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I always try things that I recommend for my clients to make sure that they are reasonable and achievable. Over the years, when clients have indicated that they are struggling financially I ask them “How much do you spend on groceries in a month?” Then “How much do you spend eating out or ordering in>?” Finally I query “If all the stores were closed and you couldn’t purchase anything there, how long could you go just by eating what you have in your house right now?” Often the replies are interesting. I hear things like: “But I wouldn’t have fresh...

My mom and dad were married on July 4, 1951. That morning mom went shopping for blue shoes to match her wedding dress. She knew that stores in Regina closed at noon on Wednesdays back then, but she needed the shoes as the ceremony was scheduled for one o’clock that day. The store didn’t have her size, so she purchased ones that were the right colour but too big for her feet! Before the ceremony, my dad, who had great sense of humour told mom, “If I had known how much the flowers were going to cost, I would have...

Every year I put a few pots of annuals on my condo’s deck. The other day I was disappointed to see that a storm had blown off all the blossoms from my trailing petunias. They were lying on the deck and needed to be swept away. A couple of days later, however, it shocked me to realize that there were even more blossoms on the plants that before the storm! All this got me to thinking about how our lives can be very much like container gardening. Each of us is a plant that needs the following; 1. Vessel or...

I find it so interesting that different people can have exactly the same things happen to them but each will respond in a different manner. One person might get drunk. Another might attempt suicide. A third could seek professional help. A fourth may discuss the situation with a friend or neighbour. A fifth person might not even pay attention or notice that there is trouble. That’s what makes us human. We each have thoughts, feelings and behaviours that we have learned over the years in order to navigate life. So, now that there is such easy access to news from...

Over the past few weeks, the world has been experiencing a pandemic which has stolen almost everything that we previously called “Normal”.   No one seems to understand the virus and we are certainly getting very mixed messages from sources that previously we would trust and respect without question.     Articles that I wrote in the past addressed depression and anxiety.  You see, there has likely been degrees of depression and anxiety throughout recorded history – and perhaps even before that.   Those who experience depression are often “stuck” in the past.   They focus on the things that happened which are...

It doesn't seem to matter where you go in the world, Canadians are welcomed. We somehow have developed a reputation as being kind, safe, friendly and helpful. But, unfortunately, not many people even in Canada understand how truly blessed we are to live in this unique country. Canada is:   Large - There are over 3.85 million square miles to visit. We have ten provinces and three territories with three sides that are bordered by water. Beautiful - It doesn't matter whether you like forests, lakes, plains or ice - we've got it all! From the large cities to the...

I remember when years ago I was working in a government agency. It seemed that staff was frequently complaining about change. They wanted things to always remain the same as they were. One day, in frustration I said, "If we didn't have change, we would all be chasing our supper with a bow and arrow"! Change can be frustrating, especially if it makes us uncomfortable and if there are difficult adjustments to navigate. But change can lead to positive results. I am from the "pre-tv" age. I have been able to see huge changes in technology, science and communications over...

It's been several weeks since the world began a shut-down due to COVID-19 and I think we have all noticed a lot of confusing messages that have been circulating since then. Every one of us likes to have some control in our lives and "the unknown" can therefore become an enemy to the people. Since this started however, I have to be honest by saying that I don't think anyone has any really good answers to give us right now. There isn't an exact date as to when everything will open up again. The fact that there are different pockets...

Sometimes people think that they need to work harder to do better. That isn't always the case. In fact, working smart is better than working hard. Let's talk about your future for an example. Most people pay Income Tax based on the amount of money that they earn and the bracket that they fall into. You can get some of that back if you overpay, have dependents, file tuition receipts for education or invest in either an RRSP or Pension Plan. These deductions can result in a refund which most people spend on luxuries or to pay down debt. There...