Stress Test

Many Canadians have become first-time pet owners since the pandemic. But with the price of pet food and vet costs soaring, owners are struggling to afford their COVID companions. In this episode, Roma speaks to Shawn Morey, the executive director of the Peterborough Humane Society. We’re also joined by two people that became first-time pet owners in their 20s.

During the pandemic, employees had the upper hand in the job market. But the balance of power has shifted back to employers. They’re more hesitant to hire, less willing to offer remote work and less generous with what they are offering. We hear from a recent grad who applied for more than 100 jobs before landing a role, and a recently laid off tech worker with over a decade of experience. And Rob talks to Jermaine L. Murray, a Toronto-based tech recruiter and career coach.

The urge to splurge is universal. After the bleakness of the pandemic, people are spending more on the big and little things that bring them joy. But there are healthy ways to manage splurge-spending that don't leave you buried in debt. In this episode, we hear from a Swiftie with a “Taylor Swift" concert obsession. And Roma speaks with Shannon Lee Simmons, a certified financial planner and founder of the New School of Finance.

Guest Victor Tran, an Ontario-based mortgage broker, discusses the challenges faced by homeowners with soaring mortgage rates. Topics include the impact on variable rate mortgage holders, financial strain, decision-making for a variable rate mortgage, financial challenges and anxiety, and the impact on young homebuyers. The podcast also explores renewing a mortgage and affordability challenges.

Financial planner Jay Zigmont joins two women who embrace the DINK (Double Income, No Kids) lifestyle to discuss the benefits of being child-free. They explore the financial impact of raising children, the freedom and choices that come with not having kids, and the importance of planning for the future care independently. The podcast also delves into the societal pressures faced by those who choose to be child-free and the advantages of prioritizing careers and financial freedom.

Canadians are living with roommates for longer due to high rent costs. Soaring house prices have people searching for roommates in their 30s. We hear from women in Vancouver, Toronto, and Halifax about their experiences. Living with roommates helps make ends meet in today's rental market.

What does the “new normal” look like these days? In a period of soaring costs and rampant uncertainty, it means spending a larger chunk of your income on housing—whether that’s high rent or supercharged mortgage payments. Here to help you make sense of it all, join hosts Rob Carrick and Roma Luciw for another season of Stress Test, The Globe’s personal finance podcast for Gen Z and millennials. Also coming up this season: how to talk to your family about inheritance, the economics of child-free couples, and the splurges that are bringing you joy.

After years of soaring home prices, there was hope that rising interest rates would lead to lower prices in 2023 and give young Canadians an entry point into the market . And while they did go down, higher mortgage rates have left housing as unaffordable as ever. For those without family help or oversized paycheques, buying a home is just not financially realistic. We’re dedicating the last episode of this season of Stress Test to exploring why people are giving up on homeownership and how they see their financial future.

Student debt is a growing problem in Canada - one that’s set to get worse in the coming years. And although tuition has crept higher, it’s the soaring cost of rent and everyday living that's causing the trouble. So what should students consider before making decisions for their post-secondary lives? Paul Kershaw, founder of Generation Squeeze and a professor at the University of British Columbia, describes how expensive student life has become - and how students are coping. We also hear from a 33-year-old who graduated 10 years ago with $40,000 in student debt, which she’s still paying off. Plus, The Globe’s personal finance reporter Erica Alini shares how rent in both large and small cities is changing the Canadian student experience.

It’s tough to save money to invest in the first place, so it stings to watch your investments drop. If you’ve started in the last few years, you’ve just seen your first large ups and downs in the stock market. So how do you know if you’re on the right track? And how do you keep emotions in check? A 38-year-old from Mississauga who started investing during the pandemic shares how he handled the rollercoaster ride and what he’s learned. And Rob speaks to Darryl Brown, an independent investment consultant, about why investors are nervous and how they can better endure big swings in the stock market.