As much as I love my fellow money saving bloggers right here in the UK, over the last year or so I’ve been reading an increasing number of blogs from those across the pond in both the US and Canada. So I thought I’d start sharing a few of my favourite overseas personal finance bloggers with you. Today I’m going to focus solely on the Canadians, but I’ll share some of the best from over in the US in the next few weeks.
Before you start clicking through to these amazing money bloggers’ websites, don’t be put off by any talk about RRSPs (retirement savings) and salaries that look wayyy higher than our own. ($40,000 is less than £24k at the time of writing this post). Although there are likely to be some references that don’t apply to us Brits, I’ve managed to draw so much inspiration from this inspiring and ambitious bunch. They’ve encouraged me to do everything from embracing frugality to thinking carefully about ways to grow my wealth over time.
Here are 7 of my favourite money saving bloggers from Canada…
Bridget @ Money After Graduation
Straight-talking Bridget Eastgaard over at Money After Graduation has inspired me so much in recent months. Rather than blogging about quick fixes and easy money making tips, I’d say Bridget’s approach is much more long term. Whether she’s talking about budgeting, investing, or ditching the ‘scarcity mindset’, she’s here to help you get wealthy rather than ‘rich quick’. If you’re the type of person who needs a bit of tough love in order to make big changes to your life, Money After Graduation is definitely the blog for you.
Alyssa @ Mixed Up Money
Alyssa from Mixed Up Money is fairly new to the personal finance blogging scene but she really has hit the ground running with her hilarious, insightful and inspirational blog posts. Packed full of gifs, her blog has a unique blend of personal anecdotes and money saving pearls of wisdom. One of my favourite posts by Alyssa looks at how laziness could be costing you money. Give it a read.
If you have a short attention span (it’s 2016, don’t we all!), you’ll love Mixed Up Money because every single post cuts straight to the chase and tells you like it is. Tired of being force fed technical lingo? You’ll be right at home here.
Jessica Moorhouse @ jessicamoorhouse.com
I first stumbled upon Jessica Moorhouse through her Mo’ Money Podcast. I’d really recommend subscribing and listening to it during your commute each day. If you prefer to read rather than listen, Jessica’s blog is a fantastic hub of information. She writes about everything from managing your finances after university to building your own career. She also talks about budgeting as a couple, which I think can be really hard to do in the first few years of a relationship. Grab yourself a brew and settle down to read Jessica’s list of 30 life lessons she learned before turning 30.
Desirae @ Half Banked
I’ve only been following Desirae and her blog Half Banked for a few months but I’ve already learned so much from her. Want to know how to save an emergency fund? Half Banked is your blog. Struggling to get your head around the world of investments? Desirae can help. Although she writes from the perspective of someone in Canada, so many of the tips and stories she shares are transferable to those elsewhere in the world.
If you’re on a low income, her post about how to survive on an entry level salary is an absolute must-read.
Pete @ Mr Money Mustache
After years of frugality, Pete and his wife managed to retire in their 30s. I know, that’s crazy, isn’t it? His blog, Mr Money Mustache was born when he noticed just how many of his friends and former coworkers were continuously complaining about how ‘broke’ they were, despite earning six figure salaries, living in nice houses, having fancy cars, and going on regular holidays.
He writes: “The whole country seemed to be displaying the same odd behavior: living ridiculously expensive lifestyles while thinking they were completely normal, and then being baffled when they had no money left over to buy their own freedom. All while being so busy that they didn’t even have time to understand the science behind why this behavior is trashing the very home that makes our lives even possible.”
If you want to live a life that is better than your current one while also costing a considerable amount less, Pete is only too happy to teach you how. Remember: Mr Money Mustache is not about ‘cutting back’, it’s about ‘cutting free’.
Jordann @ My Alternate Life
Jordann’s blog, My Alternate Life, is perhaps one of the first personal finance websites I ever started reading. Over the last few years, Jordann’s successfully climbed out of $40,000 worth of debt and, luckily for us, she’s documented the entire process. Not only is she now debt free, she’s working hard to build her wealth and regularly shares income reports with her readers to inspire them to side hustle their way to financial freedom.
Krystal @ Give Me Back My Five Bucks
On a mission to save half her income this year, Krystal from Give Me Back My Five Bucks is documenting the process and sharing her tips along the way. One of my favourite things about Krystal’s blog is that it includes regular life updates that document her financial progress. Not only is Krystal happy to share her triumphs, she’s also willing to openly identify areas she needs to work on. This openness and honesty is really refreshing to see.
Looking to climb out of debt? Krystal’s been there, done that and bought the t-shirt. Find out how she got in debt and worked her way out of it here. In need of some thrifty recipes or money saving food tips? Krystal’s got plenty of those too.
Are you a fan of a Canadian personal finance blogger not on this list? Give me a shout. No matter where you are in the world, I’d love to hear from you! Either leave a comment below, tweet me @CantSwingACat or drop me an email to [email protected].
