A Comparison of Bankruptcy & Proposal from 20 years ago. Canada has seen a significant increase in personal debt load over the past 20 years. Driven by profit that financial institutions earn, it has become significantly easier to obtain credit through a variety of sources: banks, finance companies, payday loan companies, auto financing [...]
Back to School Financial Stress. Each year when children go back to school, we seem to get barraged with additional expenses. There are tuition and school fees, supplies to purchase, lunch fees, and even school trip fees. In addition, there are costs for bus passes, clothing, back to school haircuts, perhaps medical or [...]
Keep Your Family Informed. Debt and other financial difficulties can take a significant toll on your personal well-being. However, if you have a family, that toll only becomes heavier. You worry about providing for your family members, and you worry about their happiness. They will notice your stress, and they will notice that [...]
Secure Your Mortgage Faster. For many families, there is one thing that stands in the way of getting a mortgage on a beautiful new home: a low credit score. However, all is not lost. Though there may be a few twists and turns, it is possible to get on the road to home [...]
Moving Past Debt. Less is not always more. The weight of IOU’s on your shoulder can be a heavy burden to bear. When it comes to battling debt, your strongest ally is a positive attitude. But how can you stay positive when you’ve got collectors calling, arguments ensuing, and no resources for help [...]
How to Start Saving Money It has been said that the man who never has money enough to pay his debts has too much of something else. That “something else” could be different things for different people, whether it’s too many belongings, too big of a house, or too much credit card debt. [...]
Why Credit Score Matters The next time you apply for a store credit card or look into refinancing for your home, first ask yourself, "Is my credit score all it could be?" Of course, if you don't really understand what a credit score is or why such a thing matters to begin with, [...]
What are Creditors and Collection Agencies? You already know that creditors are people to whom you owe a debt. They might include credit card companies or banks. They could also be other entities, groups, or persons to whom you owe money. A collection agency is a third-party company that creditors may hire to [...]
How to Deal with Debt Collectors Many debtors live in constant fear of their debt collectors. Some individuals dread the regular phone calls and letters that warn them about paying off their debts. A few individuals are even harassed by aggressive debt collectors and collection agencies. So what are you to do when [...]
How Much is Too Much? Credit card applications. They're everywhere. They're in your mailbox and your inbox. They're at your favourite grocery store and your favourite bookstore. The applications look tempting: 0% APR for the first 6 months, 3% cash back on all major purchases, or $50 off your next purchase. You may [...]