MONEY IQ - MONEY EQ: PERSONAL FINANCE FOR A WELLBEING AND REGENERATIVE ECONOMY, September 8 - October 3, 2025

Register at: https://forms.gle/RQN72GBep25N93Q16

Program Description: Most of us are taught to get a good education to find a decent job—a job that helps us earn "a lot" of money. The effort to get into good schools or strive at work is all for a "better life," which often means being comfortable and less worried about money, free from the daily grind. This is achieved by "earning more money" to gain financial abundance and the freedom of choice.

However, the education we receive in school is largely academic and professional. Very few educational environments equip us with comprehensive lessons and experiences in personal finance. Most of our mindsets about money are self-taught through experience or learned, consciously or unconsciously, from our parents and surroundings.

As a result, everyone rushes out to "make money," only to fall into a "rat race"—an endless, vicious cycle of earning, chasing, and spending money. No matter how much our salaries increase, it never feels like enough, let alone enough for bigger financial goals like buying a house or traveling the world freely.

These consequences stem from the lack of a solid personal financial plan and suitable financial choices. The root cause is a deficiency in the right knowledge, attitude, and skills regarding personal finance. Financial literacy helps individuals control their spending better, stay on track to achieve long-term financial goals, and proactively handle unexpected financial risks in life. This understanding is the foundation for smart financial choices, such as knowing when to take on debt, buy a home, or invest in financial products that fit one's circumstances. This, in turn, brings us a sense of "peace of mind" and greater freedom when it comes to "money."

Money is not just in our wallets or the numbers in our bank accounts. It resides in our subconscious, in our worries about the future, in family arguments, in our dreams of freedom, and in our fear of scarcity. Many of us grew up witnessing our parents arguing about money, or seeing relatives have conflicts related to money and assets. Somewhere along the way, we have also seen ourselves or someone we know struggle with limited life choices due to a lack of financial capacity. These experiences shape our views, consciousness, emotions, relationships, and even our traumas related to money. In most cases, these experiences create an unhealthy relationship with money, whether it's a constant anxiety to hoard more, a drive to acquire money at any cost, or a feeling of detachment, viewing money as sinful. It can also manifest as indifference or uncontrolled, wasteful spending. We believe that healing money-related traumas, establishing a healthy relationship with money, and developing emotional intelligence towards it are essential for ensuring a truly happy financial life for ourselves, those around us, and future generations.

At a higher level, we need to be aware of the monetary and financial systems that exist and operate in society, especially how these systems affect our relationship with money, with nature, with others, and even with ourselves.

We are living in a neoliberal capitalist economic system that is solely profit-oriented. Coupled with an ingrained belief in scarcity, this has fueled competition and prioritized profits, leading people to do anything for money, regardless of ethical values, the sustainability of nature, and the future of humanity. In particular, this system incorrectly measures the value of important things: relationships, time, nature, forests, rivers, labor... through what is called the "market" and money.

The banking system is also part of the modern economy, so its priority is also profit, despite the unsustainable and detrimental impacts on the environment and local communities, especially when banks support industries that use fossil fuels, cause deforestation, and engage in mineral extraction. Furthermore, inequality in the financial system widens the gap between the rich and the poor. While clients with abundant resources receive maximum benefits and support, individuals and small businesses find it very difficult to access necessary capital from banks.

Similarly, the stock market, one of the capital channels of the economy, is also a place that creates opportunities for speculation and the pursuit of short-term profits, contributing to inequality and unsustainable impacts on the environment and society (many companies listed on the stock exchange may be involved in industries that pollute the environment or exploit labor). Not to mention, the success of the stock market does not necessarily reflect the true sustainability and efficiency of the economy.

Therefore, we also need to rethink how we use our money. Typically, we don't know much about options outside of traditional financial markets like banking and the stock market. Thus, we will also introduce other approaches and alternative models, such as ethical banking, community banking, green investing, impact investing, slow investing, and socially responsible investing. These are alternative choices that aim for regeneration, and the benefit and sustainability of society, people, and nature.

By making different choices in our approach to money, we can co-create a smaller-scale economy that is kinder, more generous, more cooperative, and more regenerative. Crucially, it can help restore true wealth in the community: meaningful relationships, businesses and individuals contributing to society, and the regeneration of real assets like land, rivers, and forests. This will be the foundation for a sustainable and happy world, serving both humanity and the planet.

Starting with these aspirations and concerns—how to equip everyone with basic knowledge of personal finance and financial education to achieve financial security, and furthermore, to create regenerative and humanistic financial approaches—the Money IQ - Money EQ program was created by Vcil Community to realize these hopes.

FORMAT: Online via Zoom

SCHEDULE: From September 8 to October 3, 2025, every Monday and Friday evening (8 sessions in total). Each session runs from 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM.

TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE:

MODULE 1: MONEY IQ - KNOWLEDGE OF MONEY & PERSONAL FINANCE

• General principles of the personal financial planning process

• Building a financial roadmap

• Personal financial statements

• What is money, what is the nature of money?

• Entrepreneurial spirit

• Financial risk management

• Using financial tools (banking, stocks, insurance) for personal goals

• Debt management

• Investment portfolio structure

MODULE 2: MONEY IQ - PERSONAL FINANCE FOR A WELLBEING AND REGENERATIVE ECONOMY

• How the current economic and financial system causes social and environmental problems

• Reimagining work: Understanding Deadlihood vs. Alivelihood (Right Livelihood)

• Alternative financial narratives: ethical banking, impact investing, community banking, socially responsible investing, etc.

MODULE 3: MONEY EQ - OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY

• Assessing your relationship with money - how to upgrade it to a healthy one

• Abundance mindset vs. scarcity mindset

• Happy money and sad money

• Money as life energy

COURSE FEE:

• For Vcil Community Members:

  • Choose your contribution level from 0 - 2,900,000 VND for members of over 1 year.

  • 1,500,000 VND for members of less than 1 year.

• For the Public: 2,900,000 VND

Contact Information:

• Facebook: Vcil Community

• Zalo/Whatsapp/Phone: 0768217586 (Vu)

• Email: vcil.group@gmail.com