After years of soaring home prices, there was hope that rising interest rates would lead to lower prices in 2023 and give young Canadians an entry point into the market . And while they did go down, higher mortgage rates have left housing as unaffordable as ever. For those without family help or oversized paycheques, buying a home is just not financially realistic. We’re dedicating the last episode of this season of Stress Test to exploring why people are giving up on homeownership and how they see their financial future.

Student debt is a growing problem in Canada - one that’s set to get worse in the coming years. And although tuition has crept higher, it’s the soaring cost of rent and everyday living that's causing the trouble. So what should students consider before making decisions for their post-secondary lives? Paul Kershaw, founder of Generation Squeeze and a professor at the University of British Columbia, describes how expensive student life has become - and how students are coping. We also hear from a 33-year-old who graduated 10 years ago with $40,000 in student debt, which she’s still paying off. Plus, The Globe’s personal finance reporter Erica Alini shares how rent in both large and small cities is changing the Canadian student experience.

It’s tough to save money to invest in the first place, so it stings to watch your investments drop. If you’ve started in the last few years, you’ve just seen your first large ups and downs in the stock market. So how do you know if you’re on the right track? And how do you keep emotions in check? A 38-year-old from Mississauga who started investing during the pandemic shares how he handled the rollercoaster ride and what he’s learned. And Rob speaks to Darryl Brown, an independent investment consultant, about why investors are nervous and how they can better endure big swings in the stock market.

Climate change is a growing concern for many young Canadians, with some questioning where they should live, what they should be saving for and how they should invest. Others wonder whether they should bother planning for a future at all. But is there a smart way to weave our climate concerns into our personal finance decisions?  Certified financial planner Shannon Lee Simmons, who says this issue comes up all the time among her clients, shares her thoughts on how to arrange your finances amid climate uncertainty. Plus we hear from a 36-year-old Torontonian who considers his environmental footprint with every decision he makes. 

A $5,700 wedding dress for $64. Expensive baby items for a fraction of the price. Construction materials to renovate a home.  When you need something, buying used is a great way to save a pile of cash and keep perfectly good items out of landfills. It isn’t a new phenomenon, but it’s gaining more popularity as living expenses soar. In this episode, three guests share their experiences thrifting and their advice for others to get a good deal.