Ever wonder what it takes to be an employee of Family Service PEI? Well this past month the Employment Journey took the time to find out! Read the article below to learn from our Executive Director, Denise Lockhart the requirements to be a financial, personal and family counsellor.
Just as prolonged stress affects health, so too can it affect one’s sex life. Stress is perhaps the number one culprit in men’s and women’s low sexual desire. Too much stress often chips away a person’s libido (desire), by affecting hormones and mood, and by interfering with the quality time that helps a couple stay connected.
To avoid a sexual disconnect with your partner, it is important that you take the time to free yourself of stress; allowing you to joy life’s finer moments. Here are some ideas of how to do just that:
Exercise: Becoming active is the quickest and easiest way to lessen the effects of stress. Exercise might be the last thing you want to do after a long day at work, but just 20 to 30 minutes spent breaking a sweat can rid your body of stress and recharge you for the night. If the treadmill isn’t your thing, try swimming, tennis, yoga or a Pilates class.
Rearrange Your Schedule: If you often find yourself stressed near the end of the day, try changing your schedule to improve your mood. Tackle big projects in the morning when you have more energy, and don’t forget to rest and recharge throughout the day. Spend 90 minutes completely focused on the task at hand, followed by a 5 to 10 minute break to do some deep breathing, listen to some music, or walk to the post office. By giving yourself just a small break, you can improve your mental function and get back in the game.
Let It Go: Easier said than done, right? Not really. Remember that you are in charge of your mental space and only you can determine your mood and your outlook. Start creating a positive mood before the day even begins.
Reduce Obligations In Your Life. If you get organized, prioritize only important commitments in your life and say no to other activities that take up your time, you can reduce the overall level of stress you experience in your life; giving you more time and energy on your hands and less stress in your life. This all contributes to a healthy libido.
Get Enough Sleep. Sleep deprivation can damage your entire system and make you feel more stressed. If you can’t get enough sleep at night, you might try a power nap to achieve some of the same benefits. This may help you preserve more energy for nighttime activities.
Have A Good Laugh. It’s often said that laughter is the shortest distance between two people. Laughter is also an excellent stress reliever and delivers great benefits to your body and soul. Try to unwind with a funny TV show or book, or make it a point to share some laughs with the one you love.
Schedule Time for Intimacy. Being stressed and busy (especially after a new baby or a major change), can cause us to feel more detached in our relationship. If you make it a point to find time for emotionally nurturing conversation, you will feel more connected and most likely more amorous with your partner. Also, by talking about your current stressors you will get it off your chest preventing you from being burdened by the excess stress your problems bring. This will help you feel closer to your partner, as unresolved relationship issues and stressors can lead to low libido.
In conclusion, stress can come in many forms. The one thing you can count on is that it will be in your life. Try to remember that everyone handles stress differently. In other words, what causes one person to “stress-out” may be something that another person can easily handle. Remember, we have a choice about how we react to it. You and your partner can choose to lessen the effects of stress by communicating with each other. Communication also keeps one partner from feeling lonely, builds trust, shows commitment and can release the heavy burdens that you are feeling. Be kind, caring and show affection. Be aware of life’s stressors and don’t let them drive you and your partner apart.
You are not alone- We are here to help!
Come join others and learn how to take control of and reduce your stress in 4 short weeks through our “Stress Management and Reduction” group therapy sessions.
You will learn:
Where: 155 Belvedere Avenue, Charlottetown.
When: Thursday evenings from 6:30- 8:30 beginning April 11th until May 2nd.
Cost: $150 for 4 sessions
For more information or to register, please call 892-2441 or e-mail Christina@familyservice.pe.ca
Eating is a must. It can also be extremely expensive and take up a large portion of your monthly budget. For families especially, the idea of going grocery shopping can be a daunting one!
The good news- Tracey Allen from Tallen Marketing has taken the time to help! Tracey has created a one week lost cost menu using local foods. Although she does not claim to be a nutritionist, the menu appears to be both healthy and hearty!
So before you blow your budget at the grocery store- take a look at what Tracey has put together!
http://simplifyandsave.weebly.com/uploads/4/5/6/4/4564307/one_week_menu.pdf
To learn more about simplifying and saving visit http://simplifyandsave.weebly.com
For more great savings ideas, visit
By: Gail Vaz-Oxlade
Sourced from: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/02/27/why-most-budgets-dont-work
People are always willing to volunteer their wisdom about budgets to me. I’m a budget-discussion magnet and, nine times out of 10, people want to tell me why budgets don’t work. I agree. Most people’s budgets don’t work for a few basic reasons.
Here’s my Top 5 list of why:
Wrong income projections
I can’t believe the number of people who don’t know how much money they make. I know there are a variety of pay periods — monthly, semi-monthly, bi-weekly and weekly — but all you have to do is look at how much is coming into your accounts to know how much you actually make. If it varies from one month to the next, then use the lowest income you have as your basic income.
Too few categories
People generalize their budgets too much to get an accurate picture of where their money is going. I swear if I see one more budget with “spending money” as a category, I’ll spit. It’s all spending money. What are you spending it on? You have to have enough categories in your budget to give you a real sense of where the money goes and where you may be able to cut costs.
Missed expenses
Not all expenses come in every month. Insurance bills can come annually. Property taxes can come quarterly. Service contracts, dental bills and health-club renewals are all periodic expenses. If you don’t include them in your budget, you won’t have the money at the ready when the bill comes in.
Cash
People spend cash without keeping track of where it’s going and that throws their budgets out of whack. Some people use ATMs like a wallet, pulling $20 here and $40 there. Then the money flows away without any record of where it’s gone. This can be a problem if, for example, you know you have a bill coming due in a couple of days, but your partner doesn’t and (s)he goes into the account for cash, then you won’t have the money available to pay the bill.
No plan to save
Despite how well known the “pay yourself first” rule is, people still don’t follow it. They wait to see how much they have left to save. And it’s usually zero. Zip. Zilch. If you’re serious about saving, it has to be a line item on your budget. You have to identify a specific amount you’re going to save (both for long-term savings and for emergencies), and you need an auto-deduction to a savings account to make it happen.
Gail Vaz-Oxlade’s latest book, Money Rules, is published by HarperCollins and will make you say, “Really? I didn’t know that!” Visit her website at gailvazoxlade.com.
In today’s world where people are struggling with issues such as employment, financial troubles, ailing family members, marital problems and other difficulties, stress is becoming more and more prevalent and crushing.
For some of us, stress has become normalized to the point where we do not even recognize the strain we are living under. But stress is insidious. It has a way of coming out when you are least expecting it. You might think you’re on top of things, but you transfer the result of stress to other areas of your life. And usually, you dump it on your nearest and dearest.
Everyone knows that stress can affect your mood, your sleeping habits, and your waistline, but did you know that stress can also affect your sex life?
Stress can completely derail your libido and sexual response.
Just as prolonged stress affects health, so too does prolonged stress affect one’s sex life. Stress is perhaps the number one culprit in men’s and women’s low sexual desire. Too much stress often chips away a person’s libido (desire), by affecting hormones and mood, and by interfering with the quality time that helps a couple stay connected.
Stress can cause uncomfortable mental and physical reactions such as feeling exhausted, grumpy, and anxious, and also making moments difficult to appreciate or be with your partner.
Laura Berman, Ph.D., director of the Berman Center for women’s sexual health in Chicago, says that “stress makes you tired, distracted and unmotivated to do anything, much less have sex.”
We also must be aware that stress isn’t the only reason why couples can have a declining sex life, but it can be one of the major factors. Dr Berman said, “Hormones, brain chemicals, stress, medications, and diet and exercise habits can all play a role.” Taking the time, and putting forth the effort to make a few lifestyle changes can create a big difference, especially those changes which relate directly to reducing stress.
It is important to understand how stressful events affect your marriage or relationship. Since you can’t avoid stressful situations, you have to be able to recognize and manage them. Finding a way to have a conversation about what is causing you stress, where you and your partner could talk about it and feel relieved and satisfied, can make your relationship stronger. Here are some tips on how to handle stress in your relationship.
Figure Out What is Bothering You
Stress is tricky. We often say “I’m so stressed out!” but have trouble figuring out what is causing these feelings. Take the time to find out where the problem is rooted, and share this information with your partner. This will better enable your partner to help you cope with your stress. With increased awareness of what you are worried about, together you can work on ways to reduce your stress levels.
Recognize that not every problem (or stressor) has a solution, but talking about it and sharing your feelings can help you manage it. Understand that if you don’t figure out how to successfully handle stress with your partner, problems in your marriage may emerge.
Stay Connected
Sometimes couples spend more time confiding in their friends rather than their spouses as they feel their partner might not understand them. Turning away from your partner during stressful events can be one of the most damaging behaviors in a relationship. This can lead to feelings of rejection. Silence leads to greater frustration and increased anger, which can drive the two of you apart.
Try to strengthen your relationship by turning to each other often. You can do this by simply talking about the every-day events that happen in your lives, like the news, a good movie you saw, or the accomplishments of your children. This builds the confidence and trust you both need so you can discuss heavier and potentially stressful topics when they arise.
Maintain Intimacy
Intimacy is an important part of any successful marriage. While many people think intimacy pertains only to sex, there is much more involved. By being open and honest we develop emotional intimacy. When we are stressed this is especially important. Intimacy gives your partner a chance to support you and in return, you are more likely to support them when they are stressed.
In 2010, Bell launched its charitable program dedicated to the promotion and support of Canadians’ mental illness.
Today, Bell will donate five cents more to mental health initiatives across Canada for every text sent, long distance call made, Tweet using #BellLetsTalk and Facebook share of the Bell Let’s Talk image made by Bell or Bell Aliant customers.
Nearly 12,000 adults and children on the Island receive services from Health P.E.I.’s Mental Health and Addictions each year, which include psychiatric assessments and treatment, individual and group therapy and children’s mental health services.
Over the course of their lives, one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness and every family will be affected in some way.
People can find it difficult to reach out and access the services they require, said Denise Lockhart, Executive Director of Family Service P.E.I.
“P.E.I. is a small place, our families are close and our communities are tight. There is a fear of people finding out that you need therapeutic support from a professional,” said Lockhart.
People can also have trouble when it comes to important aspects of their life for fear of what others may say about their mental health, she said.
“In fact, most people living with a mental disorder say that stigma is worse than the symptoms they feel.”
Family Service P.E.I. helps Islanders target stressful issues in their lives and helps them to make improvements.
It is a non-profit community-based organization with a goal of providing credit and therapeutic counseling services, regardless of one’s ability to pay.
Tracking spending; just reading those two words makes some people scared. “It takes too much time, it is impossible, it is pointless. “
Here is a big idea for you: Small behaviour changes will result in big savings.
The first thing we need to think about when tracking spending is our needs and our wants. A need is something essential (shelter, food, clothes, medication) while a want is something nice to have (electronics, jewellery, seasons tickets). Ask yourself; is this purchase a need or a want? There is nothing wrong with spending money on wants, but before we do this, we must be sure that we have enough money put aside for our needs.
Nobody is perfect and we all face temptations. Whether it is the new handbag, the toy for your grandchild or that case of beer on the weekend, we have all been there. The first step in curbing unnecessary spending is to be aware that you do it. Take a minute to watch this video and think about the unnecessary spending you may be doing.
Using ATMs from other banks, your daily coffee, ordering take out. What about your cell phone… the ring tones you’ve bought, the roaming charges and those picture messages, not to mention the high priced satellite TV you are watching. Point being, we all have our wants, weaknesses, habits or temptations that are costing us money. In thinking about what your wants are, ask yourself these questions:
• When does a want become a need?
• What motivates you to buy- advertising, friends, trends?
• Does the urge to buy die the next day?
• Do your purchases make you happier?
• What “needs” are now collecting dust?
• What can you learn to live without?
How much money do you spend on your wants which could be better allocated to your needs or savings? Although we can all estimate, there is only one way to be certain, and that is to track your spending. By tracking where your money is going, you will be conscious of your weakness or “latte factor”. “We’ve all go a latte factor, regardless of our income”- David Bach (www.fcac.gc.ca).
There are numerous tool and methods for tracking your spending. Today we will suggest two different methods, one for the non-tech person, and the other for the tech guru.
Notebook or Journal: Are you the type of person who likes putting pen to paper? Do you make lists or write notes? This method may be the best for you. Get a notebook or journal of sorts and place it beside your bed. Every night before bed take 1 minute to write down all the places you spent money that day and the amount spent.
Tim Hortons (coffee)- $1.65
Esso (gas)- $45.00
Bell Aliant (cell phone)- $85.00
Shoppers Drug Mart (toiletries)- $22.00
At the end of the month you are going to back track through the notebook and total how much money you spent in each category- coffee, gas, eating out, clothes, groceries etc. This method of tracking is simple; it only takes a few minutes each night. It is important to remember to write in your journal every night, as we often forget quickly.
Phone Applications: Are you always on your phone? Is it always within reach? Going to your App store and search spending tracker or budget tracker, it may be a lifesaver!
There are numerous free applications waiting for you. Be sure to read the reviews to see what app will fit your needs. Generally, many of these apps use the same principle; every time you make a purchase you pull out your phone and input the information: how much you spent, where and on what.
Some apps use the concept of envelopes. You can create different envelopes or categories and allocate a certain amount of money to each envelope. Throughout the month you will see how much of the allocated money you have spent from each envelope, and whether you are overspending or under spending. For example, you may notice it is only half way through the month but you have already spent three quarters of your grocery budget.
Additional ways of tracking your spending may include using desktop software, through online banking, or by saving receipts. It does not matter how you choose to track, what matters is that you start to become aware of where your money is going. This is a skill that you will carry throughout your life, and hopefully in the long run it will allow you to become much more financially stable!
For more information on this topic visit www.fcac.gc.ca , www.yourmoneyyourlife.org , www.getsmartaboutmoney.ca
Published in G! Magazine December/January Issue
Article By: Mazen Ellaz
If you can dream it, you can achieve it. But first, you have to save for it.
How to get rich without feeling the pinch.
So, you want your money to make you money. Who doesn’t? At a time when every penny counts, it’s more important than ever to have savings to fall back on when you need it. The good news is that it’s never too late to start saving for the things you want; you just have to commit to savings and earning money on money is easy. However, if you’re reading this and you’re 20-something who doesn’t already have a savings account, listen up: start NOW! Why? Because you, my 20-something friend, have time on your side.
Say, for example, you’re 25-years-old, you’re working, making money, and living it up (as most 25-year-olds do). If you were to take one (just one) weekend off a month from frivolous spending – no movies, no clubbing, and no eating out at restaurants – and take $100 and put it into savings, you’ll have $50,400 plus interest by the time you’re eligible for retirement. But if you wait until age 30, that total drops to $44,400 plus interest. That’s $6000 you’re potentially missing out on! The longer you invest, the larger the growth. As little as $50 a month will add up.
The question is how can you save each month without feeling the pinch? It’s tough but it’s doable. Do you really need that cup of coffee, latte, or cappuccino every day, or is it that you want it? To really put things into perspective, which would you rather: a momentary caffeine/sugar fix, or a tropical vacation, a new car, or your dream home?
The trick is to pay yourself first, a golden rule I learned from a book called The Wealthy Barber by Dave Chilton. When you get your paycheck, take 10 percent of your income and invest it into a savings account. This 10 percent doesn’t include your retirement savings; this money is for you and you alone. Set it aside and forget about it. You’ll be surprised how easy this becomes a habit and how quickly your savings will start to grow.
To make saving even easier, set up a pre-authorized transfer service that will automatically transfer a set amount of money at a specific time you choose from one account to another. That way, you never have to physically “part” with your money.
Look at what you are choosing to spend your money on. The key to a successful savings plan is to distinguish between your wants and your needs. So, what exactly qualifies as a need? Basically, anything that you have to have, like shelter, food, clothes, and health care. A want, on the other hand, is something you would like to have (a new car, a big house, brand name clothes, etc.). Don’t misunderstand, you can have all the wants you want, but quite simply, you’re going to have to budget for them.
To make real progress, you have to take control of your cash spending and not just hope everything will work itself out. Believe me, the most powerful financial tool that you have is your savings. Do you think all of those rich people out there are smarter than you? Nope. It’s because they know saving is a must to get what they want. Do as the rich do, even if you’re a brokester because one day, it will pay off.
Mazen Ellaz is a special financial contributor to G! If money talks, he’s the guy who can tell you what it’s trying to tell you.
Some would say there are only two things we can be sure of in life; death and taxes. Not surprisingly, both can cause tremendous stress. Financial stress is a major factor in health problems like depression and decreased immunity, and a leading cause of divorce.
That being said, obviously nobody wants filing taxes to be the last straw that broke the camels back! So how do you and your partner properly prepare with that April 30th due date looming? A little effort in advance can go a long way in helping to prevent stress and tension.
Be organized. Be sure that you have a designated spot in your home where you both set aside all the important papers that you may need to file your taxes. This can simply be a drawer or a filing cabinet. By having everything on hand, when the time comes you will avoid scrounging, or blaming each other for losing that important receipt; or spending precious time looking for it!
Review. Throughout the year, set aside time to sit down as a couple and review your financial situation. There is nothing worse than getting the surprise of your life when you start doing your taxes. This way you will be able to better prepare for any money owed and it will give you a clear picture of your financial position. You may have to give up the trip down south for RRSPs, but at least you are making cognizant, educated decisions together!
Stay informed. If you decide to wear the hat of accountant, make sure you stay current and up to date on new changes. Generally every year there are small changes made to tax regulations, it is important that you go online, research, or visit a professional. Who knows, you could be missing out on money!
Start early. We are all guilty of procrastinating in one way or another. Carrying this into tax filing is simply not a good idea. Not only will you spend sleepless nights, you may miss out on valuable information and make mistakes. Not to mention your spouse will be cold in bed alone, and working under a deadline just simply is not fun.
Make it fun. You are probably asking, “Is that even possible?” Well it is time to think outside the box! Put on some nice music, a little aromatherapy, a comfortable place to work and a good cup of coffee. Remember when you were in university and you used to go buy treats to have while you were studying for exams?… You are never too old for some M&Ms and sour candies.
Take baby steps. Do not overwhelm yourself. Break the process into smaller steps and set aside time each week to complete one. By using this approach it is probable that you will pay more attention to detail, learn more, and experience less anxiety.
Reward yourself. Or even better, have your spouse reward you! If you have been sitting at the desk all day ask your partner to prepare a nice meal to acknowledge your hard work. Not only will this give you something to look forward to while you work away, but it will provide your spouse with a way to thank you for your efforts. On the other hand you may wish to get up and do some exercise, get out of the house, or head out to socialize with friends.
Get help. Remember, if taxes cause great stress to you, your partner, or your relationship, it may be wise to get professional help. Speak openly with your partner about why and how you think a professional could help. Come to an agreement about who you would like to engage for help, maybe you are not comfortable with going to a family member and would prefer a more confidential source. Always remember, sometimes a little investment can go a long way!
The Canadian Revenue Agency provides a tax return preparation service for low to modest income Canadians who have a simple tax return. If you wish to learn more about this service visit www.cra.gc.ca
Happy tax filing everyone!