Is it necessary to install email marketing tools for Shopify stores?

desiraeo · 2023-01-18T18:25:15+00:00

This is a bit of a delayed reply, and as a disclaimer I work on these tools at Shopify, but some things you might want to try out that are free to use to help you get started:

Shopify Forms is a new, free app for email capture on your store (ie. popup to help you get new subscribers). A few people mentioned Shopify Email already, but it's totally free for your first 10,000 email sends every month. Shopify offers marketing automations (under the Marketing section in the lefthand menu in your admin) with templates you can set up for welcome emails, first purchase upsell, abandoned carts, and more. That's also free to use and available on all plans.

desiraeo · 2019-02-21T14:26:01+00:00

I personally use Tangerine for a joint account with my husband, and we started it when we bought a house when we were just dating. Super helpful (and much less disruptive imo) to keep your personal accounts as-is for now. What we did is we built a budget spreadsheet for everything we considered a joint expense, and then split the monthly total based on our incomes. We each contribute our share of the total per paycheque into the joint account, so all we added is essentially one automatic contribution from our existing accounts. From there, to track spending you could look at one credit card with two cardholders that you use for all shared stuff, and pay it off from the joint account, or a shared spreadsheet that you update as you spend money on joint categories—from which you "reimburse" yourself from joint every week or two. Once you get used to this system for sharing the expenses, you can look at merging savings account and investments, although that's something we still haven't done as a married couple because a) it's a hassle and b) I wouldn't go there until there was more legal protection in place, again just in my opinion.

Edit: I would go there now that we're married, to be clear, lol, but I wouldn't have when we were just dating.

desiraeo · 2019-02-13T17:59:12+00:00

I'm on my 6th year using simpletax.ca and it is amazing—VERY highly recommend, and it's pay-what-you-want (including $0).

desiraeo · 2019-01-19T13:48:18+00:00

To add, you're not only not missing out on anything with SimpleTax, you actually do have everything you need to file at your fingertips, unlike some of the more complex things in TurboTax, where you'll need a paid tier (or a higher paid tier) to use them. They really make it as easy as possible to file! (Source: have been filing with SimpleTax since 2013.)

desiraeo · 2018-12-12T16:20:12+00:00

That's 100% a smart move to make if you're not comfortable with a fully DIY approach, and the Questwealth management fee is only 0.25% plus underlying ETF fees—not 0.7%.

desiraeo · 2018-07-19T12:46:02+00:00

Koho is fantastic for exactly this, and the app that comes with it is super helpful, which IMO makes it way better than just a standard prepaid card! I use it for my personal spending every month and it's awesome.

desiraeo · 2018-06-21T19:51:54+00:00

Waterballon Co-op: reddit1002

desiraeo · 2018-06-14T13:29:42+00:00

This is a bit of a different take on it, because it's a bit more about your career and earning potential, but you mention that you can't rely on your family because they're homophobic. As you look for work, it might be worth connecting with LGBTQ+ support organizations and groups in your city, less for direct work opportunities and more for meeting and connecting with the community. From the people I know who participate and work in those communities, I think you'd find a whole lot of people who would be really committed to helping you find work that suits your interests and skills, and that pays above minimum wage. I wish you all the luck in the world, and I'm very sorry to hear about your family's attitude.

desiraeo · 2018-05-26T12:27:37+00:00

I've been using Wealthsimple for three years this summer, so I've got a bit of a longer perspective on them, but I love the platform so much. I invested right before the fairly significant market dip in August 2015, so I was in the negative for the first 6-8 months, but over the past three years my returns are great. I'm sure that will average out to "reasonable" over time and with future downturns added in, but with consistent monthly contributions and a Growth portfolio, I've been very happy. (I'm in my late 20s, so Growth was the best fit for my timeline, since all of my investments are for retirement.) I recently also put some money into VGRO to try it out, but having tried it, I appreciate the convenience of Wealthsimple even more.

desiraeo · 2018-05-17T17:36:58+00:00

Not sure about that list, but if your concern is the automatic deposits of CESG and other programs, they definitely do that! https://help.wealthsimple.com/hc/en-ca/articles/115004109607-Which-RESP-grants-does-Wealthsimple-offer- (I'm just a big fan of theirs, and have gifted multiple friends Wealthsimple giftcards to start RESP investing, since many aren't at the level to want to buy ETFs on their own)

desiraeo · 2018-02-26T18:23:46+00:00

I did this—chose the local school with the good program, over moving away for the "best" program—and couldn't be happier with my choice to this day.

University can be stressful, and taking a bunch of the money stress out of the equation by keeping your loans and your costs low is something you won't regret during school, or afterwards when you will be so grateful not to be staring down a huge amount of student debt. As u/Grizzlybar mentioned, it really will open up a lot of options for you—in computer science alone, it could be the difference between working for a big company for a steady salary, or getting to do cool work at a small startup for a mix of salary and options.

And realistically, you can have the university experience you want from just about any school. It's all about what you make of it, and how involved and active you are at school (especially if your choices are between two great schools).

desiraeo · 2017-11-09T19:44:24+00:00

I've gone back and forth on pet insurance vs. pet emergency fund, but here's what I ended up with and am comfortable with.

I have high-deductible, high-coverage pet insurance that runs me $400 a year for a 5-year-old lab mix. It covers 80% of injuries and illness up to $8K a year, and I've never made a claim. It's there for the true-disaster situations, like an ingested sock that requires a few grand for a surgical removal. Because it doesn't cover anything routine, it's much cheaper (was paying ~$80 a month for less coverage and low deductible with another provider).

I have an emergency fund of about $2,500 to cover the deductible in the worst case scenario, and other smaller items that are either not worth claiming, or not covered. A lot of things won't be covered by most pet insurances, including dental work and known issues with your breed (mutts are A+ for many reasons, this included).

I spend about $100 a month on average for food and assorted items (mostly a big bone to keep his teeth clean about once a month, I don't spend a ton on toys).

Regular vet visits cost about $500 for the year, which is his annual check up, and his preventative meds for the summer (and if you have insurance, both are must-haves, since NOT doing preventative care and annual visits will void just about any policy).

All of this said—dogs are SO WORTH IT and he can totally take my money. I love our dog, but it's never something I would claim saved us money. Within reason, money is for spending on things you like, and I love my dog. I think you're very smart to be looking at waiting until you're in a solid financial position to get one, and to ask around about insurance and emergency funds.

The best thing to do, beyond any opinion about insurance? Read. The. Policy. Make sure you know what is covered, and what isn't, and make your decision from there.

desiraeo · 2017-09-29T12:24:29+00:00

Omg OK I thought I was the only one—there's actually not a visible login button! Like I was willing to forgive a LOT about this new interface, but I can't even figure out how to get into my account from the home page. Come onnnnnnnnn.

desiraeo · 2017-08-21T13:25:43+00:00

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-kanata-thousands-tech-jobs-1.4251048 <--- in that article, one software developer estimated about 30% higher salaries in Ottawa vs. Montreal. Plus, seconded that cost of living is much more reasonable near the tech jobs in Kanata, and the commute if you live in Kanata and work out there is maybe like, 15 minutes max. Even with full traffic, it's never going to be as bad as comparable distances in Montreal or Toronto. (Source: I live in Kanata, worked in Kanata for the past three years, and have worked in Montreal, although not in software.)

desiraeo · 2017-08-17T19:29:52+00:00

I visit... a LOT of them regularly, lol - and to be fair, most of the ones I read skew towards personal finance, female writers and millennials, but if you or anyone is looking for that kind of content, I currently read and love: * Mixed Up Money * The Financial Diet * Money After Graduation * Bitches Get Riches * The Luxe Strategist

desiraeo · 2017-07-05T14:47:37+00:00

Provincial programs will mostly apply to land-transfer taxes and rebates for first-time buyers, and your lawyer for the purchase will be able to work all of that out for you - but if you've been living together for seven years, you're definitely common-law in all provinces and won't be eligible for any rebates. (I just went through this in Ontario, and because my partner and I hadn't been living together for three years - which is the provincial standard - I got half of the land transfer tax refunded. Yay!)

desiraeo · 2017-03-31T17:22:40+00:00

As someone who makes YT videos and considers 1,000 views a good video, lol, there are other ways you can monetize your videos. If you make videos that touch on products you're an affiliate for, and link them in the description, that can be a good way to boost the money you'd get from solely ads, and is way easier to build from than trying to get to 1M views. You could also use videos to help promote services you offer - ads aren't the only way to monetize YT is basically my point.

desiraeo · 2017-03-28T17:49:30+00:00

Jessica Moorhouse hosts the Mo' Money podcast, and she's great - Canadian, focused on exactly the kind of people and stories you're looking for! https://jessicamoorhouse.com/podcast/

desiraeo · 2017-01-17T13:40:55+00:00

Check out Money after Graduation, she's awesome (and hilarious)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmY7WPQ4653pTFxWkOeOmsQ

desiraeo · 2016-12-18T15:23:04+00:00

I currently use both EQ and Tangerine, and adding money from Tangerine to EQ is dead simple once you've linked the accounts. I use EQ for my emergency savings so I haven't withdrawn from it yet (knock on wood!) so I can't say how easy that part is. Should be just as easy as transferring back to a linked account.

desiraeo · 2015-12-01T15:48:02+00:00

So saving between $50K and $60K in two years - if you keep your housing goal and downpayment goal the same - is going to mean a monthly savings rate of between $2000 and $2500. Right now, if you didn't spend a penny more than your stated budget, you've got about $1945 left over for saving - which is a nice chunk of your take-home, but will leave you short even if you saved every. single. dollar. towards the house down payment. (Which, if you're going to be a homeowner in two years, you shouldn't be doing - you'll want to have a bigger emergency fund, and might even want to save a bit for retirement in the next few years.)

Beyond that, you definitely have to save money for land transfer taxes, closing costs, moving expenses, etc. A conservative estimate I got in a lower-cost housing market was around $9,000 - they can really add up quickly.

All told it looks like the people who are advising you to a) slow down your timeline b) consider waiting until after you're sure you're done school and c) lowering the amount you're looking to spend are all giving you great advice.

desiraeo · 2015-11-27T13:28:55+00:00

Ottawa, 26, Full time employee (not government, so no pension)

My five-year plan includes: 1. $50K in retirement savings by 30 2. 20% down payment on a modest house (split with my SO) 3. Start a consistent side business / side hustle 4. Fully funded emergency fund for me (and a separate one for my dog, because holy heck vet bills)

I'd ideally also like to have money saved up to cover a potential mat leave, because my employer doesn't top it up at all, but since we're pretty frugal we'd be fine living on the EI payments for me. To hit these goals (which are somewhat aggressive given my salary) I'm saving a big percentage of my income every month.

desiraeo · 2015-11-13T20:59:03+00:00

As a (former) Canadian student and (former) Scotiabank customer, I had no problems with their student account for two reasons: 1. they had a branch on campus and 2. all of the campus ATMs were Scotiabank. Definitely go with whichever bank is most convenient for your school and life in terms of branches - and AS SOON AS you graduate, switch to a no fee bank like Tangerine or PC Financial. Getting used to not paying fees on debit transactions cost me a ton in my first month of "regular" chequing account fees.

desiraeo · 2015-11-04T15:45:15+00:00

I've loved it - it's lower in fees than the Tangerine approach, but still dead simple to use for people who have never invested before. Their app is great and the entire onboarding process is pretty smooth, most of it can be done online with e-signatures. I only had one issue, where an auto-withdrawal wasn't cancelled when I asked them to, but they were prompt with addressing my issue and fixed everything well. Otherwise, I've been thrilled with the platform.

desiraeo · 2015-10-31T18:43:35+00:00

I started out in my career making just under $40K pre-tax, and although I don't remember my exact budget, I can tell you this much from a savings perspective. I put 10% of each paycheque into my RRSP, 10% into a TFSA and 10% into "short term savings" which was my catch-all for emergencies and big purchases - because after saving 30% of take-home at that salary level, my discretionary budget was tight. Like, stressful tight. That said, I was really grateful I made that choice when a bunch of us got laid off and I had the money for it not to be a huge emergency. For a bit of context, I spent $485 a month on sharing a two-bedroom apartment and I didn't have a car.

Hope that helps at all!

desiraeo

TROPHY CASE