I hope you’ve all been enjoying the summer season so far and are making the most of the longer days and warmer weather. From hiking to camping, concertgoing to barbequing, there’s always something new to appreciate in our beautiful Province during this time of year.

The summer is also a popular time to go on vacation and get some much-needed rest and relaxation, although financial stress can sometimes make it difficult to unwind. We know that a little bit of stress can be healthy in when we need motivation to get things done. But when it impacts our mental and physical wellbeing, we should take notice. A recent study of Canadians found that one-third of the respondents experience mental health challenges related to financial stress, with 48% of respondents reporting sleep disturbances due to money worries, a number that’s up 5% from last year.

While it’s not uncommon to feel anxious about your finances, there’s always a way forward that will keep your financial goals on track. With the rising costs of living and increasing interest rates likely to impact your household income and long-term savings goals, I want to remind you that CUA is here to help. When we talk about our stress with somebody else, it can put our concerns in a new and more manageable perspective. Talking to a financial advisor and developing a plan together can help take some of the burden off of your own mental and physical wellbeing. If you’ve been dealing with financial anxiety, please reach out to a member of our team so we can help you find a solution that works for you.

Our team at CUA knows that as September draws closer, so too do payment deadlines for post-secondary students in Nova Scotia. We know that expenses can add up quickly, which is why I’m excited to announce that CUA’s sixth annual $10K in a Day event has begun! Students can enter a digital ballot on our website between now and September 7th for the chance to win one of ten $1,000 tuition prizes, plus a bonus draw of $750 in honour of CUA’s 75th anniversary. In addition, on September 6th and 7th CUA’s Better Way Street Team will be touring post-secondary campuses to do even more on-the-spot giveaways. To learn more about $10k in a Day and to enter your ballot, visit cua.com/10k.

In other recent news, I would like to extend a big thank you to all who joined us at last month’s pop-up carnival at the Alderney Landing Farmers Market. We hope you enjoyed our Financial Fortune Teller, Financial Strongman Game, and had a chance to get your face painted! Our team had so much fun handing out treats and prizes to everyone who stopped by. Our next pop-up carnival will be taking place on Saturday, August 19th at the Halifax Brewery Market between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. We hope to see you there!

As always, if you have any questions about one of CUA’s products or services or would like to discuss the best ways to reach your financial goals, please contact a member of our team at 902.492.6500 or info@cua.com.