Great Canadian Piggybank

The Parent's Tax Playbook: From Diapers to Dividends | Adrian Bar (Canadian in a T-Shirt)

In this episode, I sit down with Adrian Bar (Canadian in a T-Shirt) to break down a simple “tax playbook” for Canadian families, from young kids all the way to young adults. We walk through how the system actually works in real life: * How RRSP contributions can do more than lower your tax bill, they can increase your Canada Child Benefit payments * Why teens should file a tax return even if they earn little (or nothing) * What changes at age 18 and 19, and how that affects benefits and credits * How to think about FHSA vs TFSA when helping your kids take their first financial steps This is a practical, stage-by-stage conversation to help you stop reacting to taxes and start using them to support your family’s long-term financial picture. If you’re heading into the April 30 deadline, this episode will help you think a little differently about the decisions you’re making right now and the impact they can have later. Show Links: Youtube: youtube.com/c/CanadianinaTShirt/ [https://www.youtube.com/c/CanadianinaTShirt/videos] Instagram  instagram.com/canadiantshirt [https://www.instagram.com/canadiantshirt/] Chapter List: 00:00 Introduction to Tax Planning for Parents 00:50 Maximizing Benefits: The CCB Double Dip Strategy 03:33 RRSP vs. TFSA: Making the Right Choice 07:39 Filing Taxes as a Teen: Why It Matters 11:44 Understanding RESPs and the 13-Week Rule 14:25 Prioritizing Withdrawals from RESPs 16:08 Navigating RESP Withdrawals and Tax Implications 18:29 Navigating Financial Independence for Young Adults 18:49 Understanding the First Home Savings Account (FHSA) 25:38 Key Financial Rules for Parents 28:23 Summary

Teaching Kids About Money in a Cashless World: A conversation with Mydoh CEO Angelique de Montbrun

Kids today rarely use cash but they’re still making money decisions every day. So how do we actually teach them healthy money habits in a digital-first world? In this episode of The Great Canadian Piggy Bank, Christi Rae sits down with Angelique de Montbrun, CEO of Mydoh and a parent herself, to talk about how kids really learn about money through earning, spending, saving, making mistakes, and having honest conversations at home. They discuss: * Why letting kids make small money mistakes is essential * How digital money changes the way kids understand spending * Balancing parental control with real financial independence * Why flexibility matters when teaching neurodivergent kids about money * How money education needs to evolve as kids grow * What it actually means to raise financially confident kids This episode is not sponsored. Christi uses Mydoh in her own household and invited Angelique on because the product sparked meaningful money conversations at home, not to sell anything, but to share what’s genuinely working. Show Links: Website: https://mydoh.onelink.me/GoC3/tgc-piggybank [https://mydoh.onelink.me/GoC3/tgc-piggybank] Youtube: www.youtube.com/@mydohapp [https://www.youtube.com/@mydohapp] Tik Tok  tiktok.com/@mydoh [https://www.tiktok.com/@mydoh] Instagram  instagram.com/mydohapp [https://www.instagram.com/mydohapp/] Facebook facebook.com/mydohapp/ [https://www.facebook.com/mydohapp/] Chapters List: 00:00 Introduction to Financial Literacy for Kids 00:58 Understanding the Mydoh App 04:10 Identifying Gaps in Financial Education 06:15 The Role of Parents in Financial Education 07:19 Challenges of Digital Money Management 07:58 Balancing Control and Autonomy 10:13 Adapting Financial Education as Kids Grow 12:08 Inclusivity in Financial Tools 14:00 Supporting Neurodivergent Kids 15:07 The Future of Financial Education with AI 17:30 Hopes for the Next Generation's Financial Future

Fair vs Equal: Inheritance, Blended Families, and Preventing Conflict | Eli The Money Guy

Inheritance is one of the most emotionally charged topics in family life, especially when families aren’t simple. In this episode, Eli explores what happens when wills aren’t equal, focusing on blended families, step-children, second marriages, and situations where “fair” doesn’t always mean “equal.” You’ll learn how unequal inheritances can create conflict, why silence around estate decisions often causes more harm than the decisions themselves, and how thoughtful planning and clear communication can protect relationships, not just assets. This episode is for parents and caregivers who want to make intentional choices, reduce the risk of family rifts, and understand how to structure a will that reflects their values while minimizing confusion and resentment. Show Links:Website  upfinancial.ca [http://upfinancial.ca/] Youtube: www.youtube.com/@elithemoneyguy [http://www.youtube.com/@elithemoneyguy] Tik Tok  tiktok.com/@elithemoneyguy [http://tiktok.com/@elithemoneyguy] Instagram  instagram.com/elithemoneyguy [http://instagram.com/elithemoneyguy] Facebook  facebook.com/upfinancial [http://facebook.com/upfinancial].  Chapters List:00:00 Navigating Inheritance: Fairness vs. Equality 02:46 The Emotional Landscape of Inheritance 05:13 Supporting Children with Different Needs 07:10 Communication: The Key to Family Harmony 08:46 Blended Families and Inheritance Challenges 11:19 Cultural Perspectives on Inheritance 13:49 Giving with a Warm Hand vs. Cold Hand 14:03 The Consequences of Inaction 15:44 Tools for Smooth Inheritance Distribution 18:05 Taking Action: First Steps for Parents

Wills & Estate Planning for Parents: The Basics You Can’t Ignore | Eli The Money Guy

Wills and estates can sound intimidating—but they don’t have to be. In this episode, Eli breaks down the basics of what a will actually is, what an estate includes, and why having a plan matters more than most families realize. You’ll learn what happens if you don’t have a will, the key decisions every will should cover, and the common misconceptions that stop people from getting started. This episode is about understanding the foundation—so you can make informed, confident choices that protect the people you care about. Whether you’re just starting to think about estate planning or putting it off because it feels overwhelming, this conversation makes the essentials clear, practical, and approachable. Show Links: Website  ⁠upfinancial.ca⁠ [http://upfinancial.ca/] Youtube: ⁠www.youtube.com/@elithemoneyguy⁠ [http://www.youtube.com/@elithemoneyguy] TikTok  ⁠tiktok.com/@elithemoneyguy⁠ [http://tiktok.com/@elithemoneyguy] Instagram  ⁠instagram.com/elithemoneyguy⁠ [http://instagram.com/elithemoneyguy] Facebook  ⁠facebook.com/upfinancial⁠ [http://facebook.com/upfinancial] Chapters List: 00:00 Navigating Financial Support for Kids 00:32 Understanding Trusts and Estate Planning 04:03 Informal vs. Formal Trusts 07:40 Balancing Support and Independence 10:22 Planning Inheritance: When and How? 11:32 Guardianship and Child Welfare 12:41 Understanding TFSAs and RESPs 14:07 Gifting: Now vs. Later 15:45 Supporting Adult Children Financially 17:22 Instilling Financial Values in Children

The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide: Boundaries, Budgets, and Guilt | Parween Mander

The sandwich generation is exhausted—and for many immigrant and first-generation Canadian families, the pressure runs even deeper. In this episode, Christi Rae sits down with Parween Mander (The Wealthy Wolfe) to create a practical, compassionate survival guide for parents caught between supporting aging parents, raising financially resilient kids, and trying not to sacrifice their own retirement in the process. This conversation goes beyond budgets and spreadsheets to address the real drivers of stress: money guilt, cultural expectations, scarcity mindset, and the emotional burden, often carried by eldest daughters, to be the family’s financial anchor. You’ll learn: * How to set financial boundaries with parents without feeling like you’re abandoning them * Why balancing support, savings, and retirement is essential to breaking cycles of scarcity * How to raise cycle-breaking kids without passing down money trauma * What it really means to move from survival mode to financial safety This episode is a reminder that protecting your financial future isn’t selfish, it’s how long-term care for your family actually becomes possible. Ideal for: sandwich-generation parents, immigrant families, first-generation Canadians, and anyone navigating money, boundaries, and guilt Show Links: Website: TheWealthyWolfe.ca [https://thewealthywolfe.ca/] Instagram: @parween.mander [https://www.instagram.com/parween.mander/] TikTok: @parweenmoneycoach [https://www.tiktok.com/@parweenmoneycoach] Chapter List: 00:00 Navigating Financial Pressures in Immigrant Families 02:51 Setting Financial Boundaries with Parents 05:55 Breaking the Cycle of Financial Scarcity 08:38 Teaching Kids About Money Without Trauma 11:38 Balancing Family Support and Personal Financial Goals 14:38 Understanding Collectivist vs. Individualist Cultures 16:43 Shifting from Survival Mode to Safety Mode 19:22 The Journey of a Financial Counselor