Gina Jacobson, CFP®, CDFA, shares ways to encourage financial literacy for the next generation of your family.
Cleaning and Organizing … the Swedish Way
There are many organizational methods for reducing our clutter and making our spaces more efficient, tidy, and serene. There is the “One-Touch Method” which bucks procrastination in favor of putting things away immediately after use, and the “Neat Method” which employs various color-coded containers and labeling for sorting and display. The KonMari method from Japan instructs organizers to ask themselves if their items still spark joy in them, and if not, to release the belongings with gratitude. And, yet another approach has risen in popularity, this time from Sweden, known as “döstädning,” or the translated “death cleaning,” which seeks to reduce clutter and stress from an aging person’s home and life.
While it may sound severe, the idea of döstädning is actually a very thoughtful and respectful exercise for both the individual and their loved ones. Contrary to KonMari, which centers on the individual’s attachment to their possessions, this approach asks how family and survivors will feel about the items left behind after a loved one’s death. Margareta Magnussen, author of “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” explains how employing döstädning can streamline an individual’s space and create a peaceful environment in which they can focus on what matters to them at that stage of life. The process of sorting and gifting belongings and communicating with family and friends about what they would like to have can often bring loved ones closer together, and may minimize the future burden on family members, allowing them to focus on grieving rather than a large clean-out project.
For those interested in the process of döstädning, professionals recommend the following:
- Tell your family about this process you are undertaking, what you hope to get out of the experience and ask them what items they would like to inherit from you.
- Start with your clothing and closets, sorting through what does and does not fit and what can be donated to charity.
- Declutter furniture, décor, and household items by room and then size, gifting functional pieces to family and friends and donating the rest.
- Address digital information and share details for important vendors such as your bank and insurance provider to your next of kin.
- Take stock of valuable jewelry and heirlooms and communicate with your insurance provider regarding appropriate coverage. Next, give some thought to who you will leave these items to and make those wishes apparent in your documents.
- Gather your paperwork and leave clear instructions regarding your will, advance health directive, power of attorney and any other related documents to your intended survivors.
While it may seem like a big undertaking, döstädning can give practitioners the chance to find memory and meaning in their possessions, as well as a sense of lightness and contentment when they let them go.
To connect with a client relationship manager, email info@vcmi.net.
Other Areas of Financial Planning: Starting a Family, Planning a Bucket List Trip, and Changing Jobs
We help clients with more than just their stock and bond portfolio and retirement planning. Watch and hear how we assist clients with planning for a family, preparing to take a bucket list trip and weighing options when considering a career change. If these are areas you would like to collaborate with a client relationship manager on, please email info@vcmi.net.
Love and Money: Communicating with your Partner
The book, “The Five Love Languages,” outlines general ways in which individuals express and experience love and affection in romantic relationships. They are Acts of Service, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Words of Affection and Physical Touch, and while they may not cover all kinds of communication, they can be a good shorthand to decipher yours and that of your partner. When it comes to money, it is important to notice and understand how we feel and communicate as individuals and then reflect further how that impacts our partner and finances as a couple or family. If an individual grew up in a home where money was tight and employment was unstable, finances may represent anxiety and worry. For another, a privileged upbringing where money was rarely discussed may later manifest as apathy around budgeting and savings. Financial planners and therapists tend to share the same basic tenets around relationships and money.- Understand your relationship with money and that of your partner – explore how you were both raised, what your attitudes are to daily money management and how you see your long-term future.
- Set shared goals and focus on the future – have a brainstorm session and share what you need, want and dream about and be specific. Listen to your partner share theirs and then take stock of the two. Where do you agree and where do you differ? Discuss what you are both willing to sacrifice and what you won’t go without to accomplish your goals.
- Be transparent and communicate regularly – establish an open and honest style of communication with your partner and schedule regular dates to track progress. Split the duties of tracking your spending and saving and pair the chore with a bottle of wine or pot of coffee to make it more enjoyable.
- Practice empathy and patience – learning and unlearning behavior and establishing new habits is difficult to do as an individual, let alone as a couple. It takes time and experience to learn each other’s style and track spending and saving for both. Keep in mind that it has taken your lifetime to get to where you are, and it is going to require significant work and focus to change.
Rituals over Routine
September is upon us and students and teachers everywhere are back at school. For many adults, it is a popular time to reset routines and assess goals and progress. September is also National Self-Care Awareness Month, reminding folks to prioritize their own health and well-being. According to psychologists, turning our routines and habits into rituals can help us to approach tasks with intention and focus and allows us to infuse everyday duties with joy and meaning. In the blog post below, we have compiled ways in which financial responsibilities can be transformed into rituals.
- Write down your small and large financial goals. Place the note where you will see it often and make a habit of rereading it several times a week.
- Be intentional with your time and money. Review your calendar before the week begins and forecast spending. Look for ways to get creative and stick to your budget, such as carpooling with a friend to an event or taking mass transit.
- Automate your bills and banking and identify accounts you can set up on autopay for ease and peace of mind.
- Treat yourself to a favorite playlist, make a cup of tea, and light a cozy candle before you settle in to pay your bills or enter budget numbers.
- Plan a budget date with your partner such as a neighborhood walk, a coffee or cocktail date or an afternoon drive to discuss individual and joint goals and check in with each other.
- Journal your anxieties and concerns related to personal finance obligations and goals. What is providing the most stress? What can you do today, next week and next month to address it?
- Recall a time or times in your life when you made financial decisions that you were proud of and proved advantageous. What worked well then? How can that experience inform today’s choices and actions?
- Remember a person in your life you admire(d) for the way in which they conduct their personal finances and affairs. What did they do and what did they represent to you that you can learn from and adopt as your own style?
If you are experiencing a stressful time of transition or are simply looking to discuss your investment management and financial planning with an expert, please email us at info@vcmi.net or call 503-221-5656.
