Posts

Celebrating Credit Union Day: Building Financial Health

/in , , , , /by

Today is Credit Union Day – a day to pause and reflect on what it means to be a Credit Union and why we exist. For us, it’s to improve the financial well-being of members and communities. This year’s theme celebrates Building Financial Health for a Brighter Tomorrow. At Conexus, we believe a brighter tomorrow is the result of a well-equipped financial toolbox. Having the tools, knowledge, confidence, and resources to help guide you through difficult decisions and situations and find balance in your finances. Let’s dive a little bit deeper into what that means.

Finding balance in your finances is key to reaching your goals – but it isn’t always easy to achieve. Knowing where you should be focusing your efforts, how much you should be saving, identifying goals, the list goes on. Even Eric Dillion, Conexus CEO, and Joel Mowchenko, Conexus Board Chair struggle with financial well-being from time to time. Eric shared, “your income doesn’t matter – people experience the same emotions around money, and they aren’t always positive.”

To make it easier, we’ve defined balance using four categories: Spend, Debt, Emergency, and Save.

Spend

Understanding your spending habits is about knowing the amount of money you have coming in versus the amount of money you have going out. AND this truly is the foundation of money management – getting to a place where you spend less than you earn on a consistent basis.

What is comes down to? Awareness of where your money is going.

You’re probably sick of hearing this, but managing your spending well is about understanding your wants versus your needs. Here are a few tips:

  • When you’re thinking about making a purchase that is a want, sleep on it! If you wake up the next morning with the same desire to purchase, it’s likely a sign it’s a better purchase.
  • Try considering your “want” purchases in terms of hours you’d need to work to pay it off. Does it still appeal to you on the same level?
  • Ask yourself, what are my money thieves? Those, often small, but compounding purchases that can quickly add up over time. Understanding what these are can be a good reality check.

Here are a few blogs that help break this down even further:

  1. “Ouch, My Budget!” – Tips for Getting Your Finances Back on Track
  2. What I learned From My 90 Day Spending Freeze
  3. Kick-start your finances: tracking your spending

Debt

Debt is inevitable – but it’s often given a reputation for being bad. While not all debt is bad, regardless, it’s important to have a plan to pay it off. Here are two key things for managing your debt effectively:

  1. Avoid carrying a balance on high interest debt products

Although appealing at first, it can cause you to quickly spiral into a sea of debt. For example, carrying a large balance on your credit card from month to month. This can be very expensive and impact your potential for saving.

  1. Know how much of your income goes to paying debt (A.K.A “Debt Servicing”)

As I mentioned, debt is inevitable. It’s often needed to purchase a house, buy a vehicle, for school, etc., but having the right balance of debt-to-income is important. Its recommended to keep this percentage at or below 35%, and if you are more risk-averse, the lower the better with this number.

Looking to dive deeper? Check out these blogs:

  1. Good Debt vs. Bad Debt
  2. Top 5 Strategies to Pay Off Your Debt
  3. Credit Cards 101
  4. The Real Cost of Carrying a Balance on a Credit Card

Emergency

We’ve all had them. Those unexpected situations that disrupt any financial stability or plans we might have had. From cracking your phone screen and needing to replace it, to your water heater breaking – having an emergency fund can ensure you’re financially prepared.

When you have your spending in check and you are not carrying a balance on high interest debt, it is time to build an emergency fund. Best practice is to have between 3 and 6 months of “usual expenses” available in case of job loss, sickness, family emergency, etc.

You are likely thinking… my goodness that is a LOT of money. It is. Trying to break it down into manageable steps will help you get there. Further, keeping your emergency fund in a separate account is proven to help keep you accountable.

Where should you keep your emergency account?  A high interest savings account, redeemable term deposit or low risk investment fund are all possibilities, depending on your risk tolerance!

Check out, The importance of having an emergency fund, to learn more.

Save

Okay!  Made it.  Spending is in check.  Not carrying high-interest debt. An emergency fund is on its way. It’s time to think about short term and long-term savings goals!

For your short-term goals, be it a down payment on a house, a new bike or a trip to Europe, it’s key to plan for these expenses in advance.  Like an emergency fund, it is ideal to hold these funds in a named separate account (keeping your eye on the prize) and contribute to them on an ongoing basis.

For long-term goals, like retirement, the concept of paying yourself first remains key here.  Again, moving a certain percentage of your income towards your long-term goals on pay day is a great strategy.  Making this automated, to remove any barriers or reasons not to contribute, can help keep you on track.

Want to know more? Give these blogs a read:

  1. The Gift of Goals & How to Reach Them
  2. What Does it Really Mean to Pay Yourself First?
  3. The Key to Basic Savings
  4. When should I ACTUALLY start saving for retirement?

Joel Mowchenko shared, “financial health is how we think about money, how we relate to it, how we interact with it”, and everyone’s version is going to be different. Having a well-equipped financial toolbox; the knowledge, confidence, and resources, will ensure you’re building a healthy relationship with money, ultimately enabling the life you want to live.

At Conexus, we’re working on building a financial tool that will help members balance their spending, get control of their debt, and set up emergency and saving goals. If you’re a Conexus member and you’re interested in being a test user, sign up here to join our waitlist. We’ll contact you from there.

4 Quick Tips to Save on Insurance

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Home insurance. Life insurance. Car insurance. All important to have, ensuring you’re financially protecting yourself in case of emergency. With each insurance type comes many different options as well as a number of ways you can save. Here are a few savings tips and advice to look into when purchasing (or renewing) insurance.

Home savings that can be spent elsewhere

A part of homeownership includes purchasing home insurance to ensure you’re covered for loss or damage to your property due to unforeseen situations. Home insurance is a must, especially if you live in a condo, townhouse or apartment and share walls with a neighbour. You may trust yourself to not start a fire but you never know when your neighbour will find a way to set a bowl of ramen noodles ablaze. Some insurance companies offer different discounts to help reduce the cost of your home insurance including discounts for:

  • Having a monitored security system
  • Being claims-free for several years
  • Your age and the number of years you’ve been with the company
  • Having a good credit score

A big misconception that comes with buying insurance is that it is a standardized rate among all suppliers. When choosing home insurance, be sure to shop around for the best rates and ask what discounts each company can offer you.

Safe driving does pay off

SGI’s Safe Driver Recognition program rewards drivers with a discount on their vehicle insurance for safe driving. For each year you drive without an incident, you earn a safety point that corresponds to a discount on your vehicle’s plate insurance. As you can earn safety points, you can also lose points for unsafe driving such as speeding, accident, etc. If your safety wasn’t enough motivation to put the phone away while driving, one texting and driving ticket wipes away the points that would have taken you four years to accumulate. That could mean an additional $200 on top of the $280 ticket.

Bundling up

Some insurers will offer discount incentives if you purchase multiple insurances from them. The most common insurance bundles include home insurance and car insurance. When you are shopping around, check how much money you can save by bundling. It’s also very convenient for when renewal time comes around to do it all at once so you don’t have to wonder all year “Wait… is my car insurance due in March? Or is that home insurance?”

Improving your health

Life insurance prepares you for the unexpected and helps protect the people you love if something were to happen to you. When choosing life insurance, consider your family and work situation, life goals and your budget.

If you’re a smoker, your insurance premiums will be higher than a non-smoker. Now you may be thinking, well I just won’t tell my insurance provider that I smoke so I don’t pay as much. Wrong – don’t do this because if you hide it and it’s discovered you’ve been lying, your insurance could be rejected. On a positive note, if you need that extra reason to quit smoking, some insurance companies will consider you a non-smoker if you’ve been smoke-free for a year and will reduce your premiums. Not only will you be able to save on insurance, you’ll also be saving money due to no longer buying your cigarettes. Bonus, Smoker’s Helpline has a Quit to Win Contest where you can enter to win $500 cash if you quit smoking.

 

Whenever you’re purchasing insurance of any kind, be sure to do your research and shop around for the best rate. Always ask questions and inquire about any discounts your provider may offer.

Know of other discounts or incentives to save money on insurance? I’d love to hear them – share with me by using the comment section below.

Sask Travel on a Budget

/0 Comments/in , , /by

To all the prairie dwellers, flatlanders, and those who love the land of living skies… let’s talk about travelling Saskatchewan and saving money! I love Saskatchewan,  the prairies and travelling around our great province. I also love saving money and how cheap travelling Saskatchewan can be! If you’re still saving for that big European trip, but need a little R&R in the meantime, look no further than a couple hours out your front door!

Before we get travelling, you might be asking yourself “Why would Conexus, a ‘financial institution’, post a blog about travelling Saskatchewan?” It’s simple really…because we love Saskatchewan just as much as you do! We also know that money is more than just paychecks, mutual funds, mortgages, loans, and “grown-up stuff” but it’s about living life well…and well, we live in Saskatchewan, so why not showcase it!

Let’s Travel Saskatchewan and Save Some Money!

#1: Ellisboro Trail
Price: $50-$100 (more if you’re buying antiques)

Qu'appelle Valley Ellisboro Trail Bridge

Qu’Appelle Valley Ellisboro Trail Bridge

The Ellisboro Trail is a valley drive through the heart of the Qu’Appelle Valley between Fort Qu’Appelle and Rocanville. The trail has entry/exit points off the TransCanada Highway near Indian Head, Wolseley, Grenfell, Broadview, Whitewood and Moosomin. The entire drive takes about 4 hours. From Fort Qu’Appelle to the village of Ellisboro is 78 km (for a shorter length) The drive is full of old bridges, towns, and the occasional abandoned house (one of which is a movie set built for the movie: The Messengers, starring Kristen Stewart – the girl from Twilight.)

Things to see:

  • Lebret Antique Store
  • Katepwa Beach
  • Old Churches/House/Post Office/School Houses
  • Old Bridges
  • Town of Ellisboro/Tantallon

Places to Eat:

  • Wolseley Tilli-Beans Bakery & Coffee Shop
  • Katepwa Beach Bar
  • Fort Qu’Appelle Restaurants
  • Rocanville Restaurants
  • Or pack a picnic and stop along the drive for a lunch

#2: Castle Butte
Price: $50-$60 (excluding a packed lunch)

Photo credits: Tourism SK.

Two hours south of Regina, SK. Castle Butte is the mountain of Saskatchewan! This is a quick drive for anyone in South Saskatchewan. Before you head this way, make sure you have a full tank of gas. Pack a lunch, grab your hiking shoes, your flashlight for the caves and a bit of cash to spend at the Aust General Store in Big Beaver, SK who’s slogan is: “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it”. This area of the province is also home to St. Victor Petroglyph’s, and the South Prairie Railway A train ride will cost you more than $60, but it’s worth it.

#3: The Maple Creek Weekend Tour
Price: $300 – $500 (depending on family size)

Ghost Town Blues B&B

First off – I would recommend this during the summer. If you’re on the South West side of Saskatchewan, then one of the best drives is what I like to call the Maple Creek Weekend Tour. I call it this, because that’s where I usually start in Maple Creek. After a good rest at the Ghost Town Blues B&B and a stop in Maple Creek for lunch or supper it’s time to hit the 614 down past East End (if you’re into Dinosaurs, you’ll want to stop here) to the #18 Highway. Travel East while taking in the quint essential small towns of Saskatchewan. your next stop will be Grasslands National Park!  This is a great stop to camp or just go for a hike. Once in the area, you can stay overnight, or check out the B&B’s in Val Marie, SK. The final end of the loop is Swift Current for a quick gas up/food stop and homeward.

#4: Winter Hiking/Camping (because we live in SK)
Price: $50 – $100 (depending on how much food you need)

Moose Lodge in Duck Mt

This is not for the faint of heart, however, if you like rustic hiking, back-packing, and FREE, then you’ll love this. Not only does Duck Mountain Provincial Park have summer camping, but they also have winter cross country skiing/hiking trails with little cabins scattered throughout the trails. The cabins are traditionally used for day hikers, but are great for staying the night, and they’re FREE! As long as you’re okay with a bit of company stopping through in the morning, you’ll be fine. The cost is the gas to get to Duck Mt. and the food you pack in with you. The evenings spent in these warm, non-electric, wood stove huts are amazing. While the trail offers several accommodations, my favorite is Moose Lodge. The short 5 km hike in from the parking lot at Batka Lake is worth every step. This truly is a place “where peace is undisturbed”.

#5: Beaches, Towns, and Parks
Price: Varies depending on length and events.

Regina Beach, SK

Let’s be honest, Saskatchewan has amazing beaches, towns and parks. Living near Regina, there are countless of beaches and resorts within an hour drive. Across the province you can take a weekend enjoying the cliffs of Cypress Hills, hike to Grey Owl Cabin in Waskesiu, enjoy mini-golf at Rowan’s Ravine, relax at Grasslands National Park, enjoy a Drive-In-Movie at Moose Mt. Provincial Park, or drive up to Green Water for fishing or snowmobiling. Not only does Saskatchewan boast plenty of camping and parks, but our small towns are loaded with music folk festivals, harvest days, parades, local restaurants (see list below), B&B’s, Scarecrow festivals, Winter Festivals and so much more! Whatever you’re into, sometimes all you need to do is step out your back door. I mean, we can see our dog run away for days, why not follow him on the adventure.

Here’s a list of some great Saskatchewan small town restaurants

**In alphabetical order**

  • 641 (Craven, SK)
  • Blue Bird (Regina Beach, SK)
  • Cafe de Paris (Gravelbourg, SK)
  • Free Bird (Lumsden, SK)
  • The Happy Nun (Forget, SK)
  • Little Red Market Cafe (Mortlach, SK)
  • Sister’s Boutique & Bistro (Montmarte, SK)
  • Star Cafe & Grill (Maple Creek, SK)

All recommendation, including businesses and parks, are based on actually experiences from the author and are free of endorsement or sponsorship.  The goal of this blog is to highlight, ways to save money while travelling Saskatchewan and help promote curiosity to travel Saskatchewan. 

We highly encourage you to add your own comments of great places to travel, eat, and explore in Saskatchewan below!