If you’ve listened to our show over the last few seasons, you already know that soaring home prices have caused all kinds of problems for Gen Z and millennials looking to buy in big cities like Toronto and Vancouver. The search for more affordable housing sent some first-time buyers to smaller cities and towns. But how has that impacted the young Canadians who already lived in those places? What happens to affordability for locals with home ownership dreams? In this episode, Rob and Roma finally leave their home studios and hit the road with the rest of the Stress Test team to find the real story in Belleville, Ontario.

Your favourite personal finance podcast is back for a fourth season. Join hosts Rob Carrick and Roma Luciw as they talk to real people and experts to tackle the money questions that have been on your mind. Coming up this season: what rising inflation means for you, those ‘buy now pay later’ options you’re seeing everywhere and of course, housing. Listen to the trailer and catch up on previous episodes now.

Investing has been one of the biggest financial stories of the pandemic. There was the stock market crash in March 2020, followed by a huge rebound. We’ve heard about meme stocks and cryptocurrencies. But what does it all mean for Gen Z and millennials? In the final episode of season three, we hear from listeners about their investment stories and how they reacted to all the ups and downs during COVID-19.

One way to cut housing costs is for multiple generations of a family to live together: often children, their parents and their grandparents. The concept isn’t new and it has many benefits, including affordability in expensive housing markets. But how do you make it work both financially and personally? We hear from a family that moved three generations into a home they designed and built in North Bay, Ont. Plus, Rob talks to Murtaza Haider, a professor of real estate management at Ryerson University, and real estate consultant Stephen Moranis about what multigenerational housing looks like in Canada. They also look at tips for people who want to move forward with this type of housing arrangement.

Paying for childcare is not the first or second thing that comes to mind when you decide to start a family. So how do you plan for the impending costs that can be so high in Canada that some call it “the second mortgage”? We hear from Kristi, a 34-year-old who made the move from Saskatchewan to Victoria, B.C., with her husband during the pandemic while juggling debt, a new job, unemployment - and their first baby. Plus, Roma talks to Janine Rogan, a Calgary-based chartered professional accountant with a six-month-old at home. Janine breaks down how to financially prepare for the cost of daycare.

The pandemic ruined many wedding plans. But even before that, a culmination of peer pressure and over-the-top consumerism had pushed the cost of weddings sky-high. It's made some couples ask: What is a wedding worth? We hear from Jasmine, a glamorous but cost-conscious millennial who got married just as the world first shut down during COVID-19. Plus, Karen Cleveland, co-author of the book called The New Wedding Book: A Guide To Ditching All the Rules, talks with Roma about the need to rethink weddings from a personal finance perspective.

Fewer spontaneous coffees, commuting costs and vacations have left some with a tidy sum in their savings. This week, we're sharing an episode of The Decibel, The Globe and Mail's daily podcast hosted by Tamara Khandaker. In this episode, Rob and Roma join Tamara to talk about what to do with new-found savings, the meaning of "revenge spending" and how to stave off FOMO in a post-vaccine world.

A lot of people feel uncomfortable negotiating with their boss for a raise and other perks. But if you don’t ask, you won’t get. And it’s definitely a lot easier to save money if you’re making more of it. We hear from a group of friends (who tell each other everything) as they discuss their recent experiences asking for a raise. Plus, Roma talks to Hadiya Roderique, who taught negotiation at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and also was a lawyer. She shares her tips on how to make your case like an expert.

How much does it cost to be single? And how do you set yourself up for financial success with half the earning power? We hear from a 34-year old woman who experienced a breakup and realized the importance of having financial independence regardless of your relationship status — and figured it out. Plus, Rob speaks to Bridget Casey, founder of personal-finance blog Money After Graduation, for money advice specific to singles.

Here’s the dilemma: The real estate market is too hot where you are but you still want to buy a home. During the pandemic, there has been a surge of Canadians who are leaving big cities in search of real estate - and we mean really leaving. What happens when you go off the beaten trail in search of buying an affordable home? We hear from Jordan Owens, a 30-something world traveler, who made the move from Toronto to Saint John, New Brunswick – and bought a home for $99,000. Plus, Rob and Roma delve into poll data that shows just how popular this trend has become.