Half Banked

The decision to become a parent is a big one, and it's important to consider all the factors involved, including the financial ones. Raising a child can be expensive, from education, food, and clothing to surprise costs such as hidden expenses and paying for daycare. There is also social pressure to have children — especially on women — but ultimately, the choice is yours.

We dive into the two sides of the big choice: choosing to have children vs choosing not to. Joining us on the Half-Banked Podcast is Barry Choi, father and financial expert. He talks about the realities of being a parent and the financial impact of having children. Our second guest is Therese Shechter, filmmaker and producer of a documentary about the taboo of choosing to be child-free. She shares how finances can impact this big decision and what it means to choose not to have children in today’s world.

From the child tax credit to dealing with the cost of daycare, listen to Barry and Therese to better understand the financial aspect of having children.
Three reasons to listen to this episode

1. Discover how much it costs to raise a child — necessities, luxuries, and all.
2. Find out what it means to be financially ready to have a family.
3. Understand how financial planning and goals can impact your decision to have children.

Resources

• Check out Money.ca for more answers to your personal finance questions.
• Barry Choi's personal finance site MoneyWeHave.com
• My So-Called Selfish Life documentary by Therese Shechter

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Why is it that our savings stay the same even as our salaries go up? Or that once we’ve hit our dream income, it still feels like we’re living paycheck to paycheck? The answer may be a phenomenon called “lifestyle creep.” On this episode of Half Banked, hosts Cadeem and Bethan sit down with Cindy Marques, financial planner and co-founder of MakeCents, to discuss what lifestyle creep is, why it’s such a problem for young Canadians, and what you can do to avoid falling victim. They also price-check Canadian grocery chains to see if shopping at a fancier store really has a noticeable impact on your bank balance.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:

1. Discover the different factors affecting the Canadian cost of living.
2. Learn the definition of lifestyle creep and who's most vulnerable to it.
3. Understand the value of financial freedom, and reframe it in a way that suits you.

About Cindy

Cindy Marques started her career in finance after realizing her lack of financial literacy as a recent physics and philosophy graduate. She decided to pursue a postgraduate degree in financial planning, determined to become a successful adult.

Despite feeling lost initially, Cindy leaned in and found her passion in finance, leading to a full pivot in her career. Today, she uses her expertise to empower others to take control of their finances.

Connect with Cindy through her website, or sign up at MakeCents. You can also contact her through her socials, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, leave us a review.

Have any questions? If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, send us an email at [email protected]!

Thanks for tuning in! You can find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify! You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok or Twitter for more clips and updates or visit our website.

Episode Summary
Tipping culture is a significant part of the restaurant experience — especially in North America. However, tipping isn’t universal — some places charge service fees while others disallow tips entirely. And really, do customers enjoy tipping? Is it an effective and fair wage structure? Let’s find out.

In this intriguing episode of Half Banked, we delve into tipping culture. We also look at the burgeoning trend of tip creep, a controversial phenomenon that's causing ripples in the North American restaurant industry. We interview Marc Cohen, a Montreal-based restaurant owner, and Sam, an Ontario-based server. These two are on the frontlines of the service industry. Their unique perspectives reveal the intricate workings of the tipping culture as they grapple with the rising pressure on patrons to tip.

Tune in for a dive into tipping culture — and find out how both sides, server and restaurant owner, see it.

Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:
1. Learn how to navigate the rising trend of tip creep and understand its impact on both businesses and consumers
2. Discover unfiltered insights from both the server and business owner's perspective about the increasing pressure to tip.
3. Understand the options aside from tipping culture and how they could reshape the North American hospitality industry.

Resources

• Visit the official site of Lawrence, Larry’s, and Boucherie Lawrence.
• Follow Marc Cohen on Instagram

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, leave us a review.

Have any questions? If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, send us an email at [email protected]!

Thanks for tuning in! You can find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify! You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok or Twitter for more clips and updates or visit our website.

How much does the average wedding cost? The answer may be higher than you think — and the costs associated with a wedding can be surprising. You might have already budgeted out your wedding, but having the insights of people who’ve been to and planned weddings for several years is invaluable.

In this engaging episode we delve deep into the world of organizing and budgeting for significant life events, specifically weddings. We are joined by Amanda Cowley, founder, head planner and designer of Amanda Kelly Events. She also happens to be the wedding planner for Cadeem’s wedding. Jaye Simpson is also joining us today. She is a senior underwriter for a leading insurance company based in Toronto and the proud owner of Jaye’s Boutique–a go-to source for custom crafted delights perfect for celebrating life's greatest milestones.

Tune in if you or anyone you know are planning a big event, particularly weddings. And if the average wedding cost seems too high for you, this episode can help you figure out a way to manage your finances better.

Three Reasons to Listen to This Episode

1. Learn how to effectively manage external pressures and align them with your budget and event vision.
2. Discover the importance of financial planning in staging successful life events.
3. Understand how to address surprise costs and ensuring value for money.

Resources

• Money.ca
• Amanda Cowley Events
• Amanda Cowley on Instagram
• Amanda Cowley Events Facebook Page
• Jaye's Boutique on Instagram
• Jaye's Boutique on Facebook
• Jaye Simpson on LinkedIn

Guests:
About Amanda Cowley

Amanda Cowley is the founder of Amanda Cowley Planning + Design. They do extensive work for couples aiming to have wonderful weddings and celebrations to truly honor that special moment.

Visit her website, or follow her on Instagram.

About Jaye Simpson

Jaye Simpson is an entrepreneur and started her own business, Jaye’s Boutique, which caters to wedding crafts.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, leave us a review.

Have any questions? If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, send us an email at [email protected]!

Thanks for tuning in! You can find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify! You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok or Twitter for more clips and updates or visit our website.

This week on Half Banked, we decided to have a little fun. Or at least the producers did.
As we near the end of Season 1, we wanted to take a break from the grind of interviewing experts and dissecting the latest in personal finance news and topics. So we decided to it was our hosts to take a turn in the hot seat.
Who are the people behind the voices you hear every week? This week on Half Banked, the show’s producers turn the tables on Bethan and Cadeem to ask them some big money questions that haven't been discussed on the podcast yet. At random. With no prep. From their quirkiest financial habits to what they would do with a million dollars, Cadeem and Bethan have gamely agreed to play along with their producers' antics and give their honest, unprepared answers and thoughts on various money matters.
So sit back and enjoy as we get personal about personal finance at their expense.

Enjoyed this Episode?

If you did, subscribe and share it with your friends!

Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, leave us a review.

Have any questions? If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover, send us an email at [email protected]!

Thanks for tuning in! You can find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify! You can also follow us on Instagram, TikTok or Twitter for more clips and updates or visit our website.