Tag Archives: saving

How cent-sible mothers can give their children financial independence

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Image by Unsplash

By Anna Smith

Special to Financial Independence Hub

As a mother, I know the importance of raising my daughter to be independent and confident. One of the most significant ways I can do this is by instilling in her the value of financial literacy. By teaching her to be financially independent, I am setting her up for a future where she can make sound decisions with money and have the freedom to achieve her dreams. I feel every mother should share this responsibility and nurture the financial skills of their children, especially when we consider the uncertainties of the current global economic climate.

Growing up and learning to manage money through lived experiences, I discovered that some of those life lessons can be painful. My immigrant parents were so focused on working hard to provide the basics for the family, financial literacy lessons weren’t really a priority for my sister and me. All we were taught was to save and keep on saving. In fact, my sister and I would sometimes skip lunch at school just to save the allowance our parents gave us. I learned the hard way that while saving is part of being financially literate, it can’t just stop there; a significant next step is to find safe, reliable methods to growing your wealth.

Not knowing better, when I was 18, one of the earliest financial mistakes I made was getting multiple credit cards, which eventually resulted in a lot of debt (because which teenage girl doesn’t like shopping?). I had to work hard to pay it off and it was a tough lesson to learn, but it was valuable because it made me realize the importance of being smart about money from a young age.

After that, I started seeking support to become more financially literate from any source I could get my hands on. The internet was my best friend and I got into the habit of listening to podcasts about investing and best financial practices. When I started working, I was lucky enough to find a trusted mentor who taught me that putting 75 per cent of my paycheque toward smart investments was smarter than spending the money on any big-ticket item immediately.

As I became better with money, I went from only knowing how to save money to growing my wealth through investing in stocks (ETFs) and real estate and having a diverse portfolio. When it comes to investments, I now know it’s important to maintain both passive and aggressive investments. Having said that, choosing between good investments and bad ones can be daunting and that’s where financial advisors come in. Engaging a trusted advisor who is experienced in investing in different asset classes can make all the difference in the world because they often have access to wealth management tools and data that make investment proposals more reliable and easier to understand.

Teaching children about saving and investing — and the mindset behind both

Although I eventually found my financial footing, others are not so lucky and many have never been able to recover once they get into debt, which can be crippling. Now that I have a family of my own, one of my top priorities is to make sure my daughter has a strong foundation in financial literacy, with all the tools she needs to make better decisions when managing money.

One of the things that we’ve started working on together is to get her to save regularly, like I did as a child. But more than teaching my daughter good saving habits, I believe what’s important is to show her the difference between the money-going-out and money-going-in concept. Very often, children are no strangers to the former because they see us making purchases daily and this makes it easy for them to learn spending (or worse, impulse spending). The latter, however, is more difficult to emulate because they rarely witness the act of saving. This is especially true now that we live in a world where most financial transactions are digital. Though this speaks to the convenience of innovation, how do we curb impulse spending in our children beyond merely saying “no” (and parents, I’m sure you’ll agree that saying “no” doesn’t always elicit the best response from children)? Continue Reading…

How to Balance Spending Now & Saving for the Future

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From opening two different savings accounts to giving your money a job, here are 12 answers to the question, “Give your best tip for how to balance the need to save and invest for the future with the desire to enjoy my life and spend money on things that are important to you?” 

  • Open Two Different Savings Accounts
  • Consider Your Housing Costs
  • Focus on The Three Aspects of Great Personal Finances
  • Use Financial Aggregators to Monitor Spending
  • Spend Money On Your Passions; Avoid Pointless Purchases
  • Invest in Things That Will Last
  • Understand Your Cash Flow
  • Consider the 50-50 Rule
  • Create and Follow a Budget
  • Use Fixed Percentages for Saving /Investing
  • Schedule a ‘Spending Period’ in Your Life
  • Give Your Money a Job So It Has a Purpose

Open two different Savings Accounts

Most people have a checking account and a savings account. If you want to save for the future, open up a second savings account and put your long-term savings in that pot. Find the best interest opportunities you can find for that account and leave that money alone to the best of your ability.

For the money that you want to use in the shorter term (shopping, traveling, buying gifts), manage that money in a separate savings account. Your checking account should cover all of your expenses while your primary savings account should be your “fun-spending” money.

The third account should be your long-term savings and that should be the money that you take to your financial advisor for the best long-term investment opportunities. Let that build up for a while and then try to make smart investments with it. — Brittany Dolin, Co-founder, Pocketbook Agency

Consider your Housing Costs

If you’re struggling to save and invest for the future while also enjoying life, consider your housing costs. Housing is one of the biggest monthly expenses, so if you’re living in a home that’s too big for you, or you’re paying more than you can afford for it, you may want to consider downsizing.

Consider your needs and wants when choosing a home. Do you really need a five-bedroom home if you’re a family of two? Can you live somewhere with fewer amenities if it means you can save money on your monthly housing costs? Homeownership is an investment in yourself and your future, so it’s important to find a balance between spending on your housing and investing in the future. — Matthew Ramirez, CEO, Rephrasely

Focus on the three Aspects of Great Personal Finances

I’ve learned from my mentors that great personal finances can be broken down into three areas: Budgeting Expenses, Creating Income, and Developing Cashflow-Producing Assets.

With any money-related goal, identifying which area(s) to focus on is key. For example, getting out of debt requires stricter budgeting and increasing income. Meanwhile, retirement has to do with areas 1 and 3. This also makes it simple: budget a percentage of your income to save and invest based on your long-term goals.

Then determine your priorities. Perhaps you need to be strict with some other living expenses to be able to spend money on what’s important to you and set savings and investment goals for larger purchases while you also work to increase your income. — Eric Chow, Chief Consultant, Mashman Ventures

Use Financial Aggregators to Monitor Spending

The balance between saving and investing for the future, while also enjoying life and spending money on what matters to you, is a difficult one to achieve.

One uncommon way to reach this balance is by using financial aggregators. Financial aggregators are tools that allow you to connect all your accounts, such as investments and bank accounts, into one place in order to get a better look at where your hard-earned money is going. This makes it easier for you to budget wisely and allocate money towards satisfying both savings goals, as well as needs or wants for immediate enjoyment.

With this knowledge in hand, you’ll be more aware of how much flexibility you can have with your monthly expenses since both needs are being fulfilled simultaneously. — Carly Hill, Operations Manager, VirtualHolidayParty.com

Spend Money on your Passions; Avoid Pointless Purchases

The best way to save money and enjoy life is to spend money on your passions and cut back on everything else. For example, you might grab a Starbucks drink before work every day. But does this really add value to your life? You can make the exact same coffee at home for a fraction of the price. This is just one example, but most people are spending thousands of dollars a year on unimportant things.

Once you’ve cut expenses out of your life that don’t provide value, spend this extra money on your passions. Let’s say you’re a big fan of motorbiking. You can use this money to buy a sport bike and go to your local racetrack every weekend. Or, if you love hiking, buy quality hiking gear and hike with friends and family. This strategy allows you to cut back on unimportant expenses, save money, and spend more on things that bring happiness. — Scott Lieberman, Owner, Touchdown Money

Invest in Things that will Last

A great way to balance the need to save and invest for your future while still enjoying life is mindful spending. This means considering each purchase you make, big or small, and evaluating if it will add long-term value and benefit you; an uncommon example of this would be investing in a massage package.

Instead of splurging on something that won’t provide sustainable value, such as multiple nights out with friends, consider treating yourself to regular professional massages — which have medical benefits from managing pain to reducing stress — that promote mental health and well-being. Practicing mindful spending ensures money is not wasted frivolously but also allows for some indulgences now that can later prove beneficial. — Grace He, People and Culture Director, teambuilding.com

Understand your Cash Flow

Understanding your household cash flow is among the most important aspects of securing your financial future. In order to have more money to spend or save now, you must be acutely aware of your spending habits. Continue Reading…

$1.7 million to retire: doable or out of reach?

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Front page of Wednesday’s Financial Post print edition.

Plenty of press this week over a BMO survey that found Canadians now believe they’ll need $1.7 million to retire, compared to just $1.4 million two years ago (C$). The main reason for the higher nest-egg target is of course inflation.

As you’d expect, the headline of the story alone attracted plenty of media attention. I heard about it on the car radio listening to 102.1 FM [The Edge]: there, a female broadcaster who was clearly of Millennial vintage deemed the $1.7 million ludicrously out of reach, personalizing it with her own candid confession that she herself hasn’t even begun to save for Retirement. Nor did she seem greatly fussed about it.

Here’s the Financial Post story which ran in Wednesday’s paper: a pick-up of a Canadian Press feed; a portion is shown to the left. The writer, Amanda Stephenson, quoted BMO Financial Group’s head of wealth distribution and advisory services Caroline Dabu to the effect the $1.7 million number says more about the country’s economic mood than about real-life retirement necessities.

BMO’s own client experience finds that “many overestimate the number that they need to retire,” she told CP, “It really does have to be taken at an individual level, because circumstances are very different … But $1.7 million, I would say, is high.”

Here’s my own take and back-of-the-envelope calculations. Keep in mind most of the figures below are just guesstimates: those who have financial advisors or access to retirement calculators can get more precise numbers and estimates by using those resources. I may update this blog with input from any advisors or retirement experts reading this who care to fill in the blanks by emailing me.

A million isn’t what is used to be

Image via Tenor.com

Back in the old days, a million dollars was considered a lot of money, even if that amount today likely won’t get you a starter home in Toronto or Vancouver. This was highlighted in one of those Austin Powers movies, in which Mike Myers (Dr. Evil) rubs his hands in glee but dates himself by threatening to destroy everything unless he’s given a “MILLL-ion dollars,” as if it were an inconceivably humungous amount.

The quick-and-dirty calculation of how much $1 million would generate in Retirement depends of course on your estimated rate of return. When interest rates were near zero, this resulted in a depressing conclusion: 1% of $1 million is $10,000 a year, or less than $1,000 a month pre-tax. When my generation started working in the late 70s, a typical entry-level job paid around $12,000 a year so you could figure that $1 million plus the usual government pensions would get you over the top in retirement.

Inflation has put paid to that outcome but consider two rays of hope, as I explained in a recent MoneySense Retired Money column. To fight inflation, Ottawa and most central banks around the world have hiked interest rates to more reasonable levels. Right now you can get a GIC paying somewhere between 4% and 5%. Conservatively, 4% of $1 million works out to $40,000 a year. 4% of $1.7 million is $68,000 a year. That certainly seems to be a liveable amount. More so if you have a paid-for home: as I say in my financial novel Findependence Day, “the foundation of Financial Independence is a paid-for home.”

Couples have it easier

If you’re one half of a couple, presumably two nest eggs of $850,000 would generate the same amount: for simplicity we’ll assume a 4% return, whether in the form of interest income or high-yielding dividend stocks paid out by Canadian banks, telecom companies or utilities. I’d guess most average Canadians would use their RRSPs to come up with this money.

This calculation doesn’t even take into consideration CPP and OAS, the two guaranteed (and inflation-indexed) government-provided pensions. CPP can be taken as early as age 60 and OAS at 65, although both pay much more the longer you wait, ideally until age 70. Again, couples have it easier, as two sets of CPP/OAS should add another $20,000 to $40,000 a year to the $68,000, depending how early or late one begins receiving benefits.

This also assumes no employer-pension, generally a good assumption given that private-sector Defined Benefit pensions are becoming rarer than hen’s teeth. I sometimes say to young people in jest that they should try and land a job in either the federal or provincial governments the moment they graduate from college, then hang on for 40 years. Most if not all governments (and many union members) offer lucrative DB pensions that are guaranteed for life with taxpayers as the ultimate backstop, and indexed to inflation. Figure one of these would be worth around $1 million, and certainly $1.7 million if you’re half of a couple who are in such circumstances.

Private-sector workers need to start RRSPs ASAP

But what if you’re bouncing from job to job in the private sector, which I presume will be the fate of our young broadcaster at the Edge? Then we’re back to what our flippant commentator alluded to: if she doesn’t start to take saving for Retirement seriously, then it’s unlikely she’ll ever come up with $1.7 million. In that case, her salvation may have to come either from inheritance, marrying money or winning a lottery.

For those who prefer to have more control over their financial future, recall the old saw that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In Canada, that step is to maximize your RRSP contributions every year, ideally from the moment you begin your first salaried job. Divide $1.7 million by 40 and you get $42,400 a year that needs to be contributed. OK, I admit I’m shocked by that myself but bear with me. The truth is that no one even is allowed to contribute that much money every year into an RRSP. Normally, the limit is 18% of earned income and the 2023 maximum RRSP contribution limit is $30,780 (and $31,560 for the 2024 taxation year.) Continue Reading…

12 unique ways to Change your Spending Habits

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What is one unique way someone can change their spending habits for the better? 
To help you improve your spending habits, we asked CEOs and business leaders this question for their best tips. From trying to not purchase anything online for one month to trying the envelope method, there are several unique tips to help you change your spending habits for the better.

Here are 12 unique ways to change your spending habits: 

  • One Month No Online Purchases
  • Check How Long You Can Go Without Something
  • Change Paid Activities to Be Cost-effective
  • 30-day Challenge
  • Track Your Spending for One Week
  • Buy from Your Local Market
  • Reduce Impulsive Purchases
  • Shop With Lists Only
  • Ask a Friend
  • Use Cash as a Payment Option
  • Set Savings Milestones and Rewards
  • The Envelope Method is One Way to Change Spending Habit

 

A Month with no Online Purchases

My wife and I recently did a one-month challenge on not purchasing anything online. The breaking point was coming home after a long weekend and finding over 10 packages on our doorstep between the two of us ordering online. We heard of a challenge where you don’t purchase anything for a month, but knew that wouldn’t work for us. We decided just not to purchase any items online. If we needed something we had to go to the store and purchase the item. We realized we didn’t have to buy as much stuff as we were previously ordering online. After the challenge month was over, we did both change our spending habits and don’t buy nearly as much as we previously did online. We also found out that the physical store tends to be less than purchasing your items online. –– Evan McCarthy, President CEO, SportingSmiles

Check how long you can Go without Something

When you’re contemplating buying something, the best way to evaluate your intentions is to check how long you can go without it. If you decide on a date until which you believe you will not need this product or service, postpone your spending until that date. Once the new date arrives, ask yourself the same question and set another date. Do this thrice, and chances are the futility of adding it to your list of purchases will finally hit. It’s also highly probable that you won’t even choose to remember the later dates and forget all about spending your hard-earned money on something you never required in the first place. —Riley Beam, Managing Attorney, Douglas R. Beam, P.A.

Change Paid Activities to be Cost-effective

Going out for drinks, going bowling with friends, dancing at the club: these are all fun activities that are definitely worth your time and money. These expenses, however, add up in the long run and one way to still enjoy yourself but save a little money in your wallet is to substitute some activities with cost-effective alternatives. For example, instead of going to a bar for drinks, create a makeshift bar at home. Try hiking or scope your community newsletter for other free, public events. — Adam Shlomi, Founder, SoFlo Tutors

30-day Challenge

One unique way someone can change their spending habits for the better is by doing a 30-day challenge. One of the most significant barriers to saving money is impulsive buying. It’s easy to fall for an online advertisement that claims to anticipate your needs and wants. But there is a workaround:
– Take a screenshot of the ad rather than clicking on it.
– Create a folder on your desktop to store all these screenshots.
– Check the folder after 30 days to see if you still wish to purchase that item.


The 30-day challenge is also applicable to offline purchases. Write down what you want to buy, give yourself 30 days, and then decide if you still wish to purchase. After a 30-day wait, you may be shocked by the items that no longer interest you. —Tiffany Homan, COO, Texas Divorce Laws

Continue Reading…

4 easy ways to Build Wealth: at any Age

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By Emily Roberts

For the Financial Independence Hub

Whether you’re just starting out or planning for retirement, there are ways to build wealth at any age. There is no golden age when building wealth; the wealth gap is reducing. If you want to grow your savings and assets, you must take action regardless of your life stage. Here are five easy tips for increasing your assets at any stage of life.

Start Saving early

If you start saving early, you’ll have plenty of time to compound your interest and grow your savings. Even small amounts of money can make a big difference over time. The earlier you start saving, the less you have to save each month from reaching your goal. If you start saving at 25, you’ll have to save $100 each month to have the same amount saved at 65. If you start saving at 35, you’ll have to save $300 each month to reach the same amount saved at 65. While it’s never too late to start, the earlier you start saving, the less you have to save each month from reaching your goal.

Pay off High-interest Debt ASAP

Credit cards can be dangerous because they’re easy to use for small purchases, and you may not notice the interest growing. If you don’t pay off your credit card in full each month, you’ll pay the credit card company more than the original purchase price. You can pay off your debts with a debt consolidation plan, and you can speak with a specialist like Harris & Partners to learn more about how debt consolation works. Debt consolidation helps you achieve a balanced and focused loan payment that is adjusted to your financial situation. In this way, you can free up more funds for investments and get out of debt faster. Continue Reading…