There’s little old me with my middle-class income on the one hand. There’s great big corporations we love to hate on the other. And somehow I need to bridge the two if I hope to retire in a manner to which my dachshunds are accustomed.

I believe there is a way we can stop holding our noses as we embark on the journey of reconciling our personal values with our wealth-building goals via corporations.

1. Consider this: Just like the in the mix of humans, there are in fact some lousy corporations, but also some pretty wonderful corporations (I have a crush on Apple for example), and just like humans, even the good ones may have asymmetries, areas where they screw up until someone calls them on it (like Apple who got their knuckles rapped about labour practices in their Chinese ipod factories). Let’s allow for that – a measure of imperfection that we can live with.

2. Let’s subscribe to the philosophy of changing from the inside rather than critiquing from the outside. I’m not suggesting we take on the truly dreadful companies, of course. But if there’s a company that’s doing well, perhaps with an area or two that could use improvement, let’s support what they’re doing right, and use our shareholders’ votes to move it further in a good direction.

3. Let’s avail ourselves of the life-giving investment options available to us right now, for instance:

A. Looking for something ultra secure? Citizens Bank of Canada offers Shared World term deposits with terrific rates, and every penny of your principle goes towards micro-credit lending (providing financing to small, family businesses in developing countries.)

B. More interested in mutual funds? Many firms now offer funds that include only companies which put corporate social responsibility on the table with profitability. Some are quite diversified, others are quite focused, for example, Criterion’s brand new “Global Clean Energy” fund. Check out www.socialinvestment.ca to start exploring the possibilities.

C. Are you a do-it-yourself-er like me? As of this spring, there is a new ETF via IShares that tracks the Janzti Social Index fund, which in turn consists of 60 canadian stocks meeting Michael Jantzi’s social, environmental and governance standards. The symbol is XEN, it has an MER of 0.5% and as of today’s date is selling in the low $20’s.

Each of these is an easy starting place. Whether we prefer to leave our wealth in the hands of a Financial Planner, or prefer a more direct approach, one of the joys of living in 2007 are the many doors open to us. Thanks to pioneers like Jantzi and others, we have options. Let’s take them.

And if wicked clothing/shoe sales are more to your liking, Wear Else is having their Biggest Warehouse Sale Ever!

28 West 7th Avenue (between Ontario and Manitoba)

Thursday November 22nd from 10am to 6pm
Friday November 23rd from 10am to 6pm
Saturday November 24th from 10am to 5pm

Delirio Amoroso: Handel’s Italian Years

St. James Church (Gore & Cordova)

Free admission

As a 20-year old musical hopeful, Georg Händel (he hadn’t anglicized his name yet) took a trip to Italy to find out what was going on in that musical world. The Italians were singing (what else?), and the young composer quickly adopted an exuberant operatic style. “Il Delirio Amoroso” was one of three cantatas he composed at that time. In this concert you’ll not only hear what Händel wrote, but also what he heard. Music by Handel interspersed with Stradella, Corelli, and Perti.

Mamma mia, bring on the pasta. You’ll love it!

Pacific Baroque Orchestra with Alexander Weimann, harpsichord and guest leader; Chloe Meyers, violin; and Washington McClain, oboe

Friday, October 26, 7.30 PM • Free Admission

Acr’teryx Factory Store Sale
Details as follows:
Friday, Oct 26: 10am-8pm
Saturday, Oct 27: 9am-5pm
Sunday, Oct 28: 9am-5pm
Up to 70% off retail on discontinued and factory seconds only. No exchanges, no warranty, no returns, and all sales are final. Items on sale include outerwear, softshells, packs, skiwear, and technical tops & bottoms.
The factory outlet is located at 100-2155 Dollarton Hwy, North Vancouver

Thanks to Steve for the intel!

School was no longer just about discovery, creativity and making friends. It was now also a place demarcating some people from the rest of us. A place of grades. Of pointing out in all kinds of ways who met the bar and who didn’t.

Thankfully we’ve long since figured out that putting dunce caps on 8 year olds is a really lousy thing to do. What we haven’t figured out yet is that judging our worth by the way we handle our money is an equally lousy thing to do.

We all have our particular, acutely sensitive spots regarding our money. When it’s touched, our whole being gets called into question.

For me, it’s bouncing a cheque. I imagine the other party judging me as incompetent at managing my financial affairs. I imagine the other party judging me as, gasp!, so broke my bank account couldn’t handle the $37.50. Neither is actually the case, of course, and for all I know those thoughts didn’t cross their mind. But when it happens, it robs me of sleep, an anxious tail-spin ensues and it takes days to gain perspective. (note. even here I feel compelled to state: It rarely happens! Honest!)

What is it for you?

• Carrying debt? (goodness knows we get enough media commentary on this!)
• Unable to buy a home - a deep-seated Canadian value - in this market?
• No real retirement savings to speak of?
• Guilt about lack of control over your money?
• Feeling like you don’t measure up to where you ‘should’ be, financially?

What I can say is this. You’re in good company. I’ve encountered numerous individuals, fine people – professors, single parents, working class, high income earners – who struggle in this crucial area.

I have a deal to pitch. It’s this. Let’s all give ourselves a break. Let’s all acknowledge that life is messy… hell, we’re often messy… and that our money may be terribly messy. But there’s hope in this mess. It’s September. It’s back to school time.

Anyone who wants can let go of self-judgment, clearly differentiate between our inherent worth and our current financial skills and circumstances, and learn. There’s no fear of grades or measurement. Let’s courageously reclaim our creativity, the thrill of discovery and befriend our finances. What works? What doesn’t? How can we nurture and grow it? How can we manage it in a way that reflects our values?

There are no dunce caps around and neither is there pressure to become top of the class. It’s about a quiet, inner sense of confidence and growing competence. It’s about our money increasingly becoming a blessing to us, and those around us. That’s financial freedom!

(as originally published in Shared Vision Magazine)

I confess: I love my coffee and I can be found in the line up of one of our region’s coffee stores at least twice a day. I prefer drip coffee or a shot of espresso. This means my habit costs about four bucks a day. Not a bank breaker.

Along comes a friend who is passionate about coffee. As the months pass, he convinces me I need a coffee grinder for home and a French Press coffee maker. Says he: anyone can make better coffee than what is served as most coffee shops.

He’s right. I’m now at the point where I can bring out the distinguishing flavours of the varietals. Bet you didn’t know some coffee beans have hints of chocolate. The Kenyan Peaberry I sampled yesterday boasted citrus overtones. Who knew this stuff is just like wine.

So here is the bottom line (this is a money blog, so there needs to be a bottom line): I’m still having two cups a day, but a third of them I make myself. I have invested $250 in a burr grinder and a French Press. Factoring in the beans I buy, I am saving $25 a month. The equipment is paid for in 10 months.

That’s all great, but the real story is I have learned so much about coffee and how best to prepare it. I have met baristas and coffee-loving folks who are sharing their knowledge and passion with me. The hands on approach is taking my appreciation for java to whole new level. Money can’t buy this experience and I have just a little more in my pocket.

1. Just discovered: Laptops in Vancouver which sells cheap, refurbished laptops at wholesale prices. I’ve never used them so can’t endorse them, but it looks like a potential winner! (and mac users, if you look on the bottom right, you’ll see a steal on a widescreen macbook).

2. “My Mother’s Story”, as heard on CBC radio, is being performed at Unity of Vancouver church on Fri. Oct 12th at 8pm. By donation.

3. Need a real break from raining vancouver, at cheap, cheap prices?Drop Everything! Last second deals from $199

Travel on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday until December 15, 2007.

WestJet is holding a one-day 50% off sale for travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday in selected cities.

Book today on westjet.com. Fares are limited, and are only available for travel until December 15th.

Sample fares from:
Edmonton - Kelowna $79
Saint John - Calgary $189
Kitchener - Vancouver $179
Vancouver - Calgary $80
Winnipeg - Edmonton $99

Leah, you were right, in retrospect. I’ve been reading a book called “The Now Habit” which digs deep into the root causes of procrastination, and the author talks alot about the power of the messages we feed ourselves. I draw heavily on his ideas.
Here’s what happens with procrastination. We feed ourselves messages about managing our money (among other things) that either

1. stress us out (I Have to get this done…but I don’t want to), or …
2. depress us (I Should have … or I Should do….but I’m not)

Both result in procrastination. Let’s unpack this a little.

1. The I Have To message.
For example,

* I Have To pay my bills
* I Have To figure out how I’m going to have money to retire
* I Have To get my money organized

Right off the bat, we’re giving ourselves mixed messages: these are things we are forced to do, but if we had free choice, we would not do them. This inner tension is stressful!

Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t respond well to being forced to do anything. The result is that our mind goes into protective mode: fight or flight. In this case, we fight. We resist. We…procrastinate.

What would happen if we practiced a language change, to:

* I am going to pay this bill
* I am creating a plan for my retirement
* I choose to organize my money

This syntax puts us back in the driver’s seat. Our sense of agency, and sense of Self, is back in its appropriate place: in charge.

2. The I Should message.
For example,

1. I should have started saving for my retirement earlier
2. I should have more assets than I have
3. I should have better systems and structure for my finances

Right off the bat we’re giving ourselves a message of inadequacy. We compare ourselves unfavourably to an ideal state. We fall short.

Who wants to feel like we’re falling short? Our mind again jumps in to protect our sense of self, not by fight on the I should have message, but by flight. We avoid taking action on something in which are current state seems so woeful in contrast to the ideal state. And so we… procrastinate.

What would happen if we let go of both the past (our past perceived shortcomings) and the future (the ideal state) and instead used language like this:

* I can begin to prepare for my retirement by ….
* One way I could start to build my assets would be…
* One simple thing I can do to give me greater control over my finances is…

These statements contain no value judgements, but rather, open up space for new beginnings and movement.

Let’s allow ourselves to use this kind of language. Let’s catch ourselves right away when we use dis-empowering self-talk, and instead, adopt effective self-leadership language that moves us out of procrastination and into empowered action.

If you’re ready to take action, there are three opportunities for you below. If you know someone who may be ready to take action, please forward this to him or her (esp. single parents). And if you know Leah, please give her my warm regards and a belated ‘thanks’ for trying to point me in the right direction those 15 years ago.

-nancy