Have Your Cake (and Eat It Too)

“Have your cake and eat it too” will focus on two diametrically opposed actions: spending and saving money. This is relevant to individuals, families, entrepreneurs, small organizations and large Corporations across public and private service and industry sectors. The intention is to stimulate thought that moves into action plans for 2026!

Individuals and even two income families in my city, province and country are struggling with the cost of living, food security and the reality of never being able to own a home. Yet, I find it surprising to see individuals buy coffee or lunch daily and families regularly purchasing takeout and eating out. In my family, we monitor and limit such spending to balance our budget and save for larger expenses such as replacing our used car. Everyone is responsible for assessing their own spending habits.  

As an entrepreneur, I rely on bootstrapping. I built Cinder to Flame (my consulting business) with minimal personal funding (e.g. to launch my website). I rely on personal resources (e.g. learned how to build my own website, do my own marketing, etc.). And, I engage people (e.g. family, friends and professional contacts) to glean valuable support and insight. For example, one of my adult sons surprised me with his ability to design Cinder to Flame’s logo (copyrighted trademark).

Small organizations - especially charities and not-for-profits – may be more attuned to streamlining expenses (e.g. human resources, operations, supplies, rental and capital costs, etc.) and apply savings to realize their strategic vision.

Large Corporations are complex and the risk is losing sight of opportunities to decrease spending or streamline and revamp organizational structures and laborious processes. Identifying small ways to save money across a large Corporation can quickly add up and yield significant savings.

Cinder to Flame’s vision is to open the gateway to sustainable, quality living that focuses on the well-being (e.g. health, quality of life, etc.) of people, clients and communities.

Sustainability should be at the top of everyone’s mind. This begins with scrutinizing how money is spent and saved.  Public and private sector Corporations are both accountable. Sacrifices need to be made, along with the courage to stimulate and lead significant change. Difficult and unpopular questions need to be asked. Take a moment to think about change ideas that you, your team or Corporation have been suppressing or have not vocalized. What opportunities exist to save money?

The public sector from municipal, regional, provincial (or state) to federal government and Corporations who receive public funds (e.g. health care, etc.) hold great accountability for spending. Transparency and public trust go hand in hand. Are discretionary expenses fully revealed and more importantly, what value do they deliver to taxpayers? Money saved can be reallocated to fund essential services into the future and address necessities such as access to safe, affordable housing and healthy food. How can government put money back-into-the-pockets of people and lower the cost of living?

The traditional meaning of "have your cake and eat it too" is that you cannot hold onto two mutually exclusive and desirable things simultaneously (e.g. spending and saving money). And once the whole cake is eaten and the money is spent, nothing is left (or we enter a deficit position).

Cinder to Flame challenges this traditional definition by strengthening capacity for creative thinking and helps Corporations solve complex challenges with strategic services that energize people, fuel a healthy corporate culture and ignite major innovation.

Examples of how public and private sector Corporations can spend and save money follow:

• Municipalities can spend money to build stellar community centres and entertainment districts while simultaneously finding ways to save money to lower the cost of living for residents in their communities. Today, even the middle-income group is struggling. This is a timely discussion for budget time and for the year ahead.

• A provincial (or state) health system can provide more timely care and keep pace with the increasing need for health services. This requires exploring new opportunities for community health partnerships to maximize cost-effectiveness along with a review of funding strategies to ensure equitable compensation for hospital and community health workers.

• The private sector has a role to play too. Profit margins can be reviewed in tandem with a social impact agenda to give back to people and positively impact quality living in communities.

Cinder to Flame’s inaugural article was published almost four years ago and the message is relevant today: Budget Deficits Risk Future Sustainability. https://www.cindertoflame.ca/post/budget-deficits-risk-future-sustainability

© Deborah (Ellen) Wildish, Cinder to Flame 2022-Present. All Rights Reserved.

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