Cellophane windows

Free money in the mail from Brian Mulroney.

The brown envelope with the cellophane window would arrive.

(insert crickle, crackle sound)

It would be cashed, and spent in full by the end of day. Trails of smoke would billow behind us on our way to the mall.

New dress.

New purse.

New shoes.

and repeat…

Once my mother and I (oh, yes, I was an eager participant) had bought out EATON’S we would stop at our favourite restaurant for dinner…maybe an appetizer…definitely dessert. The RETURN was simply treated as FREE MONEY. A reward for good behaviour, I suppose.

A month later, after the dress and shoes had lost their sheen, BILL (and sometimes, his DIRTY MISTRESS, DENY) would pop into our lives once again. It was a cycle that no one in my immediate circle seemed to want to admit, or escape. By my teens I had figured it out, but the pattern was firmly in place, and it wasn’t my money to begin with. Even my instinctively frugal nature would go out the window when I was being offered a new top from Benetton.

What do you do with your FREE MONEY?

Your tax return? Your surprise gig or bonus? Many articles are popping up these days with smart, RESPONSIBLE suggestions; none of which will surprise you:

PAY OFF CREDIT CARD DEBT

PAY OFF LOANS

CONTRIBUTE TO RRSPs or TFSAs

CREATE an EMERGENCY FUND (a.k.a. singer summer survival)

EDUCATION SAVINGS

EXTRA MORTGAGE / RENT PAYMENT


The list is endless …. and boring. I admit it. There are no matching purses to go with your RRSP contribution, nor is there an upgrade to your iSlide 5.

BO’RING

I think that is why the RESPONSIBLE list was avoided when I was growing up and, is still ignored by thousands of Canadian’s today (if the recent poll, indicating that the average Canadian household is currently in $100,000.00 of consumer debt, is true). 

If going to the bank and parting with your new found wealth is just too much to bare (and simply not your idea of a good time) what if I meet you half way (this won’t happen often so, take the cookies when they’re passed) and adjust the list so that it looks a little more like something dedicated to your needs and wants? Your SINGER’S version of the RESPONSIBLE list for FREE MONEY could include a little more SINGER BLING. Instead of an emergency fund in the traditional sense, how about… 

• AN ACCOMPANIST FUND: Take that free money and put it into an account that will fund your coaching, and last second audition pianist fees. In the end, you’ll be more polished and will have more potential to get the gig in the first place, which, in turn will earn you more money.
• NEW HEAD SHOTS or WEB UPDATES: Is the technology on your site as updated, or as connected as you would like it to be? Do you still look like your photo?
• TRAVEL FUND: If the auditions aren’t near you, it would be a great way to start building a money pot for air, train, and bus travel that doesn’t come out of your daily spending.
• DENTAL FUND: Let’s face it, artists have slim pickings on the dental offerings. A Dental Day with your free money will not only contribute to a great smile but improved overall health. (Ok, that one is really pushing the BLING factor considering there could be pain involved but, I’d do it so, humour me…)
• DUES FUND: You have to pay them anyway to your agent, and unions; why not take the pain out of writing that cheque? That money will be there specifically for one purpose, without dipping into your latté fund….which is a blog unto itself…