22 et 29 octobre • Atelier céramique adultes – Maison d’automne • CCFM

22 octobre au 1 novembre • Théâtre

Pauline Boutal, entre les toiles et les planches • Théâtre Cercle Molière

23 et 30 octobre • Yoga avec Lisbeth • Centre récréatif de Notre Dame

24 et 31 octobre • Ligue d’improvisation du Manitoba • Patio 340

Dear Money Lady Readers:

I have given over 60 talks across Canada so far this year and have found the most popular talk, called “How to Become a Super Senior & Make Your Money Last as Long as You Do,” tends to be a crowd pleaser. As you could expect, the one concern that kept surfacing again and again is that Canadians are genuinely worried about outliving their money. Eighty-seven per cent of Canadians today are retiring without a mortgage, and this is a great statistic; however, even with low-to-no debt, life is still expensive.

Canadians are living longer than ever, and retirement can easily stretch thirty or more years. That means the money you’ve worked so hard to save must be carefully managed to support you for decades. The challenge isn’t just saving enough; it’s more about knowing how to draw it down. For example, many people begin RRSP/RRIF withdrawals too early, pay unnecessary taxes, or don’t coordinate their CPP and OAS benefits with other sources of income. Others underestimate inflation and stock market volatility, which quietly erodes purchasing power year after year. Add in unexpected health expenses, modifications needed to your home to age in place, and of course the constant rising cost of living, and it’s no wonder retirement planning can feel overwhelming.

I often tell people that the key is to create a livable budget, one that is designed just as carefully as you once built your savings plan. That means mapping out how much you’ll need each year, what sources of income you’ll draw on first, and how to minimize the taxes you pay along the way. A thoughtful strategy can stretch your money significantly further and give you the peace of mind that you’ll be comfortable in the years ahead.

I love when someone approaches me and says “I want to see an article on …”

Its tough coming up with new ideas all the time, so please, send me your requests!

This week, a client said, “I want to see a column on why my dog always rolls in the most disgusting things.” So, here we go.

We see this action in our domestic pets all the time. We had a Jack Russel in the store the other day, and I gave him a treat that was pure fish. He took it, dropped it and started rolling on it. Fish, tripe, we use the stronger scented treats for dogs visiting the store because there are so many smells in the store, we need the most attractive treats to get them to take one from us.