The Saturday Weekly Review

Magical Things Happened At CBB in 2015 : The Saturday Weekend Review 2016 #153

ByMo CanadianBudgetBinder

The Saturday Weekend Review logo- a magical 2015 in reviewNEVER A DULL MOMENT WHERE MONEY IS CONCERNED!

 

Sitting by myself on New Years Day enjoying coffee in the morning to write this final post I realized that I’ve had a magical 2015 year on CBB because of all of you!

Thank-you.

I’m over the moon excited that Canadian Budget Binder has done so well over the past 4 years and continues to grow not only with subscribers but how the community has come together. I’ve made some amazing online friends whom I’ve never met but we chat quite often about life in general.

As CBB moves into the 5th year of life on the world-wide web I’ve realized that personal blogging really is all about the “Personal aspect” and that’s what people want to read about. I’m fortunate that being a frugal living/budget blog that I get quite a few emails from fans who are looking for answers or support from the Canadian Budget Binder community.

The Grocery Game Challenge which has been very successful over the years for all the fans who participate is gaining more and more attention. With the prices of food and utilities going up even further in 2016 I’ve had fans email me who want to participate because it’s easier to save when you have people to hold you accountable.

We support each other on CBB and thankfully we’ve all come out on top achieving success with our grocery budgets in 2015. Big thanks to all the Grocery Game Challenge players for another successful year. You’re awesome and blow me out of the water the way you can save money! Join in, it’s Free!!

Over the 2015 year I featured many of your emails in hopes of finding others that can relate to your story or to spread the word about something that may have happened that others should learn about. I just love get fan emails because that means somehow I’ve encouraged someone I’ve never met to reach out to me.

Some of your stories blossomed into some real audience winning posts some of which were featured shares in The Globe and Mail online with Rob Carrick and on Rockstar Finance with J. Money who also runs Budgets are Sexy both of which have been featured in my Making A Difference Series in 2014. I’ve also had an amazing year with other social media outlets such as Pinterest, Facebook, Stumble Upon,Google Plus, Reddit, Twitter and Flipboard.

As we continue to grow the audience and reach of Canadian Budget Binder I encourage you to participate and speak up if you want your voice heard. The fans of Canadian Budget Binder have been my rock since I started this blog which I call small but Grayson (my fix the blog when it breaks guy) who I have more than annoyed over the years with floods of “Help Me” emails tells me that my blog is larger than I notice.

You see, I don’t blog to earn an income just enough to manage the blog and have a few contests here and there to give back to my fans. I do this because I LOVE FINANCE and helping people. This blog may be growing larger than I had ever imagined but I owe it all to the fans who continue to motivate me to get up and write, research and network with other like-minded finance fanatics around the world.

Part of the networking I do on Canadian Budget Binder comes from the Making A Difference (MAD) series. If you are a personal finance blogger and you read CBB you’ve more than likely been featured in the MAD series. When we didn’t have a toddler running around and me working two jobs it was much easier to spread my wings on the web by reading and commenting on personal finance blog posts.

Unfortunately these days my time is limited so I tend to visit blogs on rotation where I will comment but I still read many finance posts every day. Not a day goes by where I’m not reading and learning from my fellow bloggers which helps me to be a stronger blogger.

This year I was fortunate to network with many personal finance bloggers through the MAD series and I’d like to give a shout out to all of them today. Thank-you for participating in the MAD series as it truly was a pleasure to work and chat to you. I know sometimes my requests may have been last-minute or I screwed something up but in the end everything worked out.

So, without any more chatter from me let me give a round of applause to all the Canadian Budget Binder fans who pop by daily to read my posts, the bloggers who share my posts, subscribers to the blog, fans who follow CBB on social media and support Budgeting and Frugal Living. You’re the driving force behind CBB and have helped to get the blog noticed over the years by some big names. Let’s look at some of the data now.

Here is the list of Personal Finance Blogs that have graced the pages of Canadian Budget Binder in the 2015 Making a Difference Series. (If you’d like your blog featured in 2016 please email me as there are limited spaces)

MAD Features 104-152

 

CBB around the web

 

Although I don’t know every website or social media account that has shared CBB posts there are many that I am made aware of mainly because my stats go through the roof when a prominent site features my post. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me feel but I am also happy for the mentions I receive that may not send me thousands of readers because I know that having just one reader is more than I had ever anticipated when I started this blog in 2012. If you are one of these blog owners I just want to say Big Thanks for your continued support. It means the world to me.

Here are some of the places that I am aware of that CBB was mentioned in 2015. If  I’ve missed something and you know please email me and I’ll get it added to the list of mentions.

I was fortunate to write for She Knows Canada in 2015 once again and I look forward to possibly working with them in 2016. What I love about writing for She Knows Canada is that I am forced to think outside the box because their style is much different from my own. It has helped me to grow as a personal finance blogger the past 2 years of writing for them.

2015

 

Most appreciated 2015 blog posts on CBB

 

If for some reason you’ve missed any of these awesome articles below I encourage you to grab a beverage and find a quiet spot to take it all in. I hope you learn something new and maybe you can share them with your friends and leave your comments so others can read what you have to say.

Here are some of the top viewed blog posts on CBB posted in 2015:

These were some of my top viewed posts in 2015 which were posted over the years.

 

CBB 2015 Stats

 

Canadian Budget Binder had an amazing year with over 650,000 page views which is over 200,000 more than in 2014. My blogging goal would be to achieve one million blog views a year with-in the next few years but even sooner would be better. The aim is to spread financial knowledge about budgeting and how it can help pay off debt and allow someone to save money and invest. Most of all I hope I can motivate people to care more about where their money is going. I’m excited for my little-big blog and I’m going to work hard to bring you the best content which will help you save money or learn something new that you didn’t know before.

Although Facebook has been slowly growing I’ve changed my strategy over the years and am thrilled to have fans who actually participate daily on the page. It’s a case of quality over quantity and I’m sure glad I took a step back to evaluate the benefits of Facebook for CBB.

If you visit my Facebook page you will see that it’s just not blog posts on the page. My page has questions and blog posts filled with life and fans sharing their experiences and sharing tips not to mention the popular”What’s For Dinner”nightly post where fans chat from 5-10pm EST. Many of my best laughs happen in this thread.

Some of my fans who live close to each other or in neighbouring communities have even met all due to coming together on the CBB page. This is what working with my community is all about. I do the same for all my social media accounts and although I can’t be around 24/7 I do make a daily presence.

Later this week I will post our final Budget update for 2015 followed by our final Net Worth Update post the next week with a review of our year and what will be happening moving forward into 2016.

Again, thank-you all for being here and for all the online friendships that have been created over the years.

I feel blessed.

-Mr. and Mrs. CBB and … our little guy!

 

CBB Week At A Glance

 

It was nice to have 10 days off from work but it’s back to business today as my holidays have come to an end.  Although we were hoping for a white Christmas it was nice to travel without the worry of any major snowstorms in the forecast.

We were fortunate to get away for a while for the holidays to spend time with family and meeting up with friends we haven’t seen in a while. It’s amazing how conversations always seem to be guided down the financial path at one point or another. I learned that just about everyone worries about how much it’s going to cost just to live the way prices keep going up which certainly doesn’t surprise me. Our last electricity bill was just about double what it was previous months which was shocking for the both us.

Since coming home we’ve done lots of cleaning and organizing around the house. The plan was to put the Christmas decorations away on New Years Day but we decided to keep them up for a bit longer to enjoy the festive mood.

Everyone keeps asking if we made any 2016 New Years Resolutions and the answer is yes. They aren’t over the top but Finance, Health and Family are all priorities we are focusing on in 2016.

I hope you all had a lovely New Years and I wish you all Success, Love and Happiness in 2016!

-MR.CBB

 

Published This Week

 

Just in case you’ve missed any of my blog posts this week I will share them all below. If you are looking for past Saturday Weekend Review posts scroll down to the bottom of this post where I will list up to 5 previous weeks for you to read.

If you have a question that you would like to ask Mr.CBB fill out the Contact Mr.CBB form on the Blog Home Page and I’ll do my best to reply to each one. If you want to share a story via a Fan Question please ensure that there is minimum 500 words and lots of details…we love details! I’m more than happy to chat via email to bring your story to life.

Right now CBB is posting Tuesday (Grocery Game Challenge), Thursday (Personal Finance Post), Saturday (Personal Finance and Weekly Wrap-Up and a Frugal Recipe on Sunday!

I took a bit of a blogging break over the holidays but I did manage to post a few for your reading pleasure.

Popular Post this week: A must-read > The Scanning Code of Practice

 

Budget Brags

 

Submit your Deal or Brag:

Saving money while grocery shopping is essential in the CBB family and that’s why we share our grocery shops every week in The Grocery Game Challenge .

What I love the most is when my fans share their amazing shops with me whether it be groceries or other deals they find at a garage sale, online or freebies!!!

If you have a brag that you want me to share email me at canadianbudgetbinder@yahoo.(ca) < remove brackets) or fill out my contact form by Friday each week to have your brag considered for the Saturday post.

U by Kotex Cling Wrap Glad(1)U by Kotex Cling Wrap Glad(1)

Our master shopper is at it again. Check out these deals that Jen Peacock scored. If you have the coupons ready you can still find some excellent deals if you’re in the right place at the right time.

Awesome Savings Jen.

Hi Mr.CBB and Fans,

Here are the latest deals I’ve found:

  • Kotex 34 pack reg $8.98 on sale $7.84 at Walmart. Found them at RCSS with pink sticker $6.24 – 30%=$4.37 each then had $2.00 coupons making each box $2.37! I got 13 boxes!
  • Glad wrap reg $2.33 PM to Giant Tiger for $.98 – $.50 coupon from Walmart magazine insert and tear pads =$.48 each

 

Making A Difference (MAD)

 

Welcome to the 2016 Making A Difference series!

If you are a personal finance blogger (anywhere around the world) and would like your blog to be MAD featured simply drop me an email and I’ll explain the process to you. I’m currently booking for 2016!

This is my way of giving back to the personal finance community through networking and sharing knowledge with my fans. Today it is my pleasure to share with you the blog

Hi Mr. CBB and Fans!

Thank you for your time and allowing me to share my personal finance blog on your site.

I’m Andrew Daniels and I run the personal finance blog, Family Money Plan. I’m a thirty-something who’s been a personal finance devotee since my early teens. I love to discuss money, and share my knowledge and discoveries about personal finance. I’m a blend of Saver and Spender.

So why go online now? I didn’t feel it was right to start sharing, until I knew what I was doing actually worked. Now that I have the proof to back it up, I feel like its time to share my experiences. Both the good ones and the less-than-good-ones.

This month we will be mortgage-free, and soon after debt-free! Our goal is to be financially free within 10 years of today. So you are joining us at ground zero in building passive income. It’s gonna be fun!

My success started when I decided to get financially smarter. The money management system I have used for the past decade has proven to work for my family, and for others that I have taught. It takes time. Eventually the results do come. Now I am helping others do the same.

I love interacting with people and being able to help them with their money issues. I’m not a professional or a guru, I’m simply a regular person who has been able to think long-term and work towards it. It’s about doing the right things over and over until they became habit.

I believe that financial peace of mind is something everyone deserves. Most people just need someone to talk to when they are starting out. I know I did.

Check us out at FamilyMoneyPlan.com if you’re interested in getting started taking control of your financial future I still have a few coaching spots open.

 

Top Recipe

 

parmesan-zucchini-chips(1)Food and grocery shopping is a BIG part of CBB because food is a large part of the budget which people struggle the most with.

If you are someone who would rather buy convenience meals or products consider cooking homemade meals or baking from scratch.

Not only will you save money but you will be proud of what you accomplished and you’ll see that from the smiles on those you feed.

If you don’t already know I have a second Facebook page called The Free Recipe Depot where I share recipes from other Food Bloggers from around the world.

I also share recipes on the blog once a week on Sundays either made by my in-house home blog cook Nicola Don or myself. This is a fun, interactive blog where we talk about everything that happens in our world.

This week our Top Recipe Pick goes to Brett Martin, mom of 3 who runs the popular blog “This Mama Loves” where she shares recipes and crafts. I came across a recipe for her Oven Baked Parmesan Zucchini Chips on Facebook and fell in love. I can’t wait to make them.

 

Top DIY Project

25 furniture hacks

I think it’s great when people can take something they no longer use and turn it into something incredible. I know many people who re-purpose so when I came across these 25 Furniture Hacks over at HowDoesShe.com I just had to share them with you.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen free furniture advertised on social media or just left at the curb. If you have an imagination anything is possible. My favourite was the shelf being turned into lockers which would be great for our son when he gets a bit older.

What was your favourite furniture hack?

 

Editor’s Pick

 

Every week I will pick a blog post of the week from around the web that I found interesting and want to share with all of you. Please head on over and give the post a read and let them know that Mr. CBB sent you if you comment. Thanks.

Editor’s pick (That’s me Mr.CBB) goes to Makin the Bacon who shares a post that many people are all too familiar with especially around the holidays. If you’ve had a pay cut recently and need inspiration read “How I Am Surviving My Pay Cut“.

 

How people find CBB

 

Every week I get thousands of people visit Canadian Budget Binder because they did a search online and found my blog. Any spelling errors below are because I share with you the exact way they typed their search engine query to land on my blog.

  • My husband says I ask for too much money– Well, do you?
  • People who marry for money– Can still lead very unhappy lives
  • Wealthy is no debt- Not necessarily
  • Will Rogers have better phone deals in January 2016? – One second, let me consult with my crystal ball. Ha!
  • How to win an auction on Facebook– Luck.

Thanks for dropping by The Saturday Weekend Review 2016. That’s all for this week friends but make sure to be back here next week to enjoy the next edition in the Saturday Weekend Review Series.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my daily blog post by entering your email address on the home page and verifying the subscription email once it is sent to you. I never share your email and you can unsubscribe at any time with the click of a button although I hope you stick around forever.

Note***If you don’t verify the subscription via the email I send you right after you subscribe you won’t get my daily blog post*** I’d hate to not have you here so please click “Subscribe” in the email.

Thank-you!

-Mr.CBB

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8 Comments

  2. Has it been that long?? I found you in early 2012 while hunting for ways to make ends meet around the time hubby was diagnosed with Amyloidosis. The friendship and support I have found here is my support system and my friends…my sanity saver and my lifeline!! Thank you for being there for all of us!! Hope this year is better than ever and the blog grows well!! Happy Anniversary on the blog!!

    Reply

    1. I know it has been that long. I started the blog at the end of Jan 2012 I believe. I’d have to look for an exact date. We’re practically family now Christine lol. Thank-you Christine, all of you have been my rock as well. Like the saying goes… “it goes both ways”. Happy New Year to you and the family.

      Reply

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