Advertise on podcast: Millennial Money

Moving out of the big city for somewhere more affordable has become a common topic of conversation among Toronto millennials. Is it worth giving up the perks of the city for a lower cost of living and shorter commutes? We speak to a woman named Sydney who’s leaving the city she was born in in search of a lower-stress and less costly lifestyle. Then we speak to money expert Jessica Moorhouse, host of the "More Money" podcast, about how to navigate this question and make the most of life in Toronto despite the rising costs of just about everything. This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany. What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.

Canadians are more in debt than ever before but we rarely talk about it openly. Shame, embarrassment and despair can make it too scary to look at. On this episode, a millennial opens up about how she’s fallen into a spiral of debt that overwhelms her and makes it difficult for her to map an escape route. Then, Shannon Lee Simmons, author of "Living Debt-Free" and founder of the New School of Finance, shares some tips on how to practically and philosophically tackle debt while making necessary space to enjoy your life as you do it. This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany. What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.

Yonni and Kayla have been together for 15 years. They’re unmarried but they’ve combined their money and freely share their assets, even though only one of them has the house in their name and one of them has the car in theirs. Is this set up financially smart in the long run? Or does it benefit one over the other? Family lawyer Heather Hansen, partner at McCarthy Hansen & Company LLP, shares how getting married may affect your finances for better or for worse. This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.

In the last couple of years, Lee’s side hustle has taken off and she thinks she has a real chance of making it her full time gig. Opportunities are starting to appear and that’s exciting but how does she properly capitalize to help make her business grow? Should she get an HST number or become incorporated? What are the pros and cons of both? How do you grow a business when you have passion and some viability but don’t have much business experience? Janet Gray from Money Coaches Canada shares financial  steps to consider when launching a business (even, and especially, if you don’t really know how to do that).  This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany  

Like many of us, Amy learned about trigonometry in school but nothing about the basics of financial literacy of investing. And she didn’t have any financial models growing up; no one she knew really had any money. But recently, Amy got an unexpected chunk of cash. Now, for the first time, she’s trying to learn how to make it grow before she spends it all.  Jason Heath, Managing Director of Objective Financial Partners, Inc., shares practical advice on how to start planning for your financial future, regardless of how much money you have in the bank. This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany  

jes sachse has been fighting an eviction for about two years. And they’re not alone. As rent and property prices soar, eviction is a threat for many Torontonians.  Geordie Dent, Executive Director of the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations, lays out your options when you’re faced with an eviction. We also explore the potential financial implications of complying with an eviction notice, or fighting it.  This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany.

How much money should you spend on dating when it’s a struggle to keep up with the bills? A 32-year-old fashion designer opens up about the financial pressures women face on the dating scene, and what it’s like looking for love with a tight budget. Financial expert Melissa Leong, author of Happy Go Money, provides some practical advice for keeping costs under control without having to sabotage your love life.  This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.

Maria was saving up to freeze her eggs, but some tough financial decisions forced her to change her plans. Competing financial priorities as an adult makes her wonder: travel, own a home or have a kid - does she have to choose just one? Personal finance and travel expert Barry Choi offers practical advice on how to balance the life you want while also planning for kids. He also talks about the financial and emotional cost he and his partner experienced while going though the IVF process and the real cost of having a kid. Returning for its third season, "Millennial Money" host and Toronto Star business reporter Ghada Alsharif speaks to fellow millennials about relatable financial dilemmas that are often taboo or embarrassing but that many are grappling with behind closed doors. Alsharif then brings the topic straight to an expert to work out some options. This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany What you would like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.

Millennials face an unprecedented financial landscape in modern life. They’ve been told all along there are financial markers to being a grown-up: owning a home, having kids, travelling, having some kind of social life. But for many millennials, lots of those things feel well out of reach. Returning for its third season, the “Millennial Money” podcast is doing things differently this time around. New host and Toronto Star business reporter Ghada Alsharif speaks to fellow millennials about relatable financial dilemmas that are usually taboo or embarrassing, that everyone is grappling with behind closed doors. Alsharif will then bring the topic straight to an expert to work out some options. Episode 1 will be available Wednesday, Dec. 6 on podcast platforms or at thestar.com/millennialmoneypodcast.    

At 37 years old, Paula is earning $92,000 a year working in tech, But, she’s spent years battling more than $60,000 in debt. Paula bought a piece of land in 2021 and wanted to build a small house on it, but hasn’t been able to find the time or funds to do so. Evy Kwong speaks with financial adviser Jason Heath for recommendations. All of our participants have been granted anonymity, and so we’ll be using voice actors for their quotes.

With only a high school diploma in hand, Karan sought bank jobs that didn’t require a university degree, and ended up taking an internship at a major bank as an IT project co-ordinator. Now, at 19 years old, he works two jobs, taking in around $83,000 a year working from home for both companies. He’s always had goals to start his own financial consultancy business by his mid-20s but his most immediately goal is to buy his parents a house. Evy Kwong speaks with financial adviser Jason Heath for recommendations. All of our participants have been granted anonymity, and so we’ll be using voice actors for their quotes.

The past two years have tough on Jodie, a 29-year-old bartender living in Toronto. Between restaurant closures, Jodie had been surviving off a federal benefit of around $270 a week before returning to work recently. On top of this, she and her mother dealt with more rough news at the end of 2021: COVID-19 had claimed the lives of her grandparents. A strange, silver lining, though Jodie says she often feels guilty, is money that her grandparents left her after they passed.