Date Night Club (July 2020): Voting With Your Money

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It’s easy to think money is neutral and the ways you use your money are entirely separate from the causes you care about. But what if I told you money was a tool and that every time you share, save, or spend your money you’re actually voting with your money? 

I realize that this may feel a bit overwhelming. You’re never going to get it 100% right, but during this month’s date night I want to help you take a few steps forward to better aligning the way you are using your money with the causes you care about.

Here's how we've put these ideas into action ...

Take a Bite:

What’s one business you love to support that aligns with your values? Why?

DATE NIGHT MATERIALS LIST:

  • A copy of last month’s financial transactions (credit card/bank statements) - if you have quite a few different accounts and no place where you aggregate the transactions, bring the list of transactions from the 1-2 accounts you use most

  • A computer, tablet, or phone with internet access

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15 MINUTE SNACK:
let’s Play Detective

Things are getting a little dull at 221b Baker Street. How could it not be with you and Watson stuck inside together in a tiny apartment day, after day, after day. Since you can't solve any mysteries on the streets of London, you decide to start investigating your own financial life. Let's call it the case of the "Mismatched Green."

Ready to get started?

  1. Decide who's Watson and who's Sherlock.

  2. Choose ONE way you use money: spend, save, or give.

  3. Choose 1-2 causes you care about like diversity, anti-racism, sustainability, LGBTQIA+ rights, etc.

  4. Put your detective hat on and begin investigating how some of the businesses and non-profits you've supported have upheld the value(s) you hold most dear. Just like Sherlock, don't take everything you see and hear at face value. Right now there are a lot of companies openly supporting pride and black lives matter - while some are serious, others are doing it for publicity. Dig deeper for concrete actions, not just words:

    • Spend: 

      1. Choose 1-3 companies you purchased from this month. These could be companies, restaurants, or small businesses. Look closely at the places where you spent the largest amount of money this month and/or companies you support in small quantities on a frequent basis like Amazon or Netflix. 

      2. Look at the companies’ websites and/or social media profiles. Are they supporting the cause(s) you care about with actions not just words?

    • Save: 

      1. Take a look at the banks and investment companies where you save. Have a few different places? Just focus on 1-2 companies.

      2. Look at the companies’ websites and/or social media profiles. Are they supporting the cause(s) you care about with actions not just words?

      3. Pay extra close attention to the places where they are investing the money you are saving. Are these causes you feel comfortable supporting? For example, if you care about anti-racism, are they supporting black and brown communities? Are they investing in private prisons which can be particularly harmful for people of color? Check out this article to learn more. If you care about sustainability, are they investing in renewable energy or fossil fuels?

    • Give: 

      1. Choose 1-3 non-profits or causes you gave money to over the last month.

      2. Do these causes align with the top values you chose?

      3. Look at the non-profits’ websites and/or social media profiles. Are they supporting these cause(s) you care about with actions not just words even if it’s not the primary cause they support?

NOTE: Not every place where you use your money will support the causes you care about and that’s ok. But it’s important to pay attention to the downstream actions of the businesses you patron.

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If you like, you can take this month's topic deeper ...

MAKE IT A MEAL: APPLY WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED TO YOUR CURRENT BUDGET

Ask yourselves:

  1. How are you doing in terms of using your money to support the causes you care about?

  2. If you’re seeing room for improvement: 

    1. What are 1-2 changes you can make next month to further the cause?

    2. A year from now, where would you like to be?

  3. As you look to patron new businesses, what research will you do to see if they align with your values?

 

One of the causes I care deeply about is anti-racism. I’m committed to supporting this cause over the long-term with my words, actions, and my money. It’s a long journey but I’m excited to get going. Want to join me? Use this blog post as a guide to help you along in your journey.

MONTHLY BUDGET CHECK-IN

Take a moment to look back at last month's budget together.

  • Did you stay on track?

  • If you got off track, what 1-2 steps can you each take to get back on track again?

  • Did any surprises come up - positive or negative?

  • Take a look over the expenses, did the way you used your money align with your values?

  • What changes will you make for next month?