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StitcherImagine a commute with zero traffic. Think of all the things you could get done instead of wasting hours stuck behind the wheel. It’s becoming less sustainable, less efficient, and honestly, less fun. That’s why in this episode, Jen and Jill are joined by Kevin Ha to spill the magic and wonders of e-bikes and how they can transform any journey in any weather.
When you put yourself in a biking mindset, every road will open up a path with you.
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- Getting there. Because sometimes it IS about the destination. Whether you rode your bike, walked, ran, scootered, drove, rode the bus, arriving feels great! And speaking of ‘getting there’ we want to help you experience more freedom and confidence with your money by teaching the skills of values based spending and budgeting. It’s a 5-week course we’re in the midst of creating that will be full of videos, tutorials, and templates that will set you up for long-term management of all aspects of your finances, time, money, physical space, natural resources, and food. It’s available for pre-order now! frugalfriendspodcast.com/frugalhome
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Kevin Ha is a former attorney turned writer, blogger, and side hustler. In 2019, Kevin quit his job to pursue self-employment and side hustle full-time. You can read his work over at www.financialpanther.com, where he writes about personal finance, financial independence, and side hustling in the gig economy.
The E-Bike Journey
Kevin shares his story of how he discovered e-bikes as his go-to mode of transportation. He had always been a regular bike commuter for work, but in 2019, after trying an e-bike share during a trip to Dallas, he realized he could never go back to a regular bike.
Originally, they had a car that he drove only once a year. These days, his wife uses the car because she works far from home, though she also rides an e-bike in the summer. After making the switch, Kevin now mostly gets around on an e-bike and that’s how they take the kids to school too.
E-biking with Kids and in Remote Areas
Kevin walks us through how he manages to ride with kids and navigate remote areas. When his first child turned one, they would usually sit on the rear rack of his e-bike. But with a second child, he upgraded to a cargo bike from Urban Arrow, which has a front-loading design. As the kids grew, he switched to a long-tail cargo bike which is twice as long, but has enough space for both children to sit comfortably at the back.
When it comes to riding on the road, Kevin acknowledges that many people are hesitant about e-bikes because most roads aren’t designed with bikers in mind. Although it takes time, Kevin suggests finding the safest routes around for you and your kids.
How Its Like Weathering with E-bikes
Weather is a big factor for many people who are hesitant to use e-bikes. Kevin shares that riding in spring and summer takes no sweat at all. But when the rainy season hits, it becomes more challenging because there’s always a chance of getting wet. He then suggests bringing a change of clothes, wearing a raincoat, poncho, or rain jacket.
For colder weather, it’s important to stay warm. Layer up with warm clothes or consider adding accessories like handlebar mitts to keep your hands comfortable.
The Wonders of Riding E-bike Instead
Whatever worries you may have, Kevin has the perfect solution for each one. After years of riding, he has discovered countless benefits and wonders of e-bikes. To add a cherry on top, here are three more advantages he shares with us:
- E-bike cost significantly lower. A car costs around $45K, plus $12K for maintenance, gas, and insurance. E-bike’s overall cost is just a fraction of a car’s.
- E-bikes can be faster than cars. They bypass traffic, take advantage of bike lanes, and offer quicker, more direct routes.
- E-bikes can be kept secure. With the right locks, storage, and precautions, they can be just as safe as other forms of transportation.
Where’s the best place you ever rode a bike or e-bike to?
- Kevin: rode 40 miles to an event that happens every year
- Jill: rode bike on Pinellas Trail for 20 miles to skyway bridge
- Jen: rented bikes in Portugal
Get more from Kevin
Website: www.financialpanther.com
Youtube: financialpanther
Instagram: @the_financialpanther
Bill of The Week
Thank you Kevin for sharing your bill about wag (the dog walking app) making $12 for walking a dog for a neighbor!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews of our book Buy What You Love Without Going Broke and we especially loved this one from:
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Best Money Book Ever; Especially if you've tried all other tactics
I have been at the money management game for a while. I am in my mid 40's. I am a nurse and make good money, but because of the way I grew up, I never learned how to actually manage money to make it work in my favor. After trying several books and budgeting systems, I know how to make a budget, but again, how do I make it work for me? I knew I needed a behavior change and a new thought process. Most books don't offer a way to change your thoughts, but this book does. This book helps you think about money in a way you have never thought of before. It gives you great tools about how to think about your money. The book helps you define how to identify what your money says you love and what you actually say that you love. Then, it helps me figure out how to spend money on the things I love and not things right in front of my face that may not be helpful. If you love their podcast "Frugal Friends," you will love the book even more Most of all, there is no shaming, and they give a new definition to frugal. It's not what you think it might be. Get the book to find out.
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