Building a planet-friendly portfolio

Dear Money Lady,

We’re just starting to invest and wondered if there were any good investments you could recommend. We want something that makes money, of course, but also promotes environmental change and social justice.

Thanks,

Melanie

Portia loves to chill

Hi. I’m Portia!

I’m a quiet girl who loves to just sit outside. I enjoy cuddles and believe I am a lap dog.

I am totally house-trained and working on being crate-trained. I love being with my people and hate when they leave, so the safest place for me to be is in my kennel when my humans go out.

I love people and I’m getting used to older kids, aged 12 and up. I’m trying to get used to cats but need to be supervised. Sometimes I like dogs and sometimes I don’t, I might just need more exposure to them.

Anything but a turtle

I had someone approach me at an event and say: “You’re the pet guy. My daughter wants a turtle. Where should we start?”

The hardest thing to say in response is: “Maybe a turtle isn’t the right choice.”

There are many pets we see on TV shows or in movies, or remember fondly from our youth, that we think we might like to have. But when it comes to actually providing them with the proper housing and care, it’s a completely different story.

Turtles are probably the poster children of bad pet decisions. Back in the day, baby turtles were available in department stores for a few dollars, and you could buy little plastic trays for them with a plastic palm tree for a few dollars more.

Cats seek furever homes

Meet Spenny! She’s a two-year-old domestic shorthair cat who is a gentle, quiet, mild mannered young lady and she’s looking for a family who can match her energy. An easygoing lifestyle will help this beautiful girl come out of her shell and enjoy life to its fullest. While she does seem very overwhelmed in the shelter environment, it hasn’t stopped her from enjoying all the snuggles she can get. Could Spenny be right for you? Come meet her today!

Poosh is a one-and-a-half-year-old domestic medium-hair cat who’s looking for her furever family. This stunning young lady is an energetic, adventurous soul, eager to meet everyone and explore everything in her path. Poosh is not a fan of other cats or of dogs, so she is hoping for a home with no other animals and will be happy to lap up all the attention. Could this sweet and sassy girl find her place in your heart and home?

The most wonderful (and pricey) time of the year

It’s the most expensive time of the year. The holidays are right around the corner, and for many, it’s a joyous time of connection and celebration. But it also comes with a hefty price tag. With inflation at around three per cent, many Manitobans can’t keep up. It’s already been a pricey year and now there are parties to host, places to go and gifts to buy. With it all comes external and internal pressures to impress your friends, wow your children and spoil your parents.

It’s unfortunate when some people feel so overwhelmed they don’t enjoy the true magic of this time of year. They feel compelled to participate, even if it means falling further in debt and giving up peace of mind.

But there are things you can do to lessen the burden. By planning now, you can get ahead of the rush in December. Take a look at your income and expenses and determine exactly what you can afford this holiday season. If it’s not much, don’t worry! There are creative ways to stay on track.

Consider proposing a Secret Santa or White Elephant gift exchange for one of your gatherings this year. Others feeling the pinch may be grateful you do and these are also ways to add some fun and games to the holiday revelry. There are free online platforms, such as Elfster, that can help you get started. This can turn gift-giving for six to seven people into a single gift, effectively reducing expenses to a fraction. Remember to set a spending limit so everyone is on the same page and you can stay within your budget.

Planning for the cold weather to come

Dear Money Lady readers,

As we approach the winter months, many of you may have gas fireplaces that you’re starting to enjoy and some of you may even be lucky enough to have a “real wood” fireplace. Isn’t it wonderful to cozy up to a fireplace as we head towards Christmas?

Fireplaces, the real-wood-kind, are very much like how we run our lives. It takes planning and preparation to have a good dry wood supply to enjoy fires in the depth of a Canadian winter. That same sort of planning and preparation must be done if you want to have a comfortable and cozy retirement, too. There’s no switch you can turn on, the day after you quit work, to provide you with that monetary security we all need. Planning is at the core of everything we do in life and should not be something you ever stop.

OK, I’m not telling you something that you don’t already know, right? We all know we should save for a rainy day and for retirement. Having said that, I still don’t want you to get too carried away. You don’t need an RRSP fund that is so huge you won’t want to draw it down in retirement due to taxation, ending up with so much of a balance left in your registered accounts that your executor will send half of it to the Canada Revenue Agency when you die. Sure, I’m a big fan of registered accounts, especially tax-free savings accounts but not so much of the ever-popular registered retirement savings plans.

The lowdown on registered disability savings plans

Dear Money Lady Readers,

I often write about government-assisted programs, and today I would like to discuss registered disability savings plan accounts. Did you know that in 2022 a Statistics Canada survey reported that 27 per cent of Canadians aged 15 or older have at least one disability limiting their daily activity? That’s 11.1 million Canadians with disabilities. As of 2024, about 16.8 per cent of Canadians with disabilities live in poverty – a rate nearly double that of the general population. So, what’s available to help?

RDSP accounts have been available since 2008, however, just 17 per cent of Canadians today are aware of it. This lack of awareness is a huge missed opportunity for Canadians with disabilities, as they may be missing out on government support worth up to $90,000.

To start, let’s look at eligibility. The RDSP account is available to Canadian residents with a SIN who are eligible for the disability tax credit and are 59 years or younger. If you have a medical condition, but haven’t yet claimed the disability tax credit, speak with your medical practitioner to explore your eligibility – it’s the first step to opening an RDSP, after which you can begin learning about the benefits available to you in the plan.

Sombre reflection at Anne Frank House

From the outside, Anne Frank House in Amsterdam looks ordinary – just another tall and narrow building in brown brick, with large windows. The structure itself dates back to the year 1635, when it was constructed to be a private residence with a warehouse and backyard annex. Over the centuries that followed, it would change hands many times.

It was December 1940 when Otto Frank – Anne’s father – moved his company into the space. Earlier that year, Nazis had taken control of the Netherlands, and began putting increasing restrictions on Jewish families. Anticipating that danger was coming, Otto began preparing a hidden space of small, connected rooms tucked away in the depths of the building.

On July 6, 1942, the Frank family went into permanent hiding in the ‘secret annex’ – moving into sparsely furnished rooms with blacked-out windows and stifling air. There they stayed for more than two full years before being betrayed, arrested by the Nazis, and deported to concentration camps.

Of the eight people who sheltered in the annex, Otto was the only survivor. Upon returning from Auschwitz to Amsterdam in June 1945, he was given Anne’s diary, which had been found and preserved by an employees who had helped the Franks while they were in hiding.

Future of former city clock in doubt

Winnipeg’s original city clock could go back into long-term storage for the second time in its 122-year history as Edmonton Court in Portage Place is demolished.

When Winnipeg’s ‘gingerbread’ city hall opened in 1886 it featured a tower with a round opening on all four sides, but a clock was not part of the original tender. It wasn’t until 1902 that the city set aside money for such a feature.

Norman Andrew of Andrew and Co. Watchmakers in the McIntyre Block won the bid to procure and install the timepiece. He chose a clock by the Seth-Thomas Clock Company of Connecticut. It cost $1,700, but the modifications needed to strengthen the tower and add lighting brought the final bill close to $3,000.

The clock consisted of four clock faces, each 7 feet in diameter. The weights to keep the works in motion were 1,600 pounds. The zinc and steel pendulum weighed 225 pounds, and 42 couplings were needed to make up for the sway of the tower and contraction in cold weather.

Meet a pair of rescues who need loving homes

Meet Pine Falls, a three-month-old large breed dog who is a sassy, playful goofball. Full of energy, he will make an excellent adventure pawtner as he grows up with his very lucky family. Due to the struggles Pine Falls has faced his whole short life, he will need a firm but gentle hand when it comes to his training. A confident and experienced person or family without young children will be just what this sweet boy needs to learn that his world is now safe, and to discover his full potential. Could he be right for you?

☐ ☐ ☐

Meet Sasha, a nine-month-old domestic short-hair cat who is a gorgeous, outgoing young lady Sasha loves to make new friends, and purrs with a motor that doesn’t stop. She would love to find her furever family soon – could that be you?

Winnipeg Pet Rescue is Manitoba’s first registered charity no-kill animal shelter. It believes that every pet has the right to life and are recognized as beings with feelings with the right to loving care. There is no time limit to an animal’s stay while Winnipeg Pet Rescue finds a suitable home for it. To find out more, visit petrescueshelter.com

Start puppies out on the right paw

A few months ago, my column about fresh foods touched on how clean fresh foods were both good for puppies and made them better “students” at puppy school.

This past week, several people have come in seeking advice on feeding puppies. Refreshingly, some have been to veterinarians who did not condemn the thought of feeding raw, and a few who actually encouraged the idea, as long as the client did the proper research to make sure that they were doing right by the pet.

There are pet nutritionists out there, some trained though veterinary channels, some through independent institutions, and most have very solid training. Finding one whose beliefs align with yours regarding fresh foods in your pet’s diet is the first step on your journey to a long, healthy life for your pet, and fewer health issues caused by diet.

Just like there are kibble pet foods that are labeled “kitten” or “puppy”, there are raw foods for puppies and kittens. These take into account the minimums your puppy needs for development but, still, using a variety of different formulas is an even better way of ensuring balance.

Online protection is easier than you think

These days, we have accounts for everything. Think about all the apps on your phone, all the businesses you frequent and all the loyalty programs you signed up for to get 10 per cent off at the cash register. More people know our names than ever before, and our accounts are treasure troves of information. It’s become crucial to protect them, but many of us don’t know how.

The information about cybersecurity and the time it takes to set everything up can be overwhelming. Especially for those of who truly don’t understand it all. But, the good news is there’s a simple way to beef up protection of all your accounts.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is the unsung hero of online security. For those who don’t already use it, it adds an extra step to logging in so that if anyone does get access to your username and password, they still won’t be able to access your account without a specific code. That code can either be texted to you or found in an authenticator app, like Google or Microsoft, that only you have on your phone.

MFA is a saving grace when used correctly. Many people turn it on for their most important accounts, like email, online banking and home security monitoring, but that’s where they stop. It’s important to remember to safeguard your MFA information as well.

Portia loves to hang out outside

Hi! I’m Portia.

I’m a quiet girl who loves to just sit outside. I enjoy cuddles and believe I am a lap dog.

I am totally house-trained and working on being crate-trained. I love being with my people and hate when they leave, so the safest place for me is in my kennel.

I’m also getting used to older kids, aged 12 and up. I’m trying to get used to cats but need to be supervised. Sometimes I like dogs and sometimes I don’t – I might just need more exposure to them.

Canada’s most haunted attractions

The Halloween season is an ideal time for discovering dark tales of days gone by. Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular places in Canada to find scary stories and eerie encounters.

The Halifax Ghost Walk is one of North America’s oldest ghost tours, illuminating plagues, pirates, and shipwrecked souls. As twilight falls, the storyteller leads guests through city streets and along the harbour, sharing unsettling accounts of the devastating Halifax Explosion; the Titanic’s tragic aftermath; and Citadel Hill, the fortress built in 1749, where the spirits of former soldiers still patrol the ramparts after dark. It’s equal parts historic lessons and haunting highlights, and a chance to learn about the side of Halifax not typically told in textbooks.

The Original Haunted Walk of Ottawa takes you deep into the darkest corners. Led by black-cloaked guides carrying lanterns, you’ll wind through cobblestone streets and shadowed courtyards that reveal Ottawa’s creepiest locales. Stops include the renowned Fairmont Château Laurier hotel, originally owned by a man who perished on the Titanic; Grant House, built in 1875 by a prominent physician; and Lisgar Collegiate, the city’s infamous ghostly high school. It all makes for one memorable evening that will forever alter your perception of Canada’s capital.

Step into the past of Old Montreal on a ghost walk of shadowy streets and centuries-old buildings. Visit places like Place d’Armes, a public square over 300 years old, where duels, executions, and public gatherings took place. Château Ramezay is an 18th-century museum reportedly frequented by the ghost of a former warden who continues to spook visitors. While the former site of the Montreal Prison, the city’s earliest British-era jail, is home to whispers and shadowy figures who linger among the remaining cells.

Have you been struggling in your career and life?

Many people strive for their dream job, an employment position they feel they can be successful in — but, for whatever reason, they can’t get it. Some have been proactive, prepared, taken courses, schmoozed with all the right people and even wore their hearts on their sleeves, only to have them ripped off and stepped on.

Sound familiar? Sometimes no matter what you say or no matter what you are capable of, someone else holds the key and refuses to give you a chance. They come up with all the politically correct answers for your unsuitability, but the fact remains, they’re in and you’re still out. So now what?

Back to the drawing board you go, to keep fighting. More courses, more training, more fake smiles and more believing you can get it someday. After all, doesn’t every book out there tell you to never give up, no matter how many times you are beaten down and pummelled in the boxing ring of life?

Well, I’m going to tell you the opposite. I suggest you stop and pivot.