Month: February 2021

• • Thank the person who nominated you. Add backlinks to their blog.
  • Answer the 11 questions they posed to you.
  • Nominate another 11 new bloggers and give them 11 new questions.
  • Include these rules in your post and use the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post.

Since I’ve already thanked Chrissy and encouraged you to visit her AMAZING BLOG, Eat, Sleep, Breathe FI, let’s get on to the questions!

Sunshine Blog Award Questions

1. What’s your number one tip for someone just starting out on their financial journey?

Track your money in and out using YNAB. Along with net worth, income vs expenses, age of money, and a bunch of other cool stats. This was easily my biggest win of 2018.

2. If you could start your financial journey over, what would you do differently?

I would start earlier. Like, in my 20s. I started aiming for FI at the age of 42.

3. If you have a partner (or if not, a close friend or family member) what’s one way they’ve inspired you to do better with your finances?

Although my blog is anonymous, I have a small circle of people in my personal life who know about it.  A couple of my friends even follow the blog and provide me with positive feedback which has been very inspiring. Thanks friends!

4. Name one area in your financial life that you’d like to improve on.

I would like to learn more about investing. Right now my strategy is very basic; which is ok. However better investing knowledge would help me grow my FI nest egg even further!

5. Can you share your top three money-saving apps?

1. 1. YNAB! Although I prefer the desktop browser version as it has more features, the YNAB app is great for reminding me how much I can spend on things while I’m in the store. Psychologically it is very effective for me and saves me tons of $$.
   2. Facebook. Weird but true. Before I buy anything new (well mostly anything), I check Facebook Marketplace to see if I can get it used. This saves me TONS OF CASH. I also sell items on Marketplace which recoups some of my previous money spent.
   3. There is no third. I should work on that.

6. What’s your most unconventional money tip?

Hmmm…great question. There are lots of money tips, but not many unconventional ones. Anyone on the path to FI knows that to optimize expenses, one must constantly challenge them. Particularly monthly expenses like utilities, internet, insurance, bank account fees, etc. Although it’s not exactly unconventional, not many people seem to challenge these regular monthly bills often enough. Instead, they just let their credit card or bank account get charged for years (read: me, 5 years ago). I think it’s really important to check competitor rates regularly and contact your providers to see if your rates for these regular things can be lowered.

7. Other than blogging about money, what do you most enjoy doing in your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my family, travelling (pre/post COVID), getting out into nature, playing video games online with my friends, being crafty, drinking coffee, reading other people’s blogs about FI/RE.

8. Tell us something about yourself that would surprise your readers. (It can be anything—it doesn’t have to be money-related!)

I initially began my education studying to be a marine biologist specializing in cetology, but I wasn’t good at calculus. I just REALLY LIKE WHALES. *shrug* Now I have a degree in English Literature.

9. What’s the most impactful eco-friendly (or eco-frugal) thing you do everyday?

Drive my second hand hybrid vehicle to and from work.

10. If you had one environmental wish for our planet, what would it be?

To reverse the damage we have caused through industrialization. This would allow humans in delicate climate areas to thrive once again and give a better chance of survival for all the other species on the planet.

11. Which blog post of yours do you absolutely love, but doesn’t get enough attention? Also: why do you love it?

Probably “How my attempt to reduce waste is saving me money“. I like this post because it helped me realize how much I am doing to help reduce our family’s impact on the environment which makes me feel good. Also I like to re-read it on occasion to remind me about things I’ve gotten a bit slack on doing. I see you, individually packaged stuff in my Costco cart! Historically I’ve just felt guilty that I’m not packing all my waste for a year into a single mason jar.

Sunshine Blogger Award Nominees