Not Just Money

24 Taxes – A Canadian’s guide to a love/hate relationship

When we talk about taxes in Canada, it is often about how high they are and how can we minimize the taxes we pay as individuals or corporations but what about the other side? Where does this money go? Who controls it?
In today’s episode, our hosts talk about what a progressive tax system means, breaks down where YOUR money/taxes go, and how you can have a say of how it gets spent.
As we near April 30th – make sure to file your taxes (seriously)! And this year, take these 30 minutes to learn about the Canadian tax system and how it supports our happiness, civil society, and wealth equalization.
Links:
Why you pay taxes: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/educational-programs/purpose-taxes.html
Canada Spends: https://canadaspends.com/en/tax-visualizer?province=ON&income=100000&year=2025

23 Is happiness about money?

What does it mean when rich countries start sliding down the World Happiness Index? This year, Canada drops to 23rd from 18th place. Before that, they comfortably sat at #5. 
What happened? Did we collectively get crankier? Have things changed so drastically? Where would you sit on the ladder of happy? Join our co-hosts as they dive into both the complexities and the simplicity of what happiness is, and most importantly, what’s money got to do with it?
Links:
The World Happiness Report https://www.worldhappiness.report/
Canadian happiness stats https://data.worldhappiness.report/country/CAN

22 Push-pops, auctions, and condoms – your queries answered

Doretta and Li go through the mail bag in this episode. From listeners who called them out on some of their stories/comments to those who provided their own helpful savings hacks. Join our hosts as they read the mail and share their answers in real time. Sometimes the questions and their answers surprised even themselves!
And don't miss the riveting finale of the push-pop saga.

21 Mortgage talks, along with 1.5 million Canadians

Almost 60% of Canadians have or will be renewing their mortgages in short order. This week’s episode dives into Li’s own mortgage renewal drama. Mortgages are complicated and go beyond what your rate is. There is often a lot more to consider before getting into one and renewing one. Hear about the horror stories of sharing names and birthdays with other people and their assets to getting approved for too much home.
Warning: Mortgages are not a joke and is generally considered to be the biggest debt you will take on in your lifetime. Make sure to get professional advice from an accredited mortgage broker or mortgage specialist.
We are off next week – for those of you who celebrate Easter, have a great holiday! See you in two weeks.

20 Heartbroken and robbed: romance scams

Being a victim of a scam is awful enough. Being a victim of a romance scam is infinitely worse. March is Fraud Awareness Month! Join us this week as we peer behind the curtain to shine a light on who these scammers are versus who they profess to be. We hope these stories and warnings serve as an early detection sign for you or someone you know that may have been targeted. These scams are sophisticated and rehearsed, and they might be hiding behind a screen near you. Don’t be left penniless and betrayed, be skeptical and a little paranoid, because some things are definitely too good to be true.
Links:
Scam Inc. https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/scam-inc
National Geographic Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller – Romance Scams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XfCVk2gZCY
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm OR 1-888-495-8501
National Cybercrime coordination Centre https://rcmp.ca/en/federal-policing/cybercrime/national-cybercrime-coordination-centre
Royal Canadian Mounted Police https://rcmp.ca/en

19 Teaching kids in a cashless world

We all struggle with money so how do we impart the good habits and help our kids steer away from the bad ones? This March break season, take a moment to check in with you child and see how you can incorporate money lessons early on, to help them develop the skills that will make them money-savvy adults. The time to start is now, now, now, now… now. And it is never too late! Whether your child just started school or they have already left it behind, there is a teachable moment applicable to them!
Looking for tips to start the conversation on money, go back to episode 7: Starting money conversations with kids

18 Spending with a Vengeance: The Official Release

Revenge spending is a term that crops up time and time again in the media - and not as a high-octane movie. What is it? Where did it come from? And what does that behaviour do to our financial wellbeing? Join our hosts this week as we dive into the origins of revenge spending – hint: it didn’t come out of COVID, and what impacts it has on our money mindset. Revenge spending might feel good in the moment, but what are its long-term implications? Can we ever break the habit once we are sucked in?

17 Money Regrets: wisdom to avoid your own tragedy

Ever wonder where people share their money regrets? Doretta does a deep dive on where to look online to learn about the pitfalls you’ll want to avoid yourself. Who has the biggest money regrets? Is it age related or income related? Our hosts look at the studies and the stories of people’s worst money regrets hoping that if you learn it, you won’t have to live it.