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personal finance reader

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, videos and websites that represent the best of what the online world has to offer on money-related subjects.

When the stock markets get crazy like they did last week, the Reader stands ready to help. In this edition, you'll find a provocative argument that investors should stay out of stocks because they're too volatile right now, plus some bullish outlooks for the markets. Speaking for myself, I'm staying in stocks, although I recently trimmed the equity exposure for our boys' registered education savings plan (our older one just turned 16).

Do you click coupons? People still clip coupons, but the new best way to save is to go online to coupon websites. Below, you'll find a list of all the coupon sites I've come across. You'll also find an American view on Canada's tax-free savings account, and a hilarious new product promoting happier marriages.

Found something on the Internet that your fellow investors might enjoy? Talk to me at rcarrick@globeandmail.com

From the Globe and Mail

Dr. Lee Hausner offers tips to ensure entitled children grow into successful, responsible adults

How will we afford the bigger payments for our homes? Analyst Vince Gaetano takes a look in this Let's Talk Investing video

Investing ethically doesn't have to mean investing ineffectually

If early retirement is the goal, a move away from market volatility is key

Starting an emergency fund can be as simple as depositing $100 or less into a high-interest savings account

Many Gen-Xers need a reality check on debt, saving and living expenses

Plus: Two online discussions for our readers today:

Ask actuary Norm Collins your questions at noon (ET)

A look at the culture of debt at 1 p.m. (ET)

Must Reads From Around the Web

Investorama

Rising market volatility means stocks are "not an intelligent place to be right now" for individual investors, financial blogger Felix Salmon argues.

Here's a response to Salmon's comments that reflects on the possibly outmoded idea that we invest in stocks because we expect a return premium over bonds.

Speaking for the bulls: hedge fund manager Barton Biggs, who sees a jump of 15 to 20 per cent in U.S. markets.

Another bullish U.S. hedge fund manager. None other than John Paulson, in fact.

General Electric is one of the largest stocks in the Dow Jones industrial average, and it's arguably a proxy for the entire U.S. economy. But is it a good investment?

An investment adviser urges investors to focus on low costs, not past returns, when selecting mutual funds.

The Corporate Disaster Slide Show

British Petroleum's rogue oil well off the U.S. gulf coast prompts a look at the catastrophes that other big companies have been involved in over the years.

Coupon Clicking

I asked readers last week if they wanted a list of all the online coupon websites I've come across and several people said yes. So here we go:

Bargain Moose

Coupon Craze

Coupons, Eh

Dealstreet

Flyerland

Flyers, Coupons

Frugal Shopper Canada

RedFlagDeals.com

Save.ca

SaveLand.ca

SmartCanucks.com

Valpak

TFSA Envy

An American financial blogger looks at our tax-free savings accounts.

Dept. Of Innovation

Introducing the Better Marriage Blanket, solution to the problem of nighttime flatulence. I kid you not.

Scam Alert

The Banknerd website offers this advisory about a new level of deviousness in those phishing e-mails that scammers send out in hopes you'll disclose your online banking username and password.



Follow me on Facebook. I'm at Rob Carrick - Personal Finance.

Editor's note: If you don't receive Rob Carrick's personal finance newsletter each week by email, you can sign up to receive it free by registering 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 Alerts and look for the Personal Finance Reader and other newsletters. Other financial newsletters include:

- Business Ticker, a summary of the top business stories of the day

- Berman's Market Update, a summary of the markets at the open, noon and close

- Globe Investor Magazine, a biweekly collection of smart investment idea and portfolio management stories

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