Jerevie Canlas, Ph.D., CFLE
Empowering Financial Wellness Program Coordinator

​If there’s one thing I learned from the events of 2020, it’s that I need to be on top of my finances just in case something unexpected happens - like a job loss (which happened to me in May), or when we needed a new car (something we had to purchase in November), or somebody needs to be hospitalized (which happened to a lot of people). 
 
They say prevention is better than cure, and that’s the principle behind annual physicals. You go see your primary care provider at least once a year so your general health can be evaluated, and you visit your dentist at least twice a year. Based on a number of factors, your doctor might recommend that you do a couple of things such as exercising more, cutting back on certain foods, increasing your fiber intake, or even referring you to a specialist if necessary. Seeing your doctor at least once a year can detect health conditions that can lead to chronic health issues. The biggest benefit of an annual physical is KNOWLEDGE - and this knowledge can potentially save your life.

​Knowing that most everyone appreciates a little more green in their wallet, especially as we head into holiday season, I’d like to share my most recent epiphany. I was reading about “America Recycles Day”, where each year, on or near November 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the importance and impact of recycling to our nation’s economy and environment. The EPA’s website, epa.gov, provides fantastic information about greener living, recycling and reducing waste. As I perused an infographic on the website titled “Think Green Before You Shop”, I suddenly realized that the three R’s of environmental sustainability: reduce, reuse, and recycle, could also be called the three R’s of budget sustainability.

2020 has been a stressful year. From pandemics to natural disasters, and seemingly everything in between, we have faced a level of uncertainty many of us have never seen before. This uncertainty has led to stress and worry in all aspects of life, including finances. If you fall into this category of finding your financial life more stressful in this crazy year, know that first you are not alone. According to a study performed by a group of researchers in Canada, parents have reported a higher level of stress with 22% of mothers saying their financial stress has increased regarding the next 6 months of their future (Carroll, et al., 2020). With all this stress happening, it can almost seem like a gloom and doom case scenario. However, there are things you can do to help manage this stress, especially when it comes to your finances. 

Each year millions of Americans participate in National Make a Difference Day, a day set aside for volunteers to participate in big or small acts of community service.  While this day comes every year on the fourth Saturday of October, it doesn’t need to be the only day for volunteering your time.
Volunteering is beneficial for many reasons ranging from increased good health to emotional wellbeing.  Sandra Quadros Bowles, on her Money Wisdom blog, suggests that volunteering can also provide some significant financial benefits.