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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, M ay 21 ,2 02 0 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 WHO WE ARE Publisher Kelly Montague Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Halton Media General Manager Jason Pehora CONTACT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at theifp.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadianchampion.com or call 905-234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA Many Canadians fail to take advantage of income tax rebates resulting from registered retirement sav- ings plan (RRSP) contribu- tions. That rebate could be included in your long-term financial plan and used to finance other investments as opposed to treating it like "free money" and spent on impulse items. It can be a simple mis- take. A mistake that most will not be aware of. To il- lustrate this, we will follow the pattern of a typical in- vestor. An investor contributes to their RRSP with two fi- nancial advantages. Mon- ey is put aside during the working years that will hopefully grow and con- tribute to their retire- ment's financial security. The amount of the con- tribution can be used to re- duce taxes payable. Some will consider the rebate as new-found mon- ey. Perhaps this is a good time to upgrade household electronics or take a trip. An alternative is to re- frame how you react to this "free money." Consider it as money that could be used to enhance your long-term financial security. The income tax rebate can be used to reduce household debt (including a mortgage), contribute to a Tax-Free Savings Ac- count, or make another RRSP contribution. If you are saving to as- sist with the cost of a post- secondary education, a Registered Educational Savings Plan contribution is an option. RESP contri- butions can result in you getting a government grant. Our recommendation is to create a two-step RRSP strategy. First, make an RRSP contribution. Sec- ond, use the RRSP tax re- bate for other long-term fi- nancial purposes. Everyone has unique personal circumstances, so how you develop and im- plement your two-step RRSP strategy will differ. Some might have ex- tended themselves finan- cially to contribute, with the anticipated income tax rebate already built into the household's budget. If you have the financial ability that does not re- quire you to rely on the tax rebate, consider how to best use the RRSP tax re- bate. Peter Watson, of Watson Investments MBA, CFP®, R.F.P., CIM®, FCSI offers a weekly financial plan- ning column, Dollars and Sense. He can be contacted through www.watsonin- vestments.com. ARE YOU MAKING AN RRSP MISTAKE? MANY CANADIANS SQUANDER SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF MAKING AN RRSP CONTRIBUTION, WRITES PETER WATSON Women in Canada are more worried about CO- VID-19 than men. A recent Abacus Data poll found 49 per cent of women reported feeling "very worried" about the outbreak, compared to 33 per cent of men. In a Leger survey, 75 per cent of fe- males were afraid of a fami- ly member contracting the virus, compared to 64 per cent of males. This concern is some- times referred to as "worry work," and the person in the family who takes on the brunt of worry work is the "designated worrier." Stud- ies on heterosexual cou- ples have found women take on this role more often than men. The dynamic is often played up as a sexist media trope: the calm husband and frazzled wife. But why do women wor- ry more than men? Some argue that women are bio- logically programmed to be more risk averse, but there are sociological and societal issues to consider. One issue is that women do have a lot to worry about. An Australian study found that women are more likely to worry about social issues like poverty, unemployment, racism, economic down- turns and environmental crises, many of which dis- proportionally affect them depending on their unique identity factors. Women are also more likely to face abuse, which is linked to anxiety disorders. During a pandemic, women's very valid worries are only magnified. They undoubtedly feel the crunch of being the "desig- nated worrier" while jug- gling work, child care and eldercare. If you're one of the many worried women right now, consider trying to take a step back, logging off the internet every so often, and finding small moments for yourself. And if you want to sup- port emergency efforts to address the unique impact of COVID-19 on women and girls, contribute to the Ca- nadian Women's Founda- tion's Tireless Together Fund to help critical pro- grams reach women and girls now and respond in the aftermath. Emma Partridge is the marketing co-ordinator of the Canadian Women's Foundation. WOMEN'S WORRY WORK IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ERA STUDIES SHOW CANADIAN WOMEN MORE WORRIED ABOUT PANDEMIC THAN MEN, WRITES EMMA PARTRIDGE SNAPSHOT A raccoon finds a nice place to rest in a wooded area behind Alliance Church. Do you have a great local photo you'd like to share? Send it to sleblanc@metroland.com, along with a brief. Judy Adam photo PETER WATSON Column Some will consider the rebate as new-found money. An alternative is to reframe how you react to this "free money." EMMA PARTRIDGE Column