Pamela George Financial Literacy

I feel so grateful to still be able to do what I love, even in this pandemic.

Do you know how much money you spend on ATM charges? I challenged one of my clients to keep track of these charges over a month, and if you regularly use ATMs, I would encourage you to do the same. When you use an ATM, you are generally charged a couple fees based on convenience. While they may not seem like a big deal in the moment, if you frequent an ATM a couple times a week, it easily adds up. In the case of my client, he was spending $46.00 per month just on these fees. ...If this continued over the year it would result in $552 of lost money! What's worse? These fees are almost totally avoidable. Most banks, if you bank with them, give you the opportunity to use their ATM for free (or at least a certain number of ATM transactions will be free). So, my advice for you is to only use the ATMs of the company you bank with. Stop giving away more money than you have to!

There's a tradition that the Canadian Finance Minister must wear new shoes when s/he is delivering a "good" budget. I don't know much about it, but would love to hear what you have to say about its origin.

Any discomfort you and your partner have around talking about money won't simply go away unless it's something you actively work on! In fact, avoiding money conversations will only make things more difficult down the line - especially if you recognize that you aren't financially compatible or don't agree on key topics that are non-negotiables for you. To help you get started, I've created a list of 22 conversations you should have with your partner to get clear on each other'...s values, money mindset, and money management! Know that these conversations won't be easy, but they're necessary. https://pamelageorgefinancialliteracy.com/22-things-to-tal/

I love sharing client stories in the hopes that it helps others to see that they are not alone in their financial journey. You can change your financial course! You can get out of debt. You can make a plan that not only supports your financial goals but changes your relationship with money altogether.... You can budget for the things you want. It's simply a matter of making it a priority, and getting the support you need along the way. Please reach out if you're looking for that support. I'd love to help you take control of your finances, https://pamelageorgefinancialliteracy.com. #FinancialSupport #MoneyMindset

If you are a student at Algonquin College, I encourage you to explore the Pamela George Financial Literacy Bursary. It's worth $2,500 and awarded during the winter term, to a mature (25+) female student who can demonstrate financial need. Preference will be given to students of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and Persons of Colour) community. Click on this link for instructions on how to apply:... https://www.algonquincollege.com/financia/winter-bursaries/ See more

Are you promising yourself, once again, that this is the year you get your relationship with money under control? If you seem to be struggling with the same goal each year to no avail, you may need to look a little deeper. It's not just about debt, but about empowering ourselves about our money. For me, money is more than just a commodity to earn and spend. It is something that is intrinsically tied to my values and my purpose in life.... I believe these five (5) guiding principles are the cornerstones to building a healthy relationship with money. When we can start living by these principles, it makes managing our money so much easier: The way we earn and spend our money should be aligned with our values and beliefs. We need to show respect and gratitude to our money and to our earning potential. Our money should bring us joy. We need to take control of our finances instead of having our finances control us. We need to be more mindful of our spending. Will every day be perfect? Most certainly not, but every day, if you keep these values in mind, you'll be a little closer to where you want to be. If you'd like some additional support getting out of debt or coming up with a plan to give you better control of your finances, please reach out. I'd love to help you. https://pamelageorgefinancialliteracy.com/

As we wrap up another year I wanted to give a huge thank you to all of my clients! I know 2020 wasn't what any of us expected, but I know I likely don't just speak for myself when I say that I'm coming away from this year with a number of lessons learned. Wishing you all a great new year's eve and a happy new year! Let's bring all that we've learned this past year into 2021. ... #HappyNewYear

Do you know that I have a website? Have you visited my website lately? Here is it, have a look. www.pamelageorgefinancialliteracy.com

Yes, I take calls from "Canada Revenue Agency" and the "Canadian Police" because if I don't I can be "taken to prison". Yes, I attend timeshare meetings. Yes, I want you to come to my home to show me your vacuum cleaner, that I can only afford to buy if I get a loan.... Heck, I might even visit a payday loan company to learn of their flavor of the week aka exploit of week. I do these things, so when clients tell me that they are in financial trouble because of these guys, or they were pressured into buying stuff or sending money to them, I can truly understand what it was like. If you know of any scams, please tell us in the comments so others will know of them as well.

Will 2021 be the year you take control of your finances? Leave a comment below if you're ready for change!

*When asked, given these unprecedented economic times, what their expectations were, a shocking one-in-five people (21%) expect their personal debts to disappear or be forgiven. What's YOUR plan for your debts? *According to a new national survey, The Reality Check Index, an Angus Reid study of 1,500 Canadians

Addressing your debt issue is never comfortable and it’s certainly not easy, but putting it off and burying your head in the sand is never a good option. A pre-pandemic Ipsos survey found that 29% of Canadians cannot meet their monthly expenses and 48% are just $200 or less away from financial insolvency. If you are someone who has debt, please know that the longer you wait to address this issue, the less options you will have.... If you address your debt problem early enough, you can tackle it WITHOUT having to choose the option that will tank your credit and damage it for 8 years. Please book a free, confidential call with me so we can talk about this and get you set up to take control of your finances without damaging your credit. https://PamelaGeorge.as.me/

*One-in-four Canadians feel they will never meet their money saving goals and 14 percent feel they will never get out of debt Yet, my clients in 2020, ALONE (and without damaging their credit): One client paid off $30,000 and is now consumer-debt free.... Four clients paid off about $120,000 in debts (combined) One client bought a house and will soon be debt free. Eight clients saved an average of about $11,000 towards their emergency fund. Sometimes, all you need is a little help and guidance. Book your free call today! https://PamelaGeorge.as.me/ *According to a new national survey, The Reality Check Index, an Angus Reid study of 1,500 Canadians.

Chadwick Boseman, Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Prince are just a few of the black celebrities who died without a will. Here are some keys points from this article by Essence -Nearly 70% of African Americans have no will or estate plan in place according to Black Enterprise.... -Compared to other communities, African Americans may have more to lose by not planning ahead e.g. The ability to transfer generational wealth. -Dying intestate (passing away without a valid will) not only blocks the transfer of wealth, but it can leave a crippling financial burden to your family. Read the full article below.

This pandemic has been a huge wakeup call for us; showing us exactly how financially vulnerable we really are. So much so, industry gurus are contemplating whether or not employers should start offering workplace savings plans. These savings plans would be similar to retirement plans, but would be for more short term purposes, such as in an emergency fund. While I think something needs to be done to encourage the 43% of Canadians who are not saving, to start doing so, I don'...t believe it is the best solution. I believe financial literacy would be a better solution to this. I believe employers should offer financial wellness and literacy to their employees as a benefit or perk. I would go even further and suggest that attending a financial wellness/literacy program should be a requirement for new hires within the first six months on the job. Read more about what I have to say about this here: https://pamelageorgefinancialliteracy.com/corporate/