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| Greetings! | |
With the terms "sustainability", "green" and "eco-friendly" all around us, it's time to start thinking about how we can bring those strategies into our spending and financial habits. If you're looking to 'green your money', spend more wisely, be more conscious of where you're investing, and learn how your investments are impacting yourself, your family, and the world around you, we invite you to read Karin's article below.
Better yet, get involved in the dialogue about how to Make, Manage and Invest your Money to Create a Better World in the Green Money free teleclass coming up on May 4th. More details.
To deepen your investment knowlege and to learn about socially responsibly investment options (and to decide for yourself whether it's just a marketing ploy!), check out the 'Socially Responsible Investing' workshop coming up on Saturday, May 15th. More details. Another exciting event coming up is Wealth University in a Day. This is your chance to hear everything you need to know about money with 7 fabulous speakers for the incredibly low price of $49+gst. See below for more details or check out www.wealthuniversity.ca.
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7 Ways to Green Your Money by Karin Mizgala
|  How is your money impacting the world? How is it impacting you? The way in which we manage and invest our money sends a message about what we believe in, and has the potential and power to make a big difference in the world. Whether you have a little or a lot of money, each of us can make an impact on our lives and the world by leading a financially sustainable and conscious life. By the way, this doesn't mean not having fun, it means aligning your money with what TRULY makes you happy.
Here are 7 ways to "green your money", to spend your money and live a financially conscious life:
1. Check-in with Your Values: What is important to you? In a time when we're busy with so much on our plate, it can be difficult to act in-line with our values and make sure we're doing as we say! Make it a habit to check-in every once and a while to define what's important and meaningful to you, what your life purpose is and how you want to live.
2. Buy Consciously: Ask yourself 'Do I need this?' or 'Why am I buying this?' Are you purchasing things that you actually need and will enhance your life or are they spur of the moment wants that are spontaneous and impulsive? Are your purchases going to collect dust and then be sold at the next garage sale? Evaluate why you're buying and then re-evaluate its importance to your overall well-being.
3. Invest With Insight: What is your money supporting? Do you understand what you're invested in and the fees that you're paying? Not everyone has the same philosophy when it comes to investing, but it's good to ask yourself and have a conversation with your advisor about where your money is going. For a list of socially responsible investments available in Canada, check out www.socialinvestment.ca.
4. Give Generously: Often what we value the most, we cut back on when money is tight. It's tempting to reduce our chartiable giving, but studies consistenly show that once a basic level of financial security is established, there is very little link between more money and more happiness. Research done at UBC has shown that there is a stronger link between money and happiness when money is spent on 'doing good.' What can you give to or do that will make your money feel well spent?
5. Love What You Do and Do What You Love: Does the work you do feel in sync with your joys and values? Are you making any compromises? Are you proud of the way you make your money? It's not always possible to change these things in the short term, but your overall well-being and contribution to the world may be changed in the long run. The first step is figuring out what you want.
6. Be An Informed Consumer: Have you done your due diligence on the financial products and services you buy into? You can't afford to rely completely on experts. Make sure you have basic financial knowledge so you can ask the right questions and level the playing field. This doesn't mean you have to be a financial expert yourself, but no one has more vested interest in your money than yourself so it pays to be involved. MoneySense magazine is a great way to stay informed with what's happening in the world of personal finances and there's lots of great info on websites like: www.globeinvestor.comor www.investors-aid.coop. 7. Know When Enough is Enough: What is your ultimate and end goal financially? Without knowing this, there is the potential for endless angst at not ever getting "there". It's so easy in our money-hungry and over-spending culture to feel that we won't be happy unless we have this or that. Determine what you need to be happy, figure out what you need to do to get it, then enjoy your life!
We know how difficult it is to juggle the demands of our contemporary life and feel like we are also living sustainable and purpose filled lives. Know that you're not alone and most of us are struggling with these same issues. It's hard to do it all ourselves, so enlist some support from like-minded individuals. Create a money group and hold each other accountable, brainstorm ways to spend more responsibly, and most important: celebrate each other's success! |
| Upcoming Women's Financial Learning Classes and Events |  Green Money - An Introduction- Join us for an evening of dialogue and idea sharing on how to activate the opportunity you have to make a difference - with every dollar you make, spend and invest. FREE-Teleclass - Tues. May 4th from 6:30pm - 7:30pm PST
Socially Responsible Investing - Learn how to invest with wisdom so you can achieve financial independence, realize your most cherished dreams and support the causes you passionately believe in. Sat. May 15th from 10:00am - 4:00pm PST in VancouverSmart Money Essentials FREE-Preview Teleclass - Dial in to this free-preview teleclass to learn how to make smart financial decisions and to see if the Smart Money Essentials program is for you. Thurs. Apr 22nd 6:30-7:30pm PSTSmart Money Essentials - Join our Weekend Intensive on June 12th & 13th in Vancouver, or start anytime with our Home Study program. If you're tired of worrying about your finances and ready to take control in a relaxed environment, this program is for you. Sheila's Debt-Free Challenge - Why spend one more day wondering when you will ever get out of debt? Learn to manage your spending and create a plan to get out and stay out of debt! Teleclasses start Thurs. June 9th 2010.
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It's All About Connections
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 Welcome to our new section on exciting events and resources to help women connect with each other and to the opportunities we have to take a leadership role in our lives and in our communities. We will be participating in many of these events and look forward to having you join us.
Wealth University in a Day
Join some of Vancouver's most dynamic speakers in this highly participatory and objective overview of women and money. This informative one day workshop will bring a variety of experts together to discuss their area of expertise and offer women the knowledge they need to confidently take control and move forward with their financial lives.
Come and access all the tools you need to get started on your journey towards financial empowerment.
The workshop will be held at the False Creek Community Centre on Saturday, May 1st from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Cost is $49 if booked in advance and $69 at the door. Presenters will include Tracy Theemes and Kamal Basra from Sophia Financial Group - Raymond James, Carrie Gallant from Gallant Solutions, Corrine Schindler from RBC, Marlene Delanghe from Career Solutions, Sheila Walkington from the Women's Financial Learning Centre, and Lana Gilbertson from Meyers Norris Penny, Limited.
For more information or to register online go to http://www.wealthuniversity.ca. If you would like to register by phone call (604) 257-8195.
Find Your Voice: Tips
to hold your ground with power and dignity
The Canadian Women Voters Congress is offering a workshop on Saturday morning, May 8, at the YWCA downtown Vancouver, called "Find Your Voice: Tips to hold your ground with power and dignity". The workshop will be presented by Deborah Rossouw, Integral Coach and Speaker.
More information can be found on our website at www.womenvoters.ca
Registration is only $40 for this professional session and is limited to 25 participants.
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Feel free to call us if we can help in any way or if you would like to discuss which one of our programs would best suit your needs. We'd love to hear from you!
Cheers,
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Karin and Sheila
Karin Mizgala 604-880-4143
Sheila Walkington 604-716-5375 |
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