To discuss ideas or schedule a virtual meeting, feel free to contact our office.

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6) We may not be done with the volatility, but if we follow the 3rd principal to ensure the risk is in line with your needs your portfolio should be able to sustain itself for the long term.

2020 Tax Guide

Tax savings opportunity: When it comes to taxes, it helps to be prepared. To ensure you take advantage of commonly missed deductions,  check out this article.

Tax loss selling: It can save you money. Feel free to read this article to see if it is appropriate for your portfolio.

I found it refreshing to hear more uplifting news stories and your creative ways to pass the time indoors and thought I would share some of those ideas to inspire you. Whether you are home alone, getting to know your significant other's work personae in extremely close quarters, or juggling video conferencing while homeschooling your kids, I hope this list will make you smile or help you survive.

 

Cook like crazy: Whether you have been cooking all your life or you struggle with ramen noodles, there are always new recipes to try.

Gardening: Add a little colour to your neighbourhood. We can add flowers to compliment the chalk drawings of rainbows that cover the sidewalks.

Learn something new: Try learning Spanish on Duolingo or explore edx.org for free courses online. I have seen lots of people learning to bake bread and some have picked up knitting in their spare time.

Workout: My friends and I danced our way through an online Zumba class and my daughters keep yoga mats around the house for when they need a break.

Meditate: It is a great time for quiet reflection. Start with a guided meditation if you are not sure where to start.

Write it out: Our emotions can be all over the place and writing can be a great form of expression. It can help you organize your thoughts, or you can write letters to your friends and family to connect. You can start a journal, practise calligraphy, or maybe you start a blog about all the books you have been reading while safe at home.

Post-quarantine jam jar: Every time you think of something you are excited about, write it down and put it in a jar. I miss our huge family dinners to celebrate the holidays. My daughter is dreaming about bottomless brunch. It seems every Canadian is excited to greet everyone once more with a big hug. Once our lives are back to normal and you aren't sure where to eat or where to go, you can pull inspiration right out of a jar.

Interview your elders: Take the time to chat with your family and record their stories. Ask them questions about their life and listen to their advice.

Connect with your community: While we are practicing social distancing, some of my clients shared they were volunteering at their local food bank or shopping for someone else who is at higher risk. Others had purchased gift cards from their local businesses to try and support their local economy. One client has pulled out their old sewing machine and has been working on cloth masks for others. There are online music lessons and painting classes to ensure you are socially distancing while connecting with others that share your interests. My family has been video calling with our friends and family for dinner or a glass of wine to keep our spirits up.

Bang your pots and pans: This one you may have heard already on your street. Around the world, people are banging pots and pans in support of our health care workers. Referred to as "cacerolazo" in Spanish, this act of defiance has a rich history across the globe.

Hand Washing the Fun Way: A contact shared her creative hand washing video, and we thought we'd pass it along!

 

Lately, I have been working with wood working to refinish wooden side tables and sanding pine walls. I love working with my hands on a project, and it has been a welcome break.

Feel free to share photos of anything that has made you smile or ideas you have had to pass the time!