Saving Money On Valentine’s Day
No one wants to be frugal on Valentine’s Day as it may give the wrong impression to your significant other. I definitely understand the pressure to spend money on Valentine’s Day. Everywhere you turn you see chocolate, jewelry and greeting card advertisements. Our culture has engrained the idea of spending money into our heads. With…
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Credit Card Use – The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Credit cards, when used properly can be great. You can earn points, use them as an advance and most importantly, you can improve your credit. Unfortunately, many people misuse credit cards and end up setting up a meeting with me to discuss bankruptcy. Credit cards can be great but it’s also important to be educated…
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Pay down debt or set up a TFSA?
TFSAs are great, but if you’re in debt, it may be better to pay down some of your debt. In fact, consider completely eliminating all your debt before venturing anywhere near a TFSA. This is especially true of “bad debt” such as credit cards, consumer loans and mortgages on your principal residence. This debt is…
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The Steep Cost of Financial Ignorance
In an article recently posted by CBC called ‘We used to be savers’: Why Canadians Ignore Warning Signs About Debt, it was stated that despite constant warnings about personal debt levels, Canadians are continuing to borrow money at alarming rates. This isn’t news to most people, but what’s important to know is why this is…
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Provinces Ranked By Consumer Debt
According to recent data collected by Equifax Canada, Canadians demand for credit reached a record high for the first three months of 2017. In an article recently posted by Global News, it was reported that credit inquiries rose by 3.6 percent in the first three months of 2017 compared to the final months of 2016, with…
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More Seniors Are Filing Bankruptcy
Would you be surprised if I told you that the fastest growing demographic group of bankruptcy filers is those over 65? It’s sad, but true. The reasons for this are diverse: fewer traditional pensions; increases in the cost of medical care; availability of easy credit before the Great Recession; and efforts to help younger family…
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Bankruptcy and Gambling Debt
There are a variety of reasons why consumers get into financial trouble, none of which will exclude them from filing a bankruptcy and subsequently obtaining a discharge. So, if you’re in debt because of gambling, you are still able to file bankruptcy. For a first-time bankrupt with no surplus income, they will automatically receive a…
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Saving or Paying – Which is better?
As a rule of thumb, I always say that having an emergency savings with three months of expenses (at least) can protect you from relying on credit during a financial bind. But, I understand that in many cases, it’s hard to grow that fund. So, it makes sense that many clients ask me if they…
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Pay For College Without Going Into Debt
It’s no secret that college isn’t cheap — and the price of education is continuing to increase year after year. But paying for college doesn’t have to break the bank or put you deep into debt. Student loans can be a great way for students to get help paying for school, but they don’t always cover…
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Educating Students on Credit
When students leave home to attend post-secondary school, everything is new. All of a sudden they have more financial responsibility and often times struggle with budgeting. So, when they walk around campus and there are credit card company representatives basically handing out credit cards, of course they are going to accept them. The problem is,…
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