Money

 Money  General  No Responses »
Feb 122013
 

Emotion and Money

We watch way too much TV and pay way too much attention to popular culture. It has proven to be extremely effective at shaping our senses of value, morality, and our personal perceptions of our selves.

I would like to humbly suggest that we consider the power of positive deviance. What is a positive deviant? Glad you asked! A positive deviant is a person who does the right thing in comparison to all others around them. It is a tactic or way of behavior that exists in spite of adverse circumstances or unreasonable peer pressure. A positive deviant has learned to thrive in many cases without even realizing what or how they are doing it. Continue reading »

Give Me Money

 Give Me Money  Debt Blog, General  No Responses »
Nov 012012
 
give me money 300x225 Give Me Money

Clearly people have money problems.

The laziest solution to financial problems, but not the easiest by any means, is to ask for money. Finding a person who is not only able, but willing to just give you money is and has always been a very rare scenario for 95% of the population. The request to give me money is also a conceded solution oozing with self-entitlement and a lack of work ethic. Slightly altered statements that would pass along the benefit of doubt to those who are heard saying give me money would be: I need money, or I need more money, or on a deeper level these people are saying please help me with money. Regardless of how it’s phrased it is clear that more and more people are having money problems, are in debt, and using credit. Continue reading »

Private Banking Scam

 Private Banking Scam  Controversy, Debt Blog, General  No Responses »
Jul 052012
 

“Have you even wondered why we are spending 160 million dollars a day on the interest of the national debt? That’s 60billion dollars a year. Have you ever wondered who receives that 60 billion dollars?”

Brought to my attention by Doug Loewen, this 12 year old girl – Victoria Grant – not only GETS the banking scandal but she explains it with streamlined simplicity! Amazing.

How to make a budget

 How to make a budget  Debt, Debt Blog, General  1 Response »
Jun 252012
 

how to make a budget How to make a budgetEvery single person needs a budget that helps them reach their goals; whether those goals are practical or adventurous the need is still there. However, that does not mean that the application follows. With the average Canadian household overspending by 150% of their income it is safe to say that people now a days either have no budget, or do not stick to the one that they have made. We could extend the question of “Why not…” today but with a plethora of reasons and circumstances such as “it’s just not as fun”, “it’s too hard”, “sticking to a budget stresses me out”, “I have a fear of commitment”, and so on; the speculation of this question would be endless. So instead let us focus on a popular excuse: “I don’t know how to make a budget.” Continue reading »

Safegurard Against Future Debt

 Safegurard Against Future Debt  Debt Blog  1 Response »
Apr 042012
 

Money Saving Tips Safegurard Against Future Debt There are various reasons why debt occurs. Situations such as loss of a job, sickness to yourself or a loved one, an unexpected addition to your family, or student loans are generally considered more acceptable than the alternatives: trying to keep up with the Jones’, being in denial, not knowing how to say no, having one or more addiction (to a variety of things), or simply not paying attention. Obviously, some of these situations are controllable, and some are not. To safeguard against the uncontrollable situations adding stress to your life, how should one prepare to live within their means, and create a financial crisis cushion?

A recent study from the Bank of Montreal showed that 20% of Canadians said they would be hard pressed to be able to afford their mortgage if the rates rose by only 2%! With a $350,000 dollar mortgage at 2.99% over 25years the monthly cost would be $1654.57. If rates rose by a mere 2% bringing the rate to a still low 4.99% the new monthly cost would be $2033.63; a difference of $379.06. Knowing that less than $400 per month ($100 per week) is the waver range for 20% of Canadians shows, from another angle, that people are living way to close to their financial limits. Continue reading »

A Summer Job

 A Summer Job  Debt Blog  4 Responses »
Mar 122012
 

Ahh the spring – brings thoughts of new grass, fresh flowers, and bright dreams for the summer. Most people look forward to the summer because they get to take time off for camping or vacations, relax at backyard barbeques, go hiking, mountain biking, swimming, traveling, fishing, or rejoin their favorite sport team. However, there are those who don’t have the financial situation which can facilitate enjoying the summer as frequently or as much as other people can. Unfortunately it is a reality that limited funds can mean limited fun. So what are the options for people who have financial strains or commitments that don’t coincide with taking time off from work or spending money on new summer toys and juicy steaks?

summer money A Summer JobGet a summer job.

Now I know what you might be thinking…how is this the number one option? The truth is summer jobs can help you have fun while letting you keep your full time job and actually increasing your income! If you’re looking into the near future of summer this spring and seeing yourself sitting at home on the weekends with a fan and your TV remote then you’re not really utilizing your off work time anyways are you? Getting a summer job does mean working more hours, but you’d be working the same hours you’d be spending moping at home. March and April are the months that most recreational centres and cities start posting their summer job opportunities, so open a new tab and get to searching, look for positions that get your outside and active. You’ll be surprised the listings you find – I just found a “Race Walking Instructor” position that pays over twenty-five dollars an hour at the recreational centre just blocks away from my house! Continue reading »

Warning Signs & Debt Solutions

 Warning Signs & Debt Solutions  General  4 Responses »
Feb 072012
 

debt confusion Warning Signs & Debt SolutionsEveryone in their life will experience debt of some kind and for the most part it’s manageable. Debt like student loans or a mortgage makes sense and usually one or both are planned for. Debt like maxed out credit cards, loans, lines of credit, taxes owing, or unnecessarily obese vehicle debt don’t make sense and are not planned for, however, life’s endless combination of circumstances can cause these types of debt to not only be present in your financial life but take over. So what are the signs of looming uncontrollable debt and what are some debt solutions?

If you can answer YES to any of the following warning signs then you need to seek financial advice from a professional.

  • Are you using credit for living expenses because you don’t have another option?
  • Are you spending 20% or more of your take home income on “bad” debts?
  • Are you only able to make minimum payments; not decreasing the principle at all?
  • Are you behind multiple payments on one or more of your debts?
  • Are you alternating which debt you pay because you are not able to make all payments? Continue reading »

Holiday Repayment Plan

 Holiday Repayment Plan  Debt Blog  4 Responses »
Jan 022012
 

The holidays have come to a quick Monday closing meaning it’s time to head back to the “real world” and start thinking about your bills, and thus, your holiday repayment plan. December has always been a month for overspending, overeating, and overdrinking, so it makes sense that January is, and has always been, a time for new resolutions, new habits, and new goals – we want to correct the overindulging that happened throughout December. Financial resolutions are second in popularity to losing weight/being healthier and sadly end just as fast. Most people who make a new year’s resolution will give in by March mainly because they haven’t made a road map for their success. Today we look at making that road map so that people can feel stronger in their financial resolutions.

Write it out.

If your resolution is to save money, or pay off your debt you’ll need to make a commitment. And what better way to do that than by writing down your resolution in a place where you will see it daily so that you can find strength, be energized, and hold yourself accountable. Post-It notes are a Debt Tips1 150x150 Holiday Repayment Plangreat way to facilitate this goal because you can literally put them anywhere, they’re eye catching, and usually come in cheerful colors! Write a main list and put it on your bathroom mirror, you’ll see it every morning and every night. If you think you’ll need more support throughout the day then tuck them in your car or wallet. Wrapping a note around your credit card reminding you it is for “serious emergencies” (not emergency coffee runs) or “gas only” will help you avoid swiping by being a goal reminder and giving you time to rethink your decision while physically unwrapping it. To get a little more dynamic you can put reminders on your phone too! Set a reminder every payday to deposit your cheque and take out your spending money. This is the cash diet, meaning no plastic, and it’s a great way to ensure you stick to your repayment budget because when the cash runs out, so does the spending.

Continue reading »

Money Saving Tips for the Holidays

 Money Saving Tips for the Holidays  Debt Blog  6 Responses »
Dec 072011
 

Team Up:

This concept is simple- if someone on your list wants or needs something too large for one person to handle, team up with others. Items like a new TV, video game consult, a trip, or amusement park passes can run up a hefty bill. But if you split the cost between three, four, or five people it

Christmas Presents 150x150 Money Saving Tips for the Holidays

Don’t go overboard!

becomes far more manageable. This money saving tip for the holiday is the easiest one because all you have to do is talk to your family and friends who will, most likely, want to hop on board with you, especially if it’s something that a loved one really wants or needs.

Pull Names:

Anyone from a large family knows that gift giving can get pricey just based on the sheer number of items you have to buy, even if you do put a thirty dollar per person limit out there. Thirty dollars times ten gifts is still three hundred dollars, which is over the recommended budget if you make $30,000 a year. Pulling names cuts down on your costs, and gives you the opportunity to get a gift you know they’ll love, not just a gift that meets your cost requirements. So whatever your income is, make sure to make your budget before anything else! Continue reading »

Credit Counseling in Edmonton

 Credit Counseling in Edmonton  Debt, Debt Blog  1 Response »
Mar 312011
 

It is never too late to seek out and find credit counseling in Edmonton. If you have been living paycheck to paycheck, or living beyond your means for years, whether you are in your early to mid-twenties or well into your sixties, credit counseling services in Edmonton can help to put you on the right road to overcoming your financial woes… but for a cost!

Credit Counselors Credit Counseling in Edmonton

BEWARE the true costs of Credit Counseling

Continue reading »

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