November 2020 Marks the 10th Anniversary of Financial Literacy Month

November 9, 2020

On November 19, students may join the free webinar, “It’s Your Money, Make it Count.” Financial Literacy Month provides opportunities for teachers and students to explore current resources that are easily manageable and fun. The Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE), the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC), and the Canadian Bankers Association have partnered in creating many events and resources for students and teachers.

“It’s Your Money, Make it Count” – Free webinar on November 19, 2020.

In celebration of the 10^th Anniversary of Financial Literacy Month, the Canadian Bankers Association (CBA) has partnered with the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) to present “It’s Your Money, Make it Count.”

This is an interactive webinar event for students interested in learning more about budgeting, savings, investing, fraud prevention, as well as how to avoid debt and build a strong credit history. The event will take place on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Go to site

Managing finances during challenging times

Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC)

FCAC’s theme this year is managing finances during challenging times. The website provides numerous resources and vital Canadian consumer information grouped into six themes. As well, the three sections of “Tools and resources” are direct and easy to use. Go to site.

Included this year is a section on updates related to the current pandemic: COVID-19: Managing financial health in challenging times Go to site.

Talk With Our Kids About Money (TWOKAM) April 15

The Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) annual event, “Talk With Our Kids About Money” (TWOKAM), is held in mid-April. However, the TWOKAM website also provides teachers with many free tools and resources for engaging students in relevant and age appropriate conversations about money at any time of the school year. Go to site.

The Money Fair

The CFEE also runs the Money Fair in April each year, which involves pairs of students selecting a money topic, undertaking research, and preparing a creative presentation that showcases the outcome of their research and what they learned.

Presenting their topic in a professional setting is an ideal opportunity for students engaged in entrepreneurial projects. CFEE’s Vice-President, Brian Smith, has often met with students to refine the financial aspects of their projects and see them through to the Money Fair presentation. Go to site.

Ten Things You Should Know During Times of Financial Uncertainty

The FCAC has compiled this resource for this year’s theme.

Keep track of your money
Commit to a spending plan
Did you know? Making a budget will help you stick to a plan and stay on top of your finances.
Minimize your debt
Borrow only what you need.
Protect yourself from financial fraud
Did you know? 1 in 5 Canadians say they were a victim of a financial fraud or scam in the last 2 years.¹
Build good financial habits
Did you know? FCAC’s Budget Planner is a free, interactive tool that allows you to create a personalized budget that you can save and update online.
Understand your financial products and services
Did you know? If you are having trouble paying your bills, your financial institution may be able to offer you some relief options, such as mortgage deferrals.
If you can, set aside some money for unexpected expenses
Did you know? Setting up an emergency fund will help keep you from having to take on debt in the future if something unexpected happens.
Order your credit report
Did you know? You can order a copy of your credit report for free from Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada.
Have a plan to repay your debt
Did you know? FCAC has a step-by-step guide to repaying debt and free tools, such as the Financial Goal Calculator.
Reassess your financial goals
Did you know? Budgeting helps you understand what goals might need to be postponed or changed.