Great Insight Into How To Pay Off Debt by Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy I consistently get asked when I’m in the community teaching or talking about financial wellness, how to pay off debt. It’s a great question but I think before we look at strategies, we should consider some...
Seniors & Debt – A Growing Problem That We Can Help Fix by Tim St. Vincent You are a Senior, or about to be? You are getting ready to head down the golden path of retirement? Nothing ahead of you but relaxation, grandkids, and maybe a new hobby or two. Oh, and...
7 Ways to Protect Yourself from Rising Interest Rates in Canada Today the Bank of Canada raised the interest rate that all banks base their Prime rate on (the Prime rate is used to calculate interest on lines of credit and variable rate mortgages). There is talk that...
The Dangers of Different Types of Consolidation Loans by Mark Kalinowski As long time Credit Counsellors will tell you – the best option to address debt is one that is affordable, and that least impacts your credit in a negative way. With this in mind, Counsellors...
What to Do If You’re Saying “I Need Help Immediately” by Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy Sometimes when life presents us with challenges we think to ourselves “it’s okay Self, we got this. We can handle it.” And sometime we wonder, “maybe I need help immediately.” This is no...
How to Make a Personal Expense Tracker Work for You by Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy Before diving in to showing you how to make a personal expense tracker work for you, let’s take a quick step back and look at the bigger picture to make sure we understand why we need one....
Are You Wondering How to Get Out of Debt? How You Drive Might Matter by Julie Jaggernath When you’re looking for how to get out of debt, look at how you drive. If you’re someone who races from one red light to the next, you might be spending 37 per cent more on fuel...
How Do You Pay Off A Credit Card? We are often asked ‘How do you pay off a credit card?’ The majority of Canadians have multiple credit cards, and for a lot of people, it seems like their balances continue to grow larger and larger. While you may faithfully make your...
Is This Missing in Your Plan to Get Out of Debt and Become Debt Free? By Julie Jaggernath If you want to become debt free, you’ve probably read all the tips about how to get out of debt fast on your own. And you follow as many as you can. You track how you spend your...
Before You Get Debt Help, Should You Use a Debt Ratio, Debt-to-Equity Ratio, or Debt Calculator? When you need debt help, a debt calculator that illustrates various repayment scenarios, along with how much time each one takes and how much each one will cost, can help...
Struggling with debt can feel like you’re carrying an extra person around on your back. Here are some helpful debt reduction strategies to take advantage of.
The First Step in Paying Off Debt When You're Struggling The First Step for Paying Off Debt – First of all, no one likes being in debt. No matter what you do, the thought of what you owe and the feeling of the burden you carry is always there, weighing you down. But...
NoMoreDebt.org versus NoMoreDebts.org – What is the Difference? If you’re wondering about the difference between nomoredebt.org and nomoredebts.org (with the “s” at the end), this page is especially for you. Nomoredebts.org (with the “s”) is the official website of...
How to Reduce Debt - Power Tips, Ways, & Methods If you are wondering how to reduce your debt as fast as possible, we’ll show you the best ways to reduce debt in Canada, how to pay off credit card debt quickly, and the strategies and tips that really work. We’ve...
How to Deal with Debt Stress and Get Debt Relief Debt affects more than just our financial well-being; having money problems can also affect our physical and emotional health, which is why it’s important that we understand how to deal with debt stress. Debt and stress...
How to Deal with Credit Card Debt – Advice from Last Year’s Self By Julie Jaggernath Have you ever made a conscious effort to pay down credit card debt, only to abandon your resolve because the balances never seem to budge in the right direction? Maybe you’re...
Stop Living Pay Cheque to Pay Cheque – Break the Cycle with These 3 Steps By Julie Jaggernath When you want to stop living pay cheque to pay cheque, before you create a budget, you need to take steps to break the cycle so that you can create a fresh start. A divorce...
How to Communicate with Collection Agents & Regain Control of Your Pay Cheque Q: I’m about 4 months behind on my credit card payments and now a collection agency is leaving messages on my cell phone every day. My problems started when my roommate left to move back...
Better Debt Help Options than Bankruptcy in Canada - Best, Debt Management Program Are you looking for some better debt help options in Canada other than bankruptcy? If you are stressed out and really struggling with your finances, there are some things that you can...
How to Set Financial Goals in the New Year By Debra Pangestu Getting our finances in order is a common New Year’s resolution, and one of the best things you can do to achieve this is to know how to set financial goals. Setting financial goals – whether they’re...
6 Personal Finance Tips to Help You Achieve Financial Freedom in the Future Financial freedom is something many of us hope to achieve in the future, and although such a goal may seem unlikely when you’re in a tough financial spot, developing good personal finance...
Managing Money and Debt Wisely By Jane Rooney, Canada's Financial Literacy Leader Financial Literacy Month (FLM) is in its fifth year and I am happy to report that hundreds of events are taking place across the country helping people gain the knowledge, skills and...
5 Reasons Why You Should Avoid a Cash Advance By Debra Pangestu When you’re in a financial bind and in need of quick cash, taking a cash advance on your credit card may sound like a convenient way to get money; but there’s a price to pay for the convenience, and in...
Interest Rates for Debt Management Programs Debt Management Program interest rates are lower than credit card interest rates and in some cases, they are completely removed. This is one advantage of working with a reputable non-profit credit counseling organization,...
Trapped By Your Finances? How to Get Out of Debt in 3 Steps Bad money habits can cause our finances to spin out of control, and when this happens, it may seem impossible to get out of debt. If you’re living on credit and you can’t see a way out, rest assured that...
How Does Debt Consolidation Work? By Debra Pangestu Keeping up with different debt obligations is a common struggle for many Canadians, and if you’re trying to get your head above water, sometimes understanding how debt consolidation works could be the first step...
Ways to Save Money for a Financial Goal in 5 Steps That Everyone Can Do By Julie Jaggernath Is there something you’d like to buy but can’t afford right now? Maybe you want to take a trip, do some home renovations or are anticipating a large expense. If thinking about...
Need Debt Help? Consider Non-Profit Credit Counselling By Debra Pangestu Running into financial difficulty can take a toll on different aspects of your life, and if your debts are starting to affect you physically, mentally or emotionally, one of the best things you...
Help Me, I'm Drowning in Debt - I Need Help with Debt Now If you’re thinking, “Help me! I’m drowning in debt. I need help with my debt right now!” You’ve come to right place. If anyone can assist you, we can. We'll help you figure out what you need to do to find your...
Consolidating Credit Payments, Solutions and Counselling Services - Form an Alliance With Us to Take Care of Your Debt Credit counselling services and consolidated debt management programs will help you avoid bankruptcy and achieve total debt freedom. Have you been...
How to Manage Money Better with These 6 Money Management Tips By Debra Pangestu For many people, knowing how to manage money better is one of the keys to achieving their financial goals. If you haven’t had a good track record of managing finances, don’t beat yourself...
5 Step Plan to Debt Reduction and Better Budgeting By Debra Pangestu Falling behind on your credit card and loan payments can leave you feeling powerless, but with some debt reduction tips and by adopting good budgeting habits, you will be able to eliminate debt and...
3 Ways People Destroy Their Credit Score Credit scores take years to build up and only a few small mistakes to destroy. Keeping your credit score high can help you to get better interest rates on loans and mortgages, can help you rent an apartment or a house, and much...
How to Budget Your Money: Budgeting Tips to Help You Save By Debra Pangestu When it comes to knowing how to budget your money, it’s all about creating a realistic spending plan with budgeting tips to help you save and manage money better. Charles Dickens was right...
Are Your Debts Haunting You? Overcome Your Fear of Debt and Become Debt Free Everyone has something they’d rather not face -- whether it be credit card debt or a missed mortgage payment -- and Halloween can sometimes bring out the worst of our financial fears,...
Top 5 Solutions When You Are Declined for a Debt Consolidation Loan In our last article we laid out the top five reasons why people are usually declined for a debt consolidation loan. When someone is declined for a loan, they often look for other options or for what...
3 Ways to Get Out of the Overdraft Protection Debt Cycle Once and For All By Christi Posner If you’ve been living in overdraft protection for quite some time, it can start to feel like there is no way to get out of the overdraft debt cycle and escape the hefty fees...
Do You Need Credit Card Loss Insurance? Or is it Another Credit Card Scam? A range of credit card insurance options -- ranging from credit card loss insurance to credit card balance protection insurance -- are available to credit card holders, but having...
Money Tips - 8 More Money Mistakes That Will Keep You Broke A while ago we shared some common money mistakes people make that keep them broke; however, a lot of you asked for more money tips, and we're more than happy to oblige. From making purchases during times of...
This Free Budget Calculator Spreadsheet Teaches You How to Budget and Get Out of Debt By Christi Posner As both a Credit Counsellor and a personal budgeter, hear me when I say that this free budget calculator spreadsheet will teach you not only how to budget, but also...
Get a Free Financial Assessment from the Credit Counselling Society By Christi Posner A free financial assessment from the Credit Counselling Society may be just what you need to become debt-free once and for all. Our certified Credit Counsellors will speak with you...
“Throwback Thursday” and Paying Off Debt - What Can the Social Media Game and Web Trend Reveal? By Julie Jaggernath You might have seen or played a recent social media game known as #ThrowbackThursday (#TBT). It has become the nostalgic web...
Helping Canadians with Debt & Money Issues Makes the Credit Counselling Society a Great Place to Work For a third year in a row, the Credit Counselling Society (CCS) was named one of Canada’s Best Workplaces! Picking up the phone and asking for help with debt and...
How to Prepare for Unexpected Expenses With a Budget & Money Management Plan By Julie Jaggernath Winter came in with a vengeance this year. It didn’t just leave its destruction in many people’s yards and neighbourhoods, but it also wrecked havoc on their budgets...
3 Lessons from a Leprechaun About Saving, Using Credit Wisely and Being Debt Free By Julie Jaggernath If you could trap a tricky little leprechaun, what would you ask him about being debt free? March 17 is a day when many people wonder what riches or treasures might...
Getting Help with Debt & Dealing with an International Collection Agency Q: I need some help with debt. Our family immigrated to Vancouver 2 years ago in search of a better future for our kids. A year before we left, I guaranteed a loan for a friend. I thought...
Does It Make Sense to Raise Your Credit Card Limit or Do a Balance Transfer with Convenience Cheques? By Julie Jaggernath Have you received an offer to raise the limit on your credit card? You know the ones, about how the credit card company wants to recognize your...
Paying Down Debt Is a Bigger Deal Than You Might Think! Q: I recently met with a financial planner who helped me set up an RRSP with the $10,000 I received through an inheritance. The planner also encouraged me to invest the income tax refund I’ll be getting to...
Picture of a Client's Debt Relief - Debt Repayment Program Starts With the "Jar of Freedom" We are so grateful that Margaret chose to give us, the Credit Counselling Society, the opportunity to help her get relief from her debts. It takes a lot of courage to pick...
How Do I Know If I Need Help with My Debts or If a DIY Program Will Work? Q: My sister asked if my husband and I want to join them again for a winter get-away. I told her it sounds like fun and that I’d see if my husband could get the time off work. The truth is...
Am I the Victim of Property Title Fraud with a Secured Mortgage Loan that I Don’t Know About? Q: Since my husband died 2 years ago, I’ve had to learn how to manage my finances on my own. I was at the bank last week and my banker asked me why the payments on the...
Manage Christmas and Holiday Season Stress to Avoid Maxing Out Your Credit Cards by Julie JaggernathWith only two weeks before Christmas, you might be feeling the stress of the holiday season and all that you still need to do. What you might not realize is that your...
Why is My Available Balance Higher Than My Bank Account Balance? | How Overdraft Protection Really Works by Julie Jaggernath It’s interesting what you can overhear when you’re standing in line. I was waiting my turn at the ATM and two 20-somethings were trying to...
Are you a self-employed entrepreneur, commission-based or seasonal worker, or student with a loan? Here’s the trick to making a budget that works for you.
Events for Financial Literacy Month November 2013 November is Financial Literacy Month in Canada and the Credit Counselling Society is excited to host a variety of free workshops, webinars and activities to help increase the money management skills of Canadians. We...
Tricks for a Memorable not Expensive Halloween Q: Is it just me or is Halloween getting out of control? Between costumes for our 3 kids, parties, treats and house decorations, we could easily spend $250 this year. Even though we could afford to spend this much, we...
Survey Says that Three-Quarters of Canadians Don’t Save Up for Holiday Shopping Based on survey results, it seems that three-quarters of Canadians face at least some post-holiday debt when the bills start arriving in January. According to a recent survey conducted by...
Easy Ways to Help Students Learn About Money | Bringing Financial Literacy Into the Classroom Q: I wish I had learned more about money growing up. I've recently graduated from university and have started teaching at a middle school. I've noticed that many of my...
When Paying Off Debt - If It Sounds Too Good to Be True, Get the Facts First Q: I owe about $25,000 on my credit cards despite earning a good salary. I’m not that good with money, and I’ve noticed that my balances keep creeping up. I heard an ad on the radio that said...
Moving from Vancouver, BC to Toronto, ON – How to Manage Costs During the Transition Q: My husband has a great opportunity for career advancement, but it means relocating from Vancouver to Toronto. After weighing the pros and cons and considering what our teens had to...
New Car Offers and Financing Incentives Could End Up Costing You More By Julie Jaggernath A lot of dealerships are starting to clear out their inventories, to get ready for the new models, and offering great deals and low payments on new cars and trucks. Some are even...
Inheritance Dilemma – Save & Invest or Pay Off Debt | Plan for Retirement Q: We’ve just received $250,000 from an inheritance. This is enough to pay off our mortgage and home equity line of credit. I’m planning to retire in 2 years; my wife had to retire last year...
Credit Counselling Society Wins Consumer Choice Award in Winnipeg, Manitoba The Credit Counselling Society is proud to announce that our clients in Manitoba have recognized us with the 2013 Consumer Choice Award for Winnipeg. Two members of our counselling team,...
How to Start Planning for Christmas in July by Julie JaggernathChristmas is coming! Ok, it’s not worth sounding the alarm quite yet; it’s still 6 months away, but time flies when you’re having fun, and so does your cash. What are you doing now to make sure that you’ll...
Does Being Organized with Money and Finances Really Matter? by Julie Jaggernath Being organized with money and finances is about more than just paying bills on time and having some cash to spend. While you might look at those around you and think that you’re doing...
Managing Money and a Line of Credit When You're Self-Employed Q: I was at the bank with my wife trying to get pre-approved for a new mortgage, and they turned us down because of what we owe on our line of credit. We contacted another lender and were turned down again....
Budget Planning for Kids & Teens Getting Their First Pay Cheques by Julie Jaggernath Do you have a teen who is starting to get their first real pay cheques? Helping them learn how to manage their pay cheques teaches them skills that last a lifetime. We get...
5 Last Minute Mother’s Day Ideas She'll Love by Julie Jaggernath Moms are special people, and to show your appreciation and love for your Mom or special lady, nothing does it better than time. Time really is more precious than money, so here are 5 last minute Mother’s...
Credit Counselling Society Chosen for Consumer Choice Award in Regina, Saskatchewan The Credit Counselling Society is pleased to announce that our clients in Saskatchewan have selected us as the 2013 Consumer Choice Award winners for Regina. Angela Wilkes, a Credit...
Help a Senior Parent Budget & Manage Money Q: My Mom is ready to sell the family home and move into an apartment following the passing of my Dad 4 years ago. She’s 76, in good health - a true pillar of strength for our family, but she is worried that she...
Start With Bank Account, Cable, Internet and Cell Phone Fees, Plans, Bundles & Charges - Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Finances This Spring by Julie Jaggernath Have you ever been surprised to find a dust bunny lurking in a corner? While it’s easy to clean them up...
Credit Counselling Society Recognized for a Second Year as One of Canada’s Best Places to Work It’s official! The Credit Counselling Society has once again been recognized by the Great Place to Work® Institute Canada as one of the "Best Workplaces in Canada" for...
Credit Counselling Society & NoMoreDebts.org Highlights – How We Help Do you ever wonder how much help the Credit Counselling Society (CCS) has really provided since opening its doors in 1996? Ongoing reports about record high household spending levels in...
Is Selling a Home to Pay Off Debt a Good Idea? Q: Over the years, we refinanced our home a few times to pay off our credit cards and other debts, but we never actually got ahead. Now we’re faced with selling our home as we’re having a hard time keep up with our first...
Gail Vaz-Oxlade & Scott Hannah - How to Find the Best Non Profit Credit Counselling Services in Canada | Toronto Radio Show Gail Vaz-Oxlade helps consumers figure out who the "crappy credit counsellors" are on her radio show, The Late Shift. On her...
Objective Non-Profit Options & Debt Consolidation Advice in Canada If you've been declined for a debt consolidation loan and are struggling to keep up with your bills, don't let stress and worry get to you. A Canadian non-profit service can help you. An...
How to Break the RRSP Loan Cycle | Invest in RRSPs Without Borrowing Q: Every year when I hear the RRSP deadline ads, I head into the bank, take out an RRSP loan and try to pay it back before I need another loan next year. Retirement seems so far off for me so I don’t...
It’s the Thought That Counts, Not the Price Tag Q: My wife and I got married last year, so this will be our first Valentine’s Day as a married couple. I want to do something special for her, but we’re saving up for a down payment on a condo and I don’t want to blow...
How to Get Out of Debt - A Concise Overview By Julie Jaggernath When you want to get out of debt, the first step is to organize specific parts of your finances. Start by making a list of all of your debts (outstanding balances, interest rates and charges) and...
How to Help Your Teenager Learn to Budget & Save Q: My teenager has been working for several months but seems to spend his money as fast as he can earn it. I'm worried that he's blowing everything on useless items. What can I suggest to him so that he learns how...
How to Build New Year's Goals & Plans Q: Another year has gone by and my wife and I are frustrated that we can’t seem to get ahead financially. I have to admit that the thought of living ultra-frugally for the next 30 years so we can retire comfortably, is not...
How to Save Time and Money on Christmas Gifts Q: My husband and I are immigrants and over the years, our extended family has grown a lot. While we really enjoy getting together to celebrate Christmas each year, we don't look forward to the amount of time and money we...
Saving Face & Avoiding a Financial Crisis - Money Management & Personal Budgeting Q: On a whim a few months ago, we agreed to go away over New Years with two other couples. The deposit is now due on the cabin and we have no idea where to get the money. Our...
Credit Counselling Society’s Scott Hannah Awarded Honorary Doctorate We are pleased to share that Scott Hannah, President & CEO of the Credit Counselling Society, has been recognized with an Honorary Doctorate from University Canada West. Explained in a press...
Canadian Consumer Debt Increases 53% in 5 Years (News Release, November 5, 2012) Despite some recent reports that it looks like Canadians are being a little more careful with how much credit they use, over the past 5 years, the Credit Counselling Society has seen the...
The Cost of Convenience Q: Our life seems to have gotten very busy. Not only are our kids back in school, but now that they’re older, my wife went back to work full time. Between both of us working, shuttling kids from pillar to post and to various activities,...
Do Debt Settlement Agencies Really Deliver? Global TV's 16x9 Investigates Many debt settlement companies have been advertising that they can reduce the debt you owe - big time! But do they actually deliver? 16x9 investigates the industry and speaks to two men who say...
Tips to Use a Credit Card Wisely Q: I had trouble paying my credit cards a few years ago, so I started only using cash. I worked hard to get my finances back on track and things are going well again. I figure that in about 3 years I’ll have enough saved for the down...
How to Deal with Financial Trouble in Retirement Q: We retired 5 years ago at the age of 60 without financial problems or a lot of debt, and things were going okay until the recession. Our RRSP’s took a pretty big hit and we shifted our money into low yield but safe...
Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Do | Home Renovations Q: We bought our first home about 5 years ago. Our money was tight initially, but we’ve been careful and now feel good about managing all of our expenses, as well as planning for our future. Part of our plans...
How to Decide if You Can Afford Larger Payments in Your Budget or Not Q: A few years ago, both my husband and I were casualties of the world wide economic crisis. We lost our jobs and had to make some drastic changes to our lifestyle to keep affording our housing...
Questions to Ask When You Review a Debt Settlement Company Q: I contacted a debt settlement company and they claim they can help me settle my debts for a lot less than I owe. My bills are up to date but if I can get out of debt for less than half of what I owe and my...
New Mortgage Rules: Are They Really What They Seem? by Julie Jaggernath With today’s announcement that certain mortgage rules for government-backed insured mortgages will tighten on July 9, the government tried to take another proactive step to protect Canadians from...
Debt Consolidation Review Canada | What is Debt Consolidation? Put simply, debt consolidation can be broken up into two words in order to give the most accurate definition. To “consolidate” means to “put things together.” In terms of consolidating debt, it means...
How to Choose the Right Debt Consolidation Option Choosing the right alternative out of the many debt consolidation options can be difficult, especially given how stressful it is to deal with debt to begin with. You want more than just a quick-fix. You need a debt...
What is a Debt Consolidation Loan? You have heard the term, but may still wonder what is a debt consolidation loan exactly? A debt consolidation loan is when you borrow money to pay off other debts. For instance, you may owe money on a few different credit cards, on...
How to Have an Affordable & Budget Conscious Summer Q: Between our vacation, friends visiting from out of town and a family wedding, I already know this summer will be expensive for us. In the past we’ve put the extras on plastic and then spent the rest of the...
Common Debts People Are Looking to Consolidate To get by during a difficult time, or to make ends meet, people rely on many different types of credit. They use their line of credit to pay off their credit cards or they use their overdraft to pay for living expenses....
Credit Card Debt Consolidation With a Low Interest Credit Card Is this method of consolidating debts a good idea? If you are considering using a credit card as a debt consolidation option here is what you need to know. A low interest credit card often comes with...
Not sure which option is right for you?
Get answers from an expert.
With so many debt consolidation options out there, it can feel overwhelming to try and find the right one by yourself. One of our professional credit counsellors would be happy to guide you through this process by carefully reviewing your whole financial situation with you and answering any questions you have. Speaking with our certified counsellors is always free, confidential and without obligation.
