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In this issue...

• What is "loud budgeting" and why is it so popular on social media?

• CBC Radio's Under the Influence: How companies doubled their profits through marketing and advertising

• By the numbers X 10 + 1

• Rolling Stone just broke its promise to lifetime subscribers

• Pat Sajak ends 40+ years as host of mega-popular Wheel of Fortune TV game show

• Father's Day is Sunday, June 16

• New release: Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1

• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week

... and trivia, quotes, community events and more!

What is "loud budgeting" and why is it so popular on social media?

More and more, I'm seeing online content from creators talking openly about how much money they spent and earned in a month. It's called "loud budgeting" - and they feel it keeps them open and honest about their money management. By sharing the information with others, they also feel like it keeps them accountable against overspending.

Article excerpt: "Loud budgeting is a money-saving technique that involves declining social opportunities - such as grabbing dinner with a friend or going to that destination wedding - when it puts your financial goals in jeopardy, and telling people that’s the reason you aren’t going.

When it comes to maintaining our relationships, it can often be difficult to forego the catch-up brunch or the friend group vacation everyone says you’ll remember forever when you have money on your mind. So individuals often feel like they have no choice but to begrudgingly accept the invite - and the financial ramifications that may follow.

The idea with loud budgeting is to simply empower more people to be comfortable with speaking up about the financial goals that are most top of mind right now.

Regardless, loud budgeting can help you mentally reframe a missed opportunity into a positive action you’re taking to meet a long-term goal. 'Prioritizing savings and doing it proudly seems like a great idea,' says Elizabeth Schwab, Program Chair of the Behavioral Economics and Business Psychology Divisions at The Chicago School. 'It de-stigmatizes what many Americans are feeling and experiencing.'

However, Schwab does point out that you need to strike a balance between putting money toward your savings and doing activities that give your life joy. 'Declining all of those social invites eventually takes its toll on us socially and emotionally,' she says."

Like everything else, balance is required. If you never spend a penny on luxuries, you may feel like all your hard work is not paying dividends. Yes, some splurging can be a good thing. And if you've been saving very strictly, I'm not sure how easy it will be to actually spend (at least some of) the money eventually.

It also takes some acceptance of a loss of privacy. If you're going to talk about your expenses in loud budgeting content, you also have to talk about your income, something that is frowned upon by many.

Regardless, if it helps you save money and spend wisely, more power to you!

Read: TikTokers are trying to save more money in 2024 with the help of the new “loud budgeting” trend. Related: Is "loud budgeting" an inclusive conversation or an exclusive trend?

CBC Radio's Under the Influence: How companies doubled their profits through marketing and advertising

The latest episode of CBC Radio's Under the Influence with host Terry O'Reilly looked at how great ads and marketing caused companies to double their profits.

• June 6, 2024 - Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz: How Companies Double Their Profits. Synopsis: "Every company dreams of doubling its profit. It’s almost impossible to do. Yet, some companies do it by tweaking one tiny thing. We’ll talk about an industry that put three words on their packaging that doubled their profit. A company that created a catchy jingle that doubled their revenue overnight. And a business that changed one single word in a headline and their profit went up 100%." Click here to listen to the episode. Click here to read the episode's website post.

Click here for the show's website and here for the show's podcast archive.

By the numbers X 10 + 1

• 1. 2 children die after tonsil, adenoid surgeries at McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton

• 2. 3 ways perfectionistic managers discourage employees

• 3. 3 babies were abandoned in London over 7 years. Now it’s revealed they’re siblings.

• 4. Bank of Canada cuts key rate for first time in more than 4 years

• 5. I make 4 times more money than my husband earns. He later admitted he was jealous of me being the breadwinner.

• 6. 6 reasons you're burning out - and how you can fix it

• 7. The best beach chairs in 2024. We tried and tested 16.

• 8. We’ve traveled to more than 100 countries. These are the 34 travel essentials we don’t leave home without.

• 9. Fixed or variable? Advice from more than 50 brokers for Canadians whose mortgages are up for renewal.

• 10. Canadians mark 80th anniversary of D-Day as sun shines on Juno Beach in Normandy

• Bonus: 12-year-old Bruhat Soma wins prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee title in tiebreaker

Rolling Stone just broke its promise to lifetime subscribers

Rolling Stone is angering readers who bought lifetime subscriptions to the magazine by transitioning them from the print edition to a digital one. Understandably, the surprise decision is not sitting well with fans who forked over money to the popular publication, which has a devout following.

According to the article, this notice was sent to lifetime subscribers:

"Dear Rolling Stone Subscriber:

Thank you for being a loyal reader of Rolling Stone. We are transitioning the delivery of Rolling Stone’s lifetime subscribers to a digital format. Your final printed copy will be the June 2024 issue. (Editor's note: The June issue featuring singer Cardi B is shown in the photo.)

The e-Edition format is an exact replica of the magazine you can read on your computer, tablet, or phone. A reminder email will be sent to you every time a new issue is published. In addition to access to the current issue, you will have access to a library of issues for the past five years.

If you need to update your email address with us, or you wish to stop receiving Rolling Stone, please contact customer service at rollingstone.com/customerservice or customerservice@rollingstone.com.

Sincerely,

David Roberson SVP, Subscriptions"

Considering the cost of print and postage, I imagine that this will save the magazine a ton of money. The magazine business - or any print publication business - is not for the faint of heart these days.

With that said, these lifetime subscribers bought into a legitimate offer that should be honoured. Of course, going forward, any new lifetime subscriptions (I would get rid of those completely - they always end up costing a company tons of money) should be for digital editions from Day One.

According to readers, they feel betrayed and ripped off, as they should. They want the full magazine - the one that they paid for.

Of course, it's easy for me to say, I'm not paying the bills for Rolling Stone. But really, lifetime subscribers would be your hardcore fans - the ones who love you the most. Why alienate them?

Read: When a lifetime subscription isn’t for life.

Pat Sajak ends 40+ years as host of mega-popular Wheel of Fortune TV game show

After more than 40 years as the host of the mega-popular TV game show Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak is retiring from the gig that has made him a household name. The last original episode with Sajak as host aired on Friday, June 7.

Article excerpt: "Pat Sajak has officially given his final spin on Wheel of Fortune.

The longtime game show host's last episode is set to air on Friday, June 7, as he begins his anticipated retirement.

During the episode, Sajak, 77, delivers a heartfelt speech to thank viewers for their support during his 40 years of hosting the classic.

'Well, the time has come to say goodbye,' he begins. 'I have a few thanks and acknowledgments before I go, and I want to start with all watching out there. It's been an incredible privilege to be invited into millions of homes night after night, year after year, decade after decade.'

Sajak adds that he proudly fulfilled the duty to make the half-hour show 'a safe place for family fun. No social issues, no politics, nothing embarrassing I hope, just a game.'"

Ryan Seacrest, best known for hosting American Idol, will take over hosting duties in the fall, while Vanna White will stay on through the 2024-2025 season. 

Wheel of Fortune first aired in 1975 and was created by legendary talk show host and entertainment mogul Merv Griffin (1925-2007).

Read: Pat Sajak says goodbye to Wheel of Fortune viewers in emotional speech: "Thank you for allowing me into your lives". Related 1: Pat Sajak departs Wheel of Fortune as TV's last old-school game show host. Related 2: Pat Sajak and daughter reflect on family and Wheel of Fortune memories in sweet interview. Related 3: Wheel of Fortune fans excited for Ryan Seacrest to replace Pat Sajak.

Father's Day is Sunday, June 16

Father's Day is in just a few days. Here are some links for some last-minute planning and gift-buying:

• 10 Father’s Day gifts our golf dads actually want

• 13 perfect whiskey cocktails for celebrating Father's Day

• 14 Father's Day gift ideas they're guaranteed to love

• The 30 best first Father's Day gifts for new dads

• 45 Best Father’s Day songs perfect for a playlist in honour of Dad

• 55 fail-safe Father's Day gifts for husbands he'll brag about

• When are kids old enough to take charge of Father's Day?

• Peter King’s 2024 Father’s Day book list

• A Father’s Day roundup for book nerd Dads

• Give your Dad the gift of true crime this Father’s Day

New release: Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1

I'm excited to announce the release of Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1.

The book is a collection of 125 rare and vintage recipes rescued from junk drawers, cupboards, recipe card boxes and long-forgotten collections of yesteryear. These treasures have been gathered from the estates of people who have passed away, old newspaper and magazine clippings, out-of-print community fundraising publications and through submissions. Important note to readers: This is a text-only book and contains no photos. Some recipes in the book have been updated with modern language and ingredients for proper understanding and availability. Recipes have been rewritten for consistency in format, however are true to their original sources.

• Amazon Canada (paperback, ebook)

• Amazon U.S. (paperback, hardcover, ebook)

Also available: Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 1 - English and French editions. There are more than 100 recipes available in the book - many of which are family recipes that are impossible to find! Enjoy the extra bonuses of exclusive goodies from Marven's Biscuits and Cy's Seafood Restaurant, too - both iconic food legends in Moncton, New Brunswick!

The paperback print edition and ebook (Kindle) are available on Amazon. Click on the country you live in to visit the appropriate site for purchase:

• Amazon Canada (English edition)

• Amazon Canada (French edition)

• Amazon U.S. (English edition with hardcover option available)

• Kobo.com (for Kobo ebook readers, English version)

I'm also pleased to announce that the next two books in the series will be released this year. Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 2 (scheduled for early summer) and Acadian Recipes and More - Holidays (scheduled for September). Stay tuned!

Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week

• 1. Cyndi Lauper to launch farewell tour in Montreal in October (see photo)

• 2. MP Charlie Angus "astounded" charges against man accused of harassing him were stayed due to lost evidence

• 3. Air Canada now offering free beer, wine on flights in Canada, U.S.

• 4. Mexico elects Claudia Sheinbaum as its first woman president

• 5. Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Emma Jones dies aged 32

• 6. Toronto restaurant bans Zachary Quinto, accuses actor of making host cry

• 7. Janis Paige, star of Silk Stockings and Broadway’s Pajama Game, dies at 101

Photo credit: Actor Stock photos by Vecteezy

Trivia: Did you know?

The letter "J" was the last letter added to the English alphabet in 1524.

To learn more: Meet the man responsible for the letter “J”.

Quotes of note

• 1. "Misunderstanding arising from ignorance breeds fear, and fear remains the greatest enemy of peace."

- Lester B. Pearson (1897-1972), Prime Minister of Canada (1963-1968) (see photo)

• 2. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

- H. Jackson Brown Jr., P.S. I Love You

• 3. "I didn't set out to beat the world; I just set out to do my absolute best."

- Al Oerter

• 4. "Remember, it's better to be a has-been than a never-was."

- Tiny Tim

• 5. "History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid."

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

• 6. "Feeding the birds is also a form of prayer."

- Pope Pius XII

• 7. "The earth laughs in flowers."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

• 8. "Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."

- Sam Keen

• 9. "If summer had one defining scent, it'd definitely be the smell of barbecue."

- Katie Lee

• 10. "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."

- Henny Youngman

Take advantage of the great outdoors this summer with the Greater Moncton Walking Group

In June, the group is walking in Mapleton Park, meeting at the Rotary Lodge parking lot.

Here's the schedule for the rest of this summer:

• July: Moncton Riverfront Trail - Park and meet near Classic Burger on Main Street.

• August: Riverview Riverfront Trail - Park and meet near the gazebo.

• September: Dieppe Riverfront Trail - Park and meet near Église Saint-Anselme (church), 1014 Amirault Street.

The group meets for walks every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. New participants are always welcome! For more information, please contact Wayne Harrigan at 506-386-2187 or via email.

About this newsletter

Brian Cormier's Weekly Update is distributed weekly from September to June via email to more than 500 subscribers in addition to many others who access it online. If you're reading this newsletter online and want to subscribe, please email me, fill out the subscription form on my website, or subscribe via the "Join Our Email List" button at the top of the newsletter (if you're viewing this in a browser.) This newsletter is not published in July and August and on holidays.