal Finance Reader, his twice-weekly picks for the best online reading about money, the markets and more. If you're having trouble reading this newsletter or want to read the archives, click here.
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
Will your retirement be a wealthy one? New book from MoneySense shows how you compare financially to others.
Canadian mortgage debt tops $1-trillion for first time. Amount owed by homeowners climbs 7.6 per cent in one year.
How to tip: an insider's guide. Steve Dublanica, author of the tell-all Waiter Rant, explains what to do about tipping when you're not satisfied, or just feeling confused.
'Perfect' timing for a U.S. shopping trip. Six tips for taking advantage of the strong Canadian dollar.
The mysterious world of RESPs revealed. Seven of the trickiest aspects of these educational tax-sheltered plans.
Charities hoping for a kind holiday season. Donations declined during the recession, but now appear to be stabilizing
Investors winning in the online brokerage price war. The cost of buying stocks and bonds has been dropping since commissions began to decline this fall
He'd love a pug, she thinks costs outweigh cuteness. Financial expert weighs in on whether couple can afford another dog in this week's Cash Clash.
Quit bashing my latte habit. Indulgences are fine - as long as they're within your means.
Kick junk food habit with cash. Those who pay with paper tend to choose healthier options, according to a recent study.
Putting some money sense into our kids. Kids have their own ideas about money - some sensible and others not so wise.
Must Reads From Around the Web
When A Bubble Bursts
The latest development in the seemingly endless bursting of the U.S. real estate bubble: People taking second mortgages on their homes to pay for lawyers to fight foreclosure notices.
Rent, Don't Buy
Switzerland is a successful country and it's full of urban renters. Hear more on the case against home ownership on this segment from the TV show The Agenda. By the way, it's about time the Thou Shalt Own a House commandment was questionned.
Mortgage Rates In Neutral
RateSupermarket.ca's panel of experts expect no change in fixed- or variable rate mortgage rates this month.
How To Cut Risk
The case for not jumping into emerging markets right now.
Oil On The Boil
Here's some analysis on why crude oil prices have surged lately to the highest level in two years.
You've Been Googled
A warning about how insurance companies have started Googling customers applying for life insurance.
Your Holiday Shopping Buddy
Introducing the Canada Post comparison shopper, an online tool that helps you find the best prices for goods of all kinds that can be shipped to Canadian addresses. Canada Post claims to have all-in prices for goods from U.S. stores that include duties and exchange rates.
Shopping For Advisers
A fresh take on things to look for if you're seeking a new financial adviser from the Riscario Insider blog.
Cheap Traction
How to save money buying winter tires
Idiot Boxes On the Cheap
A price war is looming for television sets. Stand by if you've been thinking of going big-screen.
Are You A Manly Or Womanly Investor?
Investing tips tailored specifically for both males and females, who apparently approach financial matters differently. This material is from CNNMoney.com, a U.S. site, so there are references to IRAs and 401(k)s instead of RRSPs.But it's still useful stuff that will get you to think about your mental approach to investing.
Biz Book Of The Year
Raghuram Rajan's book Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World Economy has won the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year. Rajan is said to have predicted the global financial crisis during a 2005 Federal Reserve session to laud Alan Greenspan.
Editor's note: If you don't receive Rob Carrick's newsletter twice weekly by email, you can sign up to get it for free at The Globe and Mail. All you need to do is register for the site, or if you've already registered, login and go to your profile at the top of the homepage. Once you're in your profile, look under Newsletters and Alerts and look for the Personal Finance Reader and other newsletters. Other financial newsletters include:
Business Ticker, a summary of the day's top business stories
Berman's Market Update, a summary of the markets at the open, noon and close
Trade by Numbers, a monthly collection of articles exploring an investing trend or theme