Cost of Living

On this week’s Kvetch of Living — you complain, we explain. Listeners share what steams their claims (economically speaking)! Like, tipping on top of sales taxes, paying phone bills in advance and the nightmare of customer service phone trees. No gripe is too petty in this cathartic, and educational, airing of your grievances.

Ottawa is spending more than ever on seniors’ benefits — more than $80 billion annually — and that’s only going to climb. So, is it time to look at OAS reform (again)? Plus, how the fashion industry is responding to a wave of people literally downsizing while using GLP-1’s. And, Paul Haavardsrud speaks to economist Chris Ragan about why the federal government needs to get a handle on the deficit now, before a crisis hits. 

For years, Greg Martel was running one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in Canadian history. He stole $300 million dollars. Then, he skipped town. Financial crime reporter Zak Vescera explains how Martel got away with it – and why Canada is ripe for this kind of crime. Also, how to play McDonald's Monopoly contest without ever buying a single fry. And how AI jargon like 'LLM' and 'hyperscaler' can make us tune out, even when we probably shouldn't.

Canada is leaning into the resource economy, spending billions on megaprojects. But could we be falling into the 'staple trap?' Again? Also, how many mini Mars bars have you crushed lately? We explain how Big Candy makes us powerless to resist those tiny Halloween treats. And, shoplifting has become a big expensive problem in Canada. We look at what it costs all of us.

Loyalty apps promise us deals and insider status, but how much information are we giving in return? Reece Rogers, a writer for WIRED magazine, dug into what McDonald’s knows about him — and whether his loyalty is paying off. Plus, how music residencies are changing the concert tour and a look at why reverse mortgage debt in Canada is on the rise.

You'll find out when you tune into our super duper savings show! Also, we look at how much Canadians need to save to enjoy retirement and explore why we over-value the things we save (like Beanie Babies). Plus, we hear from a money coach who says if you want to save big — you need to think big. So, don't sweat the small stuff and go ahead and order that latte. (This episode originally aired June 28, 2026)

This week, we unravel the befuddling world of U.S. bond yields (it'll be fun, we promise!) and explain why and how they're influencing Canadian lending rates. Also, how do you take your coffee? Black? Iced? Instant? If you picked that last one, you're part of a growing number of caffeinated Canadians. Plus, a brief history of the weekend. 

When the Strait of Hormuz closed, many feared the worst. Analysts predicted oil could hit $200 a barrel, ushering in a global energy crisis. That hasn't happened, but it doesn't mean we're out of the woods. Also, are Pokémon cards a good investment, or are collectors being played? And — what it's really like to go bankrupt?

Mark Carney is rolling out tax breaks and opening some airports to private money in an attempt to woo foreign investors. Between those moves and a proposed cinq-à-sept with Europe, a lot of stuff went down this week. We ask Rob Russo, Canadian correspondent for The Economist, what it all means. Plus, a look at the rise of vertical films and the one thing that seems to be uniting Canadians: a growing dislike for data centres.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will open Canada's four largest airports to some private investment. It's been done before in other countries, like England and Spain. In this replay from last May, we look at one of the world's most successful models for privatizing airports and ask: what could Canada learn from it?