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Money talks. We translate. Every Friday, Paul Haavardsrud looks at the way money shapes our lives in ways big, small, obvious, and unseen. From Big Macs to Big Banks, the Cost of Living connects the dots between the economy and everyday life.

Cost of Living

Need to buy a gift for your mom or your dog? What about your esoteric boyfriend? There's a gift guide for that! But, why? It's holiday baking season and some Canadians are paying big bucks to get their hands on French butter. Plus — we'll tell you why some economists think — if you really love someone, you'll give the gift of cold, hard cash this Christmas.

Why you can't escape holiday gift guides

From the hard sell to the limited time offer, companies have turned the art of the sale into a science. We look at four different marketing tactics, and explain how they encourage us to turn off our brains and open our wallets. (Originally aired October 13, 2024)

The oldest trick in the book (Encore Edition)

Are duty free shops really a bargain? Why do we have crown corporations anyway? You had questions and we take a crack at answering them!

Your questions answered!

A couple of business insiders debate the seriousness of Trump's tariff threats and how political uncertainty in Ottawa could hurt Canada's economy. Oh, and they even give us some reasons to hope.

Dazed and confused

After the surging population put pressure on housing and healthcare, the feds are drastically reducing immigration targets. But millions of new people have also been pouring money into the economy and, by some accounts, keeping us out of a recession. Does a plan for negative population growth risk steering us into the economic ditch?

Population mis-calculation?

The question of "will he or won't he" hit us with tariffs is already getting old. But, if they do come, does Canada actually have a Trump card? Four million barrels a day of oil says — we just might.

Oil is our Trump card. Will we play it?

A U.S. economics podcast called us wanting to know how Trump's tariff threats are playing out in Canada. Paul Haavardsrud chats with NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money about how we're feeling, what's at stake, and how Canada could respond if tariffs happen.

BONUS! Talkin' tariffs to Americans (on The Indicator from Planet Money)

Some of us might forget a $20 in a pocket, but what about thousands of dollars? Believe it or not, it happens! Canadians contribute to a pension then, maybe switch jobs and just forget about it. We'll explain why it's so hard to track people down and what they're missing out on.

It's 10 p.m. Do you know where your retirement savings are?

In a historic act of economic aggression, President Trump has made good on his promise and imposed across-the-board tariffs. And Canada has hit back.

BONUS! Well, he did it

Both countries have just been given a 30-day reprieve from Trump's tariffs. So, can we work together to fend off the looming trade war with the U.S.? Paul Haavardsrud speaks with the former vice minister of trade for Mexico, Juan Carlos Baker, about what happens now.

Oil is our Trump card. Will we play it?

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