You may have seen recent headlines about Canada's economy adding 47,000 new jobs in September and full-time employment seeing the largest gain in two years. These numbers sound positive, but do they tell the full story? What does this mean for people currently looking for work? And how does it help, or hinder, those who are currently employed but hoping for a raise or promotion? GUEST: Emily Durham is a career coach and host of The Straight Shooter Recruiter podcast. Do you have a topic that's c...
Oct 24, 2024•16 min•Ep. 48
Credit card debt has been skyrocketing among many Canadians, basically since the pandemic began. And while it would be nice to be able to go without it, that's not a reality for many of us. So how do you sort through the hundreds of cards out there—and their various rewards, annual fees and interest rates—and choose one that actually works for you? We speak to Shannon Terrell, who's sifted through every card out there for NerdWallet, to find out how you can end up in a better financial place. Do...
Oct 17, 2024•19 min•Ep. 47
New data shows that consumer insolvency rates in Canada are approaching highs not seen since the financial crisis of 2008-09. Why are so many Canadians going broke? Will falling interest rates help change that? How can you tell if you're dangerously close to the edge, and what should you do about it if you are? We speak to licensed insolvency trustee, Doug Hoyes, to help understand the rising numbers and current options. Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy? We'll be happy ...
Oct 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 46
The federal government has announced changes to mortgage amortizations and insurance rules, calling them “the most significant mortgage reforms in decades.” But what do these changes really mean for new home buyers? And existing ones? Will they help with the affordability crisis, or focus more on accessibility? GUEST: Angela Calla, accredited mortgage professional and author of 'The Mortgage Code' Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy? We'll be happy to dig into it for you a...
Sep 26, 2024•15 min•Ep. 45
It's been quite a long (and expensive!) journey, but the latest numbers show that the inflation rate in Canada has finally fallen to the Bank of Canada's "target rate" for the first time in more than three years. So does that mean all our troubles are over? Why is two percent the ideal target for the BoC? And what does this data tell us about the economy we'll be living in for the next several months? GUEST: Mike Eppel, 680 News Sr. Business Editor Do you have a topic that's confounding you in t...
Sep 19, 2024•11 min•Ep. 44
After years of shortages, dealership lots are finally full of new vehicles again. The question is if this will bring down prices that spiked during the pandemic? In this episode of Today, In This Economy, we chat with Driving.ca columnist Lorraine Sommerfeld about what to expect in the marketplace and everything you need to know about buying a new or used car this fall. (We're hard at work on a new season of In This Economy?!—but this fall we're also introducing shorter episodes that let our exp...
Sep 14, 2024•14 min•Ep. 43
This episode first aired on In This Economy?! in March 2023. We thought you might enjoy the listen while the show is on a short break. Netflix. Disney+. Prime. Apple TV+. Spotify. Newspapers. Magazines. Video games. Substacks. A secret caller (hint: you know him!) has a minor subscription addiction and needs help getting his spending under control. Jordan asks Barry Hertz, Deputy Arts Editor and Film Editor for The Globe and Mail, to explain the subscription boom we're living in, and learn a few...
Aug 31, 2024•35 min•Ep. 40
This episode first aired on In This Economy?! in January 2023. We thought you might enjoy the listen while the show is on a short break. Suki is in the market for her first car. She would like to purchase an electric vehicle but doesn't know if she can really afford it. Jordan interviews an auto industry expert to better understand current market trends and develop a roadmap for buying a car right now. Frances has been a freelancer for the past 10 years. In that time she's never been able to sti...
Aug 17, 2024•32 min•Ep. 39
This episode first aired on In This Economy?! in November 2023. We thought you might enjoy the listen while the show is on a short break. Suki is in the market for her first car. She would like to purchase an electric vehicle but doesn't know if she can really afford it. Jordan interviews an auto industry expert to better understand current market trends and develop a roadmap for buying a car right now. Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy? We'll be happy to dig into it for...
Aug 03, 2024•39 min•Ep. 38
This episode originally aired on In This Economy?! December 2023. We thought you might enjoy the listen while the show is on a short break. Anna has $9000 in credit card debt and needs help getting her spending under control. Jordan talks to money expert, Tori Dunlap, about why our collective credit card debt is rising and how users can avoid accumulating more debt than they can handle. Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy? We'll be happy to dig into it for you and get you ...
Jul 20, 2024•37 min•Ep. 37
This episode first aired on The Big Story June 20, 2024. We thought you might enjoy the listen while In This Economy?! is on pause for the summer. The Liberals say their changes to the capital gains tax mean that Canada's ultra rich will pay a little more, money they can easily afford. The Conservatives say the Liberals are taxing small business owners and Canadians already struggling to get by. Who's right? What if they both are? The changes to the tax were bound to become a political football:...
Jul 11, 2024•25 min•Ep. 36
This is our last episode until the fall, so we thought we'd use the time to reflect on what we've learned so far, answer some of your feedback and talk about what's coming up next. In the meantime, we'll be revisiting a few of our earlier episodes and providing occasional news updates on events that matter to your wallet. Another Interest rate cut?! In this economy?! Thanks for listening and talk to you in September! Do you have a topic that's confounding you in this economy? We'll be happy to d...
Jun 27, 2024•18 min•Ep. 35
This month, schools across the country will be closing for the summer. And the kids? Well, their parents will have to figure out what to do with them. Nowadays, there's a lot of pressure to register kids for expensive camps and classes, but is all that really necessary? Can the kids just do nothing all summer? Jordan speaks with Alyson Schafer, one of Canada's leading parenting experts, to find some affordable ways to make sure the kids are safe and occupied this holiday. Here's a link to the ep...
Jun 20, 2024•31 min•Ep. 34
Tova wrote into the show expressing frustration with the price of clothes at brick and mortar stores. She wants to shop online but doesn't like the hassles associated with making returns. Tova's email got us thinking about our own evolving shopping habits and what it means for both the economy and the environment. Do we need to reframe how we think about buying clothes? Jordan talks to Kelly Drennan, the founder of Fashion Takes Action, a non profit organization that's devoted to advancing susta...
Jun 13, 2024•27 min•Ep. 32
On Wednesday the Bank of Canada lowered its key interest rate for the first time in four years, after months spent at a 20-plus year high. The cut was just a quarter-point, but it could be a signal that easier economic times are on the way for millions of Canadians struggling with servicing their debt. So what does this latest cut mean right now, and what might it mean in the future? And is this the start of a trend, or could the bank decide to walk it back later this year? GUEST: David, senior ...
Jun 06, 2024•23 min•Ep. 33
Cheap. Entitled. Greedy. Those are just a few things that come to mind when one thinks about a landlord. But have you ever considered becoming one? According to data collected by the Canadian Real Estate Association, the current average cost of a house in Canada is just over $700 thousand dollars. Simultaneously, the cost of renting remains at an all-time high. Buying a house that has a basement unit, or something you can rent out to help cover your mortgage, might seem like an appealing option....
May 30, 2024•23 min•Ep. 31
Summer is around the corner, and a lot of us are dreaming of a holiday. But post pandemic it feels like everything has skyrocketed. So how can you still have a fun and meaningful family vacation in this economy? Natalie Preddie is a writer and a TV personality who specializes in travel. As a seasoned traveler herself, whether that's solo or with a family, on a plane or in a train, she is full of tips for how to make that dream of vacation a reality. Do you have a topic that's confounding you in ...
May 23, 2024•29 min•Ep. 30
We're in the middle of a month in which thousands of Canadians have sworn to boycott any store or product produced by Loblaw Companies Ltd. That includes an awful lot of stores and products, and would require some severe changing of habits. Which is why it probably won't work. It seems that every week we're encouraged to boycott something, but how many of these protests actually result in change from the targeted company, any why? What should Canadians who want to encourage companies like Loblaw...
May 18, 2024•19 min•Ep. 29
Patrick's family member is diagnosed with bipolar disorder and addicted to cocaine stimulants. Patrick and his wife have been trying to fund treatment through private means but are running out of money. They are worried long wait times and delays in the public system will be a barrier to care for their beloved family member. Jordan speaks to Nadeem Esmail, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute who has studied the current state of mental health care in Canada and how we compare to other nations. ...
May 16, 2024•26 min•Ep. 28
In 2017, the Ontario Liberal government instituted a basic income pilot where participants across the province would receive $1,400 a month for three years. That project has since been cancelled, but basic income, as an idea, continues to be brought up as a potential solution to our money problems. So, could it be? And how would it work in practice? Jordan invites health economist Evelyn Forget from the School of Medicine at the University of Manitoba on to find out. Forget has been studying the...
May 09, 2024•39 min•Ep. 27
A 44-year-old listener named Brian is wondering if retirement is a reality for him. And if it is, what that retirement will look like. Is it the image of cocktails on the beach and days spent playing golf that many of us associate with this stage of life? Or is it something a little different? Jordan speaks with Alyssa Brierley, Executive Director of the National Institute on Aging at Toronto Metropolitan University to help define what retirement looks like in this era. Do you have a topic that'...
May 02, 2024•25 min•Ep. 24
In pop culture, pre-nuptial agreements (or pre-nups) are usually talked about as something that protects a rich person from marrying a gold digger. But these days, most of us don’t have much gold to dig for; that said, there are still things couples need to think about before combining finances. Jordan talks to Georgina Carson, a family lawyer and partner at Carson, Chousky and Lein to get the low-down on marriage and cohabitation contracts, and find out what steps couples should take when they ...
Apr 25, 2024•32 min•Ep. 26
We're off this week, but thought you might benefit from hearing this episode, which originally ran on The Big Story April 16, 2024. In the weeks leading up to Tuesday's budget announcement, the federal government has been hammering a message that this document would make life more affordable for Canadians. Does it accomplish that? What's in here that will matter to your wallet in the months to come? What takes aim at trying to bring down the cost of living over the next several years? And who's ...
Apr 18, 2024•22 min•Ep. 25
More and more Canadians are struggling to afford the costs associated with the death of a loved one. In Newfoundland, a recent news report reveals bodies are piling up in a freezer outside of a morgue for this reason. Jordan talks to Erin Bury, CEO and co-founder of Willful, a digital estate planning app that aims to make estate planning more accessible and affordable. Do you have a money problem? Call us and leave a message at 416-935-5935. Or email us at hello@itepod.ca. You can also find us o...
Apr 11, 2024•30 min•Ep. 23
Should I put my savings into an RRSP? If I do that, will I pay less taxes? What happens if I want to access that money before I retire? These are just a few of the RRSP-related questions we've received lately. So, here's everything you need to know about RRSPs in one episode. Just in time for tax season! With Jackie Porter, certified financial planner and ambassador for FP Canada, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to championing better financial wellness for all Canadians. Learn m...
Apr 04, 2024•30 min•Ep. 22
Frozen bank accounts, financial chaos, job loss, poverty. Those are all things Gonzalo witnessed while living through the largest foreign default in world history. Other than putting our current financial crisis into perspective, he wants to know if there’s anything we can learn from living through challenging times. Jordan speaks with David Coletto, founder and CEO of Abacus Data, and Tanya Woods, Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs and Policy Council at Questrade Financial Group, to find...
Mar 28, 2024•36 min•Ep. 21
Netflix. Disney+. Prime. Apple TV+. Spotify. Newspapers. Magazines. Video games. Substacks. A secret caller (hint: you know him!) has a minor subscription addiction and needs help getting his spending under control. Jordan asks Barry Hertz, Deputy Arts Editor and Film Editor for The Globe and Mail, to explain the subscription boom we're living in, and learn a few tips to avoid high fees. Do you have a money problem? Call us and leave a message at 416-935-5935. Or email us at hello@itepod.ca. You...
Mar 21, 2024•35 min•Ep. 20
Cody wants to find a new job, in a new industry, but doesn't have the qualifications listed on the job postings he's seeing. Alan feels trapped in his current job by an unstable and unpredictable market. They both want to know if now is a good time to change careers, and how they should go about the transition. To find out, Jordan reaches Alan Kearns, founder of CareerJoy, a firm that helps guide people through career transitions. Together they outline the costs that need to be considered when p...
Mar 14, 2024•32 min•Ep. 19
Olivia is going through a divorce. And while it has been amicable, splitting assets feels impossible, especially when it comes to the home they share. Jordan talks to Eva Sachs, the financial expert at The Modern Divorce, a Toronto company that helps couples reach divorce settlements without going to court. Do you have a money problem? Call us and leave a message at 416-935-5935 . Or email us at hello@itepod.ca . You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok @InThisEconomyPod . Don't forget to le...
Mar 07, 2024•40 min•Ep. 18
Matt is struggling to keep up with the cost of heating his home. And he's not alone, Canadians are reporting higher energy consumption costs across the country. Jordan calls Violet Kopperson, a registered energy advisor from the Windfall Ecology Centre, to find out how Canadians can pay less to heat and cool their homes. Do you have a money problem? Call us and leave a message at 416-935-5935 . Or email us at hello@itepod.ca . You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok @InThisEconomyPod . Don'...
Feb 29, 2024•33 min•Ep. 17
