This edition of the newsletter is devoted to contrarian thinkers on personal finance – people who have different views than most and have a smart rationale for them.
First up is Stefanie O’Connell, a U.S. personal-finance blogger and speaker who has taken on the wedding-industrial complex. In other words, all the forces in our society that tell you it’s crucial to spend a ton on your wedding to put on a great show. Ms. O’Connell blogged recently about why she returned her engagement ring and why she’s not having bridesmaids at her wedding. This seems like such clear, sensible thinking on weddings. They don’t need to stress you – or your guests – financially.
Next, we have Bridget Casey of the Money After Graduation blog. Check out her Twitter take on extreme frugality and the drive to save a few cents on a purchase at the grocery or drugstore. Ms. Casey says there are times when cutting your grocery bill by a few bucks can help you get through the month, but chasing pennies isn’t the way to achieve financial success in life. “'How do I save $0.30 on hand soap?' is the wrong question,” Ms. Casey says. “You are looking the wrong way. You are doing the wrong thing.”
Thanks to these two contrarian voices for helping to keep personal finance from getting stale.
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Rob’s personal finance reading list…
Dollar store tricks to fight kitchen clutter
Cheap and cheerful ways to make your kitchen work more efficiently.
What the 10 best years for the stock market can tell us
An investing blogger on the lessons that can be gained from looking at 10 best-ever years for the Dow Jones industrial average.
Five mistakes executors make
Has someone in your family asked you to be the executor for their will? Here’s a list of the top five mistakes made by executors written by a lawyer specializing in estate law. I’m also including a link to a column I wrote a year ago on hiring a corporate executor. A final gift to your family.
If you think time is money, read this
A list of work and household tasks you’re doing in the wrong order. Presented to help you use your time more efficiently.
Today’s financial tool app
This calculator is great for helping you meet a savings goal. Play around with variables like monthly contribution, time to reach your goal, rate of return and more.
Ask Rob
Q: I like the idea of exchange-traded funds, but am confused about which type of ETFs should go into my RRSP, TFSA and non-registered accounts, taking taxation into account.
A: Take a look at the ETF tax primer I put together a while back. It helps you decide which types of ETFs go best in all the various types of accounts.
Do you have a question for me? Send it my way. Sorry I can’t answer every one personally. Questions and answers are edited for length and clarity.
In case you missed these Globe and Mail personal finance-related stories
- Three common mistakes retirees make when drawing down assets
- Ottawa’s First Time Home Buyer Incentive will benefit very few – and only the very lucky
- Four dividend growth stocks that fly under the radar (for Globe Unlimited subscribers)
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Rob Carrick