Not Just Money

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

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

In this episode of Not Just Money, Li and Doretta dive deep into retail therapy, revenge spending, and the emotional drivers behind the purchases we make when life feels overwhelming. From dopamine hits to pent‑up demand, compensatory consumption, and the post‑COVID “spending with a vengeance” phenomenon, this conversation unpacks why we shop when we’re stressed—and how to stop the cycle before it wrecks your future.

Drawing from personal stories and research, they explore how emotional spending works, why it escalates, and how to recognize when it’s no longer harmless. As Doretta puts it, “the relief feels real, but it’s short‑lived” and often leads to guilt, debt, and delayed goals. Li shares her own experiences with “the hunt,” bargain chasing, and the thrill of the cart—plus the moment she realized her purchases had “such a low utility” once the dopamine faded.

You’ll learn:

The psychology behind retail therapy and revenge spending

Why men splurge just as much as women—and often spend more

How compensatory consumption backfires (“I’ve a drawer full of special notebooks…”)

Why post‑COVID spending surged globally

How scarcity mindset fuels compulsive sale shopping

Practical ways to break the cycle: friction, cooling‑off periods, trigger tracking, and future‑self thinking

Whether you’re a comfort shopper, a sale chaser, or someone who’s ever said “I deserve this,” this episode helps you understand the emotional roots of spending—and how to reclaim control without deprivation.

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.

In this episode of Not Just Money, Li and Doretta dive into one of the most important—and most avoided—topics in modern relationships: financial compatibility. Whether you’re dating casually, searching for a life partner, or navigating the early stages of cohabitation, this conversation breaks down how money shapes relationships long before marriage—and how ignoring it can lead to disaster.

Drawing from lived experience, listener stories, and real‑world cautionary tales, they explore why finances matter so deeply in partnership, why 70% of divorces stem from money issues, and how to spot trouble early. As Doretta puts it, “coupling up can absolutely make you a financial force… but it can also lead you to financial disaster.” And Li adds her signature bluntness: “No money, no honey.”

You’ll learn:

How to identify financial alignment before you’re in too deep

Why “peer marriages” are rising—and what that means for modern couples

The three stages of testing financial compatibility (observation → values → negotiation)

How to start money conversations without killing the vibe

The biggest financial red flags in dating:

Lifestyle creep

Hidden debt

“Too fast, too soon” merging of finances

Partners who use money as an emotional test

Pressure to co‑sign loans or share credit

Resistance to your financial independence

Why gut checks matter more than chemistry

How to protect yourself—and your future—while dating in a world of apps, ghosting, and curated personas

This episode is candid, funny, and packed with practical guidance for anyone navigating love and money. Whether you’re single, dating, or partnered, it will help you spot danger early, build healthier conversations, and choose relationships that support—not sabotage—your financial wellbeing.

In this episode of Not Just Money, Li and Doretta dig into one of the most misunderstood truths in personal finance: your relationship status has a massive impact on your financial trajectory. Whether you’re single, dating, common‑law, or married, the numbers tell a story—and the story is big.

Drawing on fresh data from Statistics Canada, they unpack why couples have 3–4× higher household net worth than singles, why the gap peaks between ages 45–64, and how the “single supplement” quietly drains wealth over time. As Doretta notes, “a couple living in a $1M home is effectively living in two $500K condos if you split it”—a stark illustration of how shared costs shape standard of living.

You’ll learn:

Why singles pay an average $6,700 more per year for the same lifestyle

How fixed costs, travel, subscriptions, and everyday essentials are priced for couples

Why marrying later—and living together first—is reshaping wealth patterns

The financial superpowers of couples: shared goals, shared costs, shared resilience

How values, communication, and transparency determine whether couples thrive or struggle

Why 70% of divorces involve money issues

How to build financial strength whether you’re single or partnered

Li shares her own experience navigating money conversations before marriage (“one of the first things he said was: I have no debts”), while Doretta reflects on decades of observing how couples succeed—or fall apart—based on how they handle money, stress, and honesty.

This episode is a candid, data‑driven, and deeply relatable look at how love, lifestyle, and money intersect. Whether you’re happily single, newly dating, or long‑term partnered, it will help you understand the financial realities behind modern relationships—and how to make smart choices for your future.

Link from the show

RBC Cost of Being Single: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/my-money-matters/life-events/finances-and-relationships/marriage/where-did-my-money-go-the-cost-of-being-single-in-canada/

In this special listener‑mail edition of Not Just Money, Li goes solo and digs into the questions, comments, and confessions you’ve sent our way. From skincare samples to knee surgery costs, restaurant review scams, RESPs, retirement fears, and the hard truth about why some people simply cannot save, this episode covers the real‑life financial challenges listeners are facing.

Li reads your messages and responds with honesty, humour, and lived experience—whether it’s the cost of staying healthy (“my mother got a new knee… there’s been a lot of costs”), the pressure of online reviews (“I got accosted at this one restaurant… please give us five stars”), or the emotional punch of realizing you finally have enough.

You’ll hear:

Why saving is impossible for some—even when they’re doing everything “right”

How healthcare costs add up even under universal coverage

The truth about online reviews, freebies, and affiliate marketing

How parents are teaching kids about money through bank accounts and RESPs

Why retirement planning is shifting—and why most Canadians feel unprepared

What “Coast FIRE” is and how it reframes long‑term financial independence

This episode is candid, warm, and full of practical insights from real listeners. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re the only one struggling with money questions, this mailbag proves you’re absolutely not.

Links:

Opposable thumbs! https://www.ifaw.org/ca-en/journal/animals-opposable-thumbs

Survey on Retirement https://halifax.citynews.ca/2026/02/03/less-than-half-of-non-retired-canadians-have-workplace-pension-plan-report/

Warning: may elicit existential thoughts on life – from what do I want from life to who am I? A deeply circular conversation at times about the choices we make and what that says about us to ourselves and to others.

Our hosts will share their personal stories on seeking more and discuss ways to question our desires so that it leads to defining what is enough for each of us. Only then can we finally stop chasing the next corner thinking that is where our happiness lies.

Important books:

*Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

*Decent movie versions available

This week on part 2 of savings hacks, it is all about discretionary spending! From fashion, beauty and self-care, subscriptions, to the things in life that don’t cost money, we cover some well-known to obscure shortcuts to help you save your hard-earned money.

Links to Doretta’s deep dives:

Counterfeit goods: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2025/05/global-trade-in-fake-goods-reached-USD-467-billion-posing-risks-to-consumer-safety-and-compromising-intellectual-property.html

The counterfeit self study: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Counterfeit-Self-GinoNorton/1a69081adb12492d66932abad6f3b9ce2c89b2f4

The Sephora Generation: https://nielseniq.com/global/en/insights/analysis/2025/gen-beauty/

This week, we are covering simple saving hacks that can save you tons of money over the years. Who would have thought that a podcast on money would share tips on cooking and some of our favourite recipes? It happened.

Join us as we dive into all the ways you can review your spending with a different lens, and maybe just maybe, help you to squeeze out more from your budget or shine a light on your current spending habits. 

From food, household costs, and transportation. This is part 1!