From Information Overload To $15,500 Invested In One Year

Last year, a member of my Don’t Go Broke Collective sent me a message about feeling completely overwhelmed by financial information. She was unsure where to put her money, and she told me she was too frugal to enjoy what she had.

One year later, she had invested $15,500, built $25,000 in emergency savings, traveled with her kids, brought her mom to Canada, and contributed to her sister’s wedding. 

All while saving and investing consistently.

Today, we’ll go into what helped her get there. 

Let’s call her B.

So how did this happen?

B moved to Canada three years ago with two kids, navigating priorities both here and back home. She had the awareness, the willingness, and even an idea of what she wanted to do. However, she was missing clarity and a structure that worked for her life.

When she started, this is what she told me: 

“Hi Reni, it’s so good to finally take this step. I would like to know how to invest in the right ETFs and stocks for me and my kids (so my TFSA, RRSP, and the kids’ RESP). I would also like to really spend my money without guilt….

By knowing the right amounts to invest and spend… I am too frugal, I need to learn to enjoy my money. I have been trying to learn the investment thing on my own, but there’s too much information out there… I shuttle between different YouTube videos, finance people on Instagram, but it’s just too much. I just want guidance in investing right and actually starting. I have over 12k funds for my kids’ RESP that I haven’t invested yet because I just don’t know which ETF to buy. I don’t want to make mistakes because it’s a lot of funds, so joining this group is really important for me. I apologize for my long rant/epistle.” 

When she joined, I told her we could definitely help her with these goals – she would be able to get her kids’ funds invested, and put her own money to work too. 

I wholeheartedly knew we could do it together.

And we did.

In the accountability group, she learned how to divide her money between saving, investing, and living so that every dollar had a purpose. She got clarity on ETFs and stocks, and how to invest in them properly across her TFSA, RRSP, and her kids’ RESP. 

The $12,000 that she had been holding back from her kids’ RESP finally got invested.

She also learned how to plan for specific long-term goals: retirement, travel, and building towards a home purchase. And for the first time, she could see how her side business and career growth could accelerate it all.

In her own words:

“I am truly grateful I joined this class. It has completely shifted my mindset and made me less fearful about my financial future. I now understand how to properly divide my money between saving, investing, and living, instead of just holding cash out of fear. This year alone, I was able to invest about $15,500 from my take-home pay, separate from my workplace retirement plan, and I also have $25,000 in emergency savings. I am especially proud of this because I moved to Canada just three years ago with two kids, and in that time, I have still been able to support my family, bring my mom to Canada, travel with my children, and contribute to my sister’s wedding, all while saving and investing. The class gave me clarity and confidence. Now, when I hear about ETFs, stocks, or long-term investing, it all makes sense, and I can plan properly for goals like retirement, travel, and even buying a home with a solid down payment. I also now see how I can grow faster through my side business and career progression, and how to channel that extra income into my investments. This class helped me see that my goals are not unrealistic; they are achievable with the right structure. Thank you.“

B’s story is what progress looks like when the right structure is in place. 

Here’s how you can also see results like B’s…

If you have money set aside for investing but haven’t moved it because you’re scared of getting it wrong… if you’ve consumed enough finance content to pass an exam but still haven’t taken action… if you’re building a life while holding it together financially on multiple fronts…

You don’t need more information. You need the right structure for your specific life.

That’s exactly what the Don’t Go Broke Collective is for.

We meet twice a month. We work through actual goals – investing, saving, debt, building for the future – with guidance and a community that holds you accountable.

Last year, this community collectively saved over $1.2 million.

B is one of those people. 

For anyone stuck in research mode, waiting to feel “ready” before starting – B’s story shows you what’s possible. She just needed the right structure and people around her to make it click.

The same kind of progress is possible for you too.

CTA: Join the Don’t Go Broke Collective

For my Nigerian community: You’ll need a VPN to access Skool. Make sure you have one set up before you join so you can get straight in.

Until next time,

xoReni