Debt Free in 30

You have a budget, and you try to stay within it, but a lack of planning leads you to overspend. This is one of the most common ways people sabotage their own budgets. On today's podcast, credit counsellor Diane Cunha and host Doug Hoyes discuss the common mistakes people make when budgeting – from using debt as an extension of income to paying too much for transportation. They also share advice f...

You may think that human trafficking is something that only happens in countries outside of Canada, or only happens to poor people, or recent immigrants. That is not the case. Most police reported cases in Ontario are girls and women who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. But what does human trafficking have to do with debt and financial fraud? On today's podcast, we have a first-time s...

The coronavirus pandemic and job losses have led many people to rethink their careers. What can you do if your job no longer exists?  How can you reinvent yourself? And how do you do that without taking on debt? On today's podcast, Scott Terrio and Doug Hoyes discuss how jobs are expected to change post-pandemic and share several success stories of clients relying on their skills to find new emplo...

Having a savings fund helps you avoid a lot of financial headache in the event of an emergency. The trouble is, how do you get started on saving if cash is tight? On today's podcast, Certified Credit Counsellor Diane Cunha provides realistic tips for saving money, so you stay motivated. She also shares advice for how to save if you have a limited income and which accounts are best for storing a sa...

Payday loans aren't the only predatory loans out there. These days, several fintech companies offer 'easy' installment loans at high rates, ranging from 39% to 59%! On today's podcast, Ted Michalos and Doug Hoyes explain how these loans work and what makes them predatory. Doug and Ted also discuss high-cost loan regulations, the changes the Government of Ontario is proposing, and give their two ce...

E-transfer fraud is on the rise. From e-transfers being redirected to a hacker's bank account to job and puppy scams - how do you stay protected? How can you tell what's real and what's fake? Enter Rachel Jolicoeur – Director of Fraud Prevention and Partnerships at Interac. On today's podcast, Rachel discusses common ways people become victims of e-transfer fraud. She also explains how to spot e-t...

For many people, a car is a necessary expense to get to work and run errands. But what if you unintentionally bought too much car and your car loan is now creating financial problems? What are your options? Is it possible to get out of a car loan? On today's podcast, Ted Michalos and Doug Hoyes discuss when you might want to hand your vehicle back, how to do it, and what happens with the loan shor...

The Hoyes Michalos 2020 Bankruptcy Study revealed that for the first time in four years insolvencies shifted back to an older demographic. The share of insolvencies among those 50 and older increased from 28% in 2019 to over 30% post-lockdown, while the share among younger generations declined. How did this happen? On today's podcast, Ted Michalos and Doug Hoyes discuss how the pandemic changed in...

One of the simplest ways to increase your credit score is to lower your credit utilization. But how do you do that? And what utilization percentage is optimal?  On today's podcast, Certified Credit Counsellor Diane Cunha is back to share practical advice for how to maintain a good utilization rate for healthy credit. Diane also discusses common credit utilization misconceptions and the risks of ha...

ohn Pasalis, President of Realosophy Realty, makes his first appearance on the podcast, and he tells us that, even though unemployment is high and we are in a lockdown, the real estate market is "on fire".  Why?  Is government policy deliberately inflating house prices?  When will this boom end?  Is now a good time to buy?  Or rent?  All that and more. Enjoy!   Time Stamps:   2:05  What's happenin...

Managing a business is difficult, and the pandemic has made things much worse for Canadian small business owners. If you're a small business owner facing debt problems, what are your options? On today's podcast Ted Michalos is back to explain what you can do if you have both business debts and debts you've personally guaranteed for your business; strategies if your business was doing fine before t...

Housing activity in Ontario has been nothing short of crazy. In the middle of a global pandemic, we're seeing multiple offers on homes and rising real estate prices. Why? And is it a good time to refinance if you have debt? Enter Ron Butler – noted mortgage expert. On today's podcast, Ron explains what's going on with mortgages, the impact of low-interest rates, and whether house prices will keep...

As we enter 2021, some interesting trends are emerging: Canadian household savings rate is still high, yet so is our debt-to-income ratio; residential mortgages are also on a sharp rise. How do we explain this? Ben Rabidoux returns to share his insights on what's really happening with debt, savings, and where he sees the real estate market heading. Ben also talks about the possibility of an inflat...

Budgeting is difficult, but you need to keep track of your money.  So how do you budget if you don't like budgeting? On today's podcast, guest Julie Wildman, LIT, shares practical advice on how to match your expenses to your income, without the need to spend a lot of time tracking every dollar you spend. Julie and Doug Hoyes also discuss how to be ready for unexpected expenses and how to adapt deb...

Car loans are one of the most common entry points into debt problems. That's because if you're not careful, you will easily spend more than you can really afford on a vehicle. While it's hard to avoid borrowing for a car altogether, there are steps you can take to protect your financial health. On today's show, guest Scott Terrio explains when a car loan becomes bad debt by sharing auto loan pitfa...

The unemployment rate dramatically increased, debt levels continue to grow, and yet the personal insolvency rate in Canada dropped to 20-year lows when the COVID-19 lockdowns started in the spring.  How long will insolvency rates remain low? Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos review the unprecedented events of 2020, and offer their predictions on what will happen with debt and bankruptcy and consumer pro...

The first step in rebuilding credit is figuring out what's causing your bad credit in the first place? Too much debt? A recent bankruptcy filing? Depending on the reason, there will be different ways to approach the rebuilding process. On today's podcast, our guest is credit expert Richard Moxley, who walks us through the importance of having good credit, causes of bad credit, common misconception...

Nearly 9 million Canadians applied for CERB in 2020 to deal with the financial effects of COVID-19. To distribute the benefit quickly, the Canadian government conducted very little eligibility verification up-front. Many people believed they were eligible to get CERB but are now discovering that that was not the case. So, what happens if you received CERB but were not eligible? Will you be audited...

Fintech has come up with a new way for making purchases online with Buy Now Pay Later apps. But is 'buy now, pay later' just another form of debt? Do these new apps actually help your budget or fast track financial problems? On today's podcast, we have first-time guest and Hoyes Michalos LIT Jennifer Kwon who walks us through how these apps work, how they benefit from people using them, and she si...

Some loans feel like you've been paying them forever without an end in sight. In other cases, you may even be surprised to see your loan balances grow instead of shrink with regular payments. On today's podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos define important terms for understanding how loans work, how to spot an expensive loan, and the risks you face with longer term loans. They also teach you how t...

An unprecedented number of Canadians went from being office employees to working from home during this pandemic. Many also took on home office costs in 2020. So, what does this mean for our 2020 income tax filing? Which expenses will we be able to deduct and which ones will we not? On today's podcast, Ian Martin, CPA and Licensed Insolvency Trustee, shares his thoughts on how the CRA may approach...

Every January, we meet with clients who tell us they spent way too much during the holiday season. But given the current pandemic, income problems, and gathering restrictions, will 2020 finally be the year when Canadians spend less? On today's podcast, Diane Cunha and Doug Hoyes discuss what generally drives people to spend so much over the holidays and why this year might be different. They share...

It's the 10th annual financial literacy month sponsored by the federal government. Are we more financially literate than we were 10 years ago?  Our debt levels keep increasing, so it doesn't appear so.  Is it possible to learn money management skills, or do you have to be born with it, like athletic ability. On today's short podcast Doug Hoyes explains why he believes you can learn to manage your...

Every financial guru says you need an emergency fund. But if you also have debt, is it possible to balance saving and paying down high-interest credit cards or lines of credit? What are the steps to get started? On today's podcast, Diane Cunha, Certified Credit Counsellor at Hoyes Michalos discusses the different types of emergency funds, teaches us how to set aside cash even if we have debt, and...

Description: Amid economic uncertainty, side hustles have become a popular way to earn extra income. But while many side hustles are good, some are risky and can lead to serious debt problems.​ On today's podcast, guest and Hoyes Michalos LIT Julie Wildman discusses the risks of multi-level marketing ventures (or MLMs). While an MLM can seem like a great opportunity to "be your own boss" and work...