Debt Free In 30

A debt service ratio basically the amount of your monthly income that’s used to service your monthly debt payments. But why does this ratio matter and what’s a good debt service ratio to have? On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos break down how a debt service ratio is calculated, what it means for your financial health and practical advice for how to avoid a high ratio and debt problems. Tune in to this episode, which also serves as a great introduction to financial literacy. Links: What’s the Wealth Effect (And Why It Matters To You): https://youtu.be/jVjVS8gik2o 4 Personal Finance Ratios That Measure Debt Risk: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/4-personal-finance-ratios-that-measure-debt-risk/

When debt collectors start getting aggressive with their collection efforts, what do you do? What should you avoid saying to a collection agent? When does the Statute of Limitations on debt come into play? And what if you can repay only some of your debt? On today’s podcast, Scott Terrio returns with Doug Hoyes to give practical advice on dealing with collection agencies and spotting their tricks. They also share specific tips for approaching Canada Revenue Agency when you have unpaid tax debt. Tune in for a great show! Related Links: Exposing Collection Agencies’ Dirty Tricks: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/collection-agency-dirty-tricks/ Collection Agents: How Did They Find Me? https://www.hoyes.com/blog/collection-agency-dirty-tricks/ Top 10 Tips for Dealing with a Collection Agent: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/top-10-tips-for-dealing-with-a-collection-agent/ Can a Collection Agency Take Me to Court? https://youtu.be/6UHpCGqVP4k

We just released our 2022 Hoyes Michalos Consumer Insolvency Study which found that 49% of all insolvencies are now being filed by Millennials. Millennials were the only age demographic to see a rise in their unsecured debt obligations last year. On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos explain why Millennial insolvencies are rising. They also discuss another alarming trend from our study – the growth in Rapid Loan (high-cost payday and installment loan) usage. Tune in for a great discussion! Links: Hoyes Michalos Consumer Insolvency Study 2022: https://www.hoyes.com/press/joe-debtor/ Rapid Loans & Insolvency Study 2022: https://www.hoyes.com/press/joe-debtor/how-insolvent-borrowers-use-payday-loans/

Amid layoff announcements and rising cost of living, you may be feeling like you’re in a crisis or about to face one. What do you do? And what should you avoid doing? How can you manage your financial health when your stress levels are at an all-time high? Enter Maureen Parent. On today’s podcast, Maureen gives lots of practical advice along with dos and don’ts of dealing with job loss, high food costs, and managing your bill payments when money is tight. Tune in for an inspiring discussion! Links: Five Tips to Survive an Economic Crisis: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/five-tips-survive-economic-crisis/ Maureen Parent, LIT: https://www.hoyes.com/about-hoyes-michalos/bankruptcy-trustees/maureen-parent/ Maureen Parent on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaureenParent7

Less than one year ago, the Bank of Canada overnight rate was just 25 basis points. Today, it’s 450 basis points – an 18X increase. How have record rate increases affected homeowners and potential homebuyers? What about borrowers with a home equity line of credit (HELOC)? On today’s podcast, Ron Butler, mortgage broker extraordinaire, gives us insight into the mortgage world in 2023. He also discusses how recency bias affects our decision-making, with lots of practical advice to avoid paying more for your mortgage than you need to. Tune in! Links: Ron Butler on Twitter: @ronmortgageguy https://twitter.com/ronmortgageguy Butler Mortgage (mortgage rates): https://www.butlermortgage.ca/mortgage-calculator/ High Interest Rates: What Can You Do/ https://www.hoyes.com/blog/rising-interest-rates-and-debt-what-can-you-do/ Bank of Canada, share of mortgages with high Debt Service Ratio: https://www.bankofcanada.ca/rates/indicators/indicators-of-financial-vulnerabilities/ Average Toronto house prices: https://wowa.ca

When you think you're rich, you’re more likely to spend more. And when you’re not so confident about money, you may hold back and save. This is how the wealth effect works. But are there any risks to this effect? On today’s podcast Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos give real-life examples of how the wealth effect works and why it may cause you unwanted debt problems if you’re not careful. Tune in for a great discussion. Links: Are Wealth Effects Important For Canada? https://www.bankofcanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/pichettee.pdf Podcast 435 – Why Are Consumer Insolvencies Back Up? https://youtu.be/3i22JpmcozY

Sometimes borrowing money is a necessity. But do we always borrow because we need to? What role do banks, credit unions, and credit score providers play in influencing our decisions? On today’s podcast, Scott Terrio is back with Doug Hoyes to break down how lenders encourage borrowing and they share practical advice for how to say no. Tune in for a great discussion! Related Links: Loan Affordability – What To Know Before You Borrow: https://youtu.be/GgdykU5lGvw Banks Can Take Your Money Without Warning: https://youtu.be/OgO-3JE6wGM The Average Joe and Jane Guide to Smart Borrowing: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/average-joe-jane-guide-smart-borrowing/

When you’ve got a lot of debt to deal with, it can be tough to know where to start. Should you pay off the smallest debt first? Or the highest interest one? On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos break down how to answer this age-old question with lots of practical advice, a discussion about the debt snowball vs. debt avalanche method, whether debt consolidation is a good idea, and when it’s time to speak to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee. Tune in for lots of great tips!   Links:   Which Debts Should You Pay First? https://www.hoyes.com/blog/which-debts-should-you-pay-first/ Debt Snowball Method vs. High Interest First https://www.hoyes.com/blog/debt-snowball-method-vs-high-interest-first/

It’s the start of a new year and a good time to plan your finances for the next few months. On today’s podcast, Maureen Parent is back to walk you through the steps. She explains how you can plan for your expenses and the importance of looking at costs on an annual basis instead of monthly. Maureen also gives practical advice on adjusting your budget for inflation as grocery costs keep rising, as well as on how to budget for longer-term goals. And, if you don’t like budgeting, there are lots of tips for you, too, so your finances are still organized! Tune in for a great discussion. Related Links: 7 Reasons Why Budgets Fail & How You Can Succeed: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/7-reasons-why-budgets-fail-and-how-you-can-succeed/ Use a P.L.A.N. Account When Budgeting: https://youtu.be/pSQ3jvrFVHU The Secret To Budgeting – Pay Your Bills As You Get Paid: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/the-secret-to-budgeting/ Free Budgeting Workbook: https://www.hoyes.com/free-budgeting-workbook/ Mint.com Budget App: https://mint.in

Both consumer debt and insolvencies have turned sharply upward again. What’s contributing to this shift? Are record-high interest rates to blame? Inflation? Or are we just picking up where we left off pre-pandemic? Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos are back with our year-end analysis and predictions podcast. They discuss the top statistics from 2022 that help explain what’s happened with bankruptcies this year and give their predictions for what’s the come in 2023. Tune in for a great discussion! Sources & Related Links: Top 10 Debt Statistics for 2022 & What’s Ahead for Consumer Insolvencies: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/top-10-debt-statistics-for-2022-and-whats-ahead-for-consumer-insolvencies/ National Rent Report, Rentals.ca: https://rentals.ca/national-rent-report  Teranet-National Bank House Price Index: https://housepriceindex.ca/2022/11/october2022/ Hoyes Michalos Homeowners Bankruptcy Index: https://www.hoyes.com/press/homeowner-bankruptcy-index/ Consumer Price Index Statistics Canada: https://www150

We spend a lot of our time in the virtual world these days – on our phones, apps, social media – and sometimes the line between virtual reality and physical reality gets blurred. Sometimes even to the point where we make real world decisions based on what we see in the virtual world. On today’s special and short podcast, Doug Hoyes helps us understand why it’s important to distinguish between physical and virtual reality so we don’t end up in serious financial trouble.

For the last 30 years, credit card debt has been going up. In November 1990, Canadian households owed $9.8 billion on their credit cards. Today, they owe nearly $90 billion. Why has credit card spending surged in the last three decades? On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos discuss how inflation and easier access to credit products have contributed to our indebtedness and provide practical advice for how to deal with your credit card debt. Tune in for a great discussion.   Related Links: Statistics Canada. Table 36-10-0639-01  Credit liabilities of households https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3610063901 What to Know About Credit Cards To Use Credit Wisely: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/what-to-know-about-credit-cards-so-you-use-credit-wisely/ How to Pay Credit Cards – Pay More Than The Minimum: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/how-to-pay-credit-cards-minimum/

If a company goes bankrupt, should the employees lose their pension or have their benefits reduced? No, of course not. But it has happened. There is new legislation before Parliament to protect pensions, but will it have unintended consequences? What will this mean for average person? How does this affect businesses? On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos explain the different types of pensions employers offer, what happens when a company goes out of business, and they discuss the broader implications of the incoming legislation. Tune in! Related Links:   Should Company Pensions be Protected in Bankruptcy? https://www.hoyes.com/blog/should-pensions-be-protected-in-a-corporate-bankruptcy/ Hansard, debate on Bill C-228 https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/house/sitting-130/hansard Sears Canada pension settlement: https://kmlaw.ca/cases/sears-canada/ Bankruptcy & Insolvency Act, section 60 (1.5) https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/B-3/page-10.html#docCont Bankruptcy & Insolve

At some point in life, you’re going to need a loan. But before you sign on the dotted line for a loan, figure out if you can afford it. How? That’s the focus on today’s podcast. Ted Michalos is back to share practical advice for how to figure out loan costs by yourself so you don’t get take on more debt than you can handle. Ted and Doug review three common loan types: debt consolidation loans, auto loans, and installment loans. Tune in for lots of great tips! Resources Mentioned in the Show: Debt Consolidation Loan Calculator: https://www.calculator.net/debt-consolidation-calculator.html Car Loan Calculator: https://wowa.ca/car-loan-calculator Installment Loan Calculator: https://www.calculator.net/loan-calculator.html

We need good credit to get things like an apartment or a cell phone or to qualify for an affordable loan. But what if you’ve struggled with managing credit and now have bad credit? Is a credit card the solution to fixing bad credit? It can be if you know how to use it. On today’s podcast, Jennifer Kwon, LIT, returns with lots of practical advice for how to use a credit card wisely to rebuild credit, what types of credit cards exist, and the dos and don’ts of credit rebuilding. Tune in for the discussion with Jennifer Kwon and Doug Hoyes!

Some credit card issuers like CIBC and Canadian Tire now offer installment plans for specific credit card purchases. This means that if you buy something expensive, you may be able to spread the payments on it and pay less interest than the typical credit card rate, making repayment more affordable. The question is though – should you take a loan out on your credit card debt? How can a credit card installment plan go wrong? On today’s podcast, Ted Michalos and Doug Hoyes discuss the true cost of these installment plans, the extra fees you need to pay, and why they can put your finances at risk. Tune in for lots of practical advice.   Links Mentioned In The Show:   Should You Be Charged a Fee For Using Credit Cards? https://youtu.be/k-R_ipxjjHk New Buy Now Pay Later Apps – Is It Debt? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvCO7_PUCDI CIBC Pace It https://www.cibc.com/en/personal-banking/credit-cards/manage/installment-plans.html Canadian Tire Bank equal payment plan: https://triangle-uat15.cantire.net/en/financing.

Some of our clients get the unhappy surprise of seeing a zero-dollar balance in their bank accounts because the bank took their money. Yes, this is legal. It’s called the right of offset. If you owe the bank money and you’re behind on payments, they can clear your bank account, without warning. How do you avoid this happening to you? Enter Scott Terrio. On today’s podcast, Scott and Doug discuss why, how, and when the bank can exercise their right of offset and how you can avoid this, even if you can’t afford to pay your debts as they come due. Tune in for lots of practical advice!   Related Links:   What is the Right of Offset and What Can You Do About It? https://www.hoyes.com/blog/what-is-the-right-of-offset-and-what-can-you-do-about-it/ Why Do I Need to Switch Banks? https://www.hoyes.com/blog/why-do-i-need-to-switch-banks-i-love-my-bank/

The price of everything has shot up. Christmas is going to be much more expensive this year because of record inflation… but does it really have to be? How can you avoid overspending this holiday season? The key is to start early. On today’s podcast, Heather Cudmore, Certified Credit Counsellor at Hoyes Michalos joins Doug Hoyes to give practical advice on how to approach Christmas spending with your family to make it affordable, while keeping creativity and fun in the picture. Tune in!   Links Mentioned in the Show:   What’s The Point of Financial Literacy Today? https://youtu.be/ALp2KEV5atw Christmas Etiquette When You’re Dealing with Debt: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/christmas-etiquette-when-youre-dealing-with-debt/ Straight Talk on Your Money book by Doug Hoyes: https://www.amazon.ca/Straight-Talk-Your-Money-Financial/dp/1988344034

It’s that time of the year again – Financial Literacy Month (2022). Is there any point to it?  Is Financial Literacy Month just an excuse for the Big Banks and credit card companies to market more debt to you? Doug Hoyes has some thoughts he’d like to share with you regarding today’s economy, how it’s impacting Canadians, and what you can do.   #financialliteracymonth #FLM2022 #finlit #housing #personalfinance #recession #costofliving #debtrelief #debtsolutions #economy   Links: Doug Hoyes on Twitter: https://twitter.com/doughoyes Hoyes Michalos website: https://www.hoyes.com/  

Mortgage rates are up, and real estate prices are down. What does this mean for you if you’re renewing your mortgage? Can your bank decline your renewal and what are your options if they do? On today’s podcast, Ted Michalos returns to give practical advice for how to approach your mortgage renewal in a rising rate environment, whether selling is a good option, and how to deal with unsecured debts if you’re overwhelmed. Tune in for lots of tips! Related Links: Mortgage Challenges After Record Rate Hikes with Ron Butler: https://youtu.be/kJ9vyHA5pJw Renewing Your Mortgage as Rates Change: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/get-ready-for-higher-interest-rates/ Can’t Pay Your Mortgage? Options To Keep Your House: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/cant-pay-your-mortgage-options-to-keep-your-house/