Mo' Money Podcast | Personal Finance With Jessica Moorhouse

Podcast listener TJ Pridonoff shares with me how he saved up enough to do a roadtrip across America (and quit his job to do it). He proves that you don't have to be rich to go on a trip of self-discovery in the U.S., you just need to be smart about how you spend your money. Long description: For this episode of my Listener Series, I interview TJ Pridonoff who is currently on a road trip of self-discovery across America. I'm telling you, if ever you hit a point in your life that you feel unhappy, too settled or just need some sort of change to figure out what you want out of your life, travel is always a good solution. When I was 18 and went to Gambia, I had so much clarity when I got back in terms of what I wanted to study in school and do for a career. And after travelling around Thailand for 3 weeks, I came home confident that leaving my job and moving to Toronto was the right answer. I wonder what I'll discover on my next long trip? Anywho, TJ realized not too long ago that he needed a change and to figure

Ever thought about diving into real estate investing? All your questions are guaranteed to be answered by Real Wealth Network co-founder, real estate expert and author Kathy Fettke in this episode. I ask her almost every question under the sun including how to find a downpayment, how to choose the right property and whether it's smarter to become a landlord or a house flipper. If you want to become more knowledgeable about real estate investing, you need to listen to this episode. Long description: Ever thought about diving into the real estate investing world? I always have, which is why it was such a treat to talk to real estate expert, author and Real Wealth Network co-founder Kathy Fettke. Finally, I had someone to ask my many real estate investing questions to (and if you listen to the episode, you'll know I had a ton!). The biggest takeaways I got from my interview with Kathy was that the real investing game is largely about risk, trust and knowing when to say "yes" or "no". There are so many real inves

Colton from Newfoundland chats with me for this episode of my Listener Series to share how he was able to find an employer that not only helped him earn a salary while being a student, but also to pay for his Bachelor's degree! Long description: I'm so glad Colton from Newfoundland emailed me to be a guest for my Listener Series, because I certainly missed the few weeks without Listener Series episodes, how about you? What I loved about this interview is that Colton offers some very practical and actionable advice on how to go to university without relying on student loans. I'm almost ashamed to say I'd never thought about finding a job while in university that could also help pay for it! Looking back, now I see there were and are so many options to make money as a student that also extra perks. As Colton mentioned for instance, if you work at Starbucks you don't just get a free pound of coffee a week, you also get stock options after a few years. And if you're a server or bartender, you get tips (which could

Want an example of how an emergency fund can come in useful? How about two examples? Kate Dore from Cashville Skyline shares how her's saved her big time. Long description: Who knew an emergency fund could save your life not once, but twice! So is the story of Kate Dore from Cashville Skyline which she shared in full detail for this episode of the podcast. Talk about someone who turned lemons into lemonade! Most people would begrudge their bad luck when faced with two layoffs in 10 years, but not Kate. Instead of complaining or just struggling through it all, she took it as a big lesson in becoming financially prepared. Which later turned out to be her big passion, which is why she's now on the road to becoming a financial planner. If there's only one thing you can take away from this episode, it's this - life happens, so have an emergency fund just in case. I've certainly been thankful for mine on more than one occasion in my life, that's for sure. Not only that, having an emergency fund is hands down the fi

I interview my American twin in Tess Wicks, a fellow blogger and host of the personal finance podcast Words + Money. For this episode, we chat about it all include making your own money, switching careers and not being afraid to lean in. Long description: Like I mentioned at the beginning of this episode, Tess Wicks is my American twin. And what good timing for this episode, on International Women's Day! For this episode, Tess and I chat about it all including making money, being a financially independent woman, switching careers, becoming self-employed and not being afraid to speak up and lean in. We actually got the chance to hang out at FinCon this past fall, and she is just as delightful in person as she sounds in this episode. And there have been quite a few changes since I interviewed her. Instead of switching her brand to Wander Wealthy, she's switching to Creative Profit Co., with a focus on helping businesses as well as individuals with their finances. I know I could just be saying this because we're

Personal finance isn't just about money. It's about emotions, habits, triggers, mindsets and relationships. I chat about this and more with money storyteller Sarah Li Cain. Long description: Personal finance isn't just about money. It's about emotions, habits, triggers, mindsets and relationships. Many of these aspects of personal finance are explored with Sarah Li Cain, author at High Fiving Dollars, in this podcast episode. Sarah, a fellow Canadian now living in the U.S. with her husband and son, isn't just another personal finance blogger. She's a money storyteller on a mission to teach others about how your actions can truly affect your finances in ways you may have never thought. Take her story for example. Throughout most of her life she was a "Yes Man." Always saying yes when asked for help and putting herself second to provide for those she loved. This doesn't sound so bad, that is until someone takes advantage of your kindness. Which was the case for one of the relationships she was in, where she fou

Saving for your retirement is simple. As Fritz Gilbert from The Retirement Manifesto shares, it all comes down to starting early, spending less than you make, and keeping to it. Long description: As I mentioned at the beginning of this episode, lots of us young people don't start thinking about planning for our retirement, well...until it's too late. Which isn't a good thing. It may be difficult wrapping your head around something that won't happen for another 40 or 50 years, but the only way to make sure you'll actually be able to relax and enjoy your retirement is if you start thinking and planning for it as early as possible. Fritz Gilbert, the blogger behind The Retirement Manifesto, joins me for this podcast episode to share what he's learned about retirement over the years and how he is only a few years away from his early retirement at 55. Make sure to check out the links below for more helpful resources and tips on how you can start taking action now so you can rest easy later. Fritz's Advice on How t

It doesn't matter where you started from, Lisa shares her story that you can rise above and live the life you always wanted by learning from your mistakes and putting the work into it. Long description: Ever since my husband and I watched Tony Robbins in the documentary I Am Not Your Guru a few months ago, we've become major Tony Robbins fans. Whenever we need a pick me up, we just turn on his podcast and immediately get inspired. Yesterday, I was working all day at home and I decided to leave the house to clear my head. I turned on his podcast to get me out of my funk, and you know what it was all about? The theme was changing your story to change your life. If your story is you're fat, well if you stop making excuses and start eating better and working out, you'll change your life. If your story is you're poor, stop complaining that you were born with less and figure out a way to make more money. Which is exactly what Lisa talks about in our interview together. She started out in a lower income family livin

You don't have to be rich to travel the world and buy a home in an expensive city. Esther from NZ Muse proves you just need to be smart with your money. Long description: It was such a pleasure chatting with Esther from one of my favourite personal finance blogs NZ Muse. I've been following her only her own personal finance journey for years, and I'm so glad I was able to finally chat with her one-on-one for this episode. Not only that, she's the first non-North American guest I've had on the show! This episode is all about Esther sharing how she eventually got to a place in her life where she was able to afford to leave work to travel the world for 6 months and also buy a home in the incredibly expensive city of Auckland. Esther's story isn't some crazy story either. She was able to make something most of us only daydream about a reality simply by be strategic with her career and her money. Similar to me, Esther started out working in the media/journalism business. What used to be a thriving and exciting ind

Want to learn how to set yourself up for financial success before graduating university? Listen to my interview with podcast listener Allison about how she'll be able to graduate almost debt-free. Long description: If you want to set yourself (or your kids) up for success, it is crucial to understand the consequences of taking on too much student debt. Yes, it is one way to be able to afford a post-secondary education which in turn could lead to a job with a good salary...but it could also hurt your chances of living a life that's not tied down to years of debt-repayment. For this episode, I chat with one of my podcast listeners Allison from Manitoba, and she shares what she's done so when she graduates she'll only have a few small amount of debt to pay off. This includes her working year-round and during the summers, living extremely frugally, and not using all the student loans she was granted. She is one financially savvy 21 year old, let me tell you. And I know from personal experience because she did pay

Desirae Odjick, the blogger behind Half Banked, shares her personal finance journey and best money tips for saving and investing for millennials. Long description: I know I said Desirae Odjick, the blogger behind Half Banked, is like a mini-me, but I think what I really meant is she's like a sister from another mister. Once we started chatting, it's like we'd already knew each other, and it was such a treat for me to interview her after following her blog for so long. In this episode, we talk about it all. We touch on how her mom paid her to read personal finance books (which sounds like a dream, but I'm obviously a huge nerd), why she started her blog, how she's on a journey to save half her income, and how she budgets the "low tech" way with a good ol' budget spreadsheet. We also talk a bit about investing, something I think a lot of millennials are afraid to start because they're either afraid of the risk or just don't know where to start. Luckily, Desirae created a great foundational (and free) course to

You don't have to be rich to look fabulous! Podcast listener Christina Proctor shares how anyone can dress for success without breaking the bank. Long description: When podcast listener Christina Proctor emailed me about her story and how she became a style coach, I knew I needed to chat with her for a Listener Series episode. I am probably the least fashionable person around, but that doesn't mean I want to be! So When Christina said she could share her expertise on building a solid wardrobe on a real person's budget, I got pretty excited. Right now, Christina is a style coach as a side hustle (learn more about her at WearOutThere.ca), which I think is awesome. It started out as a passion for fashion and a hobby, developed into a money-making side hustle, and she hopes in the future to turn it into a full-time business. It's not easy having two jobs (don't I know it!), but as Christina shares, it can also we incredibly rewarding. She's not just having fun and making money on the side, she's also helping wome

Borrowell co-founder & CEO Andrew Graham shares his expertise on what everyone needs to know about credit scores and borrowing in Canada Long description: If you have any questions about credit scores, I guarantee you that they'll have been answered by the end of this episode. I was so fortunate to have been able to interview Borrowell co-founder and CEO Andrew Graham for this episode, because he really is the credit score guru! Not only did he start one of the fastest-growing Fintech companies in Canada, he also really knows his stuff and gave me quite the education. Which makes it quite obvious how his passion for financial literacy and offering Canadians better options for borrowing led him to co-found Borrowell. After working for several years in the banking industry, Andrew realized that Canadians were getting into deeper and deeper debt with sky-high interest rates holding them back. He wanted to find a solution that would save people from paying 19.99% interest on their credit card, but still be ab

Leona joins me for the first Listener Series episode for 2017. She shares her unconventional story of leaving home at 17, starting her career in the trades, owning her own condo at 20, and eventually starting her own construction company and real estate empire. Now, she's happily raising her family and considers herself semi-retired, with the flexibility of working for herself. Long description: Episodes like this make me so happy I started this Listener Series on the podcast. Leona was a listener of the show and heard my call out for guests. She sent me the best email with her story that included her moving out on her own at 17, going trade school to start her career, buying her first condo on her own at 20, then eventually starting a construction business and property investment side-hustle with her husband. She is a great example that you don't need to go to university to set yourself up for success. What it ultimately comes down to is being smart with your money, working hard and never giving up. Now, Leo

Former gambler turned personal finance coach Beau Humphreys shares his story from drowning debt to financial free. Long description: It was a random weeknight when I went to the Wealthsimple headquarters in downtown Toronto for their 3rd anniversary party. I was told there would be a donut wall, and I was not disappointed. Aside from the free donuts and drinks, I got to meet Beau Humphreys. I thought I knew all the Toronto personal finance bloggers, so it was a treat to meet Beau and hear his story at the party. Immediately I knew he had to be on my show. This episode is very different from any of my episodes, because it deals with a topic that I think most people wouldn't be as brave to openly discuss. Luckily Beau was happy to share his story of getting addicted to gambling at the young age of 11. There's a slogan by the BC Lottery (where I'm from) that's always stuck in my head: "Know your limit. Play within it." Good advice for sure, but let's get real here. Most people who frequent casinos or the race tr

Helena Liu wanted to learn from Canada's top investing experts — so she started her own online conference to get 20+ of the best together to share their knowledge with her & other Canadians. Long description: I met Helena this past summer because she was looking to add speakers to her roster for her first online investing summit — the Canadian Investors Conference. I suggested a few of my favourite Canadian experts, and now several months later the conference is just a few weeks away and registration (which is free by the way) is open to the public. It's no easy task to start your own conference from scratch, but Helena knew that this was something she had to do. There's a huge lack of education when it comes to investing, especially for beginners, so Helena wanted to create a free summit to help close that gap. Right now, there are 24 speakers and the online conference runs from Feb. 4 - 9, 2017. You can register for free at canadianinvestorsconference.com. More About Helena Helena started learning and e

Dan Bortolotti, better known as the Canadian Couch Potato, chats with me about all the ins and outs of index fund and ETF investing. Long description: For this episode, I interview a man many people know just as the Canadian Couch Potato. Dan Bortolotti started his Canadian Couch Potato blog in 2010, and it has since become one of the go-to online resources for learning about DIY investing. I can't tell you how many people I know who swear by his model portfolios! And if that wasn't cool enough, Dan recently started his own podcast specifically to teach people about index fund and ETF investing. Besides being a very popular blogger, Dan is also a financial planner. I was lucky enough to sit down with Dan face-to-face for this interview, and man did he not disappoint. He really does know his stuff and got me fired up to really look at my investments and change things up (which I did and will write about very soon!). Dan also shares a number of great investing resources that I'm gonna include here, and I hope y

Before the holidays, I made the life-changing decision to leave my job and become self-employed. In this episode I share why I chose to quit my job and what I've got planned for the next year. Long description: This week, I'm no longer an employee — I'm an entrepreneur. It's crazy for me to even write that because I honestly never thought this would be my reality. Growing up, I never had aspirations to own my own business. I thought I'd follow the path my parents laid out and would work for a company until I retired. But...life is hard to predict isn't it. Even though this wasn't a premeditated decision, it was something I was thinking about doing on and off for the past while. I honestly thought I'd work my 9 to 5 for another year, then maybe take the plunge, but the timing was just right. You know when everything in your gut and in life is telling you to do something? That's basically what happened in a nutshell and I had to just do it. It's a big risk going on my own, but I really excited for this new adve

Renting is not throwing your money away, and home ownership isn't something everyone has to aspire to. Alex Avery, author of The Wealthy Renter and seasoned financial analyst, shares his insight into why there is a misconception about the benefits of owning a home and why renting might actually make you richer. Long description: To kick off season 4 of the Mo' Money Podcast, I chat with a very special guest about one of my favourite topics — homeownership. Alex Avery, the author of The Wealthy Renter, and I chat about the upside of renting and how homeownership isn't for everyone and doesn't have to be. I've been an advocate for renting for a while, having been a renter myself for close to 6 years. It was the only way my husband and I could afford to live and work in downtown Vancouver and Toronto. If we tried to avoid renting and bought something right away, we'd either be forced to move an hour away or would be chained to a huge mortgage for 20+ years. Instead, we chose to rent and save up our money so one

For my last episode for season 3, I'm so excited to share this very personal solo episode with you! A lot has happened this year, so much so that I honestly didn't remember it all until I took some time to write everything down. And even then I'm not sure if I got everything. A lot of changes are coming in 2017, which I alluded to in this episode, but I won't be sharing any of that until season 4 in January. So until then, I wanted to spend some time to reflect on all the positive things that have happened in my life and all of the things I've accomplished in 2016. To recap, here are some of the things I mentioned in this episode: I rebranded from Mo' Money Mo' Houses to just me — Jessica Moorhouse. I interviewed some of my all-time favourite money expert: Rob Carrick, Gail Vaz-Oxlade and Bruce Sellery. I launched my Listener Series for the podcast, to allow podcast listeners a voice so they could share their stories and advice for other listeners. I made the most side hustle money I ever had (and I've been b