The Brighter Life weekly roundup of recommended reads about money, health, family, working life and retirement:

	How not to overspend on your new baby If you’re about to become a parent, you may be feeling pressured to buy the newest and best of everything – and in large quantities. Squawkfox has a highly sensible checklist of newborn essentials that could save your budgetary bacon. Newborn Essentials Checklist: Save money with just the baby basics
	Pet insurance: Silly or savvy? Do you share your life with a cat, dog or even a gerbil? Sheryl Smolkin asks whether you could handle a massive vet bill in the event of a serious illness or accident. Pet insurance may be the answer, she suggests. $32,000 bill was a pet insurance lesson
	Letting go of your kids gracefully Urban Moms shares a poignant reflection on a daughter’s Thanksgiving visit home from first-year university. Thankful that when people leave they come back
	Is it time for a reality check in your life? Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. That’s the mantra Blonde on a Budget is using to get her life — work, health, finances — back on track. Does any of her experience sound familiar? I’m Done Making Excuses (Again)
	The value of lifelong learning How much time are you willing to invest in furthering your education — even if you have plenty of time? A guest post on Canadian Dream: Free at 45 talks about the commitment involved in taking one course or going after an entire degree. Learning in retirement

Tweet of the week

Are you a fan of #giftcards? --> RT @MoneyNing Gift Cards: Appreciated Present or Inconvenience? ow.ly/egPgV

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BrighterLife.ca (@BrighterLifeCA) October 09, 2012