2021 May Articles

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many of us and or someone we know, in some financial way or form. Financial troubles can be very stressful, and with all the challenges of the past year, many people are struggling with money.

Here are some tips to help you weather the storm and keep control of your finances in the months to come.

How to Save Money during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Start building an emergency fund. Save a percentage of your net income every month and put it aside for possible emergencies.
• Reach out to your creditors and let them know immediately, should your financial position change in any way. The earlier that a conversation takes place surrounding your debt, the better. Some financial institutions are willing to discuss extending payment periods, thus reducing the amounts of your monthly payments.
• If you are struggling to pay rent and utilities, reach out to your landlord to negotiate a possible reduction. (These are tough times for everyone and many landlords would prefer not to lose a good tenant.)
• If you’re working from home and not using your car as often, speak to your insurance company about reducing your premium.
• Reduce what you spend on satellite TV, Internet and cellphone packages.
• Set up an exercise routine at home, instead of paying monthly gym or studio fees.

Better financial health means less stress and better overall wellbeing for you and your family. If you are struggling with financial or legal troubles, please call LifeAssist and let one of our counsellors assist you with options that you may have.

Every parent wants nothing more than to keep their child safe. But unfortunately, none of us can watch our kids’ every move – and chances are, they don’t want mom or dad hovering over them at all hours of the day!

Here are some basic tips to help you protect your child, and encourage them to stay safe.

Name & Numbers

• As soon as your child is old enough to understand, teach them to say their full name, address and home telephone number.
• Teach your child your cell phone number and an emergency number they can call for help.

Out & About

• Never leave young children unsupervised in play areas, shops, parks or in the car, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
• When you’re in a crowded public place, always hold hands and don’t walk ahead of your child – they can wander off and get lost in just a few seconds.
• If you go out to a busy public place, arrange somewhere safe to meet in case you get separated.
• Teach your child about road safety, like how to cross the street properly and how to buckle up in a car or taxi.

Sports & Activities

• Make sure your child always wears protection and safety gear that’s appropriate for the sport or activity they are participating in, e.g. a helmet when riding a bike or skateboard.
• Teach your child to swim, and never leave young children alone around a pool, a river, the beach or even a bathtub full of water.

Relationships & Boundaries

• Teach your child about boundaries and privacy, especially when it comes to their body.
• Make sure your child knows they can say ‘No’ to something they don’t feel comfortable with.
• Teach your child not to keep secrets from you. If something happens to upset them, they should tell you immediately.
• As your child gets older and starts to socialise, get to know their friends and their parents. Know where and how they are spending their time at their friends’ houses, and make sure they are safely supervised.

Most importantly, communicate openly with your child, and let them know that if they have a problem, they can always come to you for help, guidance and or support.