Mindful Money Tips for 2024

Image by Blissful Muse

Whenever I think of money, I always recall the scene in The Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler and part of this quote in the above photo! 

Is money the root of all evil? Is debt inevitable now that we're into 2024? Does anyone still keep money jars on top of their fridges?! All good questions. While money can sometimes bring out the worst in humanity, carrying some debt is nothing to be ashamed of. Being able to lower financial stressors that is in our control though can be life-changing.

Here are some mindful money tips that will definitely help you to keep more money in your pocket (or on top of your fridge).

👉 Get rid of FOMO – Fear of Missing Out.

If you shop online often, you might be prone to buying products because your favourite celebrity or influencer endorses it. Perhaps you also saw it go viral on any social media platform, in particular Tiktok. This can rack up tons of unnecessary spending and increase those dopamine receptors to get the latest hit in your brain each time you click your finger or mouse to “add to cart”.  Unfortunately, this can be a recipe for disaster when you get your next bank statement.

Instead of ordering right away, leave it in your “virtual” cart for a few days and even up to a week. Then revisit your cart with all the purchases you felt compelled to put in there and go through each item. Chances are, you didn’t need most of what was there, but the allure and excitement got the best of you.  Cha-ching! Money saved. By training yourself to do this on a regular basis, you’ll become more mindful of needs vs wants.

👉 Make A Dent In Your Debts

If you have looming debts that never seem to decrease because you are paying such high interest rates, a simple way to lower them is to call up the company (or multiple ones) and try to negotiate a lower rate. If you have been consistent with paying off your account, this can definitely help your case.  Even if you’re not, try to see what you can accomplish, you’re not losing anything, just some time maybe listening to elevator music until a human voice says hello.  While this is not a guarantee, there is a good chance you can lower at least a few lingering debts.                                                                                                                         

👉 Make A List & Check It Twice

This is a must!  Making a list keeps you on track of what you need to buy. Don’t deviate from it. There are so many temptations when shopping, especially in the grocery store.  I don’t know how many times I have heard people say “I just came in for one thing, and I spent X amount on stuff I don’t even need.”    It’s all about accountability, so if you stick to what you have written down or what’s on your phone, you’ll come home with fewer regretful purchases.

                                                      

👉  Schedule Your Outings

Instead of making multiple trips out throughout the week, whenever possible, try to make a route so you can run all your errands once.  This can be challenging for health appointments, but for other things that you need to do, it is doable if you have a plan.  If you drive, this saves having to fill up on gas more often. 

Depending on your personal accessibility, skipping the car ride and opting to walk or bike is another great way to deal with your to-do list. It saves money with wear and tear on your vehicle, improves your health and reduces environmental impact.  If none of these feel suitable, utilize your local transit system - it's not free, but still can be another more affordable and beneficial option.

👉 Fees Fees Fees!

From paid streaming services to magazine subscriptions, sometimes the monthly automatic withdrawal is not in our favour because we have no idea what we’re even paying for. We just see our account balance dip and shrug it off because we're drowning in debt, what's a little more? 

That's a really toxic mindset to stay in. Take back the power and realize you can control this spending. Make a conscious effort to go through all your subscription services and see what you’re actually using.

Then, if you’re not willing to opt out completely, see if there is a cheaper way to downgrade your membership for a while. You might not miss it and realize the service is no longer serving your needs,  Most often, there are services you just forgot to cancel because you initially got roped into the free tempting trial.  

If you are looking to reduce your spending further, a great tip is to utilize any libraries in your community.  My local library is a great place to borrow items like books and movies, digitally or in-person. Best of all, it’s free – as long as you show your library card.   

                                                                         

So although it may be overwhelming at first, just chip away at each of these suggestions. Don't committ to doing everything at once. It's good to start a financial reset at the start of the year, but really any time at all. If you feel stressed, remember the old saying though, Rome wasn't built in a day. I hope that some of my tips here will help you make good decisions for your financial future. 

💜Closing up this blog, some of my readers from around the globe have sent me their own tips that I thought I would share here. If you have any, I’d love to hear from you, so just send me an email from my webform on the right-hand side, or comment below (messages are monitored due to spam) as I read everything!

💌Donna from Michigan -With rising prices, we make an effort to cook at home. Having a large family, it has saved us hundreds of dollars a month. We still love to eat out to support our favourite local restaurants, but have scaled back to making it a special treat just once in a while.

💌Shawn from London - Meal prepping has been a game-changer, not only for my wallet but my waist too. I would encourage everyone to set a few hours aside and prep meals for the week.

💌Eric from Toronto - Prices here are crazy and most of my pay cheque goes to rent! The money I save from brewing my coffee at home instead of grabbing one on my morning commute to work, I can nicely tip my fav barista when I do actually go out and treat myself to a latte.

💌Abby from Windsor - I always look at the clearance shelves and have found some staple items highly discounted that help me save money.

💌Sana from India -I have only 1 credit card and cut up the rest to prevent overspending!

💌Joanne from Alberta - Hey Muse! Green-thumb Prairie gal here - I love to garden and save lots of money growing vegetables here. It is hard though with weather being unpredictable, but I get a decent harvest - fingers crossed this year! I like to share my veggies with neighbours. 

Digestive Health: Gut Feelings And More

When I am talking about gut feelings, this blog is not necessarily referring to our intuition. It’s actually about the steps I’m taking to support my digestive health along with figuring out more natural ways to sleep.

After visiting with my gastro doctor and going through all the wonderful tests and rule out various things, he suggested that I start taking a daily probiotic called Culturelle, which is good for promoting good bacteria in our gut. This particular brand has a lot of evidence behind it, compared to some other brands. He gave me a few samples to try out and to be honest, i’m not sure if I immediately felt a difference, but after a couple of weeks, I did notice a lot less bloating and all that fun stuff. I’ve been taking the vegetarian capsules for several months now. My only beef, even with coupons, it’s expensive!

I will be the first one to say that I've never been one for taking pills, but as I age (ugh), it seems like i’m not able to absorb all the nutrients that are really essential to our health. Initially, I just added Vitamin D3 to my daily regime. However, last year, I felt like a total zombie and I had no idea at all that I was low in B12.  I went to my doctor and she suggested to check my levels and although they weren’t extremely low, it was not as high as she would have liked and so I was advised to take a daily supplement. I could have also taken a B12 shot, but I rather not take shots, unless totally necessary.  There are many different forms of B12 that you can get in supplement form. I found Jamieson's B12 fast dissolving sublingual tablets worked best for me.  When I went for a blood test a few months ago, my B12 levels were great, so it's a good idea to keep an eye on that.

Along with taking a suitable probiotic, trying digestive enzymes was next up on the list after  being advised to see a new practitioner who could help with these issues and also aid with nutritional counselling. I think they helped a bit, but honestly, I didn’t see that much of a difference in symptoms, so instead of getting a refill, it was suggested to try a loose leaf tea that had a lot of de-bloating and gentle herbs, instead of swallowing a supplement. Tummy-ease is fantastic!  I really love the minty flavour and with the various herbs, it actually seems to work as a calming agent as well.

Loose leaf teas

Also, I was advised to change the way I prepare food. For a lot of us, it’s interesting to note that raw food is not all it’s cracked up to be.  I used to snack on raw carrots and veggies, so that has changed. Everything is warm. Even fruit, I either chop up to cook on the stove or microwave. A few extra steps, but worth not having a stomach-ache.  Although no pic, I also take a nice heap of ground flax with my cereal in the morning, which has been a great addition.

I'm still for the most part dairy-free, which I do think has helped and I've cut back a lot on red meat since it can be quite difficult to digest. I'm eating more plant-based style, but I still do incorporate chicken, pork and fish a few times per week.

Sleep. We’ve had a weird relationship over the last few years. I’ve been in “fight or flight” mode for a long time. I really started to notice my quality of sleep decline and if you’ve ever woken up feeling like someone took a vacuum and sucked all the life force out of you, and not even a cup of java helps, you get my point. I was advised to try a natural sleep aid called Pascoflair, which has a well-researched herb in it with passion flower. The product is supposed to calm down your nervous system and promote a restful sleep. After taking it for several weeks consistently, I did feel a lot calmer, maybe too calm at times. Within about a half hour of taking it, my eyes started to close and that’s all I remember.

Truth be told, I did notice some heart palpitations after taking it and then once again when I woke up in the morning, so I am not sure if that is from my normal anxiety or if there was an ingredient in there that didn’t jive with my system.  It’s a bit of a mystery there. I tried to take it only a few times per week and that symptom weened off a bit, but I still felt a little uneasy.  Also, I don’t doubt that maybe there is some level of "placebo effect" happening in some form or another, but i’m okay with knowing that.

To be on the safe side, we swapped the tablets for a gentler sleep remedy.  I was given a sleep tea called Nighty Night tea in loose leaf format, which has ingredients like: skullcap, valerian root (known for aiding in sleep), passion flower and other herbs. I cannot say that it has solved the sleeping issues for me entirely, but when I take a cup, it does relax my body, so then I proceed with my nightly stretches, meditation and guided imagery to quiet my mind for sleep. It also helps having some nice cuddles.

I am feeling positive that my body is slowly healing from a physical and emotional perspective. I still have bad days, but i’m human. Stress really is the ultimate destroyer. Whatever you need to do, get it under control. I am fortunate that I found so many great resources to guide me along the way.

I will update again soon!

*I should mention my usual disclaimer to make sure to always consult with your trusted  healthcare practitioner(s) before starting any kind of vitamin, supplement or sleep aid.*

ABC's OF SELF CARE & PAIN MANAGEMENT

“We are meant to move” echoes through my head every day. After starting  physiotherapy, I realize the importance of posture and movement on a daily basis. No matter how much you can do, some sort of movement is better than being completely sedentary.

Although I struggle a great deal with mental health issues, especially health anxiety, I am always reminded not to always take life too seriously. Life is full of uncertainty and we cannot control everything. It’s a tough pill to swallow. The more we try and control the uncontrollable, the worse our bodies and minds become. We get into a perpetual state of fear. It is true that good things happen to bad people, and bad things happen to good people. I think a prime example is the Las Vegas tragedy. Were the innocent people at the wrong place at the wrong time? Maybe...but still, many people will continue to travel there and even stay at the hotel, not really even thinking twice about it. Does that mean they don’t care? Of course not, it just means that these events do not dictate their happiness. I know getting in that mind frame is easier said than done, trust me, but let’s just focus on today because we have minimal control over what happens tomorrow.

I compiled my own little ABC self care and pain survival note that I hope some may find helpful.  It has some of my quirky side in there and I tried to address aspects of physical, emotional and spiritual distress.

You can print this out for a daily reminder, keep it in your email folder or phone. Feel free to share  this post too!

THE ABC’s OF PAIN MANAGEMENT

Accept responsibility. This is a big one, as we often blame external factors which make us even more depressed.

Believe in yourself.  I know...a bunch of new-age mumbo-jumbo, but feeling good about yourself can really boost your serotonin levels, which greatly affects mood. 

Calm down.  Many of us who battle with pain tend to panic a lot and a few deep breaths can make a world of difference. As Drew Barrymore said, in the film Ever After, "Just Breathe."

De-clutter.  Whether it’s one room at a time, get rid of stuff you don’t need. Sell, donate, give to friends. Surrounding yourself with clutter keeps you stuck. It's like having peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth permanently.

Engage in meaningful friendships. I think this speaks for itself. If you have a friend who always calls you for help, but never checks in to see how you’re doing, probably best to let that person go. Yes, we all lead busy lives, but a simple “hey i’m thinking of ya” goes a long way. 

F*ck it!  Yep, sometimes it’s okay to admit defeat and throw your covers over your head and call it a day.

Get away from technology. It's tough, but well worth it to just put your electronics aside for even a few hours. Establish a routine to close down your devices. Unless you have a job that requires you to be constantly connected (if so, maybe it's time to consider a career switch if that is a main stressor for you) no one is going to hate you for missing a "like" on a post about their dinner foodie pic or newest outfit. If they do, you better get a new circle of friends.

Hold on. Whether you’re an amateur cook or like to dabble in photography, find time to do something you are passionate about, so you can hold onto those memories.

Invest. I’m not talking about stocks, but your own well-being. Get that check-up that you've been putting off for months, treat yourself to a therapeutic massage, take a bubble bath, whatever makes you feel good.

Jump around.  Again, movement people!

Kill time. When you’re in pain, it feels like a single day can just drag on. Stop looking at the clock and maybe play a few rounds of Candy Crush. By the time you know it, it will be night time. That game is SO addictive!

Laugh.  Often we cry too much, so how about a few good laughs, eh?

Make a sandwich. Seems odd, I know, but your body may be reacting because its simply hungry.

Naked time.  Any form of intimacy can benefit us, from a simple snuggle to orgasmic pleasure.

Observe your surroundings. Being mindful can help ease stress and won't leave you in a state of chaos and confusion.

Praise yourself. Not everything can get done in a day when you’re unwell. Your to-do list may be a mile long but accomplishing just one thing can feel very rewarding. 

Quit it.  Don’t beat yourself up over things that are totally out of your control.

Relax. Sometimes our bodies are just screaming for us to RELAX. Frankie knows.

Sleep.  The benefits are endless when you are able to have a good night’s rest. Zzzzz

Turn up the music! Play your favourite artist/band. Abba never put anyone in a bad mood.  

Understand this too shall pass. Wise words and very true.

Volunteer. One of the best feelings in the world is knowing that I am making a difference in someone’s life. I am proud to be part of  CMHA.  Whether it’s a weekly, monthly, or whenever you can commitment, give back to your community.

Wake up.  Yesterday sucked, but today is another day, right? Right.

X - plain yourself. None of us are mind-readers and brain-fog is damn real, so clear communication is essential.

Yes! You don’t have to always be a “yes man” but from time to time, say yes to a new experience.

Zip it.  We can all have mean streaks, but words can really sting. Sometimes, especially if you know someone is going through a really rough patch, instead of lashing out, walk away and enjoy the silence.

**As always, what works for one may not help another. Be mindful and choose your self-care activities that work for YOU.

Becoming a Resilient Person - The Science of Stress Management

Floral Clock Gardens in Guelph, ON- tranquility at its finest

Just an update here. The online course that I am taking called: Becoming a Resilient Person - The Science of Stress Management has been quite interesting and helpful. Last week's topic was all about mindfulness vs mindlessness when it comes to dealing with stress. Keep in mind, having stress is part of being human and we need some of it in our lives. Without having stress is highly problematic. HOWEVER, we need only a *moderate* amount. When stress begins to impact our daily thoughts and behaviours, relationships with others, etc... that's when problems escalate and we need to start on a new path to get it under control. 

Practicing mindfulness-based practices (ex. meditation) are helpful and can be done in so many different ways. They also have an array of benefits both physically and mentally. You might not experience the positive feelings all at once though or even see a difference right away, but I'd say it's more of a gradual change and varies from person to person, based on numerous factors. It is not an easy process, but worth the on-going effort to have that sense of calmness instead of feeling like you're on auto pilot 24/7.

For next week's lesson (I am assuming it will be on gratitude and aspects of that topic based on the quote below), the prof gave a little blurb, which I thought was inspiring, so enjoy.

"I'd encourage you to take stock of the things that you're grateful and thankful about. There are many things in our lives, both large and small, that we might be grateful about. Think back over the past week and write down up to five things in your life that you are grateful or thankful for. We call this counting our blessings versus our burdens. Gratitude is about paying attention to what's right about life rather than what's wrong. We all are in different places, but we can all work to find the silver linings or blessings that enter our lives. The better we get at exhibiting gratitude and appreciation for others, our environment, and the world around us, the better we think, feel, and behave."