In this 2025 wrap-up episode of Season 1 of The Great Canadian Piggy Bank, host Christi Rae shares the seven biggest money lessons she’s learned from a year of conversations with financial experts.
From breaking the silence around money and understanding your child’s money personality, to using allowance as a learning tool and teaching needs versus wants through real-life trade-offs, this episode focuses on practical, everyday ways parents can teach financial literacy.
If you’re looking to raise money-smart kids without lectures or stress, this episode will help you feel more confident, intentional, and supported.
2025 Expert Guest Links:
Jessica Moorhouse: https://jessicamoorhouse.com/
Bruce Sellery: Moolala Podcast
Joline Godfrey: https://www.bounce-10.com
Douglas Price: Seventeen to Millionaire
Shannon Lee Simmons: https://www.newschooloffinance.com/
Dan Bortolloti: https://rationalreminder.ca
Robin Taub: https://www.thewisestinvestment.com/
Melissa Leong: https://www.melissaleong.com/
Karen Holland: https://giftingsense.org/
Richard Coffin: https://www.youtube.com/@theplainbagel
Kornel Szrejber: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildWealthCanadaShow
Nejeed Kassam: https://www.copi.money/
Lesley-Anne Scorgie: https://www.mevest.ca
Chapters List:
00:00 Introduction to Money Conversations
00:33 Lesson 1: Talk about Money
01:22 Lesson 2: Understand their Money Personality
02:12 Lesson 3: Family Values
02:30 Lesson 4: Delayed Gratification
02:57 Lesson 5: Allowance is a Tool
03:24 Lesson 6: Needs vs Wants
04:17 Lesson 7: You are the Boss of your Money
In this short holiday episode, I share what I’m doing differently with money this year — not as advice, but as a real-life experiment in our own family.
Based on everything I’ve learned so far from this podcast, I walk through four simple ways we’re approaching the holidays with less stress and more intention:
1) using the DIMS score for big-ticket gifts,
2) prioritizing low-cost experience gifts,
3) giving my daughter full responsibility for buying our gifts with a set budget,
4) creating a “do list” instead of a “buy list.”
This episode is for Canadian parents who want to teach their kids about money, budgeting, and values during the holidays — without turning money into a source of anxiety or taking away the magic.
Show Links:
Free DIMS Score Tool: https://giftingsense.org/
Christi sits down with Melissa Leong—author of Happy Go Money—to explore the emotional side of teaching kids about money. We dig into why your child’s relationship with money is shaped less by allowance and more by the everyday stress, habits, and conversations at home.
What we cover:
- The first money lessons every child should learn before age 12
- Simple habits for ages 3–5, 6–9, and 10–12
- How to talk about money without guilt or anxiety
- Connecting money to happiness (not stress or stuff)
- The one skill to model when life is chaotic
Why it matters:
- Kids absorb how we talk about money—and how we react to it.
- You don’t need perfect finances to raise money-smart kids.
- Money skills and happiness skills grow together.
Show Links:
Chapters List:
00:00 The Emotional Side of Money
02:16 Understanding Money and Happiness
05:40 Age 5: Trade offs
06:36 Age 6-9: Delaying Gratification and Decision Making
09:05 Age 10-12: Practice Opportunities
10:58 Common Mistakes in Teaching Budgeting
13:03 Emotional Intelligence and Money Management
14:55 Building a Money Personality
15:40 Creating Memorable Experiences with Money
16:56 Modeling Calm Transparency in Money Matters
19:17 Neutral Money Conversations for a Calmer Home
21:23 My Takeaways
In this holiday episode, Christi Rae sits down with Karen Holland, founder of Gifting Sense, to explore how gift-giving can become one of the most powerful money-teaching moments of the year. Instead of getting swept up in holiday spending pressure, Karen shows parents how a simple habit, pausing, gathering information, and reflecting, can help kids make smarter choices, avoid disappointment, and develop lifelong financial confidence.
We cover:
- How to talk to kids about gifts without saying “no” all the time
- The Does It Make Sense? framework and why it works
- Teaching kids to consider cost, value, and usage
- Reducing holiday overwhelm and overspending
- Building family traditions that focus on connection, not stuff
Show Links:
Take the DIMS test: https://giftingsense.org/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Mindful Gift Giving
01:52 Challenges in Gift Giving
03:56 23B in Unredeemed Gift Cards in the US
06:23 Introducing the DIMS Score Calculator
08:45 How to Use the DIMS Score
10:31 Applying Mindful Spending to All Purchases
13:34 Engaging Grandparents in Thoughtful Gift Giving
14:41 Building Confidence Through Financial Literacy
14:51 The Importance of Early Financial Education
16:46 Do Kids Really Enjoy Doing the DIMS Score?
18:54 One Small Change You Can Make This Holiday Season
19:51 Where Should Parents Start?
Christi sits down with Richard Coffin, the creator of The Plain Bagel — to unpack the good, and the bad of TikTok “finfluencers.” Together, they break down how parents can help their kids navigate financial advice online without falling for scams, hype, or bad information.
Richard explains why kids are drawn to money content, what red flags to watch for, and simple tools families can use to verify whether an influencer is trustworthy.
What we cover:
- Why TikTok finance content can feel so engaging
- The biggest red flags that signal misleading financial advice
- How to tell whether an influencer is qualified to give advice
- Simple, fast ways to fact-check financial claims with your kid
- The surprising reason many trustworthy creators have fewer followers
- What parents can do this week to help their kids build real financial literacy
Show Links:
The Plain Bagel:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theplainbagel
X: @The_Plain_Bagel
Recommended FinFluencers:- https://www.youtube.com/@theplainbagel- https://www.youtube.com/@TwoCentsPBS- https://rationalreminder.ca/- https://www.youtube.com/@BenFelixCSI- https://www.youtube.com/@PBoyle- https://www.youtube.com/@MoneyMacro- https://www.youtube.com/@AswathDamodaranONValuation
Free Financial Classes:- https://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/- https://uwaterloo.ca/school-of-accounting-and-finance/teachers-and-guidance-counsellors/financial-literacy-classroom
Professional Accreditation Check:
CFA: https://directory.cfainstitute.org/
CFP: https://www.fpcanada.ca/planner-directory
Registered Financial Advisors: https://info.securities-administrators.ca/nrsmobile/nrssearch.aspx
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to TikTok Money Advice
01:49 The Dangers of Bad Financial Advice
03:43 Why Aren't There Regulations in Online Financial Advice?
05:05 Common Misleading Financial Advice
06:30 Red Flags in Financial Advice
11:47 Good Online Creators
13:06 Advice for Young Investors in a Noisy Market
16:11 One Piece of Advice to Parents to Help Avoid Scams
18:11 90% of benefits comes from 1st 10% of effort
Allowance isn’t just pocket money — it’s one of the best ways to teach kids real-world money skills. In this episode, Christi sits down with Robin Taub, author of The Wisest Investment, to talk about how parents can use allowance as a practical tool for raising financially confident kids.
You’ll learn:
- Why allowance matters — and how it helps kids learn responsibility, independence, and decision-making.
- Ages 5–8: How to introduce allowance and simple lessons about earning, saving, and spending.
- Ages 9–12: How to evolve allowance as kids start setting goals and managing bigger spending decisions.
- Ages 13–17: How to use allowance to teach budgeting, smart spending, and preparing for financial independence.
- How to avoid common allowance pitfalls — and keep money conversations positive, not stressful.
Whether you’re just starting out or rethinking your family’s approach, this episode will give you the tools to turn allowance into your child’s first — and wisest — investment.
Show Links:
https://www.thewisestinvestment.com/
https://www.instagram.com/robin.taub/
https://www.facebook.com/RobinTaubFinancialConsulting
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robintaub/
Chapters:
00:00 The Power of Allowance
02:37 Should Allowance Be Tied to Chores?
04:20 Determining Allowance Amounts
06:05 What If Families Can't Afford an Allowance?
07:11 Digital vs. Cash Allowance
09:47 Starting Allowance: Age and Method
11:50 Stop Allowance When Teen Gets a Job?
12:56 Shifting from Allowance to Budgeting
14:03 Aligning Financial Personalities with Values
17:33 One Step to Take this Week
Christi Rae sits down with Kornel Szrejber — host of the Build Wealth Canada podcast and a leader in Canada’s FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. Kornel shares what Gen Z and Gen Alpha can realistically do to achieve financial freedom in a world of high housing costs and inflation.
You’ll learn:
Tune in to get inspired and learn to see money as a path to freedom, not stress.
Show Links:
https://www.buildwealthcanada.ca/
https://www.youtube.com/@BuildWealthCanadaShow
Chapters:
00:00 Understanding the FIRE (Financially Independent, Retire Early)Movement
02:21 Financial Independence for the Younger Generation
02:43 What is the 4% Rule
03:29 Ways to Achieve Financial Independence (FI)
05:52 Balancing FI with Value Driven Lifestyle
08:18 Partial Financial Independence
09:28 Finfluencers and Get Rich Quick
11:41 Understanding Index Investing
12:57 The Impact of Finfluencers on Gen Z
15:09 Advice for Young Investors
15:11 3 Steps to Starting the FI Journey
Curious how AI can actually help you teach your kids about money — without replacing your role as a parent? In this episode of The Great Canadian Piggybank, I chat with Nejeed Kassam, founder of Copi.Money, about using AI as an ally in financial education.
We explore:
How AI can level the playing field for kids who don’t get money lessons at home
Red flags to watch for in financial apps and AI tools
Why “financial instincts” still matter more than data
How parents can stay in the loop as coaches and co-learners
The line between using AI as a helper, not a crutch for money conversations at home
It’s a grounded, hopeful conversation about raising resilient, money-smart kids in a tech-driven world.
Episode Link:
https://www.copi.money/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to AI in Financial Education
02:59 Red Flags in Evaluating AI Tools
05:35 Trust and Safety in AI Financial Tools
07:58 The Parent's Role in Financial Education
09:45 AI as a Supplement to Traditional Financial Teaching
12:06 The Hype vs. Reality of AI in Youth Finance
14:16 Introducing Copi.Money: A New Financial Tool
17:30 Comparing AI Tools to Traditional Methods
19:07 Using AI as an Ally in Teaching Money
19:35 Summary
Join Christi Rae and financial expert Lesley-Anne Scorgie, (author of numerous financial books and founder of MeVest) as they share practical tips for helping 18–25 year olds launch into adulthood with financial confidence.
Learn how to:
Budget as a tool for freedom and self-care
Start saving and investing early (robo-advisors, ETFs, crypto basics)
Navigate debt and the gig economy
Make values-based money decisions
Balance financial responsibility with enjoying life today
Perfect for parents guiding young adults or 20-somethings navigating their first independent finances.
Episode Links:
MeVest: https://www.mevest.ca
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Financial Confidence for Young Adults
00:53 The Importance of Early Financial Habits
03:17 Investing: Starting Early and Choosing Wisely
05:20 Navigating Financial Influencers and Social Media
06:31 Understanding High-Risk Investments and Crypto
07:57 Reframing Budgeting as Empowerment
10:01 The Impact of Gig Work on Wealth Building
12:43 Financial Well-Being and Young Adults
13:39 Balancing Life Goals and Financial Realities
17:02 10% Save Rule Reimagined
18:19 3 Step Starter Plan
With tuition and living costs climbing fast, parents are asking: is university still worth it? Christi Rae sits down with Dan Bortolotti, cohost of the Rational Reminder podcast, financial planner at PWL, and former managing editor of Today’s Parent, to explore how Canadian families can plan smarter for post-secondary costs.
From RESPs and government grants to managing shortfalls, student debt, and tough trade-offs, Dan shares practical strategies for every stage of saving — whether you started early or are just getting started.
Topics covered:
- RESP essentials and how to maximize the 20% government grant
- How to invest inside your child’s RESP (and when to reduce risk)
- What to do if you haven’t saved enough or at all
- Using TFSAs or home equity responsibly
- Teaching kids financial responsibility in their education journey
A calm, clear guide for parents who want to help their kids build a strong future—without derailing their own.
Share this with another parent, and listen with your teen.
Episode Links:
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Post-Secondary Education Costs
00:28 Evaluating the Worth of Higher Education
03:42 Scenario 1: Full Post Secondary Savings with RESPs
06:23 Investment Strategies for RESPs
08:48 Scenario 2: Partial Post Secondary Savings
11:20 Tapping into Home Equity for Education?
13:45 RESP Flexibility
15:39 Scenario 3: No Post Secondary Savings
16:49 Final Thoughts on Education Funding Strategies
18:21 Consequences For Failing a Class
Your teen’s first paycheque is more than just money in the bank — it’s a chance to build lifelong money skills. Don’t waste it.
In this episode, I’m joined by Shannon Lee Simmons, Certified Financial Planner, founder of New School of Finance and author of Making Bank: Money Skills for Real Life. Together, we unpack how to turn that first job into a powerful learning moment for both teens and parents.
We cover:
- What every teen should understand about pay stubs, deductions, CPP, and EI
- How parents can guide without lecturing (and avoid the #1 mistake)
- Why teens often blow their first paycheque — and how to change that
- Practical ways to encourage saving and goal-setting early- The money talk every teen needs before starting work
If your teen is 16–18 and earning their own money for the first time, this episode will show you how to help them keep, save, and enjoy their pay — without wasting the opportunity.
Share this episode with another parent — or listen with your teen — to spark the conversations that build real money confidence.
Episode links:
https://www.newschooloffinance.com/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Shannon Lee Simmons
03:05 Teen's First Job
06:54 Allowances Before 1st Jobs
08:34 Types of 1st Jobs
10:40 File Taxes When You are 18
12:26 How To File Taxes
14:27 Understanding a Paycheck
16:10 CPP - Canadian Pension Plan
18:21 Good Social Media
23:22 Practical Tips for Parents
How do you raise money-smart kids in today’s world of apps, online shopping, and endless “I wants”? In this episode of The Great Canadian Piggy Bank, Christi Rae sits down with financial literacy pioneer Joline Godfrey, author of Raising Financially Fit Kids and founder of Bounce10, to explore the concept of financial parenting—why raising kids who are financially confident is about values as much as dollars.
Together, they unpack:
- What financial parenting is and how it goes beyond allowances, chores, and savings jars.
- The three types of parents Joline sees today—intentional, frazzled, and outsourcing—and how each can support their kids.
- Why repeating money values (like “just because we can doesn’t mean we should”) is more powerful than one-time lessons.
- How parents who feel financially insecure can still teach their kids—by co-learning together.
- Why relying only on apps isn’t enough, and how to connect money lessons to family values.
- Joline’s FISH framework (Financial, Intellectual, Social, and Human capital) and why teaching kids that wealth is more than money builds resilience for the future.
Whether you’re overwhelmed, intentional, or somewhere in between, this episode will give you practical tools, fresh ideas, and reassurance that you don’t need to be a financial expert to raise financially fit kids.
Show Links:
Bounce 10: https://www.bounce-10.com/
Raising Financially Fit book: https://a.co/d/enlQU1N
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Financial Parenting
00:54 What is Financial Parenting?
02:18 Starting with Values
04:41 Different Types of Financial Parents
08:45 What if you aren't confident with finances?
12:13 FISH: Financial, Intellectual, Social, Human Wealth
13:53 Bounce10's Mission
17:30 One Step Parents Can Start Today
In this episode of The Great Canadian Piggy Bank, Christi Rae chats with Douglas Price, author of Seventeen to Millionaire, a practical and approachable book that teaches teens how to start investing and build long-term wealth.
Douglas shares his journey from music educator to personal finance author, explains why investing can feel intimidating for beginners, and breaks down the first concrete steps teens (and parents) can take to start investing confidently. From understanding TFSAs and RRSPs to setting up automatic investments and building money habits, this conversation is packed with actionable advice for families.
Tune in to learn how to help your teen gain financial confidence and take the first steps toward a lifetime of smart money decisions.
Please share this episode with a parent who is starting to think about investing with their kid.
Show Links:
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Investing
00:31 The Journey from Music to Finance Education
04:31 Why Does Investing Feel so Intimidating?
05:17 First Steps to Investing at 18
07:49 Exploring the Benefits of TFSA
10:49 Comparing TFSAs and RRSPs
13:06 What Should You Invest In?
14:35 How to Talk to Teens about Investing
15:38 Action Steps for Teens and Parents: Starting to Invest
How do you raise kids who can thrive financially in a world of AI, climate change, and rising costs?
In this episode of The Great Canadian Piggy Bank, Christi Rae sits down with Bruce Sellery — host of the Moolala podcast, bestselling author, and financial columnist for CBC — to talk about building financial resilience in kids (and parents too).
Bruce shares why optimism matters, why living within your means is still the #1 money skill, and how to teach kids about money through everyday conversations instead of lectures. From emergency funds to side hustles, customer service skills to delaying gratification, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways you can start using at home.
Tune in and get inspired to raise kids who can thrive financially, no matter what the future holds.
Please share this episode with a parent, who you think will really enjoy listening.
Show Links:
Chapters
00:00 Uncertain Financial Times
01:22 Optimism in Uncertain Times
02:59 Navigating Unpredictability
03:13 The Circle of Control
06:09 Emergency Funds and Financial Education
09:45 Benefit of Gig Economy
11:20 The Importance of Customer Service Skills
12:41 Sustainable Spending Models
15:31 Living Below Your Means
16:03 Common Mistakes
17:25 Final Tip
18:07 Using Money as a Tool
19:16 Practicing Delayed Gratification
Are you accidentally passing your money anxieties on to your kids?
In this episode, Christi Rae talks with financial counselor and bestselling author Jessica Moorhouse about how our upbringing and culture shape the way we think about money. They explore why money is more than just math, how to recognize your own financial anxieties, and practical ways to create open, judgment-free conversations with your kids.
If you want your children to grow up with confidence instead of money stress, this conversation is for you.
Please share this episode with a parent, who you think really needs to hear this right now.
Show Links:
Chapters
00:00 Jessica Moorhouse Introduction
00:32 Money is More than Math
02:25 Healthy Financial Role Models
04:11 Avoid Passing on Your Anxiety
06:52 Unintentional Negative Money Messages
10:11 Breaking the Cycle
11:31 Final Takeaways
If we don’t teach our kids about money, TikTok and AI will. In this trailer episode, host Christi Rae shares why she started this podcast.
Each week, Christi will sit down with money experts, educators, and authors to explore practical ways to teach Canadian kids and teens about financial literacy, budgeting, saving, and smart money habits.
Whether you’re looking for tips on how to start money conversations at home, wondering how to balance allowances with digital payments, or just want to avoid passing your own money stress onto your children, this podcast is for you.
Subscribe today, share with others and join the journey to raising Canadian kids who feel confident, capable, and ready to make smart financial choices.
Welcome to The Great Canadian Piggy Bank — the podcast for busy Canadian parents who want to raise money-smart kids without needing a finance degree.