Debt Free in 30

We've now had our fifth interest rate hike in 2022 alone. Mortgages are costing more to service. And so are callable debts – which are debts that can have their repayment terms changed whenever at the lender's discretion. On today's podcast guest Scott Terrio returns to discuss how rising rates are putting more homeowners at risk of serious debt issues and even insolvency, especially as credit tig...

The Criminal Code of Canada says that it's a criminal offence to charge an interest rate of more than 60%. The federal government is considering lowering that rate. Is this a good idea? What could go wrong? On today's podcast, Ted Michalos returns to discuss whether this plan by the Government of Canada will make any meaningful difference, and what the unintended consequences of the proposal may b...

It's Season #9 of Debt Free in 30! Life is changing fast – there's no question about it. How can you navigate this crazy economy? How do you deal with an ever-limited budget? Doug Hoyes returns in this short season premiere rant to share what you can expect from our show this season and helpful resources to get you through these tough times. Tune in.   Resources Mentioned in the Show: How One Man...

It's our final rebroadcast episode of the summer, and today we rebroadcast episode 400 of the Debt Free in 30 podcast and Doug Hoyes shares his wisdom on how to protect yourself against job loss. If the pandemic has taught us anything it's that no job is secure. So, what can you do to avoid getting financially burned if you're out of work? If you're unhappy with your job, should you switch? What's...

When the pandemic first started, the Canada Revenue Agency slowed their collection efforts on income tax debt owing. But with the economy reopened, we are starting to see notices filed by the CRA to individuals owing on income tax, including CERB and CRB debts. Is this a sign that the CRA is ramping up efforts again? What are your options if your employer is served with a Requirement to Pay notice...

Today we rebroadcast episode #339 (and it's even more timely today). 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...

For the average Canadian family, their largest monthly expense is their rent or mortgage payment, and unless they have a very expensive car, their second biggest expense is often food. If you have a limited income, how can you manage your food budget effectively? Is it possible eat healthy without breaking the bank? On today's show we welcome Heidi Pola, a Registered Dietician who gives practical...

The summer is only half over, yet so much has happened to the economy in 2022. Gas prices have started to come down after intense surging, and interest rate hikes are at record highs and may keep going. What can we expect for the next six months of the year? Enter Doug and Ted. On today's podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos give us their mid-year review and share their predictions for consumer de...

So far in 2022 the Bank of Canada has raised its overnight lending rate four times. Its most recent hike in July was the biggest one since 1998. If you're trying to buy a home now, what can you do to make the purchase affordable? Is it a good time to even get a mortgage? Would it be better to rent and wait? On today's podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos walk you through the basics of mortgage bor...

What options do homeowners have when they've got a lot of home equity and a lot of unsecured debt, but the bank won't let them refinance by borrowing against their home? On today's podcast, Ted Michalos and Doug Hoyes explain why homeowners often carry so much more debt than non-homeowners, how to deal with your unsecured debts whether refinancing is an option or not, and how an insolvency filing...

We often meet with clients who have struggled with their debt for a lot longer than they needed to. This is often because they feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask for help. But why do we struggle so much to talk about our financial situation? On today's podcast, Maureen Parent, LIT in our Kanata office returns to give insight as to why we are so afraid to talk about debt. Maureen and Doug draw from...

One of the most common borrow-to-invest strategies is to take money from your home equity to purchase an investment property. But is this always a good idea? What if you borrow to invest in the stock market instead? Is that riskier? Is it ever OK to take on debt to invest or is it something you should never do? On today's podcast, Ted Michalos and Doug Hoyes walk you through how to decide when you...

2022 has so far brought rapidly declining real estate prices, record high gas and food prices, and rising interest rates. It's looking to be a perfect financial storm. So how are all these variables impacting indebted Canadians? On today's podcast, Scott Terrio, Manager, Consumer Insolvency at Hoyes Michalos, returns to discuss what he's seeing from individuals struggling with debt, borrowing tren...

We are still in unprecedented times. House prices are going down even though inventory is limited. The unemployment rate is at a 40-year low, and yet insolvencies remain at record lows. What's going on? Will this climate last forever? Enter Ben Rabidoux. Ben returns to the podcast with Doug Hoyes to share his unique insights and research on where housing is heading, whether he sees mortgage rates...

If you die with debt, does it get passed on to someone else in your family? Is it possible for an estate to file a bankruptcy or consumer proposal? On today's podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos discuss what happens when you still owe creditors after you've passed and the impact on your estate. They provide practical advice on dealing with joint debt when one spouse has passed, how adult children...

You may be wondering if you can strike a debt repayment deal with your creditors without going to a Licensed Insolvency Trustee and a formal insolvency filing. Well, it depends on how much you owe, who you owe, your assets, and lots of other factors. On today's podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos walk you through all the different scenarios in which you could deal with creditors by yourself, the...

We're facing massive inflation with more and more people turning to debt to make ends meet. Bankruptcies are still at record lows, but perhaps not for much longer. On today's podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos give us an update on what's going on now and how the rising cost of living is impacting our wallets. They also explain why someone would ever need to file bankruptcy by providing some real...

Real estate prices are down in many parts of Ontario after record increases. Not surprising since the Bank of Canada has indicated it will raise rates again. But what has this done to mortgages? What's happening when people renew? How has mortgage qualification changed? Enter Ron Butler, mortgage broker extraordinaire. On today's podcast, Ron is back to give us an update on what he's seeing on the...

A popular budgeting method called the 50-30-20 Rule dictates that you use 50% of your income on necessities like rent, 30% on wants, and 20% to savings and debt repayment. But is this even a realistic money management approach in 2022? With soaring cost of living, many people spend close to 70%-80% on necessities alone. So is this budgeting method a lie now? Enter Maureen Parent, LIT. On today's p...

Since the pandemic lockdowns, a large number of people became self-employed or started their own businesses. Why? Because of job loss or a desire for more flexibility. Makes perfect sense. But while there are many benefits to being your own boss – you get a lot of independence – is it always the right decision for you? What are the pitfalls and when is it just better to get a new job rather than s...

It's episode 400 of the Debt Free in 30 podcast and Doug Hoyes shares his wisdom on how to protect yourself against job loss. If the pandemic has taught us anything it's that no job is secure. So, what can you do to avoid getting financially burned if you're out of work? If you're unhappy with your job, should you switch? What's the smartest way to go about making a change? On today's podcast Doug...

Ontario real estate prices are pulling back. Is this the end of the housing boom, or just a temporary slowdown? On today's podcast we have first-time guest Nasma Ali, founder of One Group, a real estate agency based in Toronto. Nasma explains what's currently happening with the real estate market. She also shares when she noticed the housing market slow down in the GTA, whether housing will ever d...

More than 1 in 5 of our clients, people who file a bankruptcy or consumer proposal with Hoyes Michalos, are separated or divorced at the time they file with us. So, what happens when you have debt and are facing divorce? Can you divide debt in a separation agreement? What if it's joint debt? On today's podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos explain how debt is managed when couples are facing separat...

When the pandemic first started, the Canada Revenue Agency slowed their collection efforts on income tax debt owing. But with the economy reopened, we are starting to see notices filed by the CRA to individuals owing on income tax, including CERB and CRB debts. Is this a sign that the CRA is ramping up efforts again? What are your options if your employer is served with a Requirement to Pay notice...

When you go bankrupt in Canada, you have to make a payment into your estate, for your creditors. This is called a surplus income payment. But are surplus income limits out of touch with today's cost of living realities? How can it be fair that someone living in a major city like Toronto or Vancouver must pay the same amount into a bankruptcy as someone living in a small town, with lower living cos...