Favorite Financial Podcasts right now

So, I have been on a journey to Financial Independence (FI) for 2 years but I have not made much progress, some people in the community may say that I am not trying hard enough. Which is fair , even though the topic of finance is a personal subject and I am making it somewhat public, which means I have to accept that every once in a while someone may not like what I have to say.

My journey is different because I am an expat. I have a U.S. student loan and am using my Swedish income to pay it. So, I have to juggle two currencies instead of a main job and side hustles. I do not have any side hustles here in Sweden. Main reason is I recently moved here and am still getting used to the tax system.

Despite being an expat I do listen to some North American based podcasts that cater to the FI community. My commute at my previous job was extremely short, so I did not have time to listen to podcasts nor music. As one song finished I reached my destination. Nowadays my commute is a little bit longer, approximately half an hour. So I listen to podcasts, as sometimes I'll learn something new and it is good to hear other stories. Now, I have not heard any entries in these podcasts yet with expats in a similar situation as I; however, I have not listened to each entry.

This is a short list, but these two financial podcasts have made my commute much more enjoyable.

• Personal Finance for PhDs - Host is Emily Roberts. I enjoy this podcast as it is with other current PhDs and some post-docs. The posts are more concise and do not last as long as some others I have listened to, so I usually get through one post in one day covering both my commute to work and home. She goes through a budget breakdown with the guest and it is somewhat enlightening, especially on the posts with guests that live in expensive cities. As I live in an expensive...well, country. 
• Choose FI - Hosts are Brad and Jonathan. Now, I just started listening to this one a couple weeks ago. Most of their guests have already paid off most of their debt and are on the road or have reached FI. So, this one I listen to because it gives me hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Some of what I have learned from these podcasts is the importance of tracking your Net Worth. So, I created a spreadsheet to track it and even though it is hard to see my hard-earned money going to pay off these loans. The effects it has on my Net Worth make me feel a sense of accomplishment and also I know exactly where my money is going. 

If you have any podcasts to recommend, leave a comment!

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Julmarknad - Old Town Swedish Christmas Market

Gamla Stan literally translated to Old Town. Which is an area in Stockholm and is one of the oldest and best preserved medieval city centers. Founded around the 1250's, it feels like a step back in time when walking down the cobble streets. Anyway, this draws a lot of tourists and it is usually packed as it is picturesque and 'Instagrammable', but you have to get here early if you want to be away from the crowds. There are interesting restaurants in this area that are Viking themed, there is even one that serves a moose burger. Several interesting sites are nearby too, there is the Nobel museum that the carolers below are caroling on its steps. In addition, the Royal Palace is nearby where you can take a tour. It is very ornate but once you've seen one you've seen them all. My favorite site is the Stockholm Cathedral, it is beautiful, and there is a large statue of St. George. It is well worth a visit. On the subject of Vikings, you can walk on Prästagatan (Priest's St), where you can see a Viking Rune Stone that most likely predates city. 

Now, Julmarknad is located in Stortorget, the oldest square in Stockholm. When I arrived it was packed and I was not able to enjoy myself since it was difficult to get a good look at some of the stalls. I did manage to take some photos for you to take a look but I will have to try and manage to get better ones. Perhaps by arriving as they open or as they are closing. 

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