How to Pay Off and Make Joint Debts Work You opened a joint account with the best intentions: to help your child as they started university, to rebuild credit for a struggling sibling, or to combine finances with your spouse. But joint debts — from lines of credit, to...
How to Help Friends Who Need Help with Their Financial Problems
How to Help Friends Who Need Help with Their Financial Problems Q: We are friends with another couple in our neighbourhood. Despite having good jobs, they keep going deeper into debt on their line of credit and often times their parents help them out; they’re always...
How to resolve fighting over money: look below the surface
How to resolve fighting over money: look below the surface Q: My partner and I fight about money all the time. She's a spender and I'm a saver. She says I'm too controlling about money and no fun, and I think she's too frivolous with money and doesn't care about our...
How Blended Families Can Prevent Fighting About Money
How Blended Families Can Prevent Fighting About Money Q: My spouse and I are both in our second marriages and we share custody of our kids from our previous relationships. We're committed to making this work, but part of building our new life together is figuring out...
Spender vs. Saver: What to do when you and your partner don’t see eye to eye
Spender vs. Saver: What to do when you and your partner don’t see eye to eye Q: My husband and I argue about money, but not because we don't have enough. We have average incomes and our only debt is a modest mortgage, but he wants to save and never spend an extra...
Keeping the Magic Alive: Get Out of the Relationship Rut, Plan a Date Together
Keeping the Magic Alive: Get Out of the Relationship Rut, Plan a Date Together Q: My wife tells me that relationship experts say that going on regular "dates" with your partner is the key to a long-lasting relationship. I admit that I tend to take things for granted....
How to Cope with Living in Canada while Sending Money to Family Overseas
How to Cope with Living in Canada while Sending Money to Family Overseas Q: My husband and I immigrated to Canada almost 20 years ago to give our children a better life. We each work two jobs because we're also supporting family back home. We're behind on our mortgage...
Do You Ever Get Even with Revenge Spending?
Do You Ever Get Even with Revenge Spending? Q: After finding out that my partner spent over $1000 on toys for his car, I had a spa day and got something for me too. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but we got into a huge fight about money. What can we do to fix...
Financial Help or Handout – When has helping family gone too far?
Financial Help or Handout - When has helping family gone too far? Q: My parents keep borrowing against the equity in their home to bail my sister and her family out of debt. Mom and dad are getting older and I don't want to see them burdened by debt that they...
Should You Keep Financial Secrets?
Should You Keep Financial Secrets? Q: I'm planning to propose to my girlfriend soon. I know she will say 'yes' but I'm worried about telling her that I've had some financial troubles in the past. How much should I say? A: Marriage can be a wonderful experience but it...
How People Get Caught by Joint Debts
How People Get Caught by Joint Debts Here is a common scenario: a couple splits up, gets a separation agreement and then one of them tries to apply for a loan. The lender says, "Sorry you don’t qualify because your credit bureau shows you have this other debt with...
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