Sandi Martin
@sandifp.bsky.social
Advice only financial planner, ex-banker, curmudgeon. I have questions.
Pinned
Sandi Martin
@sandifp.bsky.social
· Aug 26
"What that means, though, is that we have to be willing not only to fight for the world we believe in, but also to continue living in the world as it is in the meantime.”
Continuing fire from John Stapleton at the Federal Government's war on poor people from www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/11/12/o...
Op-Ed: Ottawa's costly pursuit of the poor
The government cites inefficiency as a reason to end taxes on vacant homes and yachts — yet keeps pouring money into futile litigation over pandemic-era benefits
www.canadianaffairs.news
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Continuing fire from John Stapleton at the Federal Government's war on poor people from www.canadianaffairs.news/2025/11/12/o...
Reposted by Sandi Martin
Budgets reveal political priorities. Every cut, every subsidy, every tax break exposes who governments believe deserves support. Austerity disguises itself as discipline, but the real cost shows up in the lives it pushes to the margins.
October 15, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Budgets reveal political priorities. Every cut, every subsidy, every tax break exposes who governments believe deserves support. Austerity disguises itself as discipline, but the real cost shows up in the lives it pushes to the margins.
I miss library cards in the books that said who else had borrowed the book and when.
September 26, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I miss library cards in the books that said who else had borrowed the book and when.
Reposted by Sandi Martin
There are going to be lots of arm chair opinions on the value of essential public services from people who don’t use or rely on a certain public service today. Perhaps take a pause and listen to those who do for a change. Your couple a bucks a year to pay for said service might not seem so horrible
September 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
There are going to be lots of arm chair opinions on the value of essential public services from people who don’t use or rely on a certain public service today. Perhaps take a pause and listen to those who do for a change. Your couple a bucks a year to pay for said service might not seem so horrible
This was a super fun interview, and not just because talking to Bruce is *always* fun. Getting to talk about what a real, actual financial plan is (and isn't) gets me going every time.
moolala.ca/do-you-have-...
moolala.ca/do-you-have-...
Do You Have a Real Financial Plan? Advice-Only Planner Sandi Martin Explains - Moolala
A lot of people think they have a financial plan — but do they really? Bruce is joined by Sandi Martin, a certified advice-only financial planner, to break down what a real financial plan looks like a...
moolala.ca
September 24, 2025 at 8:04 PM
This was a super fun interview, and not just because talking to Bruce is *always* fun. Getting to talk about what a real, actual financial plan is (and isn't) gets me going every time.
moolala.ca/do-you-have-...
moolala.ca/do-you-have-...
Reposted by Sandi Martin
The destructive nature of the current feudalized version of capitalism needs to be talked about more on social media.
September 23, 2025 at 2:44 AM
The destructive nature of the current feudalized version of capitalism needs to be talked about more on social media.
Reposted by Sandi Martin
This makes me think of @nolore.bsky.social's exhortation to get involved in your community somehow, regardless of whether what you do is overtly political. People need connection, purpose, and meaning. If that's community soccer or choir or gardening club or whatever, cool.
Kill recreational nihilism — wherever it comes from, whatever ideological mask it happens to be wearing. Do not engage in it. Do not indulge it. It makes you weak and it makes you stupid. If you haven't found meaning in something, don't make the void you have chosen everyone else's problem.
September 14, 2025 at 8:49 AM
This makes me think of @nolore.bsky.social's exhortation to get involved in your community somehow, regardless of whether what you do is overtly political. People need connection, purpose, and meaning. If that's community soccer or choir or gardening club or whatever, cool.
Reposted by Sandi Martin
In 2023, the top 1% of Canadian families controlled 24% of Canada's total net wealth.
The richest 5% controlled 40%.
The bottom 40% of Canadian households, combined, controlled 3.3% of net wealth in Canada. Many of those are in a net debt position.
The richest 5% controlled 40%.
The bottom 40% of Canadian households, combined, controlled 3.3% of net wealth in Canada. Many of those are in a net debt position.
September 11, 2025 at 1:45 PM
In 2023, the top 1% of Canadian families controlled 24% of Canada's total net wealth.
The richest 5% controlled 40%.
The bottom 40% of Canadian households, combined, controlled 3.3% of net wealth in Canada. Many of those are in a net debt position.
The richest 5% controlled 40%.
The bottom 40% of Canadian households, combined, controlled 3.3% of net wealth in Canada. Many of those are in a net debt position.
Oh, yeah. I have a newsletter. Practice news one month, financial planning the next, one great read every now and then, and a round up of the past month's @readysetmoneyshow.bsky.social episodes.
Fill yer boots:
sandimartin.ca/subscribe
Fill yer boots:
sandimartin.ca/subscribe
Subscribe — Sandi Martin
sandimartin.ca
September 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Oh, yeah. I have a newsletter. Practice news one month, financial planning the next, one great read every now and then, and a round up of the past month's @readysetmoneyshow.bsky.social episodes.
Fill yer boots:
sandimartin.ca/subscribe
Fill yer boots:
sandimartin.ca/subscribe
Reposted by Sandi Martin
Hey folks please take a look at this and consider filing it out, because if you don't you can be sure the tax software lobby industry is! The CRAis starting to consult on automatic tax filing in Canada. Let's get this done!
cra-arc-survey-sondage.ca/f/s.aspx?s=d...
cra-arc-survey-sondage.ca/f/s.aspx?s=d...
September 10, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Hey folks please take a look at this and consider filing it out, because if you don't you can be sure the tax software lobby industry is! The CRAis starting to consult on automatic tax filing in Canada. Let's get this done!
cra-arc-survey-sondage.ca/f/s.aspx?s=d...
cra-arc-survey-sondage.ca/f/s.aspx?s=d...
Reposted by Sandi Martin
Hopelessness is an important element of Neo-Liberalism
September 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Hopelessness is an important element of Neo-Liberalism
A must-watch, 6 and a half minute primer from @katyrshields.bsky.social on how the orthodoxy of (white, male, wealthy) economic groupthink has harms all of us by propping up and reinforcing neo-liberalism: youtu.be/42oiE-VKWvg?...
How Economists Uphold Neoliberalism: Full Walkthrough
YouTube video by Katy Shields
youtu.be
September 5, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A must-watch, 6 and a half minute primer from @katyrshields.bsky.social on how the orthodoxy of (white, male, wealthy) economic groupthink has harms all of us by propping up and reinforcing neo-liberalism: youtu.be/42oiE-VKWvg?...
Vacation reading from This Book is a Knife:
“It isn't enough to hope for the world you want, and it isn't enough to work for the world you want. You have to hope and work for the world you want.
“It isn't enough to hope for the world you want, and it isn't enough to work for the world you want. You have to hope and work for the world you want.
August 26, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Vacation reading from This Book is a Knife:
“It isn't enough to hope for the world you want, and it isn't enough to work for the world you want. You have to hope and work for the world you want.
“It isn't enough to hope for the world you want, and it isn't enough to work for the world you want. You have to hope and work for the world you want.
Truly, friends, I wrote this episode for myself. But I'm so happy to share it with you fine folks too:
Investing in your community is more than just an insurance policy against dealing with a bad situation on your own, though: it’s also a great way to build a better world, one block at a time.
Listen to today's episode here: sandimartin.ca/news/investi...
Listen to today's episode here: sandimartin.ca/news/investi...
06: Investing In Community — Sandi Martin
The evidence is in: when disaster hits, your first responders are probably not going to be actual first responders. They’re going to be your neighbours. Investing in your community is more than just a...
sandimartin.ca
August 25, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Truly, friends, I wrote this episode for myself. But I'm so happy to share it with you fine folks too:
Reposted by Sandi Martin
Solidarity with @cupescfp.bsky.social and Air Canada flight attendants who refuse to back down. When governments rush to end strikes, they're sending a clear message: workers' rights are expendable, corporate profits are not.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
CUPE president says he'll risk jail time as Air Canada flight attendants defy back-to-work order
Mark Hancock, president of the union representing striking Air Canada flight attendants, says there is 'no limit' to what he is willing to do to get a fair deal for workers after the federal labour re...
www.cbc.ca
August 19, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Solidarity with @cupescfp.bsky.social and Air Canada flight attendants who refuse to back down. When governments rush to end strikes, they're sending a clear message: workers' rights are expendable, corporate profits are not.
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
Reposted by Sandi Martin
We have created an entire non-profit industry based on fundraising to support essential services.
Rich people are the donors, even creating foundations to donate money, but yet refuse to pay their fair share of taxes. Instead they get a tax write-off and a building named after them.
Rich people are the donors, even creating foundations to donate money, but yet refuse to pay their fair share of taxes. Instead they get a tax write-off and a building named after them.
Once in a while I purchase tickets for those 50-50 raffles for #NovaScotia #firefighters. It's a nice jackpot for someone each week.
It's lovely to see people supporting firefighters, many of whom are volunteers & their work is more important than ever, yet they rely on lotteries to keep afloat.
It's lovely to see people supporting firefighters, many of whom are volunteers & their work is more important than ever, yet they rely on lotteries to keep afloat.
August 13, 2025 at 8:44 PM
We have created an entire non-profit industry based on fundraising to support essential services.
Rich people are the donors, even creating foundations to donate money, but yet refuse to pay their fair share of taxes. Instead they get a tax write-off and a building named after them.
Rich people are the donors, even creating foundations to donate money, but yet refuse to pay their fair share of taxes. Instead they get a tax write-off and a building named after them.
Reposted by Sandi Martin
Saw someone upbraiding someone else for having a hobby while the world is on fire, and, my friends:
1. The world is ever on fire, this is today's conflagration;
2. If you don't find time for rest and joy the fire will consume you;
3. Don't let people shame you for being an entire human.
1. The world is ever on fire, this is today's conflagration;
2. If you don't find time for rest and joy the fire will consume you;
3. Don't let people shame you for being an entire human.
December 17, 2024 at 3:21 PM
Saw someone upbraiding someone else for having a hobby while the world is on fire, and, my friends:
1. The world is ever on fire, this is today's conflagration;
2. If you don't find time for rest and joy the fire will consume you;
3. Don't let people shame you for being an entire human.
1. The world is ever on fire, this is today's conflagration;
2. If you don't find time for rest and joy the fire will consume you;
3. Don't let people shame you for being an entire human.
Enjoy the early morning song from my (very dry) garden while I continue to pester you with quotes from Four Thousand Weeks:
August 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Enjoy the early morning song from my (very dry) garden while I continue to pester you with quotes from Four Thousand Weeks:
More morning reading from Four Thousand Weeks
“Our struggle to stay on top of everything may serve someone’s interests; working longer hours—and using any extra income to buy more consumer goods—turns us in to better cogs in the economic machine”
“Our struggle to stay on top of everything may serve someone’s interests; working longer hours—and using any extra income to buy more consumer goods—turns us in to better cogs in the economic machine”
August 11, 2025 at 11:11 AM
More morning reading from Four Thousand Weeks
“Our struggle to stay on top of everything may serve someone’s interests; working longer hours—and using any extra income to buy more consumer goods—turns us in to better cogs in the economic machine”
“Our struggle to stay on top of everything may serve someone’s interests; working longer hours—and using any extra income to buy more consumer goods—turns us in to better cogs in the economic machine”
Morning reading from Four Thousand Weeks:
“When people make enough money to meet their needs, they just find new things to need”
“When people make enough money to meet their needs, they just find new things to need”
August 10, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Morning reading from Four Thousand Weeks:
“When people make enough money to meet their needs, they just find new things to need”
“When people make enough money to meet their needs, they just find new things to need”
This morning’s read is The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks the World, all about the web of special economic zones and freeports around the world where the 1% benefit from an entirely separate set of rules.
“When the rules benefit the wealthy, the wealthy need not break the rules”
“When the rules benefit the wealthy, the wealthy need not break the rules”
July 23, 2025 at 10:20 AM
This morning’s read is The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks the World, all about the web of special economic zones and freeports around the world where the 1% benefit from an entirely separate set of rules.
“When the rules benefit the wealthy, the wealthy need not break the rules”
“When the rules benefit the wealthy, the wealthy need not break the rules”
"People are hungry not because food is scarce, but because access to food has been made scarce...A food system is not just the supply chain of paddock to plate. It is a web of policies, cultural values, financial flows, power relationships and ecological feedbacks.
July 21, 2025 at 2:43 PM
"People are hungry not because food is scarce, but because access to food has been made scarce...A food system is not just the supply chain of paddock to plate. It is a web of policies, cultural values, financial flows, power relationships and ecological feedbacks.
Reposted by Sandi Martin
Remember: There is nothing natural or inevitable about extreme inequality; it’s the result of an economic system that values wealth and power over human dignity and justice.
It doesn't have to be this way.
It doesn't have to be this way.
July 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Remember: There is nothing natural or inevitable about extreme inequality; it’s the result of an economic system that values wealth and power over human dignity and justice.
It doesn't have to be this way.
It doesn't have to be this way.