Stories That Touch: "How I studied in Canada as an orphan"

How long have you been in Canada?

I came to Canada as an undergraduate in 2012 and got my PR three years later. 

 

Wow! That’s a decade.

Yes!

 

How has staying in Canada been?

It’s been great. 

I have enjoyed building my career and growing my family here. The exposure and opportunities are endless.

 

Did you always know you were going to study abroad?

I grew up as an only child who had financially comfortable parents. My dad worked at an oil and gas firm while my mum worked as a dentist in a private hospital. We usually spent our family holidays outside Nigeria. My parents wanted me to have my primary and secondary school education in Nigeria to understand our culture. In my mum’s words, I had to become a proper Naija boy. We, however, always spoke about the family relocating after my secondary school.

 

Soft Life!

*laughs.

I have my parents to thank. They took care of me even in death.

 

I was going to address that but I didn’t want to be too direct. Are you okay with me asking how it happened?

 

It’s fine.

 I have made peace with it. My parents died in a car accident back from a wedding. They were travelling back to Lagos from Ibadan. I still believe they could have survived if we had fast and reliable healthcare in Nigeria. It’s one of the reasons I knew I had to leave. 

 

So sorry to hear that,  but how were you able to even after their death?

I was already done with secondary school and had gotten admission to study in Canada when the accident.

I had to defer cause I wasn’t emotionally stable.

During this period, I got a call from an Insurance company informing me that my parents had opened an education plan right from when I was born. When the firm’s representative told me how much I had as a claim, I couldn’t believe it.

 

Why did that shock you? I would have expected that your parents left you with enough.

Sadly, they didn’t have a will. Hence, my dad’s family members took advantage of this and took everything. I was living with my mum’s younger sister when I got the news. It was just perfect timing. I was already planning to apply to a school in Nigeria cause I could no longer afford to study in Canada.

 

Talk about planning for the unforeseen, it feels like your parents saw the future. 

 

Yes, I could say that myself. I’m grateful for how they were intentional about planning for my future. I have extended the same to my children. I set up an education insurance plan for all of them.

 

That’s nice! Thank you for talking with us. 

4 Bonding Activities for Newlyweds

Marriage is full of many ups and downs, adventures, and incredible memories with the person you love.​

The awesome joy that comes with being newlywed is indescribable, finally together with the one you love, no limitations or restrictions, you can both finally do all that you had planned to do once married. But is that where it ends? What happens when you have ticked every item off the list?​

​Well, here are 4 bonding activities to try out:​

1)Cooking:​

This is a wonderful activity a couple can use to spend time with each other. It not only helps them to nourish themselves, but it also allows them some time to interact with each other. Cooking with your newly wedded wife or husband is so romantic in more ways than one; it also provides you with ample time to bond and let your love for each other grow deeper​

​2)Cleaning the house:​

Just like cooking, cleaning the house is a chore that has the advantage of helping couples stay organized and neat while it also allows them time to interact with each other.  It’s not just a repetitive process of getting rid of dirty dishes or dusting out the house, having fun with the chores and flirting with your partner. It adds more joy and brings you closer to yourselves.​

​3)Watching a movie:​

 Watching interesting programs on television is another fun way couples can relax and have a good time together. Some newlyweds make find it awkward or tense to talk romantically to their partner.  Movies can make it easier and a lot more comfortable. It also helps couples prioritize time together to make a connection and open a little. It sometimes sheds some light on the vulnerability and romanticism of your partner.  ​

​4)Saving and investing:​

The great marriages are partnerships. It can’t be a great marriage without being a partnership.​

Saving and investing together is the perfect way to partner in marriage. As a comfortable family is a happy family and poor finance can lead to a drop in the joy and happiness of a new couple as they will be saddled with numerous expenses. When couples set futuristic goals together, they have something in common to look forward to and to work for. This not only makes them feel alive and happy, but it also reminds them that they are teammates in their relationship.​

​Marriages require endless love and intentionality to thrive.  All of these activities will assist you and your spouse in bonding easily. Some of these activities may necessitate proximity and understanding before being attempt. So, have a conversation with your partner and then make a strategy together.​

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Financial Planning for Couples

Money can be one of the most difficult topics for couples. But no matter how uncomfortable it feels, financial planning has to be discussed. When couples move in together, there will likely be some income difference, not to mention debts that may be brought into the relationship. They will also have to budget for household expenditures and discuss long-term savings and retirement goals. A lot of factors must be considered when planning your lives together.

Couples need to talk about household logistics—who pays which bill, how you will reimburse each other, and how you will work towards shared goals. Ensure you sit down and discuss these logistics to ensure you both understand and agree on the plan and that all your bases are covered.

Once it’s decided who will pay which bills, automate the payments, so you’re never late, and your spouse never has to worry. In money matters, clarity is paramount. When you are saddled with a specific responsibility in the relationship, always endeavor to carry it out on time without the prompting of your partner.

Here are some awesome tips to get you going:

Specific— Be absolutely specific about what you want as it helps have a clear direction towards achieving it.

Measurable— Goals must be measurable as it gives a clearer meaning to the whole venture

Achievable— It must be something you can accomplish financially given your means.

Realistic—Even if the goals are useful and may seem good and necessary at the moment, are they achievable given your capacity or means?

Time-based—Your goals should always have a specific timeline, be it Long term or Short term so that we don’t lose track of the time it takes to complete them.

Use S.M.A.R.T. to test and, if necessary, adjust your financial planning goals.

 

Creating a budget with your spouse is one of those less discussed issues of being married. Working it out is a significant part of learning to be married, or getting better at it.

Steps for effective budgeting as a couple:

-Decide on your financial goals, both individually and as a couple.

- List all of your combined income sources and amounts.

-List out all of your joint household expenses.

-Estimate how much you will spend on each item.

-Identify your sources of income

-Set spending limits and saving expectations, find ways to fund the budget, and remember to stay hands-on so you can stick with it.

 

40% of couples who live together don't know how much their spouse makes and even when asked most often give vague answers to the question. Knowing each other's income should be practical information and requirements before marriage to make sure you're not putting each other in a situation of unpredictability as some will make assumptions which might lead to some very sticky situations. So all in all relationships are all about trust, it is necessary to share important information with your spouse.

Another constructive solution for couples who are starting up their financial journeys together is to start saving with ENTERPRISE LIFE’S LIFETIME NEEDS PLAN. This plan helps with every savings goal you might have, from the smallest to the largest they have got you covered.

Investing in general requires a lot of work and commitment and when you add in relationships it can be a little bit tricky. As couples, finding the right kind of investment that works for you is not an easy task. · Understanding each other's investor persona will go a long way in maintaining the steady flow of the investment agenda · LIFE PLANNERS at ENTERPRISE LIFE are specifically trained to help with this.

 

5 Easy Steps to Secure your Child's Future

In a world filled with uncertainties, you should take thoughtful steps towards securing your child’s future with thoughtful planning.

Whether you’re a brand new parent, you’ve been a parent for a while or you’re just planning ahead. There are so many ways you can plan for your child to have a great life both in your care and as they grow and learn about the world around them.

Here are 5 easy steps to secure your child’s future

1) Invest in their education: Education is the best gift and legacy you can give a child. There is a need for proper financial planning of their educational needs as the future is unpredictable.

Enterprise Life’s Educare plan is a way to achieve this. It provides an avenue for parents to save and prepare towards the aforementioned growing cost of education whilst giving them some life cover which guarantees the child’s education.

2) Teach them financial literacy: As a parent you constantly look out for your child’s best interest whether it’s selecting a school, shopping for clothes or deciding what meals to make for them. You’re intentional about setting them on the rest path for success in life.

This is why you should ensure you teach your children good money habits such as saving, budgeting and investing  early in life. This way, you set them on a path to becoming successful and financially free adults.

3)Avoid debts: When saddled with debts it is difficult to make wise financial decisions that benefit your children. You also do not want to leave them with a heavy burden for when life happens. It’s best to avoid unwarranted debts by taking proper inventory of one’s needs and wants.

The Life Planners at Enterprise Life are trained professionals who help with proper management of finances. They are your go-to personnel to live a financially free life.

4) Have a Will: What is a will? A will is a legal document that sets forth your wishes regarding the distribution of your property and the care of any minor children.

A will is not just a piece of paper carrying out your last wishes. It’s the continuity of a legacy and it’s just right to do it the right way.

5) Get a Life Insurance Life: Life is full of the unexpected, so surprises are bound to happen. It is not uncommon for life to change as you know it in a blink of an eye. Unfortunately, many people do not prepare ahead and their loved ones suffer from this. A Life Insurance is simply the best way to ensure your family is well taken care of in case life happens. It is the best love letter written to a family.

 

So there you have it, life choices are often not easy to make as it requires a certain amount of consideration and deliberation. This is why you should ensure to seek the right people or personnel such as the Life Planners at Enterprise Life to help make those lasting decisions.

If you have a child or are expecting one soon, start planning for their future early. Invest in opportunities that will help in securing their future.

The sooner you start, the better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to teach your children financial freedom.

Financial freedom usually means having enough savings, financial investments, and cash on hand to afford the kind of life we desire for ourselves and our families. It means growing savings that enable us to retire or pursue the career we want without being driven by earning a certain salary each year. Financial freedom means our money is working for us rather than the other way around.

As a parent you constantly look out for your child’s best interest whether it’s selecting a school, shopping for clothes or deciding what meals to make for them. You’re intentional about setting them on the rest path for success in life.

This is why you should ensure you teach your children good money habits early in life. This way, you set them on a path to becoming successful and financially free adults. As early money habits go a long way in making wise financial decisions.

 

Here are 4 money habits to teach your kids-

Saving: It is important to teach your children that money isn’t just for spending, it can be saved as well. You can encourage them to save by explaining how saving helps accomplish goals. An example is encouraging your child to save for a toy. You can help your kid start saving by opening a LifeTime Needs plan at Enterprise Life.

Budgeting: To get your child comfortable with the idea of budgeting. Help your child understand the difference between what they want and what they need so they can prioritize how they spend their money. It’s essential your child knows that wants are least important, compared to needs.

Profit making: Teach your kids that money can grow. This way they set out early in life to build wealth through investing. One way to do this is through getting them books on investment.

Giving: If you value giving to others, you can instil that value in your children by making giving a habit for them from an early age. A key reason why it is important for you, as a parent, to teach your kids financial lessons is because you can share your money values through those lessons.

If you want your children to develop good spending and saving habits, they need to see you making smart spending and saving choices. In short, practice what you preach and preach with consistency.

Educating your children about personal finance is a process that can take time. But if you put in the effort and continuously communicate a clear message about money, you will instil good habits that will serve your children well.