About The Budgette
A newsletter with the solo-earner insights big media skips. With expert interviews, commentary and analysis about solo financial journey. Publishes regularly.

Who Am I?

Renée Sylvestre-Williams
Canadian Journalist & Author

I'm a Canadian journalist and strategist passionate about personal finance. I analyze how financial systems are built for households and what breaks when you’re not one.

My work has appeared in major outlets like the Toronto Star, MoneySense, Wealthsimple, Canadian Business, Canadian Living, LowestRates, The Walrus and The Globe and Mail.

My Books:
• The Money Myth - An audio book based on this newsletter, exploring financial myths that don't serve solo earners.
• The Singles Tax (January 6, 2026) - My book examines how the financial system built for couples create the financial penalties faced by single people and solo earners.

The Mission

The Budgette cuts through financial jargon to address the unique challenges solo earners face. Traditional financial advice assumes you have a partner to share expenses, benefit from spousal tax breaks, and plan retirement together. But that's not reality for millions of us.

What Subscribers Get That They Can't Find Elsewhere

• Solo-Specific Financial Strategies - Retirement planning that accounts for higher savings requirements, tax strategies that work without income splitting, and investment approaches for single-income households

• Early Policy Alerts - Be the first to know about tax changes, benefit modifications, and policy proposals that will impact your finances before they're widely reported

• Exclusive Expert Access - Interviews with financial planners, tax specialists, and policy experts who understand solo earner challenges and share strategies typically reserved for high-net-worth clients

• Community Insights - Access to a network of solo earners sharing strategies, resources, and support for financial independence

The Budgette

The Budgette #6: Passive income? Get ready to work hard

Like, really, really hard because passive income isn't passive. Sorry.