By VANDANA KATTAR-MILLER
Senior Manager, DEI and ESG at TD
DIWALI was such a special time for me growing up. I happily anticipated getting together with family and friends, lighting the diyas, eating delicious food and sweets – and I always looked forward to the new salwar kameez my mom would buy me, complete with bangles and new shoes.
Sometimes we would go to my Chachu’s house or my Mamu’s house but no matter how we chose to celebrate, it was fun and special just being together as a family. Diwali is now something that I look forward to celebrating annually with my own children.
In our family, gold and finances were always present during Diwali, albeit more in the background. My mom would often buy new gold bangles or a chain. However, these days I rarely wear the same decorative gold pieces as she did – especially since TD has released new Diwali products. I now buy gold and silver coins for my own children to help build their wealth and diversify my own investments.
We always did a big clean of the house during Diwali; these days I take the time to “clean up” my finances as well. There are so many ways to enhance your understanding of various TD investment products and strategies by checking out Investing 101. TD customers can take advantage of tools like TD MySpend to help track spending and set achievable financial targets, or learn about budgeting basics so you can be one step closer to reaching your short and long-term financial goals. I’ve also begun to do this each year and consistently take time to teach my kids the importance of budgeting and financial literacy.
Diwali brings its fair share of expenses with it. We often buy gifts for others, pay for sweets, and cover the cost of a caterer for a Diwali party. I’ve found that managing my money can be easier and more convenient with the help of personalized tools like the TD Financial Health Assessment Tool. And tracking expenses in real-time with the TD MySpend app is another way you can budget so you don’t get carried away with the celebrations.
When it comes to buying gold for my kids, or tracking how much I’m spending throughout the holiday, I always try to keep in mind the long-term goals I have for my family. The TD Goal Builder is a handy planning tool that can help create personalized financial plans; it’s easy to access following an introductory meeting with a TD personal banker. Whether it’s saving for a home, education, or retirement, your investments can be more purposefully aligned with your goals.
You can also consider investing in TD Mutual Funds or opening a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) to work towards your long-term financial aspirations. The ability to purchase partial shares through either TD Direct Investing or TD Easy Trade can allow individuals to invest without buying a full share, providing more flexibility and enhancing diversification.
While it’s been a few years since the days when I would run around carefree with my cousins during Diwali, I’m happy to share that I’ve been able to pass on many beautiful parts of my culture to my kids. I’m thankful to have TD in my corner, helping me in a multitude of ways to prepare for this wonderful time of year.
No matter how you celebrate, I wish you and your family a very happy Diwali!