The Saturday Weekend Review #29: 6000 Facebook fans, figs and a Contest

 

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When I started my Facebook page in early February, 2012 I remember getting excited to have a few followers come on board.

As the months crept on I found my Facebook page growing not only with the Facebook marketing, blog marketing and other social media and contests I was doing but from the fans and other bloggers that I follow.

Over the past year and a half I have met some amazing people and those fans are still with me and take pride in Canadian Budget Binder, helping me to build our community day after day. Nothing makes me happier than to see my team of fans champion our page to grow by participating and sharing every day.

They take control and they help each other out, they welcome new fans in and it’s overwhelming for me at times. I wish they could see the tear in my eye just to know I’ve made such an impact in their lives with this blog and page.

Just as I have for them, they have affected my life. I want to take a moment to thank all of you. Each one of you know who you are because I talk to you all every day, so thank-you from the bottom of my heart.

At times when the page would get stuck in a rut my fans would encourage me to say “they will come”, and they did. I set a goal for 2013 of 5000 Facebook fans and surpassed that earlier this year. I set a further goal of 6000 Facebook fans and we have now achieved that as well.

New blog and self-hosted

I know I’ve said we are going to get a new blog design and trust me we are. I’ve run into problems that were beyond my control and my new designer is working with me. I’ve seen the new site and we are working to get it up for all of you as soon as possible.

I hope you love it as much as I do. Note: If you are a Word Press follower please subscribe via email so you don’t lose my posts when I move my blog to self-hosted where I am hosting with Blue Host.

Thank-you 

I’ve also made friends with many new Foodie bloggers who share my recipes and I have gone on to start a second Facebook page called The Free Recipe Depot which is growing day by day. So to all my Canadian Budget Binder fans from around the world… keep on doing what you are doing.

If you are not a Facebook Fan yet, please do join us.

Enter to win!

(click to read or enlarge)

Vanhoutte coffee prize package contest 2

Contest Rules:

  • Must be a Facebook Fan and/or Blog Subscriber for your entry to be valid.
  • LIKE the Facebook Post
  • Canadian Residents Only
  • Must be a Coffee Drinker … OK, this is not mandatory!
  • All you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post sharing your most memorable moment at CBB or what advice you have taken from CBB that has motivated you the most.
  • Contest closes Monday July 22, 2013 Midnight EST

I’ve set my next Facebook goal for 6500- Let’s do it!

Katrina and I both thought that it would be a great idea to give something away since we met our milestone. Together we have a Keurig K-cup Van Houtte Coffee Package, Sample Product Package and a Coupon Envelope stuffed with Canadian Coupons up for grabs.

Please follow the rules above and Enter to win today!

Good Luck~ Mr. CBB and Katrina 🙂

Gardening and Landscaping

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This week I wanted to share with you our lovely figs on the fig tree that we take such good care of.  My wife treats this tree like it’s her baby and wants to see it give us the best fruits every year.

This year we have loads of figs and I noticed one that was soft and that it had turned a white-yellow colour. My wife picked it, washed it and sliced it open.

She was going to add honey on top but decided not too. We added a few slices of aged Australian cheddar and some kalamata olives and this snack plate was perfect for mid-afternoon cravings that we were having. We are currently enjoying our first crop of figs which started in the Spring and already see new figs starting to grow for the second crop of the year.

If you have never tried a fig the have a sweet flesh inside with tiny seeds and you just eat the entire fig as is, just not the stem. I’m not sure of the kind we have but it may be the Italian white fig, but there are many variations of figs around the world.

We also enjoy the black fig as well. If you know, please let us know as the tree was given to us.

What are Figs? 

Figs are also known as Ficus Carica or the common fig which is native to the Middle East and western Asia but is grown all over the world, even in my back garden in Ontario, Canada. Figs were also a common food source for the Romans. – Wikipedia

The fig tree is grown for its fruit or for ornamental appeal as the leaves are large and shaped with 3-5 lobes which make the tree unique.

The tree or shrubs can grow as tall as 10 meters high and has very fragrant leaves. It prefers light-medium soil that is well-drained.

We keep our fig tree in a large 1/4 barrel with holes in the bottom that I drilled. We picked the barrel up at Home Depot last year I believe.

Although commonly referred to as a fruit, the fig is actually the infructescence or scion of the tree, known as a false fruit or multiple fruit, in which the flowers and seeds are borne. It is a hollow-ended stem containing many flowers. – Wikipedia

Since the fig tree likes hot and sunny during the Canadian winter we bring our fig tree indoors.  Some people cover them up to over-winter them as well or bury them underground.

Do you like Figs? How do you use them?

Next week… I will show you what new plant we purchased at the nursery for a bargain basement price and how our raspberries and rhubarb are coming along.

Weekly blog post review

You can now follow Canadian Budget Binder via Bloglovin and continue to get my daily posts in this reader.

If you are a regular reader you would have already received these awesome posts in your email or reader but just in case you missed reading one I’ve put them all together here just for you.

PLUS…. check out the NEW FEATURE I’ve added which is my New Free Recipe Index! You get all the recipes that I have posted here at Canadian Budget Binder in one spot so you don’t have to go looking for them.

Garage sailing with Jen

Jen and her husband have made many improvements to their shopping habits and their budget. You can read all about it in her guest post, Budgeting With Mr. CBB Got Us Back On Track. Jen shares her weekly garage sale finds with us for the summer to show just how much she can save for her family.

jen's-garage-sale-finds-July-20-2013

  • Silver Coors Light beer cooler $.50 (they were asking $1.00)
  • Smaller blue cooler – free 🙂

Great deal on the cooler bag for $0.50 Jen as they can get a bit pricey and are great for grocery shopping as well in the summer heat.

Making a difference

Making a difference is a part of this post where I share a personal finance blog that I interact with daily and has made a difference in my life. I have asked the blogger to introduce themselves, their blog and how they want to make a difference with their blog for the fans and for themselves.

Today, I bring you my good friends, fellow Canucks from The Outlier Model.

They live by the example they set and that is CBB and why I am passionate about their journey and I hope you are as well.

outlier model

 

Greetings to all the Canadian Budget Binder fans out there! I hear there are a lot of you, and we wanted to congratulate Mr. CBB on reaching over 6,000 fans on Facebook this past week. We are CF and Brian, who run The Outlier Model – a blog about living life just a little bit differently. We’ve been blogging for over two years and truly the best part about it has been the connections we’ve made with like-minded individuals, both locally and from afar, like Mr. CBB!

So, how do we make a difference? We live by the example we set. We are very public about our Master Plan, aren’t afraid to set tough goals and show you through our blog how we are achieving them. Hopefully, we will be inspiring enough to motivate some change for those who wish to be a little bit different and get control of their finances (and thus their life!).

Thanks to CF, we have a lot of great recipes to share which help us eat healthy and frugally. I swear I would be 15 lbs heavier if I didn’t have CF’s inspiration in the kitchen! We’ve taken a strategic investment in real estate and have lots of great tips for becoming a landlord and managing your own property.

In the end, we hope to be financially independent in less than 10 years from now – come along for the ride as we challenge the norm, achieve the impossible and help you live a better life.

Google search terms

web search terms

What are Google keyword search terms?

Keywords for search engines help me to understand what people are looking for at Canadian Budget Binder. Although I get thousands of keyword searches from Google users that come in each week I pick out a few that catch my eye and make me smile.

Top pick- Nosy Neighbour Signs- I wasn’t sure if they meant to put up an actual sign or they were looking for signs their neighbour might be nosey. Almost all neighbours are nosey, admit it! You know at least something about someone on your street that you don’t even know. 

  • Ran out of money renovating house– I guess you will have to save up some money now. While planning a realistic budget is important once you tear down the walls you might just open up a can of costly worms.
  • Mensexmen– not here we’re a family financial site.
  • Canadian Budget Binder App–  now that’s interesting
  • Loving smoking-  if you love it then you accept the consequences
  • Financial Advisor waste of money- What do you think?

That’s all for this weeks edition of The Saturday Weekend Review. Join me again next Saturday to see what trouble I’ve gotten myself into during the week and some awesome updates. Have a great week.

-Mr. CBB

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58 Comments

  2. WOOHOO! 6000 fans, and here’s to 6000 more! 🙂
    I very much appreciate the thanks you’ve expressed to me time and again, but you’ve done all this yourself!
    We make a great team I think, you’ve educated me on many things, and I’ve brought you back to reality once or twice;)
    Congrats on your milestone, can’t wait to see what else you come up with this year!

    Reply

  4. Thanks for the awesome giveaway. Good luck to everyone!! I am sure you will have 6500 fans in no time 🙂

    Reply

  5. I really appreciate all the help I got from Mr. CCB with setting up my budget. I thought it was going to be alot harder to stick to a budget but it isn’t at all.I have no worries now about paying my bills on time and saving lots with coupons when I do my grocery shopping.Thanks So very much!!!!

    Reply

  7. I love all the helpful hints at how to pay down debt, and the dessert ideas that blow my diet to heck! 😉

    Reply

  8. I have to say the financial hints and tips. Especially regarding the scanning practices. We get rushed through the tills so fast these days, it’s hard to watch and notice if we’re paying too much these days

    Reply

    1. My wife said the same thing last week. She feels likes she is pushed through and hardly has a chance to put her credit card away and receipt in her purse. She said from now on, she’s not moving until she is done. Thanks for dropping by.

      Reply

      1. Good for Mrs CBB… I park myself too until everything is safely put away. I am not going to have things falling on the floor, only to get lost or forgotten, just because someone can’t wait 2 minutes.

        Being a large woman, they are likely to push me out of the way either if I choose not to move! LOL 😀

        Reply

        1. I just think people are in too much of a rush and I can’t tell you how many times people are always trying to push by, without being polite about it either. What if someone has a disability and needs more time, an invisible one at that. People need to slow down or make more time to run errands.

          Reply

  9. Love the free money-saving tools available on your website. This site is the one I continually turn to when I am unsure about budget and financial matters! Congrats!

    Reply

  10. I don’t know if I have only one memorable moment but I most definitely love every sharing their dinner ideas – I look forward to this and seeing everyone’s creativity~ 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks.. Initially I wasn’t going to include food on the blog until I realized that food is a part of the budget and our finances. It should be included, plus it gives us all a nice break from chatting about money matters.

      Reply

  11. love your blog & even at my age have learned a great deal. Was always accustomed to having sufficient funds for my wants. now being a senior on a fixed income, I concentrate on my needs.

    Reply

    1. Hi Richard,
      Thanks mate, it’s good to hear from you. I don’t know much about seniors and fixed incomes but if you’d like to ever share about it, I’m listening. I don’t think many people realize what life would be life living on a fixed income and I’d like to learn as well. Thanks for dropping by mate. CBB

      Reply

  15. Mr.CBB – it’s really really difficult to pick one thing that is memorable with this blog/you! I have to say, you are a wealth of information…and you’re so great at laying it out that is kind of fool proof. Thank you for all the work you put in to helping all of us stay (or get) above water with our finances. I love the How to Make a Budget info. I was never one for looking after the money in our house so the thought was a bit overwhelming. After checking out what you had to say, it’s all good! I’m so happy to see your blog having such great success – you deserve it and here’s to another 6000+ 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks! What I try to get across is to not compare rather find a way to do what we do. It might not be exactly the same but we must all take the first step. I don’t promise anyone riches because it’s not rocket science. I’m not here to brag, I’m not here to judge just to tell it like it is. My fans do the same and I appreciate that because I lean just as much from all of you.

      Reply

  17. Congrats on the 6k although I never had any doubt that you will be able to do that! 🙂 my most memorable posts would have to be the grocery game (of course!) as well as the post reminding ourselves not to compare financial numbers to others; I still reread it every once in awhile when I need a reminder!

    Here’s to the next 500 and beyond! 😉

    Reply

    1. Awe thanks Vicky and thank you for all you help and support. Financial numbers are hard not to compare. We used to do that and it just brought us down. Life is much easier when we are realistic.

      Reply

  18. As Mary said above the CBB page is fun and educational. My personal finances were in a royal mess and I was looking for sites that would help me with budgeting when I found Mr CBB. I am now watching where my money goes, getting great recipes ideas from the blog and fans. I’ve learned so much over the past year. I love this blog. Thanks and congratulations on 6000 fans strong 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hey Avis! You have such a cool name it’s hard to forget you! Plus, you are always chatting away on my FB page and it means alot to me to have fans just like you. Thank you for your kind words and keep on doing what you are doing. When it comes to personal finances, taking charge is the easy part! Following through, takes will.

      Reply

  19. Mr CBB has shown me that being able to get out of debt and getting on with a less worrisome life is possible and not as painful as I believed. I look forward to every post so I can learn more! The best part is all the info is conveyed in a non judgmental way (as some other sites are). I may not be happy with how we got into our situation but knowing there is a way to “fix” it makes it more rewarding every time I look at our budget! Thanks so much and keep up the excellent job!

    Reply

    1. Thanks for the lovely comments Tammy. It’s nice to hear how I make the fans feel. I want CBB to be a place where fans can be comfortable to talk about their debts, how they got into the mess and how they will get out. We’ve all made mistakes, stuff happens but we have to pick right up and make it work for us. Thus life. 🙂 Mr.CBB

      Reply

  20. My biggest ‘take-away’ is to project future expenses! For example, I started putting money aside for “possible” vehicle repairs. Sure enough the car needed a small repair the other week, and the money was there to use! I didn’t have to use a credit card, I didn’t have to take money from somewhere else, like my emergency fund. I have a “projected expenses” account that I put money into every month for situations just like these. Felt good to pay and not have to worry about the money! Thanks for a fantabulous helpful page/blog/facebook etc. Your service is very much appreciated, I suspect the Universe will treat you in kind 🙂

    Reply

    1. Wow, Heather that brought a tear to my eye. I never thought the projected expenses would be so critical but it is. So many fans are now setting up the projected expenses in their budget so that the money is waiting to get used at some point in the year. I hope we as a team can spread the word to tell others how easy it is. Thanks Heather.

      Reply

  21. Congrats on reaching your goal! What a great contest! Thank you very much.

    The CBB page is fun- I love all the helpful information and advice that I receive here. Your site really makes me stop and think through your many useful questions. The advice has been most helpful! Thank you!

    Reply

  23. most mem. moment I got the top Cbb fan chef one evening I found that exciting I love read what everyone is planning to eat/cook. and the recipes that go with them. also the ways you help me from putting my hand on the ole debit card. and I read what you type with an English accent lol

    Reply

    1. What a lovely think to say Chandra. I look forward to that post every night only because it’s a post where we can all talk about food and just about anything and everything. It’s a community of fans that have come together, friendships have been built and we continue to grow. I hope you continue to learn and teach others. Cheers Mr.CBB

      Reply

  25. You and I have a lot in common with frugal ways and gardening etc. It was nice to see that I was not the only “weirdo” (as some have considered me) with what they consider OCD or insane ways. We seem to have the same goals and it’s great to follow you on your journey and keep me on mine. Thanks CBB 🙂

    Reply

  26. I think there are way too many memorable moments to comment on…like Mr.CBB’s “quickie’s”! But, in all honesty I have learned some new budget tips that have helped me tweak my own budget, as well as lots of other personal financing tips and recipes! I consider myself a fan especially now that I follow you not just on facebook and through email, but on twitter too! Does that make me a stalker 😉

    Reply

    1. I was wondering if someone was going to comment on the “quickies”. Only a select few know what that’s all about. I like when the ladies stalk me.. that’s OK. 🙂 Thanks Barb for sticking around and for your support.

      Reply

  27. Most memorable? That’s tricky! I really enjoy the “What’s for Dinner” posts, some discussion is nice and seeing what other people are having is really fun! Congrats on 6000!

    Reply

  29. I’m not sure exactly how that blog about landscaping popped up on my computer but it did and I will be forever grateful to the powers that be for that favour. Since that day I have found a group of friends that are there for me, to help with budgeting, getting more bang for the buck with my groceries and all those recipes we have shared with each other over the past months. As well I have received support emotionally to just get through each day. Joining the crowd for What’s For Dinner is the best part of my day!!!! Thank you so much to Mr CBB for being here for us all and bringing us all together every day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply

  30. It’s really hard to pick a most memorable moment lol since I’ve been here since almost the very beginning, but I appreciate all of Mr CBB’s support in setting up and managing my budget over the last year and a bit. We are far better off financially now than we were back then and I owe it all to Canadian Budget Binder. I love all of the tips and tricks shared by Mr CBB and the fans and the recipes too! I’ve come a long way with my cooking since the beginning as well 🙂 I love this page! 😀

    Reply

  31. Mr. CBB I have to say that its your open approach that has motivated me the most. The fact that you come across as honest run of the mill people – no fancying it up. When I read about what you’ve achieved I can believe its possible for me because of this. Thank you. I also have to say the grocery game challenge – although I haven’t been brave enough to put my shops in yet, reading about your shops has helped me to cut our grocery spending by a fair chunk.

    Congratulations on 6,000 fans – thats a huge community!! 🙂

    Reply

  33. I really appreciate all the help I got from Mr. CCB with setting up my budget. Now my husband and I are on track and not living pay check to pay check anymore. I sleep a lot better at night knowing we can pay our bills on time 🙂 Thanks again Mr. CCB

    Reply

  34. That’s really awesome Mr. CBB! I have no doubt that you’ll hit 6500 by the end of the year. You’ve got quite the community going on Facebook and it really does show. Thanks so much for the special shout out, I really appreciate it! Looking forward to seeing the redesign as well!

    Reply

  36. I assume this is where you want the comments for the contest entry but I will copy this and pate on FB as well – just in case I misunderstood. 🙁

    The CBB page is fun… perhaps that’s the nicest part of working on my personal finances here! I love What’s For Dinner & am constantly impressed and inspired by what the gals turn out to feed their families while maintaining their budgets. The GGC has forced me to stay on track with my budget… even when I really, really want to splurge! LOL I hear the CBB gang in my head whispering to me, “oh no Mary… don’t do it… wait for next week…stick to your plan!” They are the angels to my little devil! Thanks so much to you all!!!

    Reply

  37. Your how to make a budget series has been super helpful to me in planning what kinds of expenses I might incur over my lifetime. Thanks so much for all the helpful tips and pointers when I would as my questions! As for a most memorable moment, for me it was finding your blog in the first place! I feel it has had a major positive impact on my thought process around money. There aren’t many places in this day and age that take the time to respond to every fan comment on Facebook. Keep it up and good luck on your next fan goal!

    Reply

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