Squawkfox is about making frugal living sexy, delicious, and fun. It’s about how living simply, spending wisely, and investing intelligently impacts your health, wealth, and self.
What is a Squawkfox? This blog has a funny name. When I named this site I liked the idea behind a Squawk Box: A speaker connected to a phone often used in broker trading desks. The name is financial in a fun way. But really, who wants to be a box? Boxes are for squares. A fox is a sly, smart beast with fewer corners. Smile.
Hire Kerry
Looking for a financial writer? I’m the author of 397 Ways To Save Money (HarperCollins Canada) and I’ve written dozens of financial articles on frugal living, smart spending, investing, taxes, budgeting, and retirement.
I currently write a weekly column called Your Money for Sympatico Canada. I’m also a weekly contributor to the U.S. News My Money Blog.
I blog for fun here at Squawkfox, but I do write standard journalism articles too. Contact me for details via squawkfox [at] gmail [dot] com.
About Kerry
My full name is Kerry K. Taylor and I’m the lone blogger here. I started writing as “Fox” because I didn’t want my then employer to fire me for having a side gig talking about careers and money.
I decided to reveal my identity after publishing my first book 397 Ways To Save Money. I figured that someone’s name had to go on the cover — why not mine! Read my big reveal in My name is not really Squawkfox.
I have a diverse educational background ranging from journalism to computer science. I dabble in photography. I love red shoes. As a two-time Ironman Triathlon finisher I suppose you could call me an athlete too.
I started Squawkfox at the urging of my friends, who wanted to know how I managed to live on less but have more to show for it. I used to email them little tips quipped with humor, but started publishing online to avoid my inbox.
Squawkfox chronicles my sense of humor with money and life. Since paying off $17,000 of student debt in six months and saving six-figures, I quit my life in the city and moved to an organic farm in British Columbia with my husband, Carl, and our mutt, Pivo. Last year I quit my job to freelance full-time.
397 Ways To Save Money
I wrote 397 Ways To Save Money (HarperCollins Canada) because it’s easy and fun to find hundreds of ways to save thousands of dollars on everything from finances to laundry.
I’ve found that by looking in every corner of every room in your house, from the kitchen to the closet, and by considering the needs of every member of your family, from your toddler to your dog, this book will help you find thousands of dollars in savings without ever feeling pinched.
Families are always looking for simple and effective ways to stretch their household budgets. In tight times, finding extra dollars in unexpected places is even more important. Packed with ideas, information, tips and tricks that range from long-term savings to instant cash in your pocket, 397 Ways To Save Money makes budgeted living easy–and even fun. You may just have fun reading it too. 
Connect with me through social media:
- Twitter: @squawkfox
- Facebook: Find Me on Facebook
Contact me via email: squawkfox [at] gmail [dot] com
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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.