As we head into the summer, we know that September will be here before we know it. And with that, many high school graduates will be heading off to post-secondary, and many parents and caregivers will be supporting them financially.

To no surprise, the cost of post-secondary education in Canada continues to rise.

Millennials. Gen-X & Y’ers. Baby boomers. Canada is a mosaic filled with diverse cultures and multiple generations of wisdom. I was reminded of this recently when a member met with me to plan for her joint finances with her common-law husband. Did you automatically picture a young person sitting across from me? Bright-eyed and rosy cheeked and damned if she was going to make the same mistakes as her mother? You’d be wrong. Debbie was a 56-year-old divorced woman who had “shacked up” with her new partner, Ron, a year earlier. It seems that millennials aren’t the only ones skipping the walk down the aisle these days.

Finally – Spring has sprung in Niagara. Birds are chirping. Plants are growing. Mud is everywhere. Warmer winds are blowing. But when we look out our front windows at the sun on our verandas, we can imagine the glory of summer. And the fun of summer vacations! 

I believe in social responsibility and values. As a credit union employee, I get to put those values into action every day. I help members achieve their financial dreams.  I educate and empower my community. I get to skip through rows of pine trees and chop down the best Charlie Brown tree to decorate my office. Ok, that may not be a credit-union sanctioned activity, but it is fun!

They’ve picked their program. They’ve said goodbye to their high school friends. They’re excited to kick start their future at college or university. They’re also a bit nervous.

It’s the happiest time of the year! The trees are budding, the flowers are blooming, and your income tax returns are due. Ok, tax season may not seem like a good time, but hear me out – there are plenty of positives associated with filing your taxes.

The winds in Niagara are blustery this month, and they were really whipping around as I attended the International Women’s Day event. I braved the winds because I was excited to attend this annual event put on by the Women in Niagara council. The event is a great opportunity to empower, educate, and celebrate women. Kind of like I do everyday, but in this venue with a room full of inspiring women.

March: the month that Niagara residents carry spring coats and parkas in their cars because the weather changes hourly. The month when green occasionally appears on the ground and more often in local pubs on the 17^th. The month when debt worries become overwhelming because it is well past Christmas and you still haven’t paid down what you’d hope to on your credit cards. Ok, that last one may not appear in your Facebook feed, but take a gander at the bankruptcy trustee billboards that sprouted like dandelions on your neighbours lawn. Debt is a big issue in Niagara and you are not alone if you count it among your daily struggles.