A weekly recap of the week that was, including some of my favourite blog posts from the personal finance world, great books you should know about, the best money I spent this week and more. Happy Sunday, friends!
I’m Currently Reading…
I took a trip to the library to return some books that were due back, including the totally awesome Stop Over-thinking Your Money! by Preet Banerjee, and picked up a few others.
(Also, it’s been months since I got my library card to cut down on my book purchasing habit, and I am still not over the joy that is free books. They’re just free, you guys.)
One of them, that I’ve torn through in just two days, is The Man Who Quit Money, by Mark Sundeen. I first heard of it from J$ in a Budgets are Sexy book giveaway, and it jumped off the (web) page at me as something I seriously, seriously wanted to read. When I saw it on the shelf at the library, it was a no-brainer to check it out.
It’s the story of a man who gradually, due to a variety of different factors, decided that opting out of the monetary system – no banks, no cash, not even any government-issued ID – was his best life. So he set up shop in a cave in the desert, and still maintains excellent health and a strong social network. It’s a different version of financial independence, that’s for sure, and while it’s not necessarily for me – I do not camp and running water is definitely my thing – it’s amazing to see such an extreme take on personal “finance.”
I Wrote Some Stuff This Week
It was a slow week over here at Half Banked, mostly because I spent a large chunk of my staycation revamping the site’s design! I still managed to get my act together to put up a post about how I redesigned the site on a budget, so if you’re interested, you can read all the totally-not-gory details.
Elsewhere, There Were Awesome Posts Too
As someone who has had to be talked down from many a ledge when I’ve ruined a meal I had high hopes for, this post from She Picks Up Pennies about the time she ruined dinner absolutely made my day. It was one of those “oh thank god I’m not alone on this one” moments, and a must read if that has ever happened to you – or if it might in the future, which, let’s be real, it probably will unless you’re some kind of Masterchef contestant.
Actually, even they have their off weeks. So. Go read it.
I’ve favourited this one post from Jordann at My Alternate Life a few times over the past two weeks on Twitter, but fiiiinally got around to reading it this weekend and it is awesome. She writes about how to get the best return on money she’ll need for a house down payment in two-ish years, and it resonated – a lot – because that’s about the time frame I’m on as well for the exact same goal. She’s way ahead of me though, since I’ve (so far) been content to park my money in a high interest Tangerine savings account and call it a day.
Also worth reading on that page? The comments. Bridget from Money after Graduation chimes in with some stellar comments about the strategies available with our tax-advantaged accounts in Canada on that post. They’re amazing points everyone should check out.
Early retirement isn’t even on my radar yet, with other looming priorities including a home purchase and a fully funded emergency savings account, but I love love love reading about it from bloggers who are closing in on their early retirement date. Our Next Life wrote a great post this week about the things they’re happy to give up to reach their early retirement date – and the things they really, really aren’t.
It’s a great read, and I could not identify more with the sheer exhaustion of returning from business travel if I tried.
I’ve been lucky enough to avoid debt almost entirely, but some of my favourite bloggers are the ones who share their stories about debt repayment. Alyssa at Mixed Up Money wrote about five ways to stop blowing off your debt this week, and the first point was actually something that, as a marketing grad, I know all too well. If you’re not ok with the salary caps in your job or industry, you can do something about it. An always-useful reminder, in addition to four other really, really key points delivered in a totally no-nonsense fashion.
The Best Money I Spent This Week?
Lastly, I’m working through the Mindful Budgeting Program this month, and every Sunday I sit down to review my spending as per Cait’s awesome templates. The best and definitely most fun part is trying to answer the question,
“What was the best money I spent this week?”
With this week being a staycation, there was a fair bit more spending than a usual work week, especially taking into consideration all of the travel to and from different family events for Thanksgiving on the long weekend. Let’s just say that Little Car and a teeny commute had not prepared me for the cost of gas when driving long distances.
That said, true to its name the Mindful Budgeting Program had me thinking about how I was spending money, and what I was spending it on. I’m happy to – within reason – spend on things that make me really, really happy. This week, there was a lot of spending, but almost to the dollar, it was money spent celebrating and being grateful for wonderful moments with friends and family. The best of it was a wonderful dinner I had with my grandmother, my mom and The Boyfriend celebrating my grandmother’s birthday.
Taking her out for a nice meal to celebrate another year with her? That’s some best-money-spent right there.
What About You?
What blog posts, books or silly GIFs did you find this week that really spoke to you? Toss the links in the comments – I can’t wait to spend Sunday morning reading them over coffee! (And yes, your own writing definitely qualifies!)
I could not agree more about the library! I almost never buy books now, and I LOVE the library. I’m not the kind of girl who likes shopping at all, but I think I understand the feeling the people who do get when they shop- that’s how I feel at the library. It feels like Christmas to be able to pick out all the books I want, for free!
I don’t know how it works in Canada, but in the States libraries also offer free passes that you can borrow for a day to do fun things for free like museums, the zoo, gardens, etc. Just another fun way to do stuff and save money.
I’ve heard rumours we have that up here too! I have yet to plan that far ahead and that effectively, haha, but someday I’ll confirm it for myself.
And the only place I’ve really ever understood that shopping feeling is at bookstores, so I’m not entirely surprised that the library feels that way 🙂 I’m with you on shopping malls though. Ugh. It’s never been the relaxing fun exciting times everyone says it is for me!
Great blog post – and I’m very jealous of your local library’s financial literacy book collection. Have a very happy Sunday!
Thank you! I checked out your blog and it looks like you have some very exciting times ahead – I can’t wait to read more about all of it! Even as someone who is the MOST squeamish about bodies, I’m super intrigued to see what it really takes to apply to med school. Have an awesome day!
I heart the library! Mine also offers audiobooks, which I can download from home through their website. That’s amazing and I don’t even have to leave my house, lol. I’ve been trying to listen to audiobooks when I’m working out and in the car on long drives. It’s awesome!!
That’s awesome! I’m a total newbie to listening to books / podcasts, but I already love it (Jessica Moorhouse’s Mo’ Money podcast got me totally hooked on them.) I know my library offers ebooks, but I’m going to take a look and check on the audiobook thing – now that I’m used to podcasts, morning talk radio just doesn’t have the same “allure” on the drive to work, haha.
PS. Thanks for the comment Kristin – I love your blog, so I’m super flattered!
Thanks for the shout-out! I know you say early retirement isn’t on your radar yet, but given all the good planning you’re doing, flowing right into that goal after you top off your emergency fund and buy your home will just feel like a natural evolution. Or if not early retirement, at least financial independence. 🙂
I have got to read the Man Who Quit Money. It sounds fascinating. Even those extreme stories are still great for inspiring more incremental change. I loved Ken Ilgunas’ Walden on Wheels and William Powers’ Twelve by Twelve for the same reason.
Hope your week is off to a great start!
Awww, thank you! Hopefully it’ll be on my radar in a few years – thanks to wonderful blogs like yours that break down how it’s even possible!
I’m adding those two books to my library hold list literally as soon as I finish typing this comment – I’m ALL about getting inspired by ridiculous extremes, and personal finance people always have the best book recommendations.
Right back at you with the great-start-to-the-week!