While I’m Away
I’m going to be off the net for a few days. There’s some heavy-duty site maintenance happening on June 24-26 so there’ll be no posts, no way to comment. I will be back on Friday, the 27th. In the mean time, I thought I’d give you some sites you could look at.
I have to say that there aren’t a lot of sites out there that I like. I may be picky, but I can’t help being a little distrustful of opinions that change with the winds, which is why I don’t favour traditional media. Depending on the day of the week and who sent in the latest press release, you’ll get a story that is positive or negative or, well… it depends on the day of the week and who sent in the latest press release. The sites I’m suggesting you visit are the exceptions – really good sites with rich content and an interesting, balanced perspective. Some I’ve mentioned previously, but this will give you a good list you can refer to whenever you need. Have a look. Do some bookmarking. You may just find something you’ve been looking for.
Ta Ra till Friday!
Canadian Capitalist is one of the best Canadian sites on the web. This guy isn’t just smart, he’s sensible. And he has the layman’s touch in explaining some complicated things in very accessible ways.
I’ve referred you to Fiscal Agents a few times, and this is the go-to site for calculators and information. Don’t miss it.
The FCAC (Financial Consumer Agency of Canada) is another terrific site with good tools and up-to-date info on savings accounts and credit card rates.
HRDC’s site on maternity benefits is the first place to go to find out what you need to know BEFORE you go off on mat leave.
If you want to calculate your tax exactly, you can go to Taxtips for a really thorough calculator. If that one makes your head spin, here’s a simpler one that will give you a basic of idea of how much tax you should pay.
Here’s a blog by the guys who wrote the book Freakomonics, which I like to check out from time to time. They have a very interesting take on some pretty neat stuff
Another author with an interesting site is Malcolm Gladwell who wrote two books, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference and Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. These are both terrific reads. This is one smart cookie, I’ll tell ya. Backayad blud, yu kno.
For those of you who are compulsive pack-rats and may need some help getting uncluttered there’s hope.
Lifehacker bills itself as TECH TRICKS, TIPS AND DOWNLOADS FOR GETTING THINGS DONE and has some interesting stuff.
I’m fascinated with the brain, our minds, how we think. Mind Hacks has loads of stuff if you’re curious, including an interview with Steven Pinker (a Canadian) who is a personal fav of mine.
Happiness is another of my thangs. Have I ever told y’all that I believe the purpose of life is to be happy and to make as many other people as you can happy? Yup. That’s it. Simple. So I read lots about happiness and one of my favs is The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt, Associate Professor of Psychology University of Virginia. Terrific book. Lots of great ideas on what makes us happy and what you can do to be happier. Here’s his website too.
Finally, my favorite site, the one I go back to again and again: StatCan. I’m a pig for data and this site is packed full of it.
Okay, your turn. What are some of your favorite sites and why do you like them? If you’re replying on Monday, great. If not, wait till Friday to put in your favs so they don’t get lost in the Maintenance Shuffle.
Have a great week.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
I have three to add
http://www.four-pillars.ca - The blog “Quest for Four Pillars”, run by two Canadian fellas, is top notch - great, easy-to-understand writing on all kinds of personal finance topics including RRSPs, RESPs, and money saving tips. Funny too!
Wonderful money guides for kids and teenagers (from 5 yr olds to post-secondary students) are downloadable for free in .pdf format here http://strategis.gc.ca/epic/site/bsf-osb.nsf/en/h_br01493e.html (published by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy). You can call and get a paper version mailed to you at no cost - a wonderful resource for parents and teachers.
Smartcanucks.ca is a great deals blog.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:42 am
Thanks for the mention and the kind words Gail. I don’t know how you find the time to do a show and write so much on the blog.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:45 am
Gail if you enjoy reading about the brain check out the book “The Brain That Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge. It is an excellent book and maybe the first time I have savoured a book.
I am currently reading “Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole” by Benjamin Barber and so far it is good. We have both read The Tipping Point and enjoyed it thoroughly.
Thank you for all you do and enjoy the quiet time. I look forward to your return.
Cheers,
Dianne
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Gail,
Thank you for being so thoughtful and aware that some of us need a daily fix from you! Have a great holiday!
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Thanks for writing such an amazing blog. Your advice and friendly but cut-the-crap attitude (I mean that as a great compliment!) are helping to keep my husband and I on the “jar program” and committed to not living in denial anymore.
Other blogs I enjoy (not related to finances, though…):
as a new mom on mat leave, I am currently enjoying the posts from http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/half_full/ , in a nutshell, it’s from UC Berkeley about how to raise happy kids.
For pure entertainment value, I love checking out http://www.dooce.com.
Thank you so much for your blog and your show. :o)
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 pm
This is an american site but very smart and down to earth gal! I love to read. Also the frugal canadian is awesome. Jenny
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I am currently reading the same book as Dianne: “Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole” by Benjamin Barber. Very interesting and I think I will be shopping with a different attitude, e.g. is it the child or adult in me that is making the purchase.
Just finished reading “That Memory Book” by Cathryn Jakobson Ramin. Read a short excerpt (pdf) at: http://www.virago.co.uk/pdf/extracts/9781844084555.pdf
It’s about one woman’s quest to figure out why she, and others, feel they are losing “it”. This book led me to Mindhabits (ww.mindhabits.com) which has exercises, some free, for you to keep that brain sharp, or at least sharper.
Love the Unclutter and the Freakeconomics blog sites that Gail mentions. The two, plus this site, are my first stops of the day, filed under Reality Checks.
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:11 pm
And I forgot about http://www.5min.com/
5min is a place to find short (5 minutes long) video solutions for practical (and not so practical) questions and a place for people to share their knowledge.
June 26th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Gail, Your idea of ‘happiness’ is timely. Steve Paikin, on TVO Wednesday night, had that discussion of whether or not happiness is making us miserable. There is such an emphasis on being happy so says one person on the show that we lose ‘unique and creative thinking and action’. I really think he must have been relating it to all the creative authors, etc., who wrote classics while or after being depressed. I never did find out what their meaning of ‘authentic happiness’ is but I am sure it is out there. I just don’t have time to go looking for it, the book that is.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
A co-worker just introduced me to a cool website that has tutorials on investing:
http://www.investopedia.com
I’ve just started exploring it, but so far it’s great. It’s a good read and easy to understand. I like learning when I don’t have to read it over and over to get it.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Not finance, but a place for your personal electronics that every house has.
It’s Canadian with 25,000+ members in the forum. Outstanding forum with knowledgable people including many professionals that pitch in. Don’t know HD from HDMI, this is a great place to learn. Groups for every Canadian cable and satellite provider as well. With so few truly Canadian resources in this area, I go back to this site again and again.