#38 — Melissa Leong: Money Should Support Happiness, Not Compete With It

Our guest this episode is Melissa Leong — national media personality, a sought-after speaker and award-winning author of the feel-good finance guide “Happy Go Money.” Melissa has been the resident money expert on Canada’s leading daytime talk show “The Social” for 14 years and is also a repeat guest on “The Drew Barrymore Show” on CBS. This is an amazing episode for anyone looking to better manage their money in 2026. In their conversation, Dave and Melissa explore the idea that money should support happiness, not compete with it. They dig into behavioural finance and simple “brain hacks” that can lead to better decisions, from the 24-hour rule for spending to the power of spending summaries. Melissa also shares insights on social media comparison, why experiences tend to bring more lasting happiness than stuff, the joy of anticipation, and why big purchases like cars so often fail to deliver long-term satisfaction. The discussion also touches on generosity and happiness, valuing time over money, financial challenges women face, managing money as a couple, and practical ways to get started building healthier financial habits — without guilt or perfectionism. Whether you’re trying to spend more intentionally in the new year, stress less about money, or align your finances with what actually makes you happy, this is a thoughtful and refreshing conversation you won’t want to miss.   Show Notes (00:00) Intro & Disclaimer (00:55) Intro to Melissa Leong (02:09) Melissa’s Path from Journalism to Money (05:42) Behavioural Finance & Brain Hacks (09:32) The 24-Hour Rule for Spending (14:16) Social Media & The Pressures of Comparison (16:41) Money Should Support Happiness, Not Compete With It (18:56) Spending Now vs. Spending Later (22:39) Experiences Create More Lasting Happiness Than Stuff (24:12) The Joy of Anticipation (30:29) Dave Doesn’t Have FOMO, He Has FOBI (32:07) The Power of Spending Summaries (36:16) Charity, Generosity & Joy (39:17) Valuing Time Over Money (40:31) Why Cars Rarely Deliver Lasting Happiness (43:32) How Melissa Became a Regular on The Drew Barrymore Show (45:11) Financial Challenges Women Face (51:22) Managing Money as a Couple (56:43) How to Get Started Managing Your Money Well (59:01) Conclusion