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

If you and your significant other fight about your finances, or avoid talking about them, you’re not alone, according to a new survey quoted by CP24. The poll, conducted for accounting firm MNP Ltd., found that dealing with debt is a major cause of relationship problems for Canadian couples. And the younger you are, the more likely you are to blame money for trouble with your spouse.

If you’re in this position, you might want to think twice about splashing out this weekend on a Valentine’s Day gift or outing, suggests MNP president Grant Bazian. The key to keeping money from wrecking your relationship, he says, is to discuss it openly.
Financial strain can take heavy toll on relationships

Family Day fun for less
If you live in one of the six provinces celebrating Family Day (or Islander Day, or Louis Riel Day) on Monday, Common Cents Mom has a list of activities that will keep your kids happily occupied at little or no cost. From skating or swimming to an at-home talent show, there’s something for kids of all ages.
Fun cheap Family Day activities

Best Canadian family vacation destinations
Be it cobblestone streets or a dinosaur museum, Canada offers great places for families to visit, says Have Baby Will Travel. Quebec City is an excellent choice, says blogger Corinne McDermott, even with a 10-week-old infant. Other recommendations: the dinosaurs and hoodoos of Drumheller, Alberta, and the city fun and nearby resorts of Toronto.
Favourite Canadian destinations for families — This is my Canada

How to make your bills pay themselves
With the right computer software and mobile apps, you can automate many of your routine chores, says Lifehacker. That includes backing up your data, automatically paying your bills and even reading your mind — sort of.
Top 10 hacks for automating your life

Are you an emotional investor?
Since 2008 and until very recently, says Canadian Couch Potato, people have been afraid to invest in the stock market because it was dropping. But now, they’re afraid because the market is rising. To avoid that kind of emotional thinking, invest according to your goals and temperament, and schedule regular rebalancing.
Scary when they’re down, scary when they’re up

Tweet of the week

A restaurant recently offered a family a discount for having well-behaved kids. Thoughts, asks @savvymomdotca? bit.ly/VbNmPm—
BrighterLife.ca (@BrighterLifeCA) February 13, 2013

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