Personal Finance is Trendy. Here’s How You Can Make Money From It.

Confession: It’s really… weird… that personal finance, as a topic, is getting more attention than ever. I mean, it’s good and all, it’s just strange to be right smack of it all, as a personal finance blogger.

And shit REALLY got real ever since the Malaysian government launched the National Strategy for Financial Literacy (2019-2023) on July 2019. I’ve personally gotten more outreach requests for interviews, speaking engagements and collaborations since then.

Related: 19 Financial Education Initiatives in Malaysia You Should Know

So, there’s no questioning that personal finance is a HOT topic. For today’s article, I’ve decided to brainstorm and compile how YOU – a personal finance enthusiast – can take advantage of this situation. Here are some ways to make money from this hot trend.

#1 – Create anything educational

You’re familiar with these personal finance products and services. I’m talking about:

• Books
• Apps
• Courses
• Workshops
• Conferences, events etc

The key here – as with all product and services offering – is to zero in on your target audience. There are lots of educational materials out there – what makes yours different? Browse in your local bookstore to get ideas. I personally find the ones targeting the Malay market fascinating.

View this post on Instagram

This is the Malay-language business and management section at the bookstore . I’m showing this to you because I find the copywriting, personal branding and niches fascinating. They’re very different from their English-language counterparts, the ones I usually read . For example, there are the usual ‘get better with money’ books, but there are also investment and entrepreneurial topics on: 🔹Becoming an agent 🔹Making money in doorgift business 🔹Taking advantage of online influence and making/selling products 🔹Making money by making music/DJ-ing 🔹Digital marketing (email marketing, online branding) . What’s the one Malay-language business book that you would recommend? I want to read more of them . #marketresearch #mphbookstore #personalfinancemalaysia #malaysiainfluencer #on9branding #tipskewangan #bukumelayu #bisnesonlinemalaysia #membaca #bisnessendiri

A post shared by Suraya Zainudin (@surayaror) on Sep 24, 2019 at 10:35pm PDT

And you’re familiar with financial literacy workshops too I’m sure. There are many types, catering to all types of audiences, covering all sorts of topics. Recently I found out there’s an events company in Malaysia which organises financial empowerment retreats for (rich) women!

Financial-themed workshops have been in demand and will continue to be. Just be careful of that ‘financial literacy workshop’ that turns out to be a two-hour long sales pitch for some MLM or 5-figure product or service. (I say, hey no harm attending, but I’d leave my wallet at home. If they have it their way they want you to sign up and pay up there and then.)

So yeah, I guess there is demand for all types of financial education material. Here I want to share my soft spot for Grow the Goose, a social enterprise which funnels 60% of profits from paid workshops to run free financial education programmes for participants in rural and marginalised communities. Bless.

#2 – Be a personal finance content creator

I’m using the term content creator not KOL (key opinion leader) or influencer because even I find those terms a bit ew. My view is, other people can call you that but you cannot.

Anyway, yes! Come join us!

Being a content creator is really fun because you can play around with income-generating ideas and THAT CAN BECOME YOUR CONTENT. You can do merch:

or create products and services (overlap with #1). I know of some personal finance figures in Malaysia who sell their own seminars, coaching services and books.

I did this too. When I made Money Stories from Malaysians: Volume 1 Book, I had the best time getting you folks involved! You helped me share the writing competition, helped me decide on the book cover design, helped me decide on pricing, and more! It got into the Top 10 Best-Selling list because of you!

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Money Stories from Malaysians: Volume 1 is now listed in @borders_my ‘s Top 10 non-fiction list!!! 🤯🤯🤯 . Thank you so much Melisa for snapping and sharing this pic. I’m so blessed and grateful for you and everyone’s support. You folks are so sweet I kenot uuuu 😭 . I have a favour to ask. If you have extra pocket money (only if you do okay), can you buy a copy of the book at bookstores near you? That’s literally the only way to remain (and get a higher spot) on the BESTSELLERS LIST . In exchange, let me know what topics you’d like me to cover more in ringgitohringgit.com. I don’t like asking for something without offering something back in return! . Thanks in advance, Suraya . #malaysianauthors #malaysianwriters #malaysiabloggers #bloggermalaysia #bordersbookstore #kualalumpur #personalfinancemalaysia

A post shared by Suraya Zainudin (@surayaror) on Sep 18, 2019 at 12:51am PDT

Come get some ideas:

• 6 Personal Finance Blog Ideas, Absolutely Free for You to Take
• 12 Malaysia-Based Personal Finance Twitter Accounts to Follow
• 21 Malaysia-Based Personal Finance Instagrammers You Should Follow (I should update this to include newer ones! If you’re not in there, can you share link to your profile in the comments section please!)

#3 – Stationaries

Otherwise, if you don’t want to do #1 or #2, then may I suggest creating personal finance-related stationaries? People with art backgrounds especially – this is one way to make money from your craft! Here I’m using the term ‘stationaries’ to refer to anything that makes financial planning fun, from:

• Budgeting
• Saving money
• Investing
• Meal-planning
• Business/Entrepreneurship planning
• And more

Some ideas include (all images are from Etsy):

Making and selling personal finance-related printables

Making and selling cash envelopes (it’s a budgeting style. More info here)

Making and selling money-themed posters and home decor

And more!

I’ve also seen people selling notebooks, stickers, pens, cards, tshirts, bags etc with money themes/slogans on them in various platforms, to various audiences. It’s not a bad idea!

And you’ll be doing us a favour too. The more ‘visual’ personal finance is in our society, the more collective awareness of this important topic will rise, no? Financial institutions – bless them – do try to create these stuff but I think you can make prettier ones for sure.

Last words

Comment if you or anyone you know already sell any of these products and services – would love to check out the wares 🙂

Do you have other money-making ideas to share, to take advantage of this personal finance trend? Let us know in the comments section!