I am.
My name is Kerry K. Taylor (the K. part is important) and I’m the lone blogger here. I started this site in 2008 and have since been voted Canada’s #1 Money Blogger by a big Canadian newspaper. American newspapers like me too, though.
Squawkfox explores frugal living topics that are sexy, delicious, and fun. Sometimes.
Since I write long posts about consumer restraint, I’m very surprised that so many people read my blog. I’m also surprised that Squawkfox is one of the biggest personal finance blogs on the interwebs. Maybe it’s because I include pictures.
FAMILY: Carl is my husband. Chloe is my newborn. Pivo is my dog.
NEWBIES: If you’re new, start here. Old(er) people can go there too — y’all tend to have better reading skills.
MY BOOK: I wrote a book. My publisher called it, 397 Ways To Save Money. People email all the time telling me they got it (from the library) and loved it.
REALITY TV: I was invited to be a ‘Money Saving Expert’ on the reality TV show Million Dollar Neighbourhood. This was fun. I talked about baking soda while caked in full makeup under the hot baking sun.
HUMBLE BRAG: Financial guru David Chilton mentioned me in his book, The Wealthy Barber Returns. I probably owe him dinner.
MEDIA: The media are (generally) nice to me. Check out my press.
ADVERTISE: You can advertise on Squawkfox, but only if you pay me with money. I don’t accept grocery coupons or free nylons (anymore) — my accountant won’t let me.
HIRE ME: I’ve been hired to write real (serious) journalism articles for traditional media. This makes me a freelancer. I’ve written for Sympatico, U.S. News & World Report, Yahoo! Finance, and Moneysense. Email for details.
SPAM KILLS: I don’t do blog giveaways. Not because I’m an a$$hole, but because I don’t think anyone needs all that free packaged s$it. I also don’t accept guest posts (but that’s because I’m an a$$hole).
Connect with me on social media:
- Twitter: @squawkfox
- Facebook: Squawkfox Facebook Page
- Email: squawkfox [at] gmail [dot] com
Love,
Kerry
Your two cents:
Question…
Where on the site would you upload a photo or image to associate with your name when commenting?
Curiousity is killing me…I cruised around the site and couldn’t get this figured out.
thanks!
@Lori You can customized your comments on this blog, and many others supporting this feature, by using a http://www.Gravatar.com, a globally recognized avatar.
Gravatars are free to upload and use across all the blogs, forums, and sites you comment on. They personalize your comments.
We want to congratulate you on your website! We’re a family and we’re into frugality also!
@Sharon and Cal Thank you so much! I’m always thrilled to meet more frugal friends.
Totally dig your site. Just found it via the resume guide series from a link on Twitter.
I look forward to learning how to be frugal in a sexy fun and delicious way.
Cheers,
Missy.
love the site! keep the good content coming.
Nice site. The problem with a lot of society is that when they get a better job they tend to get a bigger house, a better car and buy more stuff.
The key to wealth is to guard your income and to invest this income carefully. Live below your means and invest hard to build up your wealth so you can escape the rat race.
well frugality means happiness indeed, not just because you’ll save (anything from health, money etc…) but mainly because it brings about happiness.
Actually quality matters not quantity;
Great and refreshing site
Thanks for the tip on Gravatars. I was miffed like Lori.
Thanks also for your great posts.
Thanks for the Gravatars info as well.. now I have one! coolies! Love your site and your wicked sense of humour! I have been on it all day!
@Catgurl So happy you found me and enjoy the site. Your Gravatar is pretty darn sexy. Do I really have a sense of humor?
Congrats on finishing the book! It’s always good to hear from the Canadian side of things. Keep it up
Hello Kerry! What I want to know is, can we get the new book here in the UK?
I receive your emails and look forward to reading them each time. Thanks for all the great info. Was great reading the more personal info about you, Carl and Pivo. Keep on blogging and continued success to you!
Hi Kerry. I am just curious. What jobs were you and your husband working when you paid off your debt and started saving hard?
Wow Kerry
I joined today I love your website is simple loaded with tons of information on everyday life issues.I would to see a checklist on weddings,family reunion,vacation planning i live by a checklist it’s the only way i can keep my life in order.
Hey,
great website, keep up the good work! Thought I would let you know that the mortgage calculator is not working, keeps bringing up zero’s. It’s the best one out there, so would love to keep using it! Hope it can get fixed. Thanks!
Jeremy
@Jeremy Happy you like the calculator! I just tested it and it’s working fine for me — try restarting your web browser and see if that helps!
Thanks for your reply,
I just discovered the problem. I was putting a comma after the first two digits, which caused the result to show only 0′s! Anyways it’s my fault…silly me!
Sorry
Jeremy
@Jeremy Phew!
Kerry, just saw you on BNN, and of course, i agree with you 100%. we live far beyond our means in Canada/US. my wife, spent 7 years studying in Cuba, and she could tell you stories about how people live there. it’s one thing to be from a country like Cuba, where you haven’t known anything else, but to live there from elsewhere… days without running water, electricity problems, searching in advance so that you don’t run out of toilet paper… lol. we live in such a materialistic world, and in reality most things don’t matter that much.. Best success on your book and site. Nestor
Hi Fox,
I also saw your interview on BNN. See, people actually DO watch that channel! Congratulations on the success of your book. I was playing around with your Rent v. Buy calculator and I noticed what might be a serious omission. Does the rent figure factor in inflation? If not, that definitely throws the whole model off. Does this calculator come from some other source or did you put it together yourself? Also, I’ve been to other calculators like this and come up with very different results. Do you think rent v. buy models on real estate web sites are skewed so that results most often show buying is best? Thanks.
@Nestor @Statsjunkie Sooo happy my appearance on BNN didn’t scare you guys off. LOL I still haven’t watched the clip but being on the show was both terrifying and fun.
@Statsjunkie: I’m working on updating the Rent Vs. Buy tool to factor in inflation. I can’t comment on the validity of other tools on real estate sites, but the general affordibility rule is your monthly housing costs shouldn’t be more than 32% of your gross household monthly income. Some tools may omit such costs as lawyer fees, condo costs, maintenance, property taxes, or more. Check out 6 Surefire Ways To Avoid a Mortgage Meltdown for some additional tips.
I am in love with this site. I came here for the tips on resume writing but stayed for all the other great articles I stumbled upon. I love your writing and your topics. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out that you’re a fellow Canadian! Keep up the great work!
Hi Kerry! Looking forward to reading more of your posts around the web and right here on Squawkfox.
Best, FS
I am wondering if you have an area on this website about your Ironman training and maybe how someone could get started.
Hi Kerry,
While on a mission of my own to become frugal and debt free (the latter of which will be achieved by the end of May 2010), I came across your blog, and I have found it to be frugaliciously awesome!
Some of the financial advice isn’t applicable to us down here in South Africa, but the frugalicious meal and gift ideas have sure gone a long way in assisting us to enjoy far more frugal festive season frivolities.
Feel free to visit my blog which will be geared more towards the South African market with regards to tax breaks and financial advice. Right now though, the humour section is in full swing, with articles being added on a regular basis.
Thanks again for a fantabulous blog!
I just found your site and I love it! I started my blog for many of the same reasons you did. I will be linking to your site often I am sure. Keep up the great work!
Hello Kerry – awesome website and book!
Are you open to guest posting? I’d love to write a great article for your blog that will be very beneficial to all your loyal readers such as myself.
Hi Kerry.
I did the “sign up to get the free e-book” thing, and google responded with “if the author writes something new you’ll get it”, without actually sending the e-book..
Is there something I missed?
Also, your “397″ book doesn’t seem to be available on Amazon in that big country south of our homeland, which is unfortunate as that’s where I live now…
Rob
Hi Rob: I just sent out the eBook email. Let me know if you’re still waiting.
My book is only available from Amazon.ca — luckily, they do ship to the USA. 
I know many Americans who have ordered from Amazon Canada.
fox, i was waiting for a reply to Ricky’s question…do you entertain the idea of guest posts? Let me know and i can share with you what I had in mind.
thanks!
@Ricky and Nick: I haven’t opened up my blog to guest posters. I like being the lone writer.
I would go so far as to agree with Kerry’s philosophy. I follow a number of blogs and it’s a little bit “disrupting” if the tone or writing style changes and only then do you check and see that it’s a “guest”…
I’m always so impressed with your work. You have a fantastic blog and continue to produce really great stuff!
Keep up the good work!
Hi Kerry,
Mike Thomson from Edelman here, on behalf of Intuit and TurboTax. I hope this email finds you well.
This year’s edition of TurboTax has finally arrived! If you’re interested in a copy for review purposes, I’d be happy to send you either an online coupon or ship you a copy. Likewise, if you’re interested in doing a giveaway or contest on your blog.
Just let me know how many copies you would like (online or physical box) and I can send them your way. If you wouldn’t mind providing your address, I can ship them out to you ASAP.
If you have any questions or if there’s anything else you need, please let me know. Happy to help in any way.
Thanks,
Mike
I have just signed up after hearing the great ways to save money and stoll live a comfortable life. Thank you for the time you and effort you expend in puting this out.
Boy am I glad I found your web site!! I pound in “how to soak beans” for I was lazy to look up the info on the package and first site that caught my sight was squawkfox! smart, fun and down right interesting! Count me in as a new follower
now off to twitter to follow your musings…
and yes, BIG THANK YOU for what you do!
LOVE your site! Just re-posted your latest Starbucks article as I’m all about eating well for less. Thank you!
K
Love your site. I am a new Canadian immigrant. I may sound a tad nutty but I was very pleased to find out from your bio that you are a Canadian
I am moving Canada in Oct and I simply dig the new apartment checklist on your site. Can I request a squawkfox piece in how to survive winters on a budget, please. Peace
Oh am I forgot to add I love the moving checklist too
Dear Kerry,
You have a great site… and I don’t feel so alone in this world anymore after reading your blog. I used to think in our materialistic-consumerism society that I was the only one saving and investing money… I mean, people I work with who earn the same I do are in the red every month – I just can’t understand why? I pay myself first every month, and what is left over goes into long term savings… we own our car outright, the house is almost paid off, and we take two holidays a year (no kids yet)… thanks for telling the world that it is a good thing to be thrifty and to be wise about finances! I am glad I am not alone anymore.
Tschuss from Austria!
Alan (The displaced Canadian expat)
Just found you-love for the recipies!
Hey Kerry!
I just found your blog through Lifehacker and I think you’ve got a great thing here! I’m gonna be doing a lot of catching up over the next couple weeks…lol
Keep up the great work!
I subscribed, but didn’t get the ebook
Hi Jordynn, It’s possible that my ebook email hit your spam folder. Please use this link to download your ebook.
http://www.squawkfox.com/ebook-frugalfoodfit/
Thank you!
I’ve been thinking about your dog a lot the last two weeks, as I order more “pivo”
Rob, Are you in the Czech Republic? Enjoy your pivo!
Kerry,
I was in Croatia, but beer is “pivo” in Croatian too… Now I’m home where it’s just beer
Long distance telephone charges:
Telus has a new plan $0/month 5 cents per minute for North America and Europe. After an extremely frustrating telephone conversation (where I could find out nothing until I could tell them my account number which they had and Mastercard did not have since they pay Telus by an unaccountnumbered charge — another smashed phone) I located their Chat Support on Telus website and had extremely efficient service and am now hopefully hooked up for a $3 call instead of $150 for the same call! I will never phone the phone company again if I can Chat online with them. ps could not find your email so hope you see this here.
I take back anything good I said about Telus. The long distance calling was supposed to take effect in 24 hours; after 48 hours it was not working — couldn’t contact anyone to help. So we went with a Vox card for $10 with close to 1000 minutes — it costs about 2 cents per minute to call Europe so is less than half what Telus charge even with their spiffy new deal.
Hello
I just found your blog – and I am so pleased. I was going to download a budget form and saw the Squawkfox.com so I came here instead. So glad I did – you have some wonderful information. Even at the young age of 67, I just love learning new things, especially about saving money! The one thing I haven’t discovered is: How do I sign up?
Folks, the book is awesome. “Squawkfox” does a phenomenal job explaining complex information quickly and clearly.
The book is loaded with ideas and insight on how to stretch the might dollar.
Thanks Kerry!
Kerry, Are you single
@Johnny I just got hitched.
Here’s my frugal wedding story: How to get married for $239.00 http://www.squawkfox.com/2011/11/21/wedding/
Hello Kerry !
I think it would be interesting to know if we are really saving money when we do our own pastries. We just had our second child, and I had two months of parental leave, so I did a lot of cooking and baking and I had the impression that for pies, butter-cream cakes, strawberry’s tart, etc., it is actually cheaper to go even in specialized bakeries than to actually bake them at home… I’d be interested to have your take on it.
Can you make a make up product/ make up brushes and skin care downloadable
Hi Kerry,
I’m an enthusiastic new reader, and love your advice so much spreading the word to all that will listen.
Purchased your book, know the Index & ETF investments I want to do with an O/L Discount Broker, but not sure how to begin. Have small portfolio of RRSP’s currently with an advisor, is it best to cash out completely and start fresh with O/L Broker, or will they transfer existing mutual funds to a money market fund and then distribute as I request?
Love our new frugal lifestyle…thanks for all the advice, support and encouragement!
Your blog is full of good ideas, and I was especially excited to find out that you are from Calgary! I’ve moved to Richmond since, but I will always consider myself a transplanted Calgarian.
Congratulations on all of the success. It’s well-deserved.
Welcome to the world Chloe
Kerry,
Great blog! Your stories are well written and very insightful for Canadians trying to figure out money and finances. I am a loyal reader.
Natalie
Hi Kerry, I just came across your site last week. Can’t remember where I was. Online, that is. I was at my desk. I can’t see anywhere, however, to sign up for emails. I can get distracted here at work and would like to get an email for every post. That way, if it’s interesting, which it will likely be, I can click over to your blog.
Am I missing something?
Great stuff, by the way. Smart and funny. Always a good combo.
Hi Kerry!
I couldn’t find a convenient place to leave a comment, so I just wanted to let you know that I just saw your segment on the Global Toronto Morning Show and you were awesome! So well spoken and you seemed so comfortable
You’re great – thanks for all you do!
I love your blog because it covers a wide range of topics and therefore adresses to people with different needs and tastes. Moreover, articles are well-written, easy to read and often funny. You are right, saving can occur in daily activities and it is our responsibility to decide which stuffs are really essential to our comfort. Thanks for all those useful tips.
Hi Kerry!
I just found your blog and am loving it! You have a unique sense of humor that had me in stitches (I also couldn’t stop reading your blog). You’ve got a lot of really great tips on your site. I loved the Starbucks Frappucino post and quitting your cable company. I’ve had the cable company experience and you’re right on the mark. I have fun when the duct cleaning companies call me, I tell them I don’t own a house (used to) and it confuses the heck out of them. Usually ends in…oh, ok..click. I’m usually the one hanging up before the conversation is over! Keep up the great work!
I was just looking up some articles for a school paper I’m working on and wanted to say thank you and add that you are a very lovely woman. I was expecting an older grandmotherly type considering the topic.
Awesome site – after reading a few of your articles, I will definietly be sharing this with my friends who have just gotten married, bought a house and is looking to start a family….they can sure use some frugal tips!
……as such, I have just said to my boyfriend “Babe, I think we should become a frugal couple.” hehehe
Your articles make finance and saving money, less boring and more upbeat. Awesome job!
Hi – story idea for you – is Bulk Barn worth it? I assume it is cheaper b/c it is bulk, but am always surprised at how much I spend! You did a great piece on Costco vs. rest of world shopping – could you please do one on Bulk Barn?
Kerry,
Dig your blog, you are a great writer. I really appreciate the post you did on free podcasts. I am always on the go, so listening to these podcasts on my iphone, as I travel makes sitting in airports more palatable. Thank you, I will continue to read your posts!
I really enjoy your writing Kerry.
Thanks for all of the valuable insight, looking forward to new posts all of the time!
Kerry. Thanks for showing me what an excellent site looks like. I have turned my daughter in law on to your site as well. Great to meet you. April S