Money as a Form of Protest

Ah, yes, unregulated, late stage capitalism—the system that ensures your morning coffee costs as much as a minor medical procedure. I bet you didn’t expect me to talk about money as a form of protest, did you? Well just because I’m a financial nerd doesn’t mean I don’t believe money can and should be used to better humanity!

Unless you’ve shut off all forms of media (I wouldn’t blame you), you’ve probably seen economic blackouts and boycotts in the recent news. Some are more effective than others, and it’s got me thinking a lot about how to really use my money to uphold my values and punish the big bad evil corporations.

Still, it’s difficult. I have limited resources and need to feed my family. So what’s the best way to use money as a form of protest?

1. A little research goes a long way — we need to collectively do a better job of understanding who deserves our money and who doesn’t.

2. Shop local whenever possible — Ultimately, I’m trying much harder to support local small businesses with my everyday purchases. Sure, it’s sometimes less convenient and more expensive, but at least the shareholder value I’m creating is for a family in my town and not some a**h*le living on a super yacht.

3. Practice ‘no spend’ days — This new form of protest is a way for us to practice more conscious spending while withholding our dollars in a meaningful way. If we become better consumers who don’t spend on excess, it’s better for the planet and our wallets.

4. Let’s get away from predatory banks — I haven’t quite fully figured this one out yet, but we need to get away from banks with predatory practices (I’m looking at you Wells Fargo and Bank of America). Credit unions are a great option and more and more “ethical” banks are popping up. Again, a little research goes a long way.

5. Invest wisely — Look into ESG and SRI style investing. I really like the ladies at Adasina Capital and how they’re developing investment philosophies around responsible investing. Definitely check out their education page to learn more.

6. Donate strategically — Believe it or not, not all non-profits are created equally. To really understand if a cause is worth donating your money and it’ll actually have an impact, always do a little research beforehand and review the organization’s IRS Form 990. This is public information and you’ll be able to see the financials for that particular 501c3.

7. Remember individual consumers do have power — you don’t have to be a multimillionaire or billionaire to make an impact with your dollars. Using your voice and your money to back your values makes you a person of integrity and influence.

Alright….now go buy tickets to my NYC show next week. We’re raising money for the Entertainment Community Fund. It’s going to be a blast. Tickets at vapethemusical.com !!

Love to love ya,

-Catie