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Rating
5from
This podcast has
56 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
CBCExplicit
No
Date created
2019/08/01
Latest episode
2026/10/16
Average duration
27 min.
Release period
7 days
Description
Money talks. We translate. Every Friday, Paul Haavardsrud looks at the way money shapes our lives in ways big, small, obvious, and unseen. From Big Macs to Big Banks, the Cost of Living connects the dots between the economy and everyday life.
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Check latest episodes from Cost of Living podcast
Are we too loyal to our loyalty programs?
2026/10/16
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.
How much can you save by welding a piggybank shut?
2026/10/09
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)
What the U.S. bond market means for your mortgage
2026/10/03
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.
We avoided an oil crisis. Then diesel prices spiked.
2026/09/26
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?
Has Canada won over global investors?
2026/09/19
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.
BONUS REPLAY: How to privatize a Canadian airport
2026/09/15
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?
Does the economy really matter to Alberta separatists?
2026/09/12
Most economists say Alberta is in for hard times if it splits from Canada. But dire predictions don't seem to faze true believers. So, how much influence can economic analysis have on this vote — or any other? Plus, how to spot Airbnb listings that have been enhanced by artificial intelligence. And, why more kids should run lemonade stands!
Why do we board planes front to back?
2026/09/04
It's our Labour Day Q & A show! We're tackling some questions you posed — like, why are vitamin bottles so big when the contents are so small? Is it safe to rely on credit card benefits to cover rental car insurance? And why do we have to pay sales tax on donated goods if somebody else already paid tax on them?
We can't stop talkin' tariffs. But do Americans care?
2026/08/29
Canadians have to pay attention to the trade war — the majority of our exports go to the U.S. But what do Americans in the heart of the U.S. auto sector think? Also, we explain why more friends are opening joint bank accounts together and chat with actor Ben Mackenzie (Ryan from The O.C.) about his new anti-crypto documentary Everyone is Lying to You for Money.
After the trade deal collapse, what now?
2026/08/23
At the last minute, trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. have fallen apart. Now, with 50 per cent tariffs on some Canadian exports, Prime Minister Carney says we have no choice but to fight back. Former NAFTA negotiator Barry Appleton explains how that fight could go, and how things fell apart in the first place. Also, we look at what a continuing trade war could mean for small businesses and explain the in's and out's of doing a "credit lock" to protect yourself from scammers.
Why the siren call of the ice cream truck is hard to resist
2026/08/14
Craving a popsicle? Boxes of 'em are available at the grocery store. So why do we run for the ice cream truck like it's our last chance for frozen refreshment? We explore AI's growing influence in the music industry and whether it's really a problem. And we talk to Skyler Chan about his dreams of building a hotel on the moon. Yup. A moon hotel.
Guns vs. Butter
2026/08/08
Should Canada invest in guns (defence)? Or butter (schools, roads, hospitals)? Military spending is already way up in this country, and is expected to keep rising. Host Paul Haavardsrud discusses the implications of this with Eugene Lang at Queen's University. Plus, the phrase "hot girl walk" is trademarked in Canada. Yes, really. We look at the growing appeal of trademarking viral phrases. We also examine how the relationship between Scholastic, a for-profit U.S. company, and Canadian schools became so unshakeable.
Is Canada really poorer than Alabama? (Encore Edition)
2026/07/31
Sure, if you compare our economies based on GDP per capita. But is GDP per capita the best way to measure our standard of living? From donuts to chia seeds, we explore why so many products have their own national day on the calendar. Plus, is putting all your hard-earned cash into a house really the best decision for you? We explore the case for renting versus buying.
Why some prices go up when others go down (Encore Edition)
2026/07/24
The price of services, like haircuts, is climbing, but the price of some goods, like microwaves, is dropping. So what gives? Something called the Baumol effect. Also, we look at the growing popularity of "admin parties," and ask if being yourself at work can be a career-killer when Paul Haavardsrud speaks to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Don't Be Yourself: Why Authenticity is Overrated.
Are critical minerals over-hyped? (Encore Edition)
2026/07/17
Many see critical minerals as an untapped resource and major economic opportunity for Canada. But could their real value be more strategic than economic? Plus, we explain how all the weird food ends up at HomeSense and Winners, and look at what's behind the resurgence of old-school film cameras.
Podcast reviews
Read Cost of Living podcast reviews
Bruindude88 2026/01/31
Hy-un-dai?
Why doesn’t Hyundai have an auto plant in Canada? Maybe because you can’t even pronounce it right
ribren 2025/06/28
Great informative economics programme
Happy that we have such great programming coming out of Canada
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