How incorporating seasonal add-on topics can add value for your audience
By choosing one of these seasonal topics for Barbara to weave into her presentation, you can enhance the relevance of her presentation to your group. Think of it as adding a different dressing to a salad. Our individual money concerns definitely fluctuate during the year, from yearly budgets, to taxes to wedding planning to holiday spending. By keying into these issues at the relevant time of year, Barbara adds another layer of importance to her message and helps ensure your listeners will come away inspired to take positive action. These are some suggestions, but any of your own ideas can be incorporated as well.
January
Holiday Hangover Give yourself the gift of financial responsibility this year, by starting now to save for holiday spending, so you can avoid using credit cards. An idea whose time has come again is opening a Christmas Club account at your bank. Your account grows and earns interest throughout the year and by the holiday shopping season you'll have all the money you need-without incurring any debt-and won't that be something to celebrate on December 31!
Happy New Financial Year Resolve that this is the year you take charge of your finances. Educate yourself; start a money-wise support group; make a budget you can keep; plan your financial year with the same enthusiasm you have for scheduling vacations; consult a financial planner.
Should Old Habits Be Forgot Identify and release your bad financial habits: track your spending-and reduce it-then experience how empowering it is to save and accumulate your money so you can use it with intention.
February
If He's Really Your Prince Charming, He'll Love This Valentine Surprise your honey with evidence you've taken charge of your financial matters. That might mean opening a savings account for a special trip together or even an IRA; tuck the deposit slip into a romantic Valentine card he'll never forget. Or perhaps you're ready to cut up your credit cards and gift wrap them along with a few sweet treats. Vowing to get out of debt is one of the greatest things you can do for your relationship. The Number One thing couples fight about is money-and no surprise it's also the leading cause of divorce.
Get Financially Engaged Too Don't even consider getting married until you find out if your prince is a fiscal toad! If you haven't yet been 100% honest with each other about your finances (debts, savings, retirement accounts, investments, spending habits, credit card statements-all of it) then you're not ready to walk down the aisle. You need to know from the start if you share the same attitudes and goals about money. What's his family history with money? What's yours? Do you fuel each other's bad money behavior, or do you remind one another what really matters in a healthy relationship? An investment in your financial compatibility now, will save you endless heartache later.
Give Yourself the Biggest Valentine Love yourself enough to figure out what kind of work you'd most love to do and how to get paid well for doing it. Passion for your career is just as important as the romantic kind.
March
Do Some Spring Cleaning of Your Financial House Are you someone who shows up at your tax preparer with a shopping bag full of receipts? Do you know where last year's medical bills are? How about your bank statements from three years ago? When's the last time you balanced your checkbook? Does even thinking about this make your stomach churn? Then it's time to put your financial house in order and reap the peace of mind-and stomach-that will bring. A messy financial house is symptomatic of less-than-healthy attitudes about money. Discover the empowerment that comes with knowing what you're doing with your money, and making wise choices for it.
Plant the Seeds of Economic Independence What a great time of year to be inspired to do some long-term financial planning-and to take action toward your goals. Isn't it time you really understood the power of compounding interest and investing? Post a chart of your savings goals and payoff where you can see it every day; tape it inside you checkbook and wallet if you need a reminder when it counts.
April
The Tax Man Cometh Smart women have a different attitude about April 15. Six-figure women celebrate how well they're doing, and see paying their taxes as a sign of economic success. If you begrudge paying taxes, stop and make a list of things you "bought" with them that enhance your life: magnificent national and state parks; maintaining abundant natural resources; highways; a postal system that will deliver a letter thousands of miles away for just 37 cents; libraries, etc.
Don't Be An April Fool By this time all your good intentions from January have probably faded away. Don't be fooled into thinking underearning is just your financial lot in life. Learn to give up your acts of self-sabotage.
May
Graduate to Financial Responsibility Get your adult life off to a great start by learning everything you can about your money and how to manage it. If you start saving now even a tiny amount of money, you're guaranteed to be a millionaire, and it won't hurt a bit! Don't fall into the credit card trap just because offers for cards keep showing up in your mailbox. Be smart about it; understand the false allure of credit card debt and how it can cripple you financially for years to come. This includes statistics about how long it takes to pay off debt if all you make is minimum payments.
Till Debt Do Us Part If you're getting married soon, get off to the right start by vowing to be equally responsible financial partners who will encourage and support each other in the wise use of your money. You might even want to include something about that in your wedding vows-after all, the Number One home wrecker is not the Other Woman, it's differing views and habits about money. Here's a novel idea: Why not vow to live on the money you earn and to not use credit cards at all? You'll have less stress, far fewer fights, and have a much better chance of truly living happily ever after.
June
Shower the Bride with Money Smarts Many traditions encourage giving newlyweds cash gifts. Go that one better by giving the bride-to-be the gift of financial tools, so she can get her married life off to a responsible start. Use money as the theme for the bridal shower and consider these gifts: a subscription to The Wall Street Journal, Money Magazine or something similar; books and videos on money management and investing; computer software for keeping track of her money; a beautiful checkbook cover that demonstrates her respect for money; a budget workbook that will show the new couple how to manage their paychecks; a piggy bank for loose change with a chart of how that can really add up every month; a guide to buying real estate-you could even include the first contribution to the down payment account along with a money market deposit slip to inspire her to open such an account. If you feel the need to add something pretty or fun, how about a beautiful key ring for the key to her first home as a reminder of that goal?
Invest in the Newlyweds' Future Instead of giving cash that you know will disappear during the honeymoon or soon after, why not open a brokerage account and have several people contribute to it (be sure to include some investment books and guides). Or perhaps the whole family could go in on some bonds or certificates of deposit that will mature about the time the young couple needs a down payment on their first house. Teach by example that saving and investing are keys to a financially happy marriage-not spending. It's never too soon to learn the joys of delayed gratification.
How To Have A Wedding That Doesn't Break the Bank Inspired by media coverage of celebrity weddings and fantasy nuptials bankrolled by Oprah, many couples today are sinking their own financial boat before it ever gets a chance to float by going into enormous credit card debt just for one day of self-indulgence. Unless you are a rock star, forget the rock star wedding-what you'll really get is a rocky start to your marriage. You need to have a realistic, heart-to-wallet talk with your fiancé and both families before you get carried away with wedding fever. Create a realistic budget, understand how and when everything will be paid for and stick to it. Do you really want to be paying credit card bills for monogrammed napkins four years after the event? I didn't think so!
July
Celebrate Your Financial Independence Cut up your credit cards into tiny pieces and fling them into the air this month as a declaration of your commitment to reclaim your financial well-being. Join-or start-a support group that studies all things financial, and together write and sign each other's Declaration of Financial Independence. Get the text of the original online or from the library for inspiration. Items yours might contain are: a dissolution of the ties you've had to credit card companies; your right to liberation from debt; your right to pursue the happiness of knowing your retirement is provided for; an acknowledgment that destructive financial behavior sometimes needs to be abolished; vows to provide for your future security, etc. While you aren't overthrowing a despotic king, you very likely need to eliminate from your life your own oppressive behavior around money. And not providing for your own financial future is surely an act of self-oppression, sentencing you to a life of work without hope of retirement.
August
Take A Vacation From Debt Unless you've been remarkably responsible and actually saved up for your summer vacation, you're probably going into credit card debt to have a week or two of high-priced fleeting fun. There are other ways to enjoy your hard-earned time off without stressing the family budget. One key is to have a family planning session so that everyone is involved and understands the goals. Talk about what qualities and values you seek from a vacation-not the attractions your kids want you to spend big bucks on. Figure out what kinds of experiences would bring you joy, satisfaction and relaxation. Then make a game out of thinking of ways to achieve those feelings without going into debt. Maybe what your kids need most is the undivided attention of their parents. Check out home exchange plans, trading houses with someone who lives where you'd like to visit. Find places to explore in your own state. Go camping in your own backyard. Let each child plan an entire day around all the things they never get to do with you. Show them how fun can be had just spending Monopoly money on a lazy afternoon in the park with a picnic. Make this an opportunity to teach your kids about money. Tell them how many weeks you'd have to work to pay for a week at Disney World. Demonstrate the value of living within your means-to yourself and your children.
How to Work Smarter Not Harder How to take more vacation time without reducing your income.
September
Go Back to School for A Financial Education Do you miss the excitement of starting a new school year? Why not use the spirit of the season to advance your own financial education? Start or join a study group or investment club. Take a class on money management. Subscribe to financial periodicals and set aside time every day to read them. Check out some books from the library on estate or retirement planning-then take action on what you learn. It's never too late to get smart about money.
October
A True Financial Horror Story A reality check full of frightening statistics about the mess most of us are in financially, (not forgetting our monstrous national deficit), how little many of us will have when we retire, and how few women will ever even get to stop working. Now that's horrifying! So who's the villain in this piece? You are! Wise up now before it's too late. If you live with your head in the sand, you're sure to get kicked in the ass.
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway The most important steps you can take toward a six-figure income.
November
Give Thanks for Your Abundance and Give from Your Heart Thanksgiving inspires us all to get in the spirit of gratitude, and many wealthy and wise people will tell you this is one their secrets to success. Acknowledging the flow of good into our lives only increases it. But there is another level we can go to, and that's giving of our resources. While it can be a tax deduction and advantage to give money, an even greater advantage comes from knowing you've managed your money wisely enough to have surplus to share with organizations that reflect your values and interests. That's the biggest secret of six-figure women: enjoying the power they feel to effect real change in the world through their own monetary contributions.
November or December (since the shopping season starts so darn early!)
Deck the Halls with Love not Money The best holiday presents you can give your loved ones come from your heart, not your wallet. Promise yourself that this year will be different. Don't buy anything unless you pay cash (and don't skip the electric bill to do so!). Try not spending any money on gifts. Make it a family project to discuss what you really want from one another, and give the gift of service and time, along with things you make yourselves. For ideas watch craft shows, read magazines in the library, check out activity books, talk to your friends-start a Holiday Club patterned after an old-fashioned sewing circle, and do your gift-making projects together. You'll help and inspire each other, and it's a chance to teach your children some genuine values. Or take a cue from the popular PBS shows and play pioneers, creating holiday celebrations reflecting the resources and ingenuity of your ancestors. Have the kids read about early traditions and figure out how to recreate them using minimal resources. Then when you realize that no credit card bills are coming in January, you'll really rejoice!
