BUTTERFLIES AND SHINY THINGS (eBook)

We all have those moments when the problem in our lives feels so overwhelming that we just want to bow down in defeat. Those are the moments when you stand tall and refuse to allow yourself to give up. You refuse to say “No” to what you want in life. No one is stopping you from living your best life. It may seem that way, but the power to change your life resides within you. It’s common for women to avoid what they want in life in order to please someone else. You can have the life you want and make others happy. Just remember making yourself happy matters too. Why not have both?

In this book I’m going to help you to understand the concepts of money and finance in an entertaining and easy way. Before we get to that, though, let me tell you a little about my life, my struggles, and how they led me to writing this book for you.

At the time of writing this book I am a wife, momma, and entrepreneur. I grew up in the small city of Thunder Bay, Ontario with my parents and sister. My dad owned (and still owns) a business selling trailers, motorhomes, and boats, while my mom worked as an executive assistant for the school board and then Confederation College, where she was promoted to Director of Media Relations.

Growing up we always had new houses, new cars, new downhill skis, new clothes, renovated houses, pools, and trips many times a year. As a kid, if you asked me, I’d say we were rich. Both my parents worked hard, and they enjoyed a specific lifestyle that was always showing our best selves outside the house. I grew up with an expectation that life looked a certain way, and that I was supposed to own a specific house, car and lifestyle.

Unfortunately, my happy childhood changed when I was in high school and my parents divorced. My parents never argued in front of my sister or me, so it was a shock. But the bigger shock came during the years following, as our lifestyle drastically changed and everything we knew and expected fell apart around us. Within the year, my dad’s business was bankrupt, our house was gone, our cars were changed, and my sister and I moved in with our Auntie Lynne and her two little children on the other side of town.

We likely didn’t have as much hardship as others have experienced, but when your world is ripped out from you and everything you have known falls apart, your personal experience feels worse than anyone else’s. I was fifteen when my parents’ life was ripped apart and it was my first experience of the financial woes of life.

I started working as a banquet waitress at a hotel and as a cashier at Burger King, and I began saving money. I have passionately worked ever since at every typical job; clothing stores, school campus jobs, waitress, bar tender, and even made crafts to sell at local shows. I was taught to save, and I had my first bank account when I was 10, but no one ever taught me to budget and invest, so I have spent many years helping others figure out how to do both.

I have always had a passion for learning new things and challenging myself, so my first success in life was to move from Thunder Bay to Toronto for school. In 2002 I graduated from the Michener Institute of Applied Health Sciences as a Respiratory Therapist and successfully obtained a job at Mount Sinai Hospital. After 11 years in Toronto I moved back to Thunder Bay, and spent another 10 years specializing in respiratory related chronic diseases such as COPD and neuromuscular diseases. I loved being a respiratory therapist and getting to know my patients and their families, but I couldn’t help thinking that all of them would pass away soon.

The hardest part of this career was during the last few years, while healthcare cuts for nursing occurred, followed by changes in managerial structures the once enjoyable healthcare system became negative. Cultural negativity was prevalent as so many people felt overworked and underappreciated. Within that same year, in a short period of time, I also lost a couple patients who held a special place in my heart.

Through these years I bought and sold a townhouse, a condo, and two houses, and got married and had 2 children, but even though I was in the throes of adult responsibilities, I was still struggling to make ends meet and living a paycheque-to-paycheque life.

Even though I was earning an income in the $65,000-$80,000 range, I was still struggling to live the lifestyle that I assumed was normal. When I had my first son, I had just moved to Thunder Bay and bought my first house; did I mention I was also a single parent? Well, I quickly realized that I needed more money than I had.

I became obsessed with budgeting and ways to not spend money. That obsession also included insisting on breastfeeding instead of formula because, even though I believed it was best for my son, I was extremely fearful that I couldn’t afford formula. My son was premature and wasn’t breastfeeding well, so my fear increased every time he wouldn’t latch properly, but one day my dad and his girlfriend showed up with a large amount of formula, and friends gave me bottles to use. I realized then that I could figure out this obstacle and many others.

Once this weight was off my shoulders, I started thinking about ways to bring more money into the house. I started sewing, knitting, and crafting to sell, but there was a lot more time invested than profits, so I started looking at other things. After a few months of research, I opened an online drop-shipping store selling organic and natural products. It was an incredible business opportunity that I could do from home with a few clicks of the computer, as well as benefit from some tax-saving strategies by having a homebased business.

I continued with this business for about 5 years and earned about $10,000-$15,000 each year. Some may think that isn’t much but as a very part-time side hustle with very little overhead, it was ideal in my life. When I met Patrick, now my husband, and we decided to have another child, life got busy and I lost interest in my online business, so I closed the store. I still worked in healthcare all those years, but the negative environment and getting close to patients and their families became very trying on my heart and my head. Eventually I was burnt out and unable to function properly so my doctor put me on a medical leave. It took me 8 months to get back to feeling myself again and to return to the hospital work. The hardest part was that, even though I had changed, the negative environment had not changed. If anything, it was worse, and I was able to recognize how quickly it affected my patients, the other healthcare workers, myself and especially my family. Within a few months of being back in the environment I knew I needed to figure out which path best suited me.

As much as anyone says that money does not make the world go around, I believe they are mistaken. Whether you are young, old, married, or single, in order to make it in this world, you need to have that desire to make your own money, and be able to save properly, budget, and invest. If you want the best life for yourself and your family, then you need to take steps to understand how money works, and learn how to budget properly so that your future is a much brighter one! So many people eventually become lost if they have to do things on their own in regard to their money.

The best option for anyone is to meet with a financial professional at as early an age as possible and review with them yearly or with any life changes. When I meet with clients I help them make goals to invest and insure their money so they can make their dreams a reality. It is good to become a little obsessed with money and to find a plan that works for you. There is no one template that fits every woman. We all have different Shiny Things we appreciate and need in life.

My personal must-haves are manicures, pedicures and dyed hair (I need to keep away the grey) but for others they may be eating out, wine, Starbucks, shoes, purses, and many more. Now, don’t get me wrong; money is not everything! There are most definitely other parts of your life that are considered more important than money, but it is important to be prepared no matter what. Do not wait until something happens to start protecting yourself financially.

Think about all those “what ifs,” and what could happen to you in any situation. I am sure everyone you know has a story of money woes but take me, for example. I was not prepared for my first child, for the work-related burn-out, nor for other things that came along, but through each of these I had an obsessive mind for money and knew ways to get back on top. And now I know that I can help others get the same benefits and see a much stronger financial future.

So, take a look for yourself. What would happen if you were not ready for the next distraction? Would you lose everything? Would you have enough money saved? These are things that most women do not think about, until it is too late. The best option for you is to think about all those “what ifs” and figure out how you could prevent them from happening. If you are always prepared, then you are less likely to have any financial burdens. Which means, no matter what, that money does have a large importance when it comes to your life and what you want from it.

I know I personally have made ‘interesting’...