As most of my readers are aware, I have a habit of publishing on Friday what I think are some of the week’s best posts. Some view this as a hackneyed, lazy and overused idea. However, it usually ends up taking longer to compile than an average daily post. Why do I do it? I don’t know.
I hope you enjoy these posts as I did, borrowing them from their authors.
Swiss Army Knife Section’s Best
Here we go, yes, it is going to be a very eclectic list and it will also include many different fun videos from the year as well.
- Mr. Money Mustache decided he’d help his readers get into the rewarding and exciting world of blogging with How to Start a Blog, it goes into detail if you are really thinking about this. I always enjoy when folks try to help folks get a leg up getting into blogging, but you better know what you are getting into, beforehand.
- “Real Wealth is Built Through Innovation†Michael James quotes Mark Carney’s view that innovation is the way to build the economy, not simply more work, but smarter work (or even less work for the same money?).
- Cliff Stohl (author of one of my favorite Tech Book the Cuckoo’s Egg) wrote a very amusing (now) article about Why the Web Won’t Be Nirvana, he kind of missed the target on this one. I found this one hilarious, since Cliff is a very smart guy and it is always fun when smart people make mistakes.
- Stress Testing Your Finances and Your Death – The Comprehensive Test The Blunt Bean Counter gives us a neat test to make sure that your finances can withstand a major stress. (like a sudden death or the like). Can your finances take the stress test? Better go try it, could save you or your loved ones a lot of stress later on in life.
- Should I implement the Smith Manoeuvre?Mark from My Own Advisor wonders about whether he should try out the infamous Smith Manoeuvre. I wouldn’t do this, but I am also an admitted “nervous nelly†with these kind of ideas as well.
- Who Should NOT Have an RRSP? Gail Vaz-Oxlade goes on an interesting angle suggesting that there are folks who really shouldn’t be thinking about RRSPs (surprisingly I am one of them), Gail has been a good sport all year, as I have poked her more than once on line.
- How to take the misery out of filing tax returns Larry MacDonald writes about how we can make this painful time more enjoyable, my only way to feel better is knowing I don’t owe any money, or didn’t at least, last year!
- My TD e-Series RESP Portfolio Robb from Boomer and Echo writes about the use of TD E-series index funds in an RESP, which is something I do currently as well, glad to see great minds think alike.
- Why 2.5 Billion Heartbeats Might Change The Way You Think About Money A great video by the REAL Preet (not the pasteurized one on OWN), well worth watching (in fact check the end of this post if you can’t wait
). - Act Like a One-Income Family & Save Gail Vaz-Oxlade points out a winnings strategy used by a few couples I know, which is live on one income and save or pay debt with the other income and you will be set for life
- Ever wonder when is The Best Time to Drink Coffee ? NeuroscienceDC gives us the scientific study of when, for me it’s when I need it dammit!!!
- It’s Time to Ban Advisor Commissions The Canadian Couch Potato points out that Advisors making money off Mutual Fund sales makes the whole system not work well. He has since put his money where his mouth is, check out his site.
- Scientific American comments on On the lack of women in science: Numbers do matter , there does need to be more females in science, but how to make it happen?
- At last, new rules for water heater sellers (and others) Ellen Roseman gives us good news about Water Heater Sellers (and other folks) and the new rules they will have to live under, glad to hear it!
- RBC and BMO Offer Cheaper Business Banking Options Small businesses don’t get a lot of breaks on banking so it is nice that the Canadian Capitalist found two cheaper options from RBC and BMO. Let’s hope we see more of him in 2014.
- Baby Monitors Can Be Hacked, And So Can Everything Else Popular Science points out that lots of things can now be hacked, and used for some really creepy ideas (screaming obscenities at your kid?!?!).
- Lifetime coffee spend Data Genetics brings us a handy on line calculator to figure out just how much your vices are costing you and have cost you throughout your lifetime.
- For hockey fans we have KHL team hires women in lingerie to sell tickets, ‘cheer up fans’ (NSFW) I’d buy tickets there is all I am saying (don’t care if it was for Cricket).
- Don’t be a jerk: How to write a classy resignation letter Kerry at Squawkfox gives a simple template on how to write a letter of resignation. My last one simple said, “Bye and thanks for all the fishesâ€.
- Canada’s disability savings fund called a ‘fiasco’ The CBC hops on the “RDSP is confusing†bandwagon, with an expose of a Grandad trying to set something up for his Grandson. Wonder if the CBC has read my posts on RDSP?
- Our friends at Freakonomics had a poke at More Predictions, from Bad to Worse which caused me to write my take on prognostications, which ended up making some bad predictions.
- Cellular News points out something I had already guessed which is that Netflix and Youtube account for 50% of all North American fixed network data, is that the cable industry I hear whimpering?
- Handcuffed: Comparing Mobile Phones and Life Insurance Riscario asks have the regulation changes in both of these industries caused a big change in how business is done?
- Rob Carrick wrote in the Globe about the Rise of the miserable Canadian Home Owner, I am a home owner, and not overly happy, but my house doesn’t have much to do with it.
- Always Leave Home Without It: A Further Investigation of the Credit-Card Effect on Willingness to Pay A very interesting MIT study on the dangers of Credit Cards with a case study to do with buying Red Sox tickets, so you know why I like it!
Some of My Favorite Videos Too
Yes, most have little (or nothing) to do about money, but this is a year end thing!
Wow….one heckuva list. Thanks for including me.
Love the videos as well, nice touch.
Mark
Wow! That’s an impressive list. Thanks for including my post.