By Margaret H. Johnson I have worried for the longest time about credit ratings. There are many good reasons for my fears. To begin with credit ratings are based solely on mathematics – the days in arrears. You are judged in a moral way by being labeled with a good or bad rating. The reason…
By Margaret H. Johnson Yesterday the boiling hot news of the day was a 25% interest bearing car loan to a BC couple. The story involved the TD bank and a family that had gone bankrupt recently. It raises a number of troublesome questions.
By Margaret H. Johnson Even though you may be feeling that it’s ‘too late’ to start saving for Christmas now, what are your other options? If you answered ‘credit cards,’ you aren’t alone. It’s easy for the majority of Canadians to fall into the debt trap, but do you really want to start the new…
By Margaret H. Johnson I heard my first Christmas carol of the year about two weeks ago. And you know what? I’m still not in the Christmas mood yet. In fact, I’m not ready for any bells ringing or children singing or, bah humbug, a partridge in a pear tree.
By Margaret H. Johnson Lots of media attention to a Royal Bank poll that discovered that a quarter of Canadians appear to be debt free. They reported that for those who do have personal debt the average debt load has jumped up to $15,920, a $2779 increase from a year ago.
By Margaret H. Johnson A friend of mine just told me a horrifying story. His daughter has been on a disability pension for less than a year and she’s already been cut off once for missing an appointment with a doctor because she could not arrange for babysitting for her two young children, both under…
By Margaret H. Johnson Now let me clarify the title right away. It‘s a pun, my friends, a play on, “Keep it Simple Stupid”. Because, there is nothing simple about debt. People and governments keep underestimating its complexity. For example, the recent amendments to the Statute of Limitations that reduce the period of time to…
The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) unveiled new rules for cell phone contracts in Canada. The rules allow cell phone customers to walk away from their contracts after two years without any early-cancellation penalties. If applicable, they will only be required to pay the remaining balance on their device tied to the contract. Read the…
By Luann Lasalle In the event of death, can a child inherit parent debt along with assets? {Click here to view the original article published in the Canadian Press on Jun 14, 2013. } The death of a parent can sometimes mean financial turmoil for surviving relatives, but advisers say that lingering debts aren’t the responsibility of the adult…
A Royal Bank study released recently draws attention to the cost of food. It’s hurting a lot of people. The Royal bank study suggests that the price of food went up 1.4% 3.8 % and 2.4% over the last three years. Eggs went up 20 -30% coffee a whopping 40%.
What you need to know about separation and divorce in British Columbia: If you are planning on separating, or should find yourself abandoned or otherwise alone without your spouse, then you will be learning a brand new language in British Columbia. My friend the Family Justice Counsellor said, “Gone are the terms custody and access….
Everyone dreams of financial freedom, whether that means early retirement, a worry-free retirement or simply enjoying working while being free from debt and able to afford life’s pleasures and adventures. Take the steps toward becoming financially free by applying these top ten money saving tips to your everyday life, and read our guide on budgeting.
Use our handy Budget Worksheet Some of you have never made a household budget, some of you may have made one a long time ago and need a refresher to get back on track. So, we are going to walk you through creating a budget. Get out all of your documents, a pencil and a…
Today’s article in the Vancouver Sun about thousands of low-income families in BC losing federal co-op housing subsidies raises the topic of affordable housing once again. I say it’s time to get a bit more specific. What exactly does government mean by affordable housing? Is it rental accommodation or home ownership? Is it emergency shelters,…
Lots of good coverage has been happening lately about the many dimensions to money and debt in the modern cellular-cybernetic world. From the Vancouver Sun comes an article supported by the Investor Education Fund Canada group that suggests half of all Canadian students aged 17 to 22 feel they should be better educated on how…
This morning one of the headings in the Vancouver Sun jumped right off the page: When Love Ends Family Law Takes Over . The notion that ‘when love ends’ rather than if love ends paints a sad if not tragic picture of relationships today.
Be aware of the high cost of anger in a divorce (both financial and emotional). At Women and Money we have helped our Clients to deal with it all when it comes to money and divorce. We have seen tears of anger, rage, sadness and grief as couples separate and divorce. This is a very frightening…
What is a payday loan? A payday loan, or payday advance, is a short-term loan of usually 14 days, which you promise to pay back, plus fees, after you receive your next paycheque. The loan is often between 30-50% of the amount of your paycheque. To qualify for a payday loan, you must provide proof…
Back in the day, people would often spend their entire career working for one company, and retire with the company’s pension plan. These days, only government employees and those who work for large corporations generally receive a pension, while the rest who work for smaller companies or are self-employed must rely on their own savings…
I don’t know why we’re soooo afraid or worried about doing our taxes. Many of my friends wait, wait, wait, worry, worry, worry, worry, and then, once getting into crunching a few numbers, they begin to feel better. It really is a moment of truth. We stare our expenses right in the face, especially if…
