The New to Canada Podcast

Managing your personal finances abroad is one of those huge and often daunting tasks. Newcomers often watch their savings dwindle as they struggle to find a job. They battle with higher living costs than they’re used to and have to build a Canadian credit score from scratch. This episode’s guest is Jodi from Montego Bay, Jamaica: A self-confessed personal finance geek and the founder of the empowering financial blog, Abundance of Jo.

Jodi shares her story of moving from Jamaica to Vancouver in 2015 to pursue her MBA and tells us her best tips and tricks to get financially ahead as a Canadian newcomer so that we can all live an abundant life.

You don’t want to miss:

• All you need to know about growing up in Montego Bay, Jamaica: Reggae festivals, beaches, waterfalls and spicy food!
• Vancouver vs. Toronto and the go-to Jamaican restaurants to check out in each city.
• Jodi’s experience as an international student in Canada, adjusting to the West-coast rainy season(!) and appreciating the community that has supported her along the way.
• The programs for newcomers that you should be asking about when opening a bank account, applying for a credit card, buying a new car, and more.
• Some simple tips for building your Canadian credit score and how to order your free credit report.
• Top money-saving tips to help you adjust to higher Canadian living costs and how to effectively budget when you first arrive.

PLUS, which budget-friendly apps you should be downloading right now!!

Links & Resources:

• Add ‘Honey’ for free to your internet browser to automatically apply promo codes to your online shopping cart: bit.ly/joinhoneycanada
• Visit Jodi’s Blog and download her free “Know Your Money” guide: AbundanceofJo.com
• Tangerine’s No-Fee Cash-Back Credit Card: Learn More
• Comparison Sites: Jessica Moorhouse | Money After Graduation
• Requesting your credit report: Borrowell.com
• Download the Flipp app to access store flyers and coupons: Flipp.com
• Compare rental prices vs. area: Padmapper
• Download my 50 free tips from newcomers to Canada: What they wish they knew before they moved! thenewcomercollective.com/canada-tips/
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheNewcomerCollective
• For more about us and what we do, check out our website: TheNewcomerCollective.com

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any of our inspiring interviews and valuable ‘life in Canada’ lessons. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by leaving a review - Until next week!

Being an optimistic expat is a lot harder than it looks. Culture shock and homesickness can be really difficult to shake, especially during those first few years of living abroad. This episode’s guest is the wonderfully positive Eleni who describes herself as a Zimbabwean Greek Cypriot - and soon to be Canadian! She moved to Toronto in 2017 with her husband and then 11-year-old daughter and spent a long time feeling isolated. She shares her best advice for how to embrace the journey, cope with winter temperatures, and help your family to adjust to the big move. We also learn about her adventurous life growing up in Zimbabwe, then living in Greece, London, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. Her addictive sunshine and positive outlook will give you the boost you need!

You don’t want to miss:

• Growing up in Harare, Zimbabwe with Greek & Cypriot parents.
• “I don’t know where I’m heading but I cannot wait to get there”: Eleni’s itchy-feet adventures living in Greece, London, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia.
• Moving to Canada with an 11 year old daughter and how she helped her from feeling unsettled to finally loving life in Canadian middle school.
• Overcoming culture shock: How she found it difficult to make friends without the “coffee moms” at the school gates.
• Insider insights into family life in Toronto: Which neighbourhoods to choose and her favourite parts of the city.
• Some simple tips to ensure your children keep in touch with their roots.

PLUS, what it’s like to experience Halloween for the 1st time and how to decorate your house for each Canadian holiday!

Links & Resources:

• Follow Eleni’s photography accounts in Instagram: Canada | Zimbabwe | Greece
• Download my 50 free tips from newcomers to Canada: What they wish they knew before they moved! thenewcomercollective.com/canada-tips/
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheNewcomerCollective
• For more about us and what we do, check out our website: TheNewcomerCollective.com

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any of our inspiring interviews and valuable ‘life in Canada’ lessons. And, if you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by leaving a review - Until next week!

What if “starting your career from scratch” after moving to Canada doesn’t have to be a bad thing? This episode’s guest has a truly inspiring knack for looking at every job as a learning opportunity and doing whatever it takes to succeed. Malek Aljabari moved to Canada in 2016 with his wife and then 1-year-old daughter, and with just $120 in his pocket, has progressed from a Domino’s and Uber employee, to a successful Engineering role, to now proud Entrepreneur. Malek reminds us all that we are so much more than our careers and that anything is possible when you have passion, confidence, and dedication.

You don’t want to miss:

• What it’s like growing up in Amman, Jordan.
• Malek’s 1st culture shock: Moving to Wisconsin, USA, at the age of 18 to study for a month.
• What is the best time of year to move to Canada?
• Language barriers and the struggle to accept your foreign accent.
• Malek’s career journey: From a Domino’s and Uber employee to a successful Engineer and now Entrepreneur.
• How to battle your ego when you have to settle for jobs you are overqualified for...
• Some simple tips on how to follow your passion with confidence and knowing you will be able to bounce back no matter what happens.

PLUS, why standing in a line/queue can be the ultimate culture shock for people from some parts of the world!

Links & Resources:

• ELSA (English Language Speech Assistant) - The fun and engaging app specially designed to help you improve your English pronunciation: 7 day free trial - bit.ly/ELSAxTHENEWCOMERCOLLECTIVE
• Connect with Malek Aljabari on LinkedIn
• Follow Malek on Instagram: @realmalekjabari
• Download my 50 free tips from newcomers to Canada: What they wish they knew before they moved! thenewcomercollective.com/canada-tips/
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheNewcomerCollective
• For more about us and what we do, check out our website: TheNewcomerCollective.com

A positive mindset and a productive plan of action can make or break your move abroad. This week’s guest is Progressholic podcast host, Devesh Tilokani. He is an international student who moved solo from Dubai to London ON, 3 years ago when he was only 18 years old. In this episode, Devesh shares his passion for personal growth and the different tactics he uses to bounce back when feeling low, in a rut or demotivated. We chat about his experience growing up in Dubai, bust some popular myths about UAE and bond over our love of podcast hosting.

You don’t want to miss:

• Why growing up in Dubai allowed Devesh to move to Canada without any culture shock.
• Dubai myth-busting: Asking the awkward questions about popular UAE stereotypes.
• Sick family members overseas: How Devesh coped when he received the news about his Dad’s heart attack and was unable to rush home.
• Mindset: The simple ways to ‘snap out’ of those energy lulls and start building consistent positive habits.
• The best meditation tip for when your mind won’t shut off!!
• Productivity: Batching and the 80/20 Rule! How to make the most of your time abroad and boost your efficiency.

PLUS, how Devesh got the infamous nickname “the Oil Prince” at Canadian parties...

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Devesh on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Devesh’s podcast: progressholic.com
• Download my 50 free tips from newcomers to Canada: What they wish they knew before they moved! thenewcomercollective.com/canada-tips/
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheNewcomerCollective
• For more about us and what we do, check out our website: TheNewcomerCollective.com

Make sure you hit SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss out on any of our inspiring interviews and valuable ‘life in Canada’ lessons.

And, if you enjoyed this episode, please let us know by leaving a review - Until next week!

Want to know what it’s like to move to a new country as a young child? Emilia was just 11 years old when her parents decided to move their family from Honduras to Canada. Host, Kate, moved from England to France when she was just 13 years old. Together, we discuss the things that our parents did to help us settle that we are now thankful for today, language barriers, the guilt of leaving loved ones behind, and more. Whether you’re a parent worrying about your own children adjusting to a move abroad or you’re just curious about seeing immigration through a child’s perspective, this episode is for you.

You don’t want to miss:

• Growing up in Honduras: Family, beaches, history, and chicken buses!
• 20 years in Canada: How Emilia’s family plans to celebrate this *huge* milestone.
• How to make the transition easier for your children: What our parents did back then that we really appreciate in hindsight.
• The generosity and kindness of Canadians: How a Canadian family took Emilia and her family in and welcomed them into their small Ontario town.
• Supporting our parents with language barriers: Our shared experience of being middle schoolers on the phone to banks and lawyers!
• The benefits of moving to a smaller town for quicker integration.

PLUS, the guilt of leaving loved ones behind: A refreshing and positive spin on long-distance relationships with your family.

Links & Resources:

• Follow Elizabeth on Instagram: @sisulegal
• Download my 50 free tips from newcomers to Canada: What they wish they knew before they moved! thenewcomercollective.com/canada-tips/
• Follow me on Instagram: @TheNewcomerCollective
• For more about us and what we do, check out our website: TheNewcomerCollective.com