February has a way of putting love everywhere. Cards, flowers, heart shaped chocolates, and the annual reminder that connection matters. But love is not only about romance. It is also about how we care for ourselves, how we show up for our future, and how we speak to ourselves when things feel messy.
So this month I am inviting a little curiosity. Not about fixing anything. Just noticing.
One Money Insight
Every one of us has a money story. It is shaped by what we saw growing up, what was said around the dinner table, what was celebrated, and what was quietly worried about. Over time those experiences become beliefs about what money means and how we are supposed to handle it.
My mom always had a pencil, a calculator, and her ledger sitting next to her spot at the kitchen table. I grew up thinking that managing money meant being meticulous, always tracking every dollar, always getting it right. I assumed you had to be very smart and very disciplined to handle money well. Looking back, I realize something simpler was true. We were just getting by, and that ledger was how she kept the lights on.
Most people think their financial habits come down to discipline. In reality, they often come down to meaning. Safety. Worth. Belonging.
When you start to understand your money story, something shifts. You get more choice. More room to respond instead of react. And sometimes you even get a little laugh at yourself, in a kind way, because we are all carrying something.
Awareness is the first act of care. And it does not have to be heavy.
This Month in Your Finanical Life
The RRSP contribution deadline is approaching in early March, which means tax season chatter is everywhere. It can feel like a race to get money into an account before a clock runs out.
Here is the gentle reframe. RRSP contributions are a planning tool, not a rule. Contributing makes sense when it supports your income, your future tax picture, and your long term goals. Sometimes that means contributing. Sometimes that means waiting. Sometimes that means saying not this year, and that is okay too.
A helpful question to ask is, "Does this contribution support my plan, or just reduce todayā€™s stress?".
Planning reminders are here to inform, not pressure. Timing matters, but your circumstances matter more.
One of my favourite parts of Mindful Money Moments is that it feels like a conversation, not a lecture.
If there is a money question bouncing around in your head, a decision you are unsure about, or a topic you want me to explore next month, just shoot me an email ([email protected]). I read every message. Truly. And your questions often shape what lands in future newsletters.
No pressure. No sales pitch. Just connection.
If money feels like a work in progress, you are in very good company. I feel that way too. There is no finish line to cross and no perfect way to do this.
You are allowed to take small steps. You are allowed to change your mind. You are allowed to build a plan that fits your life, not someone elseā€™s.
You are not behind. You are learning. And that is more than enough.
Lori J. Curtiss
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