Tag: household debt

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FINANCIAL SECURITY REPORT: HALF OF CANADIANS CAN’T MAKE ENDS MEET

Financial security Introduction

Brand-New Ipsos study findings were released on April 22, 2019, simply 2 days prior to the next Bank of Canada interest rate announcement. This brand-new survey shows exactly how Canadians really feel about their financial security or its absence. Ipsos claims almost fifty percent of Canadians cannot make ends meet on a monthly basis.

Fifty percent of Canada is worried about the effect of increasing rates of interest on their financial resources. They feel even worse about their debt load from just a couple of months back.

Canadians maxed out on debt

Canadians are maxed out on debt with 48% of Canadians on the edge of bankruptcy. They claim that they go by the end of every month to within $200 or less far from financial insolvency.

In regards to Canadians and their beliefs, people are worried about their debt levels and financial security. Forty-eight percent of those questioned claim they cannot make ends meet. They understand that they are most likely to take on even more debt at the end of each month to pay all of their expenditures. So practically fifty percent of all Canadians need to handle even more debt to satisfy their current expenses, which in part includes existing debt repayments!

It’s no longer about purchases – that ship has already sailed!

It ends up from the survey that this isn’t about the fact that we’re in a low-interest-rate atmosphere any longer. It also isn’t about people making high-end or lifestyle new purchases that are considered unnecessary.

They have actually already done all that. Especially people in Toronto and Vancouver that have stretched to buy costly houses, home furnishings and appliances. They used the low-interest rate mortgages and home equity credit lines to do it.

New debt on top of old debt

So now they understand that they better not take on even more debt. However, guess what? It is currently far too late for almost half of Canada. People are claiming they currently just cannot make ends meet. Therefore, they have no choice but to take on even more debt.

Brand-new debt to make old debt repayments! Undoubtedly, these individuals stay in a hazardous downward spiral. People are questioning whether can continue in this way and are thinking about personal bankruptcy.

It is true that the survey has a small sample size. This Ipsos survey reveals growing tension and grief. Nevertheless, personal bankruptcies remain historically low in this nation. Undoubtedly, there are local distinctions. Albertans are experiencing far more personal insolvencies as a result of the slowness in the energy market.

I think there are 2 really basic reasons for almost half of Canadians dealing with financial insolvency yet personally bankruptcy levels are down. First, financially troubled Canadians are utilizing the consumer proposal arrangements section of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) (BIA). This is a good thing because they are avoiding bankruptcy.

Second, people still have adequate equity in their houses. So, they are still able to borrow for brand-new debt to satisfy old debt payments other living costs. This is not a good thing. The thing Canadians do not seem to be doing yet is tightening their belts and lowering month-to-month expenses.

Bank of Canada

The Bank of Canada (BOC) increased its overnight interest rate 5 times since mid-2017. At the end of 2018, everyone, including the BOC assumed that fad was most likely to continue. Nevertheless, in its first 2019 interest rate announcement, the Bank altered its signals and currently appears completely satisfied to hold steady on the interest rate for what might be for the rest of 2019.

On April 24, 2019, the BOC announced that it was maintaining the overnight bank rate target at 1 ¾ percent. The BOC did so based on its observations of the Canadian and global economies.

Their statement included, that in Canada:

  • economic development throughout the very first half of 2019 is anticipated to be slower than was forecast for in January 2019.
  • The oil price decrease and recurring transport restrictions have actually suppressed financial investment and exports in the oil industry.
  • Financial investment and exports outside the oil market, at the same time, have been adversely impacted by unpredictability and the global downturn.
  • Beyond the oil and gas market, the financial investment will be sustained by high prices of other commodities and exports will broaden with reinforcing international need.

As far as the global market, the BOC stated:

  • The global economy reduced by greater than the Bank projected in its January Monetary Policy Report.
  • Continuous unpredictability connected to trade disputes has weakened business views.
  • Stagnation throughout many countries has resulted.
  • In reaction, several reserve banks have reported a slower speed of monetary plan normalization.

As a result, the BOC kept its target for the overnight rate at 1 3/4 percent.

Financial questions for Canadians

Virtually fifty percent of Canadians currently are sorry for the debt they have. I believe what this does is brings recognition for you to have a serious discussion in your home. The discussion requires to be about:

  • Exactly how near the margin are you living?
  • What household costs could you drop?
  • Could you survive if one of you were to lose your job?
  • If not, what can you do now to prepare for that if it were to one day happen?
  • Have you filed all your income tax returns and paid all your tax obligations?
  • Did you get a tax refund and what are you most likely to do with that cash to help with your situation?
  • Are your Christmas gifts expenses all paid or are you still rolling those costs on your credit card bill every month?

Despite that the job market has seen wage strength, the Canadian economic situation has not produced great financial signals. There are spots that seem to be a little murkier. Our rising cost of living is nearing 2% on an annualized basis and we’re paying much more for gas at the pump. We’re paying a lot more for produce. So there are things that are costing us even more simple to manage. So if income is increasing a bit, costs are climbing much more.

So Canadians are currently really feeling a little sweaty. They aren’t certain what is most likely to take place. Currently, there appears to be a little bit of a rest on the interest rates.

Canadians need to set up a proper household budget

I would certainly suggest that not everybody has taken a hard look at their financial situation. There’s plenty of presumptions that can take place due to the fact that you just do not understand your numbers. I see that occurring all the time.

So perhaps people really feel a little even worse off than they actually are due to the fact that they do not understand their numbers. They understand they stay in difficulty, however, do not have the capability to assemble a roadmap for saving themselves.

A truth check is needed instantly. Most likely fifty percent of those that claim they cannot make ends meet can save themselves without turning to an insolvency process. If they just recognized their realities about their very own money situation. The other half of the half, or 25% of Canadians, probably do meet the financial insolvency definition and need professional help.

The trick might just be that Canadians need to promptly get a good handle on what their month-to-month income and expenses truly are. Share that info with the entire household and make and follow a household budget that has everybody’s agreement. Your financial security in retirement may depend upon it.

Readers of my Brandon’s Blog will know that I always state the advantages of correct budgeting. To check out this budgeting topic you can look as far back as my collection of blogs that began late in 2014 with A BALANCED BUDGET IS TO FINANCIAL HEALTH WHAT A BALANCED DIET IS TO PHYSICAL HEALTH. You can additionally check my more recent 2019 blogs, USEFUL TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY CANADA: THIS PRO ATHLETE TEACHES US and also MY BILLS ARE HIGH: 6 THINGS TO IMMEDIATELY DO.

What about you or your company?

Do you have way too much debt? Are you having difficulty making your month-to-month expenses? Is your company having a hard time handling its economic difficulties that you cannot figure how to get out of?

If so, call the Ira Smith Team today. We have decades and generations of experience assisting people and companies looking for financial restructuring or a debt settlement plan. As a licensed insolvency trustee, we are the only experts recognized, accredited and supervised by the federal government to provide insolvency advice and carry out alternatives to aid you to stay clear of bankruptcy.

Call the Ira Smith Team today so you can end your tension, stress and anxiety that your financial problems have triggered. With the special roadmap, we develop unique for you, we will right away return you right into a healthy and well-balanced hassle-free life.

You can have a no-cost evaluation so we can help you repair your debt difficulties. Call the Ira Smith Team today. This will most certainly permit you to return to a brand new healthy life, Starting Over Starting Now.financial security

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DEBT HELP NEAR ME: OUR TORONTO DEBT REPAYMENT CALCULATOR STRATEGY

Debt help: Introduction

Canadian household debt is a problem for many Canadian families. So in this Brandon’s Blog, let’s chat about it.

There are two primary techniques for debt settlement: (1) debt stacking technique (also called the debt avalanche approach) and; (2) the debt snowball technique.

Debt help: Are you an avalanche or a snowball?

In the avalanche method, you pay off your liability with the highest rate of interest first, second highest next and so on. In the snowball technique, you pay off the single amount with the smallest outstanding balance first, second smallest second and so on.

Both techniques use, as soon as you’ve settled one, what you were paying goes to your next target balance. Avalanche can clearly conserve you cash because you are saving on interest costs. The additional amount above the minimum payment you can put towards reducing the debt goes totally against reducing the principal balance. Snowball theoretically might not save you as much with time, yet by using this technique, the quicker checkpoints wind up motivating you to place even more money against your debt.

Avalanche is more about the long haul while snowball is more about changing the way you think. When you see that you are just $60 from cleaning up one of your debts, you could select to toss that $60 right against your debt as opposed to heading out to eat.

Debt help: A real example

The best way to show this is to use an example. I will use the same set of facts and show you how the two methods would work.

Assume that you have 5 sorts of debt:

  1. An auto loan which has a current balance of $18,000, with a minimum monthly payment of $500 a month, at a 4.9% interest rate.
  2. Two student loans. One is down to $20,000. Excellent work at having it that reduced! The minimum repayment a month on that one is $300 and the interest rate is 4.6%. The 2nd student loan has a $10,000 current balance. The minimum monthly payment is $100 and is at a 5.9% interest rate.
  3. You bought some furniture and took advantage of a 24 month zero interest special promotion. You currently owe $7,581, the required monthly payment is $399 and you have 19 months left to go at the special promotion interest rate. Again, it is at a 0% rate of interest. If you do not pay off the balance in the next 19 months, the balance will then click away at 29% per annum.
  4. You only have one credit card. You owe $12,000 and it has a minimum monthly payment of $100. The annual interest rate is 19.8%.

So currently, your total debt is $67,500. Your monthly minimum repayments are a total of $1,429. At that level, it will take you about another 5 years to repay all your debt or some time in 2024 (other than for the furniture debt).

Through your budgeting, you see that you can squeeze an extra $171 out of your monthly budget to put towards your debt repayment. So overall you are paying $1,600 a month towards your debt. In the avalanche method, you will be debt free in February 2023. The interest paid throughout that time is $11,149.00.

Debt help: Repayment strategy options – Snowball vs. avalanche

Under the snowball method, you are done in April 2023. The interest paid in snowball is higher at $14,445.00. This is a difference of $3,296.00. You can certainly put those interest cost savings into your own savings plan. Also under the snowball method, it has you paying off the zero percent interest furniture loan in 13 months. The avalanche method puts the extra money against your highest interest rate credit card debt. It also lets you use the entire remaining 19 months to pay off the principal only furniture loan.

Nonetheless, both methods are valid. Under both methods, you pay off your debt a year earlier than if you did not use either of these methods and putting a bit extra against your principal. It depends what the characteristics of your debt load are. In my example, you would certainly pick the avalanche method, not the snowball method. This highlights the importance of budgeting so that you know what amount extra if any, you can squeeze from your budget towards debt repayment. Also, you can use one of the many free online calculators to figure out both the snowball and avalanche methods. That way you will know what is best for your situation.

The graphs

Let’s look at the graphs of these timelines. As you can see, the avalanche method gives you a steeper downward curve than the snowball method. Again, it is because you are paying off your debt quicker.

debt help

Budgeting and motivation

This also shows us that you have a bit more adaptability if you need to make a reduced repayment one month. Financial instability makes it difficult to toss additional money at debt. So when you’re not obtaining those incentives of getting rid of a kind of debt, it’s a little tougher to be urged. Conversely, seeing that you are chipping away at your debt will motivate you to keep refining your budget so that you can find more money to put against your debt.

The most vital thing is that you have actually developed a budget. Through the budgeting procedure, you found extra savings each month to put towards debt repayment. It’s going to take you a long time to repay your debt if you only pay the minimum monthly amount. Also, you’ll be squandering a great deal of cash on interest if you’re simply paying the minimum.

Are you caught in the debt trap?

Are you caught in the trap of too much debt and only making minimum monthly payments? Do you need debt consolidation Toronto? Are you stressed that future rates of interest increases will make presently affordable debt payments completely unreachable? Is the stress, anxiety, and pain of your debt negatively affecting your health and wellness?

If so, call the Ira Smith Team today. We have decades and generations of experience helping people and companies requiring financial restructuring. As a licensed insolvency trustee, we are the only professionals licensed and overseen by the Federal government to supply financial restructuring solutions.

Call the Ira Smith Team today to make sure that we can start assisting you. We will quickly return you right into a healthy and well-balanced stress-free life. We can create a debt settlement plan just for you to avoid bankruptcy, where we can even make the interest clock stop. This way, all your payments go only against the principal balances owing.

You can have a no-cost appointment to help you to fix your loan troubles. We recognize the pain financial debts and economic distress causes. We can end it from your life. This will absolutely allow you to start a fresh start, Starting Over Starting Now.

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TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT: BEING A PATRIOTIC CANADIAN CAN SAVE YOU MONEY

trade and developmentTrade and development: Introduction

We live in a time of interesting politics when it comes to trade and development. Unfortunately, due to the trade war between the U.S. and Canada, many products are now considerably more expensive. Since household debt is at record highs and many Canadians are already living paycheque to paycheque, the price hikes on popular products can cause a significant impact on your finances. The best way to keep your spending in check is to show your patriotism and buy Canadian.

Trade and development: The Canadian list

According to the Retail Council of Canada, this is a list of popular products that will cost you more if not sourced locally or from a country other than the U.S.:

  • Yogurt
  • Roasted coffee – not decaffeinated
  • Maple sugar and maple syrup
  • Licorice candy and toffee
  • Sugar confectionery
  • Chocolate in blocks, slabs or bars
  • Pizza and quiche
  • Cucumbers and gherkins
  • Strawberry jam
  • Orange juice, not frozen
  • Soya sauce
  • Tomato ketchup and other tomato sauces
  • Mayonnaise and salad dressing
  • Mixed condiments and mixed seasonings
  • Soups and broths
  • Waters, including mineral aerated waters containing added sugar or flavour
  • Whiskies
  • Manicure or pedicure preparations
  • Hair lacquers
  • Pre-shave, shaving or after-shave preparations
  • Preparations for perfuming or deodorizing rooms
  • Organic surface-active products and preparations for washing the skin
  • Automatic dishwasher detergents
  • Candles
  • Plastic sacks and bags
  • Tableware and kitchenware
  • Plywood, consisting solely of sheets of wood other than bamboo
  • Paper and paperboard
  • Toilet paper
  • Handkerchiefs, cleansing or facial tissues and towels
  • Tablecloths and serviettes
  • Printed or illustrated postcards
  • Printed greeting cards, with or without envelopes
  • Cast iron grills
  • Combined refrigerator-freezers
  • Dishwashing machines
  • Lawnmowers
  • Inflatable boats
  • Sailboats
  • Motorboats
  • Mattresses
  • Sleeping bags
  • Pillows, cushions and similar furnishings of cotton
  • Playing cards
  • Ballpoint pens
  • Felt-tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers

Trade and development: Be a nationalist and save money

Many of these products are manufactured in Canada so perhaps this is a good opportunity to make mindful purchases, whether or not there is a trade war on. E.g. Quebec produces 72% of the world’s maple syrup, so why would we ever buy it from the States? President’s Choice has an extensive list of products that are manufactured in Canada. As a nation, we have a long tradition of making Whiskey, so if that’s your pleasure, try a Canadian brand. With a little research, you could become quite the expert in buying Canadian and save a lot of money in the process.

Trade and development: What to do if you have too much debt

If the spike in prices because of the tariffs could put a strain on you financially, then the time for professional help is now. Unfortunately, we can’t remove the tariffs, but can help you deal with debt. At Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. we believe that financial problems can be solved with immediate action and the right financial plan. You can put your financial problems behind you and live a debt free life Starting Over, Starting Now. We’re just a phone call away.

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CREDIT CARD DEBT TRAP: OUR REVOLUTIONARY 4 STEP PLAN TO START BECOMING CREDIT CARD DEBT FREE IMMEDIATELY

Credit card debt trap: Introduction

Many people I help are caught in a credit card debt trap. It’s always good to repay your credit card debt, and now could be a better time compared to ever before to do so.

I have previously written about the Canadian household debt crisis as Canadians take on more debt and average canadian household debt levels increase. Rates of interest are beginning to increase so combining the two creates a mix that can place people in a bind.

Credit card debt trap: A storm is brewing

In December, Statistics Canada reported that the Canadian household debt ratio struck a brand-new high. The ratio of household credit-market debt to disposable income (the key gauge for measuring Canadians’ debt loads) rose to 171.1%.

“Everyone has this sense that there is a storm brewing,” said Bruce McClary, spokesman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling in the U.S.

“All indications that we’ve seen are that people are carrying higher balances from month-to-month and more are behind on their monthly payments. That’s not a healthy mix.”

Climbing debt levels could suggest people really feel better about the economy. Our concern is that people could be over-extending themselves. Both the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Canada expect to raise rates later this year, so the cost of lugging credit card debt is most likely to increase.

What can you do try becoming credit card debt-free? Our revolutionary 4 step plan can help get you there.

Step 1. Credit card debt trap: Take control

It isn’t easy to take a difficult look at your financial position, but it is a necessary one. Analyze your financial obligations, and the rates of interest connected to each debt, as well as minimal repayments. Track your costs to get a feeling of what your credit card charges get you every month.

This is the first step in understanding your expenses and cutting back on the ones that are not necessary. To understand where you are going, you should understand where you have actually been.

Step 2. Credit card debt trap: Minimize rates

The typical interest rate on a bank card is about 19 percent. That’s quite high, so you might wish to think about transferring your credit card debt to a card with a reduced or zero-interest first offer rate to help pay it off much faster.

A word of caution: you’ll most likely need to pay a transfer cost in doing so. Also, you will need to pay off the debt prior to that promo rate finishes. Otherwise, the balance at that time is charged a higher interest rate, probably the same or higher than the card you transferred the debt from.

Although I don’t hold out a lot of hope, you can ask your credit card firms if they will decrease your interest rate.

credit card debt trap
credit card debt trap

Step 3. Credit card debt trap: Plan choice

If you simply cannot earn enough to fund your repayments, think about a non-profit credit counselling service. Do not go to any of the debt settlement companies that advertise regularly on television or social media.

All they do is charge you a fee to take down basic information, and then send you to a licensed insolvency trustee. Going first to a licensed insolvency trustee will do more good for you in a first free consultation than the debt settlement company will.

There are 2 typical debt settlement approaches– avalanche as well as a snowball. The avalanche method of getting out of the credit card debt trap works by placing all your money towards your highest possible rate of interest debt. As soon as that’s settled, you begin repaying the following most costly debt till it’s all gone.

In some cases, the snowball approach offers much more inspiration. With this technique, you repay the tiniest debt initially, to increase your spirits. You make use of that energy to pay off what is not the smallest outstanding debt and so on. You are picking up steam like a snowball rolling downhill.

It does not matter which method you use. The important thing is that you start now and stick to it.

Step 4. Credit card debt trap: Adhere to it

Remember your single emphasis ought to be lowering debt, so do not plan any kind of elegant getaways or huge acquisitions in the meantime. You could backslide or strike some roadway bumps yet do not allow that to sap your inspiration.

Now for the tough part. When possible, save some money to aid with unforeseen expenditures that you would normally place on your credit card. This will lessen the amount you would have to charge by paying with cash.

Credit card debt trap: A lengthy and painful trip to get out of it

It’s an incredibly lengthy and painful trip to get out of the credit card debt trap. It also can be a very lonely one. People don’t get into the credit card debt trap overnight, so you can’t get out of it without some hard work.

The Ira Smith Team has helped many people stay the course and be stimulated by their successes. We have helped many people avoid bankruptcy.

Contact the Ira Smith Team today. Your first consultation is free. We will be there with you every step of the way to help you out of the credit card debt trap so you can begin living credit card debt-free. If it isn’t credit card debt you are worried about, but rather other kinds of debt trap you may be caught in, we can help free you from those too.

To deal with debt you need the help of a debt professional – a trustee. Dealing with debt is not something that you can put off any longer. Start the New Year off right by calling Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. today and make an appointment for a free, no-obligation consultation.

We can give you back peace of mind and put you on the road to debt free living Starting Over, Starting Now.

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credit card debt trap
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CANADIAN HOUSEHOLD DEBT CRISIS: CANADIANS ARE DEAF TO NOT HEED WARNINGS AS CANADIAN HOUSEHOLD DEBT LEVELS NOW LEADS THE WORLD

canadian household debt crisisCanadian household debt crisis: Introduction

Canada is known around the world for many things including our hospitality, pristine lakes, beautiful mountains and exciting cities. Unfortunately, because of the Canadian household debt crisis, we’re now becoming known as one of the most indebted countries in the world!

Canadian household debt crisis: The OECD report

A report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows that:

  • Canadian households top the list of countries surveyed as the most indebted
  • Our household debt has surpassed Canada’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – it’s now more than 100% of GDP in Canada

Canadian household debt crisis: We are record breakers

We’re breaking other records as well:

Canadian household debt crisis: We have become deaf to all the warnings

We and many other financially responsible organizations and professionals have warned Canadians about the dangers of taking on too much debt. But, Canadians have become deaf to the message. And, borrowing with historically low-interest rates has become downright intoxicating. Sadly, these borrowers aren’t paying any mind to the fact that interest rates may rise which could have serious financial ramifications for many Canadians.

Canadian household debt crisis: It is time to focus on debt repayment and savings

It’s time to rein in the borrowing and focus on saving. Interest rates won’t stay low forever and with nothing saved, how will you pay your bills? Is the thought of retirement nothing more than an elusive dream?

Canadian household debt crisis: What can you do to get back on track financially before disaster strikes?

Canada, let’s stop leading the world in accumulating debt! Listen to the messages out there. The borrowing binge has to stop. Let’s reverse this Canadian household debt crisis.

Please look at your finances and see if you’re living paycheque to paycheque, or are already having trouble paying your bills. If this describes your current situation, you need professional help now!

A professional trustee can solve your financial problems with immediate action and the right plan. The Ira Smith Team has 50+ years of cumulative experience dealing with issues just like the ones that you’re facing. Give us a call today and let us give you back peace of mind Starting Over, Starting Now.3bestaward

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TORONTO CREDIT COUNSELING: OUR GUIDE TO GOING INTO RETIREMENT DEBT FREE

toronto credit counselingToronto Credit Counseling: Introduction

It appears that a high percentage of families in the GTA are in need of Toronto credit counseling. This week’s blog highlights why people are now carrying debt into retirement. By having this information, we hope that you will be able to easily prepare your own comprehensive guide to going into retirement debt free.

Toronto Credit Counseling: Household debt at an all-time high

With household debt at an all-time high and continuing to break records, it’s hard to find families not dealing with debt. But, have you considered how your debt load may impact your children’s futures? As parents I’m sure you want to give your children every advantage in life. This includes a college or university education.

Unfortunately it’s impossible to give your kids a post secondary education if you have a debt load to contend with. The reality is that student debt is directly tied to parents dealing with debt. So, ultimately your children may pay the price for your debt load. Believe it or not, they may even have debt carry into retirement.

Toronto Credit Counseling: Carrying debt into retirement

New research from Strategic Insights brought this very important issue to light:

  • Total student debt rose 6.2% annually over the past 10 years to $42.9-billion
  • this compares with an average inflation rate over the same period of 1.6%
  • Average debt for a graduating student as of July, 2015 was $26,819
  • Students graduating with significant debt could buy houses and start families later in life
  • Add on as many as 35 years to pay off mortgages, lines of credit and other borrowings
  • This stretches debt into retirement
  • Student debt has soared despite a substantial increase in the amount of money parents are contributing to RESPs

Toronto Credit Counseling: Going into retirement with debt

It’s hard to imagine that student debt can still haunt retirees, but it’s happening. And more and more students are graduating with heavy debt loads. Statistics Canada reports that 50% of students graduating with a BA relied on debts to pay for their education which in turn may well affect the future debt load of retirees. Parents, you may not realize it but your children may pay the price for your debt load.

Toronto Credit Counseling: Going into retirement debt free?

If you’re struggling with debt, now is the time to deal with it, before it becomes a multi generational issue. Perhaps all you need is credit counseling to get you pointed in the right direction to become debt free.

Contact the Ira Smith Team. We can help you put debt behind you Starting Over, Starting Now. End the cycle of debt, avoid bankruptcy and help your children have a bright future, free of student debt.3bestaward

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#VIDEO-CANADIAN HOUSEHOLD DEBT NEWS: ARE CANADIANS ADDICTED TO BORROWING#

Canadian household debt news: Canadians hunger for more borrowing

The Canadian household debt news is that the hunger for borrowing from our Canadian financial institutions stayed vibrant. It established a new high for Canadians’ borrowing, Statistics Canada reported in December 2016. The widely followed measure of Canadian household debt service ratio rose to a new high of nearly 167 percent.

The numbers will certainly heighten the issue for our provincial and federal governments. The consumer economic situation has actually ended up being over-reliant on bank borrowing. This as well makes it susceptible to a real estate slump and a climbing rate of interest.

Canadian household debt news: Finance Minister Bill Morneau says “What? Me worry?”

The current StatsCan reporting covers the 3 months before Finance Minister Bill Morneau tightening up home loan financing regulations once again in October. His action made to prevent Vancouver as well as Toronto house purchasers from taking on bigger home mortgages compared to what they can manage.

Credit-market financial debt reached C$ 2.005 trillion from C$ 1.980 trillion in the previous quarter. Those responsibilities leapt by 1.3 percent in the 3rd quarter, faster compared to the 0.9 percent gain in family income.

Overall personal financial obligations surpassed the dimensions of Canada’s economic climate for the 2nd straight quarter. It made up 101.2 percent of GDP from July to September 2016.

Financial debts have actually climbed up together with the Vancouver and Toronto real estate boom. Job creation and low-interest rates encourage more borrowing.

cdn household debt 34
household financial obligations household debt news Canadian household debt to gdp Canadian household debt by province

Canadian household debt news: Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz says “What? Me worry?”

Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz reduced rates of interest two times in 2014 to 0.5 percent. He claimed he should act to ease damages to personal incomes from plummeting oil prices. On December 15, 2016, the Bank of Canada published its newest Financial System Review. The semi-annual record specified that family monetary susceptibilities as well as discrepancies continues to climb in Canada.

The Financial System Review stated that the Bank of Canada really feels that these discrepancies will certainly not adversely impact the Canadian economic climate. Steps have actually currently been implemented to prevent negative after effects. Steven Poloz specified that plans to reduce the threat to the monetary system in its entirety have actually been presented in current months. He further stated that will certainly act to ease the possible repercussions for the monetary system of increasing family financial obligations.

On the bright side of Canadian household debt news, household financial obligations as a share of family net worth stayed at 20 percent in the 3rd quarter of 2016. As well as debt-service repayments were not altered at 14 percent of disposable income.

Canadian household debt news: What to do if you can no longer say “What? Me worry?”

Not all families’ stories have happy endings. If you’ve borrowed too much or life has thrown you a curve ball and you can’t make your mortgage and other debt payments, contact Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. We’re here to help you solve your debt problems and set you on a path to debt free living Starting Over, Starting Now. All it takes is one phone call to schedule a free, no obligation appointment.

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ARE YOU FACING PERSONAL FINANCIAL RUIN?

negative cash flow, monthly debt, living paycheque to paycheque, household debt, bankruptcy, personal financial ruin, ira smith trustee, living paycheque to paycheque canada, living paycheque to paycheque a reality for thousands in Toronto, living paycheck to paycheck how to stop living paycheck to paycheck, more canadian workers living paycheque to paycheque, living paycheque to paycheque, living from paycheque to paycheque, living paycheck to paycheck no savings, financial ruin curse, financial ruin help, financial ruin stories, financial ruin a word for financial ruin, financial ruin coming, complete financial ruin, facing financial ruin, in financial ruin, stories of financial ruin, fear of financial ruin, signs of financial ruin, personal financial ruinARE YOU FACING PERSONAL FINANCIAL RUIN?

Personal financial ruin: Introduction

Thousands of Canadians are facing personal financial ruin. We recently published a vlog #VIDEO-MORE CANADIAN WORKERS LIVING PAYCHEQUE TO PAYCHEQUE AGONY: SCARY NEW SURVEY RESULTS# based on the recent survey by the Canadian Payroll Association. You may not think that $200 sounds like a lot of money but the information shows that 56% of those polled would be close to negative cash flow if they took on another $200 in monthly debt payments.

This is alarming enough on its own, but just six months ago it was 48% who couldn’t take on more debt burden. What this also means is that if those same people had an emergency where they had to come up with another $200, they couldn’t.

The potential for personal financial ruin is increasing

That’s an 8% increase in six months. According to the Canadian Payroll Association, 48% of Canadians couldn’t make ends meets if they missed just one paycheque. And Statistics Canada reports that household debt as a ratio of disposable income rose to 167.6% in the second quarter from 165.2% in the first quarter. These are statistics that we just can’t ignore.

Interest rates will increase one day and will cause personal financial ruin

The number of Canadians teetering on the edge of insolvency is staggering. Credit rating agency TransUnion released the results of their latest survey.

  • 718,000 Canadians can’t even absorb a 25-basis point increase in interest rates without being in a negative cash flow situation
  • One percentage point would drive 917,000 over the edge

Canadians who believe that low-interest rates are here to stay are playing with fire. Historically interest rates have gone up and down, and they will at some point begin to rise. Using credit, even cheap credit, to cover monthly expenses is not a good financial plan; it’s a recipe for disaster. What’s going to happen if there’s a 1% increase? According to TransUnion that’s all it would take for 917,000 Canadians to be facing bankruptcy.

Contact us and prevent your personal financial ruin

The time to change your attitude about low-interest rates and using credit to pay your monthly expenses is NOW! Don’t risk losing it all and putting your family into personal financial ruin.

Contact a debt expert – a professional trustee – who can help get you off the credit merry-go-round and back on solid financial footing Starting Over, Starting Now. Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. can help keep you from financial ruin with immediate action and the right plan. Call us today for a free, no obligation consultation.

If you would like a free copy of our eBook “Cost of Claiming Bankruptcy In Canada”, please subscribe, or confirm your existing subscription, to our blog by CLICKING HERE

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Brandon Blog Post

CONSUMER DEBT CANADA & TORONTO HOUSING BOOM PUTS CANADA’S ECONOMY AT RISK

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Consumer debt Canada: Introduction

Consumer debt Canada and household debt as a percentage of income remains a hot topic these days. The high household debt as a percentage of income coupled with a Toronto housing boom and until recently a Vancouver housing boom, puts Canada’s economy at risk. Whenever we thought that Canada’s consumer debt burden had swelled to its limit, it’s reached a new high.

Consumer debt Canada: Our previous blogs and vlogs

We have before blogged and vlogged about:

Consumer debt Canada: How serious is Canada’s consumer debt burden?

Consumer debt Canada has achieved a new milestone; for the first time in history, the level of debt held by Canadians has surpassed the country’s gross domestic product to 100.5% of GDP, up from 98.7% during the previous three-month period. According to Statistics Canada:

  • The ratio of credit market debt to disposable household income climbed to 167.6% between April and June, from 165.2% in the first quarter of the year
  • Total credit market debt was $1.97 trillion at the end of the second quarter
  • Consumer credit alone reached $585.8 billion
  • Mortgage debt stood at $1.29 trillion
  • Net worth of households increased 1.9% in the second quarter to $9.84 trillion boosted by a gain in real estate

Consumer debt Canada: What’s causing this?

Surprisingly, some feel that the debt isn’t actually the problem. Benjamin Tal, deputy chief economist at CIBC World Markets reports, “Given that interest rates are so low, this is an environment you’d expect consumer credit to rise to the sky — and it’s not. The debt-to-income ratio is not because of the debt accumulating very fast, but rather the income is not rising fast enough to compensate (borrowers).”

Consumer debt Canada: How is Canada’s economy at risk?

According to the Bank of Canada and the International Monetary Fund, it was low-interest rates that stimulated a growth in household credit. As a result many Canadians are highly indebted. Should there be any adverse shock to the economy, the Canadians who will feel it the most are those who’ve borrowed above their ability to meet mortgage payments if a real-estate crash occurred.

Consumer debt Canada: What’s being done to keep Canada’s economy stable?

The Liberal government just announced four major changes to prevent Canadians from assuming bigger mortgages than they can afford. In addition the changes address concerns related to foreign buyers who buy and flip Canadian homes.

Consumer debt Canada: What are the four major changes?

  1. A mortgage rate stress test implementation for approving high-ratio mortgages to all insured mortgages as of October 17, 2016 to prevent defaults in the future should the mortgage rates rise.
  2. The government will impose new restrictions on when it will offer insurance for low-ratio mortgages as of November 30, for lowering its exposure to residential mortgages for properties worth $1-million or more.
  3. As of this tax year new reporting rules for the primary residence capital gains exemption will come into effect. The capital gains tax is still waived, but the sale of the primary residence must be reported at tax time to the Canada Revenue Agency.
  4. The government is launching consultations on lender risk sharing because the federal government wants to limit its financial obligations if widespread mortgage defaults begin.

Consumer debt Canada: What to do if yours is so high it is stressing you out

If you find yourself with more debt than you can afford to pay contact a professional trustee immediately. We’re experts in debt management and with immediate action and the right plan we can help you get your finances back on track Starting Over, Starting Now. Give Ira Smith Trustee & Receiver Inc. a call today.

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Brandon Blog Post

GTA VAUGHAN BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE: BANKRUPTCY AND DIVORCE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

gta vaughan bankruptcy trusteeIntroduction to bankruptcy and divorce from a Vaughan licensed insolvency trustee (“GTA Vaughan bankruptcy trustee”)

As a GTA Vaughan bankruptcy trustee, I’ve never met anyone who had something good to say about bankruptcy and divorce. At times both are a necessary evil, but it’s never fun. Although divorce has been the butt of jokes by comedians for decades, it’s no laughing matter, especially financially.

This quote may be more telling than funny:

Let’s be blunt: If you hire a divorce lawyer today, there is a good chance you will hire a bankruptcy lawyer within two or three years.

Gene Meyer

GTA Vaughan bankruptcy trustee discusses debt issues and divorce financial solutions

When couples decide to divorce, few have any idea of what the split is really going to cost and what each party will be left with after the divorce. The goal of divorce and the divorce process and results are two very different things. Here’s the reality of most Canadians’ financial situations:

  • The debt-to-disposable income ratio was 165.3% for the first three months of 2016 (Statistics Canada)
  • Households owe $1.65 in debt for every dollar of disposable income they have (Statistics Canada)
  • Total household debt, which includes consumer credit, and mortgage and non-mortgage loans, totalled $1.933 trillion at the end of the first quarter (Statistics Canada)
  • Balances on consumer loans including credit cards and lines of credit grew by 2.6% year-over-year, driven primarily by the continued popularity of lines of credit and auto loans (RBC)
  • Mortgage loan balances were up 6.2% from the same quarter of the prior year (RBC)
  • The average Canadian owed $21,580 in non-mortgage debt during the most recent quarter (TransUnion)

Many Canadians are already teetering on the edge of financial disaster without throwing divorce into the mix. Even if you have an amicable divorce, the cost of an uncontested divorce ranges from $1,000 to $3,500, according to a 2015 Canadian Lawyer’s legal fees survey. If your divorce gets messy the fees can be astronomical. Living two separate lives costs a lot more than living together as a couple. Do you have a clear understanding of what your monthly expenses are? Do you have a budget? These are just some of the divorce financial solutions that as a Vaughan bankruptcy trustee we recommend to people that they have to know about it beforehand.

What can I do if I have too much debt – divorce or no divorce?

Whether you live in the GTA or elsewhere, take the advice of a GTA Vaughan bankruptcy trustee and get your financial house in order before you begin divorce proceedings or you may be looking at bankruptcy and divorce or bankruptcy alternatives down the road. Contact the Ira Smith Team for advice and a solid plan to deal with serious debt issues. We will give you a free first consultation to discuss your options and we can help you get out of debt Starting Over, Starting Now.

Call a Trustee Now!