Nearly 50% of Canadians struggle with simple tasks involving math and numbers. Beyond the personal impact to individuals and families, low numeracy skills could affect Canada’s ability to compete in the global economy. This November, ABC Life Literacy Canada (ABC) celebrates Financial Literacy Month by raising awareness of the importance of numeracy and money management.

This November, why not celebrate Financial Literacy Month by starting new healthy financial literacy habits? Here are some helpful financial literacy tips to work into your day-to-day family routines to get you started:

1. Pick something you regularly spend money on as a family. For one month, track how much you spend on it. How does it compare to how much you spend on other things?
2. Keep a money journal for a month. Record every purchase or payment you make. Touch base once a week to track how you’re doing.
3. Pick something to save for as a family. How can everyone help contribute? Now put your plan into action. Adjust your plan if need be.
4. Before you go to the grocery store, sit down together and decide how much you’d like to spend on different categories, like fruits & vegetables, dairy, meat, grains, and treats. When you go shopping, try to stick to your budget. What parts were difficult? What parts were easy? What items were needs, and what were wants?
5. Set up a “money jar” to cover your extras, like your daily coffee or a new pair of jeans. Put the money you’ve budgeted to spend in the money jar and only use that money for those items. Stick to your spending plan!

In partnership with TD Bank Group, ABC has created a variety of tools and resources to help all Canadians improve their money management skills. Download these tools for free online, including three financial literacy guides: A Place to Start: Spending Plans, Financial Literacy for the Family and RESPs and Other Ways to Save. Access these guides and many other financial literacy resources online at: www.MoneyMattersCanada.ca. French resources are available at www.QuestionDargent.ca.