Weekly Roundup – Momentum’s Finest On Saturdays VOL 19 [JUNE 23]

Happy Saturday Momentum Makers!

We’re officially into summer and hopefully you’re finding some time to relax and also adventure with your friends, family and loved ones.

We’ve got 15 blog posts (including mine) and 9 podcast episodes to fill your weekend reading and listening needs.

MY POSTS THIS WEEK

• 15 Smart Money Moves You Can (Easily) Make This Month: Want to get some easy wins with your personal finances? Here are 15 smart money moves you can (easily) make this month to budget, save and invest more.

• Calculate Your Net Worth – Why Do It And How To Track It For Free: Tracking your net worth is helpful for your personal finances. What’s your net worth? How is it calculated? See the benefits and how to track it for free.

• Momentum Series Interview: Your Money Geek – Michael Dinich: This Momentum Series Interview is with Michael Dinich of Your Money Geek. We chat about financial planning, personal finance blogging and more money topics.

JUNE GIVEAWAY FOR SUBSCRIBERS

Sign up to the Momentum’s Finest email list to receive the Weekly Newsletter. Including our blog posts, the Weekly Roundup and you’ll get the chance to win our giveaway each month!

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PERSONAL FINANCE BLOG POSTS

Breaking Down Our First Year Child Costs And Experiences In 11 Charts from Apathy Ends

Ever wondered the costs of having a baby and just how much you might be spending? I have. Thankfully, Apathy Ends charted 11 different expenses and experiences from the first year of being parents to give insight to some of those costs. Within the posts are other details on being a first year parent, cost-saving tips and some of the non-cost nuances of raising a kid.

When Is The Best time To Buy A Car? from Wallet Hacks

Jim at Wallet Hacks digs into the numbers in order to find out when the best time to buy a car is. From the day of the week to the time of the year or holidays, there’s quantitative and qualitative research to support the findings. Want to know the best time? Check out the post! Plus it includes 6 key negotiation principles.

9 Easy Ways To Earn Passive Income In Canada from Gen Y Money

The great power of passive income! Letting your money do the work for you and earn returns with ideally minimal time input from you. Gen Y Money shares 9 ways you can potentially earn passive income in Canada. Creating diversified income streams are an outcome we should all hope for and the strategies shared in this post should draw your interest to allow you to do just that.

My 10 Commandments Of Investing – A Guide For New Investors from Savvy New Canadians

If you’re a beginner investor, you need to stick to a framework of rules and best practices to avoid making a crippling mistake. We all make mistakes, that’s just life. However, the 10 commandments of investing that Enoch at Savvy New Canadians drafted can help you avoid some of those common mistakes.

Life And Money Advice I Wish I Knew When I Was 22 from The Luxe Strategist

If only we could all go back and inception our best money, life and career tips into our younger selves minds! The Luxe Strategist shares the advice she wishes she knew when she was 22 and heading out into “the real world”. I couldn’t agree more with the list she’s compiled here. The 13 headlines range from personal finance strategies to mindset and self development or career advice.

31 Bloggers Share Their Favorite Financial Splurges from Personal Finance For Beginners

Aaron at Personal Finance For Beginners connected with 31 bloggers to figure out what their favourite splurges are (including yours truly). Saving money and cutting back unnecessary spending from your budget is an essential step in taking control of your finances. However, you work hard and life is too short to not spend on the things that bring you value and joy. Check out the full list and see which ones you relate to.

Financially Free: The Moment You Became A Money Grown Up from Millionaire Mob

As you gain control of your finances by building that foundation of knowledge through insights from others (books, podcasts, blogs, conversations, etc.) and your own experiences, you’ll reach a point where that system is now running effectively. As Millionaire Mob shares in this post, that’s generally the point when you’ve become financially mature and astute.

BUSINESS & BLOGGING BLOG POSTS

What It’s Really Like To Win A Deal On Shark Tank (From 2 People Who’ve Done It) from The Financial Diet

Shark Tank (and the Canadian version Dragon’s Den) caught my attention from the get-go of the series. Creative entrepreneurs with a product or service pitching in front of millionaires (or billionaires) for funding! Generally this would happen behind closed doors but because of the reality TV phenomena it was now happening across national TV. I don’t watch either anymore but I was excited to check out this post from The Financial Diet that interviewed 2 participants (the founders of LuminAID) from Shark Tank. The duo received a $200,000 investment from Mark Cuban! Check out the interview for the story before and after Shark Tank.

TRAVEL POSTS

19 Experts Share Their Top Frugal Camping Secrets from Sunburnt Saver

In my younger years as soon as it hit summer I was immediately excited for camping season. As a kid that would be family trips to various lakes around Western Canada. As I got older that become fun (and a little wilder) trips with friends. Melissa from Sunburnt Saver connected with 19 experienced campers and frugal practitioners to pull together this post featuring some great tips to save costs but still have an amazing camping experience.

LIFESTYLE, PRODUCTIVITY & WELLNESS BLOG POSTS

YES – You Can Consistently Workout for FREE from Real MikedUp

“I can’t afford a gym membership”. That’s fair, it can be expensive and if it’s not feasible within your budget, by no means should you overspend. However, you can’t just ignore your physical fitness and health. Personally I believe that with bodyweight exercises, running (or swimming, hiking, etc.) and maybe purchasing 2 kettlebells (ask for them as birthday gifts), you can maintain a healthy fitness routine. Mike from Real MikedUp shares my sentiments and highlights 7 strategies for consistently working out for free when the money gets tight.

There is No Such Thing As A Perfect Job from Four Pillar Freedom

We’ve all had that feeling rolling out of bed. The dread of heading to work when it’s the last thing you want to do. You might think to yourself that the grass could be greener on the other side if you were doing something else. Another job, another career. As Zach from Four Pillar Freedom notes after some personal reflection “there is no such thing as a perfect job”. Schedules, people, pay, benefits, engagement with the work, long-term potential and a dozen other factors all feed into satisfaction with a particular career or job. Are you happy in your position? What would make you happier? Are you sure that will happen somewhere else?

Career Advice I Wish I’d Gotten In My 20’s from Good Life Better

Similar to The Luxe Strategist earlier, Jenny from Good Life Better reflects on career advice she wishes she’d gotten in her 20’s. That first introduction into the professional world can be a tough one (it was for me) as you get accustomed to a new lifestyle and network of people. The post highlights 3 main focus areas of advice Jenny would give her younger self that I’m sure most of us can relate to.

PERSONAL FINANCE PODCAST EPISODES

Set For Life from Financial Independence Podcast

The Mad Fientist returns with a new episode of the Financial Independence Podcast! It’s always a good week when you see that pop-up in your podcast app. Joining Brandon is Scott Trench from BiggerPockets to share his story, strategies for success and achieving financial freedom. The episode is PACKED full of advice for anyone looking to take control of their money and life. I’ll definitely be relistening to this one.

Demystifying Your Finances and Creating a Financial Plan from Journey To Launch

Two of my favourite personal finance podcasts combined forces this week as Shannah from Millennial Money was the guest on Journey To Launch. From financial planning to being comfortable talking about money and managing your financial mistakes, it’s a great conversation (as expected when two podcasters get together). Lots on insights and knowledge for those at all stages of their financial journey.

FI Is An Amazing Race from Choose FI

Two reality show contestants in one roundup?! Yes. Joining the Choose FI duo is Khai, a former contestant on The Amazing Race, and blogger at ALABA+MA+LAYSIA. The podcast discusses that experience but then builds out into a much bigger discussion on travel, travel hacking and financial freedom. Another great episode added to the Choose FI library.

How To Learn From Mistakes And Turn Your Life Around from FIRE Drill Podcast

I’ve enjoyed when Joel from FI180 was a guest on other podcasts and that remains true as he joined the FIRE Drill Podcast this week. We all make mistakes in life. And generally, we all have the opportunity to right that ship and get our lives and money back on course. Joel discusses the experiences that he and his wife had on their own journey to financial independence – the lows, the highs and everything in between.

How This New Yorker Achieved Financial Independence from Chain Of Wealth

Mr. Groovy hopped on The Chain Of Wealth podcast to share his and Mrs. Groovy’s story to financial freedom. Side note, I love Mr. Groovy’s New York accent. The podcast touches on their time in New York, moving out of the big city to build a new home, financial freedom advice for others earlier in life and also share some light-hearted laughs along the way. It’s a fun chat and the Groovy duo run a great blog you should check out too.

Keeping it Real from Canadian Couch Potato

Dan aka the Canadian Couch Potato is back with a new episode as he welcomes Ben Rabidoux of North Cove Advisors to the podcast. The focus of discussions centralizes on real estate, particularly the Canadian real estate market. The most polarizing question in finance these days is covered: rent vs. buy. As are other potential issues within the current market and what might be ahead.

BUSINESS & BLOGGING PODCAST EPISODES

How to Use Systems to Save Massive Time Blogging from Do You Even Blog

Time management, productivity and efficiency are things I’m CONSTANTLY looking to improve in my personal and professional life. Any little tips or hacks I can pick-up along the way that fit my system and lifestyle. This week on Do You Even Blog Pete was joined by Suzi from Start A Mom Blog. The discussion isn’t only focused on time management as the episode hits on lots of blogging topics – growth, engagement, courses and all the goodness you’d expect on DYEB. Listen to the episode and check out Pete’s takeaway notes to dig deeper on the great time and productivity tips.

11 Things Thomas Edison Can Teach You About Profitable Blogging from ProBlogger

I always love when content creators take concepts outside the norm and apply them to their craft. Darren at ProBlogger does that on the podcast this week as he makes the connection between Thomas Edison to blogging monetization. Not a connection you’d expect to see, right? Well Edison was an inventor and “entrepreneur” who helped changed the course of modern civilization. The 11 statements from Edison that Darren pulled create a perfect connection to blogging and digital media.

TRAVEL PODCAST EPISODES

5 Simple Steps to Help You Start Travel Hacking from Popcorn Finance Podcast

Lee from Bald Thoughts jumps on the Popcorn Finance Podcast with Chris to chat about travel hacking. This 2-part interview features 5 tips from Lee that can get beginners started on the travel hacking path. As a credit card churner, I can whole heartedly say that travel hacking has changed my life over the last few years. With some proper planning and research, you can be well on your way to earning free travel (or reduced cost travel). Follow these 5 steps from Lee and you’ll be in a great spot.

APP/SERVICE OF THE WEEK: EBATES – REFER YOUR WAY TO FREE CASH

This week my shoutout goes to Ebates.

Not only am I earning cash back on my normal online purchases (and buying I do for work), I just got rewarded for getting all my friends and family signed up. A few weeks ago I sent a referral email to a list of personal contacts to suggest they register for Ebates.

Why was it good for them? If they do any online shopping whatsoever, they can start earning cash back on their purchases. Amazon, Nike, eBay, Booking.com, Sephora and 2,500+ other major retailers. And I suggested within the email they send out their own referral blast after signing up.

Why was it good for me? I earned over $150 from all the people who signed up as a referral bonus.

PRO TIP: Do the same thing!

If you haven’t registered for Ebates yet, you can use my link to get a FREE $5 bonus. And then you should do the same referral blast to your own contact list. You’ll earn $50 if you get 2 people to register and then $5 for every person after that.

SPECIAL SHOUTOUTS

• The Smart FI: Mr. Smart FI included my Walking To Work For 4 Years post in his June Weight Loss Challenge: Week 3 post. Head over and checkout the progress of his health and wellness challenge.

• Minafi: Adam reached the 1 year mark on his blog Minafi. He reflects on his financial journey and first year of blogging. Adam’s got an awesome blog – tons of qualitative data, investing information and great content on reaching for financial independence.

THAT’S A WRAP…

Another volume of Momentum’s Finest comes to a close.

Have a great weekend!