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 from the government? What if you get a notice that you were overpaid for CERB/CRB or ineligible? Tu...
Aug 20, 2022•35 min•Season 8Ep. 416
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 your vehicle back, how to do it, and what happens with the loan shortfall. Tune in for lots of prac...
Aug 13, 2022•29 min•Season 8Ep. 415
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 advice on how to eat healthy and save money.
Aug 06, 2022•33 min•Season 8Ep. 414
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 debt levels, inflation, bankruptcy filings, and whether CRA collections will intensify in the Fall. Tu...
Jul 30, 2022•30 min•Season 8Ep. 413
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 borrowing, costs that comes with it, explain common mortgage terms, and discuss the factors to consider...
Jul 23, 2022•29 min•Season 8Ep. 412
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 can affect your home. Given today’s economic situation, this may sadly be a reality for many homeown...
Jul 16, 2022•34 min•Season 8Ep. 411
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 their years of experience helping clients and share lots of practical advice to help you overcome t...
Jul 09, 2022•38 min•Season 8Ep. 410
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 are ready to invest, the three ways to invest in stocks, what risks are, and the general dos and do...
Jul 02, 2022•30 min•Season 8Ep. 409
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 trends, and the role inflation is playing in household budgets. Scott and Doug also share their thoughts...
Jun 25, 2022•33 min•Season 8Ep. 408
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 coming back down, his thoughts on the employment rate and recession, and the show ends with the firs...
Jun 18, 2022•32 min•Season 8Ep. 407
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 can navigate debt repayment for their aging parents, and other dos and don’ts when it comes to deal...
Jun 11, 2022•30 min•Season 8Ep. 406
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 risks to that, benefits, and they discuss when filing a consumer proposal or bankruptcy is the bette...
Jun 04, 2022•29 min•Season 8Ep. 405
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 realistic scenarios that lead one to financial trouble. Doug and Ted also share their predictions for wh...
May 28, 2022•32 min•Season 8Ep. 404
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 ground with respect to mortgages. He also shares whether now is even a good time to buy. You won’t ...
May 21, 2022•41 min•Season 8Ep. 403
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 podcast, Maureen and host Doug Hoyes discuss how this budget method can be adapted for today’s cost v...
May 14, 2022•32 min•Season 8Ep. 402
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 start your own business? Tune in to today’s discussion with Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos as they share...
May 07, 2022•32 min•Season 8Ep. 401
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 discusses three basic work truths and lots of practical advice you should understand to help you na...
Apr 30, 2022•23 min•Season 8Ep. 400
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 drop by 50%, and whether now is a good time to buy. Nasma also discusses sales transparency and why i...
Apr 23, 2022•44 min•Season 8Ep. 399
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 separation and financial issues. They explain when it may be necessary for both parties to file insolvency ...
Apr 16, 2022•30 min•Season 8Ep. 398
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 from the government? What if you get a notice that you were overpaid for CERB/CRB or ineligible? Tu...
Apr 09, 2022•35 min•Season 8Ep. 397
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 costs? On today’s podcast Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos discuss the issues of surplus income payments, ho...
Apr 02, 2022•33 min•Season 8Ep. 396
After two years of working from home, many people are being called back to work in the office. But since 2020, costs, like gas, have soared. How much more expensive is it going to be to go back to the office? Is it a good idea to look for another job that offers remote work instead? What are the risks to that? On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos discuss which costs are now higher, who is more likely to be adversely affected, the potential risks of changing jobs, and give advice on ho...
Mar 26, 2022•33 min•Season 8Ep. 395
We often want to help friends and family financially when they ask for help. But sometimes that help leads to financial problems for us (like co-signing a loan and ending up having to pay it!). How do you say no without seeming harsh or unhelpful? On today’s podcast, we have a panel discussion with Scott Schaefer, LIT Maureen Parent, LIT and host Doug Hoyes, with a special appearance by Ian Martin, LIT, sharing cautionary tales of financial help backfiring on their clients. They also explain why...
Mar 19, 2022•32 min•Season 8Ep. 394
You’ve paid off your debts. Now you have some cash to invest. How do you get started? On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos walk you through what you need to consider before you invest. They explain how TFSAs, RRSPs, RESPs, and RDSPs work and when you should put your money in each. They also discuss the risks that come with stock trading and the true costs of mutual funds. Doug and Ted also explain the different investor personality types so you can better understand yourself. Tune in ...
Mar 12, 2022•34 min•Season 8Ep. 393
Our latest bankruptcy study revealed that the average female debtor's unsecured debt increased 6.5%, while her male counterpart only had a 0.7% increase in his unsecured debt load in 2021. Why is this? What are specific issues that women in debt face? On today’s podcast, we have an all-female panel of Trustees, who share their insights from client interactions, as well as personal experiences. They discuss why women have less take-home pay compared to men; share advice on how women can advocate ...
Mar 05, 2022•38 min•Season 8Ep. 392
Because there aren’t already enough lenders out there, Canada Post has now also come out with their own loan called the ‘MyMoney Loan,’ partnering with TD Bank. It’s a strategic alliance, aimed at Canadians in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. But, this Canada Post loan is not so cheap. While it’s more affordable than a payday loan, is it really a viable option for Canadians who can’t easily access a traditional bank? Find out on today’s podcast with host Doug Hoyes and guests Rebecca M...
Feb 26, 2022•31 min•Season 8Ep. 391
The Hoyes Michalos 2021 Joe Debtor Bankruptcy Study revealed that insolvent Canadians owed the highest level of unsecured debt since 2016. In 2021, the average insolvent debtor owed $50,484 in unsecured debt, with income tax debt and student loans driving insolvency filings. On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos explain why this is just the tip of the iceberg and that student loans and tax debt balances are likely to go even higher in the future, along with other consumer debts. Doug a...
Feb 19, 2022•30 min•Season 8Ep. 390
We know how hard it can be to live paycheque to paycheque or not have money available when a bill payment is due. Fintech is also recognizing this issue and developers have now created what’s called ‘early wage access’ or ‘pay advance’ apps. But are these apps really a good idea? Will getting paid sooner fix a cashflow problem or will it create more budgeting issues? How should you actually deal with a lack of income? Tune in to today’s podcast as Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos discuss these apps, ...
Feb 12, 2022•25 min•Season 8Ep. 389
Lenders sometimes ‘trick’ us by posting only the weekly cost of borrowing a loan (which is a much smaller number) than the monthly cost in their ads. Or they offer you an 8-year term on a car loan, which stretches the cost over more years, reducing your monthly payment, but increasing the total interest you pay. In both cases, the lender ‘wins’ by getting your sale and you end up owing a lot more than you originally planned for. So how can you avoid falling for lender tricks and approach offers ...
Feb 05, 2022•31 min•Season 8Ep. 388
Although the Bank of Canada held interest rates steady in their January 26, 2022 announcement, rates are expected to increase in 2022. When that happens, will you be financially ready for higher borrowing costs? Could you afford to pay an extra, say, $50-$100 a month towards your debts? On today’s podcast, Doug Hoyes and Ted Michalos breakdown how a rate hike would impact your finances, whether it’s better to get a variable or fixed loan, and why it’s important to prioritize debt repayment in a ...
Jan 29, 2022•30 min•Season 8Ep. 387
