Debt is up but Delinquency is Down

Canadian consumer debt is up but according to a recent report delinquency on unsecured debt is down to its lowest level in 6 years. Data from the credit monitoring firm Equifax shows Canadian consumers owe $1.44 trillion in the second...

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Canadians taking on too much Consumer Debt

It certainly looks like Canadian consumers are living comfortably well according to the latest data released by Statistics Canada. Retail sales hit a new high in June as data shows consumers buying lawn care goods, summer clothes, sporting goods,...

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How to Save Shopping for Food

The best time to save on shopping for food is now, when the summer’s harvest is at its peak with vegetables and fruit. Vegetables like corn, peppers, squash, beans and fruit like apples, strawberries and blueberries are a plenty...

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Instead of getting a Payday Loan, Do Anything Else

John Oliver delivered a legendary segment educating viewers on the dangers of payday loans and the ridiculous draw consumers have towards them despite the fact. Oliver described the “Payday Loan” business model as a “circle of misery” designed to...

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Canadians prefer using Credit over Cash

A recent MasterCard Advisors white paper suggests that non-cash instruments account for 90% of payments in this country, among the highest rates in the world. It looks like we like to use our credit instead of our cold hard...

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How to Donate to Charity on a Tight Budget

Giving to charity is a rewarding experience. Many people enjoy allocating a portion of their earnings to donate to their favorite charities. Others have never been able to afford such donations but would like to contribute in some way...

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How Consumers in Debt are helping our Economy

Despite Canada’s ratio of household debt to disposable income record high of 164.1 per cent in the third quarter of last year, consumers are still driving growth in Canada’s economy, with indicators showing faster inflation led by higher food...

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Is Overdraft Protection Right for You?

If you are a disciplined spender and consistently have a positive balance in your bank account, you may not need overdraft protection. However if you are not, and most Canadians fit into this category, then overdraft protection can provide...

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How do you know if you’re on Debt Row?

Are you on debt row? Are you only making the minimum payments? Do you have more than 10 credit cards? Are your credit cards maxed out? Are you taking from your savings or retirement fund to pay your bills?...

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Canadians have become very comfortable with Debt

A recent survey conducted by Manulife Bank of Canada found that most Canadians feel that mortgages are not included as part of having debt. Nearly 70 per cent of respondents in their 20’s said they could have an outstanding...

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