The Theme for June is: Money, Money, Money

Hello Hello,

It is June! The sun is out, it is getting hot and it seems like the calendar is filled with meetings, graduations, cook outs, weddings and all kinds of summer fun. 

This busy time of year can be a time when money starts to come into focus. We want to slip a bill into a graduation card, buy a new bathing suit, and meet friends after work. All of that can add up, and can get stressful. Instead of seeing this as a moment to totally revamp our finances, we are going to go easy on ourselves. Instead of a project this month, below are several Quick Tasks you can pick and choose from. Many things on this list might not apply to you. Pick what feels like it will make the best impact on you. Find a small window on your calendar each week, and knock off a task or two. 

This month’s playlist is all about the sun, to help us feel positive, resourced and abundant as we confront this tricky topic.

I am by no means a money or investing expert, so please approach these tasks as small ways to get a bit organized around money in your life and not as actual financial advice.


Quick Tasks

  • Schedule time each month to review your budget and pay bills if you haven’t yet. Make a recurring calendar event at a time you are likely to have free. I do this at 9 am on the first Friday of each month and I have a quick check in each Sunday morning so I can go over the debits of the week

  • Audit the due dates on your bills so you have a good idea of when everything is due. Some people like to pay these all at once, before they are all due while other people might use their pay day cycle to coordinate bill pay. Think about what works for you and set pings for yourself. 

  • Go through your bank and credit card statements to check if there are any subscriptions you need to cancel. Either cancel them immediately or set a ping to do so

  • While you're auditing those statements, notice how often you donate to gofundmes or other requests for aid. This is something we don’t always think of as a “utility” or bill, but we should consider as a part of our budget- and it can be helpful to know how much money to set aside for these situations

  • Consider regular contributions to local mutual aid groups or Indigenous land tax collectives in your area, take some time to research and tap in

  • If you have a checking and savings account, set a ping after you pay bills to see if you have “extra” money you can transfer to savings (If your finances are stable, you might choose to automate this)


Here are some Quick Tasks that might involve a bit of research. You might be able to ask someone you know who is good at finances if you can ask them for some advice on these tasks. There are also many financial advisors on social media, or who have published books/ host podcasts, who have free or low cost resources to support you. As will all things, vet these resources to make sure they are reputable and that their advice aligns with your values. If you don’t know where to begin with that, again, asking someone you know and trust where they get their advice from might be helpful 

  • Some of the tasks above assume that you have a savings account and checking account, if you do not have bank accounts but want to, find someone you trust who can help you navigate that process

  • Start a savings account for emergencies, this could be a High Yield Savings Account. Even small contributions add up

  • If you have left jobs that had a 401k you might need to track them down and transfer them to a new account, set aside some time to figure that out


A note on dealing with finances.

It can be difficult to talk about money or to think about saving money, especially if you have experienced scarcity. Be gentle with yourself and prioritize getting the support you need. I am intentionally normalizing asking for help this month. Sometimes there can be judgement and shame around money topics, so another task for you to do this month is try to have some conversations with supportive friends that make this feel more comfortable.


Similarly, investing and retirement planning can be challenging for folks who have an anti-capitalist mindset. We need to find ways to personally thrive in systems that are stacked against us. That will look different for each of us. There are community-based ways to invest and well as ways to pool and save money outside of financial institutions. As with all things money related, prioritize trust and transparency.  


Tips and Tricks:

  • Special treats! Treats and rewards can help us feel motivated to complete a task. There are loads of podcasts out there about how to leverage incentives to keep us engaged. Find one that works for you!

    • One way to keep committed to a repetitive task is to have a reward in mind, like getting your favorite drink at a coffee shop, and flipping a coin when the task is done to decide if you get the treat. This keeps the reward random and motivation high.

    • Another is to habit stack with a habit you already love. If you always go to get coffee on Friday mornings, could you make that the time you do your financial tasks for the week?

  • Beyond treats, it is important to remember that schooling and some of our culture in general has made it so chores and tasks feel like drudge work, so we approach them as if they are punishment. Not helpful! How can you let go of that and find things that make you happy and in flow when you work? Jot down some of your favorite motivators and use them to support you.