Moving along…

In “Six Investing mistakes to Avoid“, I mention the difference between investing in collectibles and investing for your financial future. In this next post, Retire by 40 rants about how a Wii is not an investment, and the general overuse of the “invest” by retailers trying to make us feel better about spending our money.

Let’s Talk About Investing warns investors to be extremely wary of wealth enhancement seminars.

Jennifer Stewart at MoneyVille describes how easy it can be (honestly) to build a $61,500 RESP.

Of course, if it is too late to follow Jennifer’s plan, Money Smarts Blog gives helpful tips on how to make the most of your RESP even if you don’t start until your child is older, in The Last Minute RESP.

Young and Thrifty gives great advice in the post What your Credit Report Knows that You May Not.

Having recently moved out of my house for renovations, I appreciated Alan Schram’s post at the Canadian Finance Blog on the many costs of moving. Boy, do they add up quick.

And I will close with two posts about Registered Retirement Income Funds, or RRIFs.

Jim Yih at Retire Happy has published an online guide to RRIFs – everything you ever wanted to know, and maybe more.

And Jim Yih again writes about RRIFS for Mintlife, in RRIF Basics: 4 Common Questions on Registered Retirement Income Funds. (I hadn’t actually noticed this was also him until posting it just now. Well done,. Jim.)

Of course, if things go as predicted, we won’t need to worry about RRIFs, will we?

On that happy note, I sign out and hope you enjoy your long weekend.

The new reading list will be posted approximately every two weeks, but is more flexible, and can be posted whenever I feel I have accumulated a number of interesting articles that I would like to pass on. And it allows me to include books, whole websites, and more. I think I am going to like it.

On today’s reading list:

Let’s Talk About Investing posted a five part Madoff on Madoff series, summarizing his recent interview with the financial times. A fascinating look into the mind of a con artist.

The You ASC’d blog offers tips and advice to anyone interested in investing their tax refund.

Get Smarter About Money describes how you can negotiate your way into savings, by knowing when and how to ask for a better deal.

Young and Thrifty writes about Canada’s first annual National Advance Care Planning Day, and the importance of planning for aging, illness, advanced care, and even death. Not fun to think about, but not prudent to ignore either.

Sheryl Smolkin at Moneyville writes about the “grandparent’s scam” and how her 83 year old mother almost became a victim.

Mike Holman at Money Smarts Blog writes about how to save on tax when making RESP withdrawals.

Boomer and Echo offer tips on assessing your estate plan, before and after writing your will.

Gail Vaz-Oxlade shares six money mistakes mouples make.

And finally, I can’t let the day go by without mentioning THE wedding, and so whether you ignored it or enjoyed it (or like me, put on your best hat and pearls and ate scones with jam and clotted cream and watched it with friends) – I invite you to think about how much the Royal Wedding cost. Shocking, really.

Mike Holman at Money Smarts Blog writes about how Canadians Are Not Withdrawing From RRSPs At An Alarming Rate, contrary to popular belief.

Boomer and Echo wrote a great, useful post about how to name an RRSP beneficiary.

Robb Engen wrote a touching piece for the Canadian Finance Blog about how dealing with chronic illness can drastically change your perspective on personal finance.

Young and Thrifty provide some last minute tax tips for bloggers and others working from home.

Signed up for Groupon, Team Buy or other group discount sites? Wealth Pilgrim writes an interesting article about What is Groupon and Why It’s Evil. What do you think?

Enjoy, and have a great weekend.

More and more people are filing their taxes online these days, and the Canadian Finance Blog has kindly reviewed two of the more popular tax filing software packages available to Canadians: UFile and TurboTax. Note there is also a UFile giveaway.

Changes in Canadian mortgage rules come into effect today, and the Get Smarter About Money Blog helps you decipher what these changes mean.

Money Smarts Blog gives you step by step instructions to open the safest, simplest and cheapest RESP account – and gives other RESP options as well.

In a thought provoking post, the Canadian Couch Potato tells us that “beating the market” is a relatively new idea.

Green Panda Treehouse gives great advice on how to moonlight your way to success.

Young and Thrifty tells us what yoga can teach you about personal finance.

Financial Highway reminds us that saving for retirement is our responsibility, and it starts now.

Boomer and Echo teaches us how to choose our retirement date.

And finally, it is Fraud Prevention Month, and Let’s Talk About Investing reminds us why we should be wary of investment seminars.

Thanks, and enjoy your weekend.

However, if you are reading my list and reading the links I post, chances are you may have already become fans or subscribers of these same writers. So what is my usual list of links really giving you? A list of articles you have already read. Not overly helpful.

So while I am not about to abandon my favourites, this week I challenged myself to find new writers to share with you – new perspectives on personal finance and investing. Who knows, some of these may become regular features in my future links posts.

Tax time is just around the corner, so I introduce the Canadian Tax Resource Blog, with their post on RRSPs and Retirement Allowances.

Thicken My Wallet has prepared an interesting Crash Course on Severance Pay.

Kristina at Green Panda Tree House (personal finance tips for those in their 20s) also wrote a finance course: Retirement Planning 101.

Canadian Couch Potato wrote two great posts about portfolio rebalancing, starting with Why Rebalance Your Portfolio?

And finally, an inspirational post from Momvesting called Invest in Yourself: Wealth vs. “Small Means.”

Thanks this week to Canadian Finance Blog for Featuring our post Students: Win an iPad or $2000 in the Financial Fitness Challenge,in their Canadian Finance carnival #24.

The Alberta Securities Commission’s You ASC’d blog offers five top tips to avoid false RRSP promises.

Mike Holman at MoneySmarts blog wrote a great description of the RRSP Home Buyers Plan.

Jim Yih at the RetireHappy blog created a very thorough and helpful Online RRSP Guide. Check it out if you still have RRSP questions.

And the Globe and Mail’s Larry MacDonald writes about the 13 most common RRSP blunders.

Also a hot topic this week was financial literacy, following the release of the report from the National Task Force.

Jonathan Chevreau at the Wealthy Boomer asks: Does the financial services industry profit from financial illiterates?

The Riscario Insider poses similar questions and more in The ABCs of 123: The key to financial literacy/numeracy.

Also of interest this week:

I was sad when I heard David Chilton would not be publishing an updated version of pne of my favourite finance books, The Wealthy Barber. Ao I was thrilled to read in the Canadian Business Online Blog that the Wealthy Barber is back – “significantly older and marginally wiser.”

2 Cents at http://balancejunkie.com/2011/02/16/whats-your-investment-personality/ helps you to discover what is your investment personality.

Another great post from the MoneySmarts blog on how to do a background check on your adviser.

And finally, while my posts at Before You Invest are about investment or fraud related topics, I recently entered a personal finance blogging contest, where I told a personal story about gaining financial control to achieve my wildest dreams. Please check it out.

Young & Thrifty has posted another good comparison of the two plans: RRSP versus TFSA: Head to Head Comparison.

The Your Money blog presents 6 things to know about Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs).

The Canadian Capitalist looks at  what percentage of Canadians actually take advantage of Government benefit programs that they are eligible for.

Jonathan Chevreau writes in the Financial Post about how retiring early might actually save you money – intriguing!

Jim Yih at Retire Happy presents 5 timeless tips for investing in your RRSP.

Canadian Dream: Free at 45 writes a very interesting article about the stages of personal finance, and how they may lead to conflict and disagreement.

There are also two very interesting pieces on “bandwagon” or trend investing:

Boomer and Echo asks whether social media investing is the next bubble, and John Reese summarizes the sorry history of bandwagon investing in the Globe and Mail.

Happy reading, enjoy your weekend.

The BC Securities Commission talks about what to do with your RRSP contribution in their Let’s Talk About Investing blog.

The Investor Education Fund offers tips to help you meet your 2011 investing goals at the Get Smarter ABout Money blog.

Jim Yih asks “What happens to your RRSP when you die?” at his new Retire Happy blog.

Canadian Capitalist presents the advantages of RRSPs over TFSAs.

Balance Junkie tells us five reasons why we might want to skip the RRSP contribution this year.

And last but not least,

Canadian Finance Blog explains how staying organized saves you money.

Enjoy your weekend!

First, a warning today from the Maritime Better Business Bureau: Another day, another phishing scam. It seems locals are being targeted with fake email messages about their VISA being used in Iran, and asked for personal information to “verify the fraud.” DO NOT respond. VISA will never ask for your card number, PIN, or CVV in an email/phone call.

A new book from one of my favourite finance authors & personalities, Gail Vaz-Oxlade, has been reviewed in the Globe and Mail. I will be buying lots of these for contest prizes & giveaways.

2 Cents at the Balance Junkie talks about setting goals (financial and otherwise) for 2011.

Tom Drake at the Canadian Finance Blog writes another great educational post with What Is A Price To Book Ratio (P/B Ratio)?

Benoît Poliquin, Vice President and Portfolio Manager at Pallas Athena Investment Counsel shares seven resolutions for a prosperous investing year at Investing Thesis.

Jim Yih at Wealth Web Gurus provides great advice in his article “Buy and hold does not mean ignore.” So true. You need to stay on top of your investments, or you could miss important information.

And one final link, to a report from Moneris Solutions about holiday spending. Despite pre-Christmas predictions that Nova Scotians would spend more over the holidays than anywhere else in Canada (from AllNovaScotia.com), it seems we were more frugal than most – Nova Scotia and New Brunswick saw the smallest increases in consumer spending vie debit & credit over the holidays. This could be taken as bad news for retailers, true – but it’s a nice-to-see for those of us advocating budgeting and saving over spending and increased debt.

Thanks are due this week to Jim Yih, who included our Read your monthly account statements article in his “best of the blogs” post this week.

Enjoy your weekend. I am spending mine at the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotis’s Divorce Fair – the 2nd annual event. So in parting, I will share the article I wrote at this time last year, Splits & Scams: DIvorce and your financial health.

First, a guest post at the Canadian Finance Blog warns us to stay away from the herd – which may help to protect us from Ponzi and other schemes.

2 cents at Balance Junkie provided advice from one of their readers, with Investment wisdom: 5 key lessons.

A guest post at Financial Highway offers a pick-me-up with 20 of the most inspiring quotes on investing.

Mike Holman at Money Smarts Blog asks Why Are Investors Only Using GICs and High Interest Savings Accounts In Their TFSAs? – and provides a great answer. (What investments do you hold in your TFSA?)

Gail Vaz-Oxlade ponders whether Canadians are dumber than we look, given the still climbing debt loads in this country.

Jonathan Chevreau at the Wealthy Boomer explains why returns of 10% are all but impossible these days.

Finally, a heartwarming post from a non-financial blog, but with a frugal aspect. This is from one of my favourite Halifax shops: Love, Me boutique, who promote Handmade for the Holidays.

Miranda at Financial Highway starts us off with tips on how to save money on holiday decorating.

Jonathan Chevreau at the Wealthy Boomer presents Mint.com as Help for those without a plan.

For those wondering about the training your adviser has taken, or what is required to get into the industry, Mike Holman at Money Smarts Blog does a great job describing Canadian financial adviser qualifications and courses.

At Money 2.0, on the Get Smarter About Money blog, read about moving beyond RESPs – additional ways to save for a child’s education.

Tired of paying others to do what you could do yourself with just a little training? Frugal Dad provides fatherly tips on how to become more self-sufficient.

Gail Vaz-Oxlade has started another blog series – this time a glossary, the ABCs of Money. I was planning to do something similar here in the new year. I’ll keep watching for her updates and decide whether I have more to add or not.

And last but certainly not least, 2 Cents at Balance Junkie gives a unique perspective on financial markets in Lucy and the Charlie Brown market.

Thanks are due this week to the Canadian Finance Blog who included our post on inflation in the Canadian Finance Carnival #12, and to Investing Thesis for including links to two of last week’s articles: inflation and managing inflation, in the 10th edition of the Canadian Personal Finance & Investing Carnival.

See you next week.

I’ll start this week’s roundup of blog posts with two differing opinions on the Black Friday madness:

Alan Schram at the Canadian Finance Blog advises us how to take advantage of American Black Friday deals. Meanwhile, the Canadian Personal Finance Blog (note the difference) asks Why Black Friday?

After posting two articles this week about inflation, I thought you might be interested in Money Energy’s post on the difference between deflation and disinflation.

Financial Highway shares tips for cutting costs associated with newborn babies, to help out new parents. Gail Vaz-Oxlade encourages parents of older children to teach their teenagers about money.

At Get Smarter About Money, Money 2.0 looks at how to use RRSPs and TFSAs to complement one another.

And finally, the Money Smarts blog provides a good description of the T2033 – or transfer of funds from one RRSP to another, at a different institution.

In the meantime, other writers were not slacking this week. Some great reading follows:

Tom Drake at the Canadian Finance Blog answers What are Dividends? in a great educaitonal post.

Jonathan Chevreau at the Wealthy Boomer answers readers’ questions about Tax-Free Savings Accounts.

Gail Vaz-Oxlade is asked to give financial advice to single people, though she argues her advice is the same, regardless of marital status.

Student blogger Christine Sirois talks about the money woes of a third-year journalism student in her first post, Much About Money, at the Get Smarter About Money blog.

Need to make more money to get your finances on track? Ray at Financial Highway shares his tips on setting up a home office.

Last but not least, I have just discovered the Halifax based Money Hugger blog. read their third post in their Holiday Gift Guide series.

Also, thanks are due to Investing Thesis for including us in this week’s Canadian Personal Finance & Investing Carnival.

Note: We had chosen a winner in the RESP book giveaway, but after a delay, discovered they had already won a copy elsewhere. A new winner has been contacted, and will be announced as soon as we hear from them.

*Graduating in December with a Masters in Adult Education & Community Development from St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS.

The Canadian Capitalist published Random Thoughts: For Veterans Week, a mix of finance and Remembrance Day themed posts.

In Your Spouse Just Died. Do You Have a Plan? Miranda at Financial Highway wrote about a topic most of us would prefer to never think of. As the wife of an active military officer, I’ve had this talk. Wasn’t fun, but I feel better knowing it’s done.

2 Cents from Balance Junkie wrote a great article about economics and growth in What Happens When the Glass Is Too Big?

Canadian Finance Blog has done the unthinkable and started blogging about Christmas already! Of course, always the planner, I have started my holiday shopping already, and since I agree you should start thinking about it too, how about start by reading Theme Your Christmas?

Speaking of “seasons,” Get Smarter About Money has skipped the holiday season altogether and is encouraging us to start thinking about RRSP contruibutions for 2010. Don’t wait till March 1st, read RRSPs? Ready or Not, Here We Go! today.

The Globe and Mail’s Rob Carrick published this year’s rankings of the best online brokerages — and the worst.

And one last link, in honour of all who served or are serving in the armed forces, and are as in need of financial education as the rest of us. For the past three years I have been a member of a committee of the North American Securities Administrators Association, creating financial resources for military members and their families. A Salute to Smart Investing is a fantastic resource created for American military by one of our committee members in association with Lighthouse Press. We had hoped to create a Canadian version, and might still, but in the meantime, please check out this one. Ignore the references to 401Ks and Thrift Savings Plans and etc. The basic info is fantastic, and if you have a question about the specifics, just ask.

On with the roundup:

Balance Junkie discusses “collateral” or “mouse trap” mortgages in Mixed Messages from TD Bank. (An interesting read – we’d love to know your thoughts on it.)

Mike Holman at Money Smarts has put together a helpful Canadian Online Discount Stock Brokerage Comparison.

Henry Truc at Financial Highway discusses the various ways to teach your kids responsibility with allowances.

Allison Griffiths at Moneyvillle ensures readers that when it comes to investing, there are no stupid questions, in Investor I.Q. training tip #3.

Jim Yih at Wealth Web Gurus poses, and then thoughtfully answers some popular estate planning questions.

Mr. Money at Smart on Money encourages readers to Take A Personal Day To Fix Your Finances.

And, always a favourite, Gail Vaz-Oxlade discusses couples’ money issues in Inequities in Income.

Thanks are due this week to Wealth Web Gurus for including our Three Rs of Investing post in their Best of the Blogs Halloween reading.

Last but not least, congratulations to Rhia Perkins who was this week’s winner of the Invest in Education contest.

First, Alan Schram at Canadian Finance Blog explores the idea of a Financial Fast. I thought this was great, and want to try it, perhaps as a 2011 new year’s resolution.

Miranda at Financial Highway asks Are You Ruining Your Retirement? Read for warnings on how you might be sabotaging your retirement plans.

Mike Holman, at Money Smarts writes In Defense Of Mutual Fund DSC Fees For Smaller Investors. It’s an interesting article, as it is not often that you hear someone defend fees!

Neal Frankle, in a guest post at Frugal Dad describes How To Raise Money-Smart Kids.

Patricia at Let’s Talk About Investing warns you to beware of hedge funds, and discusses the risks involved.

Gail Vaz-Oxlade continues her look at the 7 deadly sins, this week taking on Wrath.

And finally, introducing the new Get Smarter About Money blog, read the fun post/quiz  Talk of the Titans and see how well you know Gordon Gekko and Warren Buffett.

Before getting onto the links, I want to send congratulations to Laura Misztela (@lauramadethis on Twitter), who is our first winner in the “Invest in Education” contest. Laura takes home two great personal finance books: The Smart Cookies Guide to Couples’ Money and Rob Carrick”s How to Pay Less and Keep More for Yoursel She is still playing, in hopes of taking home the grand prize of a Kindle eReader.

Now, on with the review.

Invest It Wisely presents 7 Wealth Building Strategies inspired by the 1926 book The Richest Man in Babylon.

Canadian Capitalist discusses this year’s offering of Canada Savings Bonds, in 2010 Canada Savings Bonds on Sale Now.

Patricia at Let’s Talk About Investing discusses the growing problem of student debt in Student Loans: An even bigger problem.

The Canadian Finance Blog lists the Top 15 Credit Card Blunders.

Gail Vaz-Oxlade teaches the ABC of Savings.

And finally, Miranda at Financial Highway asks Is Your Identity at Risk from Friends and Family?

We’re also pleased to have been included in this week’s Canadian Personal Finance and Investing Carnival, hosted by Investing Thesis; more great reading for you there.

I have lots of great posts and articles to refer you to, so take advantage of the Thanksgiving long weekend to read up on the latest in personal finance.

First on the list this week is the newly revamped InvestRight website from the British Columbia Securities Commission. Check out the whole website, and don’t miss the Let’s Talk About Investing blog, and their Hiring the right financial advisor is very important post.

In the Final installment of her investing series, Gail Vaz-Oxlade suggests 7 Steps to Successful Investing.

Mike Holman at Money Smarts reviews the book Pensionize Your Nest Egg.

Jim Yih discusses the non-financial aspects of retirement in Retirement Is About More Than Just Money at the Canadian Finance Blog.

Frugal Dad suggests Five Daily Activities to Improve Your Finances.

Simple Financial Lifestyle asks: What are your Personal Financial Ugly Ducklings?

You should also check out the New Brunswick Securities Commission’s YouTube channel, and their new ad Knock Out Investment Fraud.

Thanks are due this week to the Canadian Finance Blog, who included our Saving vs. Investing post in their Friday Links, and welcome to new readers who found us this way.

Oh – and one more link for you, in honour of the Thanksgiving weekend. It’s not specifically finance related, except that growing, harvesting and preserving your own food is a smart, frugal thing to do. Check out the new Adventures in Local Food blog, and their cranberry sauce cook-off.

Happy Thanksgiving.

But first, it is the first day of October, which is also the first day of Investor Education Month in Canada. With that in mind, I would like to point you to a recently launched website called Money Index, which is an aggregate of top personal finance blogs and columns. We will add it to our links list on the right hand column, and hope you find it a useful resource. (For your convenience: you can find us listed on the Canada page.)

And now, the weekly roundup.

Kate McCaffrey at WalletPop Canada discusses the results of the the 10th annual TD Waterhouse Female Investor Poll in Why Mom Didn’t Teach Us ABout Investing.

At Invest it Wisely, Greg MacFarlane examines the ins and outs of mortgage refinancing in If You Enjoy Financial Obligations, Don’t Read This.

The Canadian Finance Blog offers 22 tips on How to Avoid Personal Financial Disaster – always good to know!

Gail Vaz-Oxlade, at Making Money Make Sense, discusses her own experience with Registered Education Savings Plans in RESP Surprises.

2 Cents, at Balanace Junkie looks at replacing a hot water heater in Hot Water Heater: Rent or Own?

And finally, if you will forgive a link to another group of links, The new Canadian Personal Finance & Investing Carnival has been posted at Investing Thesis.

Thanks, and enjoy your weekend.

Miranda at Financial Highway asks an important question: Do you trust your neighbour for investment advice?

Frugal Dad gives advice for Setting up your finances as a couple.

Invest It Wisely takes on a commonly held belief in Is it really that expensive to eat healthy food?

Canadian Dream: Free at 45 discusses the pros and cons of early retirement in Is it worth it?

In a guest post at the Canadian Personal Finance Blog, Roger discusses 10 Personal Mistakes as Confessed by a Financially Inept Person.

And in an amusing post to end the week, the Balance Junkie shares Financial wisdom from the Princess Bride.

Also worth checking out, though not a blog post, this week the Task Force on Financial Literacy released What We Heard a summary of the presentations, submissions and comments the Task Force received from Canadians during public consultations in every province and territory and online.