“My name is TheFrugalSamurai and I endorse these a…”
Oh hi there, here is a list of products and services which I believe, use and approve of.
I’ll be updating them as I go along so feel free to check-in from time to time!
Siteground (Web Hosting)
If you are like me, you wouldn’t know the first thing about web hosting, web platforms, websites, world wide web, spider webs, Peter Parker, Parker Pens… OK I got a bit side-tracked.
But here is a very simple and easy web host to set you up with your very own website – Siteground.
What’s better is that they have a 24/7 customer service hotline which means you can speak to someone, ANYONE when you have those pesky issues such as:
“How do I set up a website?” or “What is the best way to create my online store?” or “Why am I still awake at 3am?” or even “How come no one loves me?”
So go on, if you want these questions answered and more PLUS looking to set up a new website, Siteground is the place.
It’s what runs this site!
Stake (Trading in US Shares)
Stake is an Australian fintech start-up, primarily serving as a digital broking platform. You can check them out at stake.com.au
Their offering is targeted towards us Aussies who want quick and easy exposure to the US markets, with over 3,500 US Stocks and ETFs we can invest in.
The ASX makes up 2% of the global equities market capitalization, compared with over 40% for the US – if you wanted to diversify some of your holdings, or access the largest equities market… the US is it.
If you want to know more about them, check out this post I wrote earlier (here).
Happy Trading!
Australian Super (Superannuation fund)
For those of you who haven’t a clue as to which super fund to choose, personally I think there are much worse ones than Australian Super.
They are Australia’s largest superannuation fund – run only for members, which means they don’t pay profits or dividends to shareholders, so the monies they make is put back into the fund.
I also use their Member Direct option, which allows direct investing into ASX300, ETF’s, LIC’s and Term Deposits – giving us greater control of our investments.
Books (For Reading!)
My go-to top 3 for personal finance would be:
Richest Man in Babylon
This is a set of financial parables set over 8,000 years ago in Ancient Babylon.
It tells a fictional character named Arkad, a poor scribe who became the “richest man in Babylon”.
The book is a must-read in the personal finance arena and dishes out gems such as the “Seven Cures” (how to generate money and wealth), the “Five Laws of Gold” (how to protect and invest wealth).
It’s where the concepts of “paying yourself first”, “living within your means”, “investing in what you know” (and much, much more) came around.
The Millionaire Next Door
Another classic of personal finance, this book highlights a study which shows seven common traits that come up from those who have accumulated wealth.
Most of the wealthy are not who you expect. They don’t live in the richest and fanciest neighbourhoods – they live next door.
It showcases the spending and saving habits, investing habits as well as educational and career choices of the typical millionaire. Well worth a read!
Think and Grow Rich
Written in 1937, this book was said to be the result of over two decades of study of the richest people of its generation, how they acquired wealth and how they have maintained their wealth.
It is also very much a personal development book and focuses heavily on your mindset and what is needed to shift your thinking for success.
Some of the stories drawn in this book are from revered names such as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Andrew Carnegie (the richest man in the world at the time).
Notable Mentions…
Other classics to check out would include:
Rich Dad Poor Dad
I think everyone has heard of this one, the concepts in here are fascinating – you have to read it.
The 4 Hour Work Week
Does that sound good to you?
The Barefoot Investor
A classic Australian personal finance book, showing the quick and easy steps to personal finance 1, 2, 3.
Tools and Calculators (For Using!)
MoneySmart Calculator
An Australian government provided free resource.
MoneySmart provides a free, comprehensive list of calculators and tools found here.
You’ll find budgeting, saving and tax calculators.
You’ll find loan and mortgage repayment calculators.
You’ll find compound interest and investment calculators.
And much more!
Networthify FIRE Calculator
Simple and easy to use, this calculator gives a rough guide as to the age old question “When Can I Retire?”
Simple put in your income and expenses and viola, you’ll find out!
Oh and play around with the figures to see what difference it would make!
You can find it here.
Want more?
Incidentally, I wrote an article in 2019 about the resources and links which I commonly use on my investing journey – hope you guys enjoy this list:
https://thefrugalsamurai.com/2019/01/16/investing-resources-and-links-2019/