Whether it’s cars, houses, student loans, shopping, travel, supporting a family or starting a business, most of us end up spending more than we have at some point in our lives. We do this by going into debt, which can be a good thing but can also be a prison if we don’t stay on top on our finances.

What is debt and is it bad?

Debt is anything you owe to someone else. Financially speaking, debt is acquired by borrowing money from a lender such as a bank, credit card provider or private lender, to make a purchase. To repay the debt, you give back the amount you originally borrowed (the principle amount) plus an extra charge that’s usually expressed as a percentage of the original loan amount (the interest rate).

For example, if you borrow $1,000 from your bank at 5.9% interest, you would end up paying back $1,000 plus an interest fee of ($1,000 x 0.059) = $59. The bank would receive a total of $1,059.

You may consider the affordability and necessity of what you want to buy when deciding whether to go into debt. Most people can’t afford to buy a home or car with cash, so many prefer to finance these big-ticket items with a loan. (Although, if you want to avoid interest charges and don’t mind waiting, you may prefer to take out a smaller loan or avoid borrowing altogether by working and saving up your own money.)

While getting into debt can seem scary, there are situations when you might want to take out a loan.

Credit cards

Credit cards make it easy to spend money you don’t have and get instant gratification. Unfortunately, once interest charges start to accumulate on your credit card charges, your debt levels can quickly rise.

Credit cards come with some of the highest interest rates around, with many cards carrying rates as high as 19.99%. And if you run up a hefty bill on more than one card, your debt will get even more difficult to manage. Credit cards are also notorious for charging loads of fees for balance transfers, foreign transactions, currency conversions, late payments, annual card maintenance, cash advances and more.

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How to manage your credit card debt

Credit card interest rates can be high and extra charges can add up quickly, so it’s important to get on top of your balance (or balances) as soon as possible. Here’s what to do:

Make regular repayments

Always make at least the minimum payment before the due date. If you’re someone who tends to be forgetful, use the autopay option to ensure you never miss a payment.

Usually you’ll have to pay between 2% and 10% of your total balance. However, since interest is calculated based on your daily balance, you can actually reduce the amount of interest that’s charged each month by making additional repayments.

Pay more than the minimum

It would take years to pay off your credit card if you only paid the minimum amount each statement. Check out the example:

It would take 33 years to clear the balance paying only the minimum. However, if you paid $300 per month, your credit card debt would be paid in 1 year and 7 months and cost a total of $5,698. That’s big savings.

0% balance transfer

Consider moving your debt to a card that offers 0% interest during the introductory period, which can typically last anywhere from 3 to 12 months. Balance transfer credit cards give you a window of time to make repayments without accruing extra interest.

The only thing to be aware of is that at the end of the promotional period, the 0% interest rate reverts to a higher standard rate. So ideally, you’ll want to be able to clear your debt before that happens.

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Car loans

Many car loans are secured by the vehicle you’re purchasing, and as such, the lender gets to keep the car if you default on the loan. Auto financing is offered through banks, private lenders and dealerships. Dealerships may offer the quickest financing with greater room to negotiate, but you may get a lower rate elsewhere.

It can be a good idea to get car loan pre-approval from your lender before buying, as this will allow you to approach sellers knowing how much you have to spend. If dealers know you’re pre-approved for a certain amount, they may be more willing to work with you, so they can land a sale. Typically, you have 60 days from when you’re pre-approved to purchase a vehicle.

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How to repay your car loan

Whether it’s your first set of wheels or a shiny new upgrade, a car loan is a popular way to finance the purchase. Since vehicles depreciate within a few years, you could find yourself stuck making repayments on a car that’s not worth half as much anymore. Here’s what you can do about it.

Make additional repayments

Depending on the type of car loan you have, you might be able to make additional or lump sum repayments to help pay it off faster.

That’s a total savings of almost $2,000 by making an extra payment of $180 each month.

Check if you’re paying for extras

Some car loans provide extras that could attract additional fees and charges. If these features are voluntary, you could save money on your loan by opting-out of them.

Always compare features and fees that will increase the cost even if the interest rate seems low. To put this in perspective, paying just $20 per month in administrative fees would cost you $1,200 on a 5-year loan.

Consider refinancing your car loan

If your current car loan is costing you too much, it’s possible to refinance your loan by switching to a cheaper loan offered by a different lender. This can help you save on interest, additional fees and even offer more flexibility with repayments.

Be sure to weigh the costs first, as refinancing could lead to exit fees from your old loan and origination fees for the new one. Compare your options to see if refinancing will help you save money and pay off your car faster.

How to cut down your student debt

There are lots of financial factors that can lead to debt when heading off to university or college. From student loans, credit cards, personal loans and car loans for students, here’s what you need to know.

Student loan debts

Unless you pay your tuition upfront, you’ll likely be taking out a student loan to help pay for college or university. Whether it be a government or private student loan, there are a few ways to score better interest rates and get out of debt faster.

• Refinancing. By refinancing your student loan debt, you are simply taking your original loan and shopping around for better interest rates and repayment terms.
• Consolidating. Consolidating is essentially the same process as refinancing, except it involves multiple loans. This could simplify 2 or 3 different payments into a single monthly payment.

Student credit cards

Getting a credit card when you’re a student can help you pay for textbooks, supplies and food. However, if you use the card irresponsibly, it can have a serious impact on your debt. So, if you do decide to get a card, use the following tips to manage it responsibly:

• Compare cards and choose one with low rates and fees.
• Always budget for your repayments.
• Aim to pay off the full amount by the due date on your statement.
• Only use it when you know you can afford to pay it off by the due date.

Student car loans and personal loans

Students can also apply for personal loans and car loans through private lenders and banks. If you’ve never had a loan before, here are the key details to help you make it work for you:

• Compare your options before you apply to find a loan that suits your circumstances and needs.
• Check the fees and budget accordingly.
• Always make repayments before the due date to avoid penalties and extra fees.
• See if you can make additional repayments.
• Contact your loan provider with any questions — it’s their job to help you.

Mortgages

Taking out a mortgage to buy a home can land you with a loan of several hundred thousand dollars or more. This is likely the biggest debt you’ll have in life.

Because mortgages are so large, interest charges end up costing a lot over the life of the loan. You’ll spend many years paying off a mortgage, so financial discipline is a must. Make extra repayments, if allowed, and regularly review your mortgage agreement to see if you can refinance and get a lower interest rate, which can help you pay down your debt faster.

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How to manage your mortgage

While the dream of owning a home or a bunch of investment properties is very appealing, mortgage repayments can quickly bring us back down to earth. Still, your dream for property can become a reality and stay affordable with the following tips.

Pay the principal and interest rate

This type of repayment, sometimes referred to as “P&I”, covers the cost of both the principal amount you borrow and the interest. P&I repayments are more expensive than interest-only repayments, but they help save you money in the long run.

By making P&I payments with more towards the principal, your total savings on interest would be more than $300,000 over the 30-year term, or around $10,000 per year.

Change your payment frequency

Interest on your mortgage is calculated daily and paid monthly. This means you could be able to save some money on interest charges by choosing to pay in bi-weekly or weekly installments. Be sure to check the restrictions and terms based on your payment frequency.

Pay more than required

If your loan allows it, you could save a small fortune by paying extra on the monthly amount. There are a few different ways you could do this:

• Lump sums. If you come into a large amount of money, you could put a chunk of it towards your home loan to shave off some of what you owe.
• Higher repayments. Paying more than what’s required for the month will help you reduce the cost in the long run.

Even a small amount can have a big difference over the long term. Always check the terms and conditions of your loan to make sure extra payments won’t attract additional fees or charges.

Personal loans

Personal loans give you fast and easy access to money for all types of purposes like renovating your home or even buying a car. These types of loans can be used for just about anything but can be dangerous if you focus more on your immediate need rather than your ability to pay off the loan.

If a personal loan is secured by an asset, for example a vehicle or valuable artwork, you run the risk of the lender repossessing the asset if you default. There’s no such risk with an unsecured personal loan, but the higher interest rates on these loans can cost you more if you don’t pay off the loan quickly.

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Paying off a personal loan

Personal loans can be used for just about anything from financing a vacation to paying for large purchases or consolidating debt. Depending on the type of loan you get, you could consider some of the following strategies to keep your debt at bay.

• Make additional repayments. Usually available on variable rate or unsecured personal loans, this strategy allows you to save money on interest and pay off your loan faster and earlier.
• Choose a short repayment term. You’ll pay less each month with a longer term, but it’ll end up costing more over the life of the loan. By opting for the shortest loan term you can afford, you’ll keep costs down. You can always contact your issuer to request a longer or shorter loan term.
• Set up automatic payments. Personal loan repayments are usually the same each month, which makes them easy to budget for. To simplify repayments even more, you could look at setting up an autopay so you don’t have to do it manually every month.
• Move the remaining debt to a 0% balance transfer credit card. If you have a small balance on your personal loan, you could save money by moving it to a credit card that offers 0% interest on balance transfers for a promotional period (usually between 3 and 12 months). Before you apply, make sure you compare your options and consider whether you’ll be able to pay off the balance during the promotional period.

What are the different ways of dealing with debt?

Debt repayment plan

While harder in terms of the self discipline and focus required to make it work, following a debt repayment plan to pay off your loans may be cheaper and more rewarding than getting a debt consolidation loan or refinancing. It also keeps you clear of more drastic debt management options that have a long-term negative impact on your credit, like submitting a consumer proposal or declaring bankruptcy.

The Government of Canada website is a great place to start if you’re looking for nonprofit organizations that offer credit counseling and financial management services.

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Debt consolidation loan

If you’re paying interest on multiple debts and you’re struggling to make repayments, it might be time to consider a debt consolidation loan. Designed to help you take control of debt, these loans allow you to roll multiple debts into a single loan. This means you only have 1 monthly repayment rather than several, and you even may be able to lower your overall interest fees. If you decide this option is right for you, carefully compare offers and only borrow from a reputable lender.

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Balance transfer credit card

Balance transfer credit cards allow you to transfer your existing credit card debt over to a new card. You’ll typically get to enjoy a low promotional APR for a limited time period (usually 6-10 months). This means you can avoid high interest charges and consolidate your credit card debt, providing significant savings as you pay off the money you owe.

However, a balance transfer fee and annual fee may apply. Keep in mind that once the introductory period ends, the interest rate will revert to a higher rate.

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Refinancing your mortgage

Refinancing your mortgage can potentially lower the interest rate and provide enough extra money to consolidate other debts like credit cards, personal loans and car loans. This could provide you with a single easy monthly payment instead of multiple, separate payments.

You’ll need to closely consider the interest rates and fees associated with refinancing, making sure to compare loans from a variety of lenders. You should also be aware that consolidating short-term debt into a mortgage with a 30-year term may not be the most cost-effective option.

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Consumer proposal

A consumer proposal is a legally binding repayment agreement between you and your creditors as negotiated by a Licensed Insolvency Trustee who acts on your behalf. If you enter into such an agreement, your creditors agree to forfeit their right to full payment in favour of accepting whatever you can repay over a specified time period. Once you’ve paid this money, there is no way for your creditors to recoup the rest of your unpaid debt.

Consumer proposals should only be considered after you’ve explored all other options. This option for debt relief will stay on your credit report for 3 years and can seriously hurt your ability to access more credit. Speak to a debt counselor near you for more information.

Bankruptcy

If you’re completely unable to pay off your debt, you have the option of applying for bankruptcy. This step is a last resort and should only be taken after you’ve explored all other debt consolidation options and sought professional financial and legal advice.

Bankruptcy is when you legally declare that you’re unable to repay your debts. Applying for bankruptcy will release you from unsecured debts such as unsecured personal loans, credit card debts and overdue bills. Furthermore, creditors will not be allowed to pressure you to repay, and your wages will not be garnished (though you may have to make payments if your income is above a certain threshold).

But, bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 6 years (14 years the second time) and can seriously prevent you from accessing credit in the future.

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What would you personally sacrifice to get out of debt?

For many people, becoming debt-free may seem impossible. It would be great to reach a point where you’re not keeping track of multiple due dates and paying hundreds or thousands of dollars toward interest payments.

Debt can stack up for multiple reasons beyond your control, including paying for unexpected bills or surprise home and car repairs.

Realistically, if you’re in debt because you’re living a lifestyle you can’t afford, you’ll have to make sacrifices. In order to get rid of your debt, you’ll need to live below your means.

Getting rid of your debts is a choice entirely in your control

If you’re serious about being released from the shackles of debt, would you be willing to temporarily live without certain comforts or luxuries? Becoming debt-free is not impossible, it simply boils down to how badly you want it.

What are you willing to give up to get back in control?

• • Would you give up your possessions?

    Could you manage without a television? Or a computer? Or the latest iPhone? Giving up your television not only gets you extra cash in hand, but it also means you won’t have to pay a cable bill each month.

    You might want to keep your computer to stream free content in lieu of your TV, but luxuries like the new iPhone aren’t necessities, especially if you already have a working phone. You might even want to look at a cheap cell phone plan to save some extra cash. Many pay-as-you-go plans are budget friendly.

• • Would you give up your house?

    Would you be willing to live in a smaller house to conquer your outstanding debts? If you have enough equity in your house, you can consider putting it up for sale. If you’re struggling to meet your daily expenses, renting out your property or utilizing Airbnb might be a cost-effective way to pay your mortgage.

    The following options might be worth looking at as well:

    • Sell your house and rent it back from the buyer (this will save on moving charges).
    • Keep your current house, rent it out and move to a smaller house.

• • Would you give up your vehicle?

    A car comes with its own recurring expenses like gas, insurance and maintenance that you could pocket if you lived without one. Assuming that your car is in good shape, you could also consider selling it and using public transportation to get around.

    Consider the following before you sell:

    • If you want to keep your car, you can drive for Uber or Lyft to make extra cash. Heard of Turo? You could rent your car for extra cash during the week with its service. You could easily rent a car for a day if you’re really in need of one.
    • If you do want to sell, think about the area you live in and see if it’s realistic to use public transportation every week. Remember, a car usually only depreciates in value, so you won’t make a profit or break-even once you sell it.

• • Would you give up your daily comforts?

    Often when people live beyond their means, they make purchases that they don’t end up using.

    • Some people purchase expensive memberships at the local gym. Give up your membership and stay fit by walking or jogging.
    • Cut down on those cups of coffee you “can’t live without”. Buy coffee and keep it at work — you’d be surprised how much money you’ll save.
    • Eat healthy, home-cooked food instead of eating out all the time. Similarly, take your lunch to work too.
    • Are you paying higher insurance premiums for excessive coverage? Make sure your premiums are realistic and affordable.

    These are all general tips, but if you look at your expenses, you’ll see some places where you can really stand to save.

• • Would you give up your time?

    After work, many people like to kick back and relax. What if instead, you took a part-time job to earn extra cash, perhaps in a shop you love or a bar you frequent.

Have you considered consolidating your debt?

Debt consolidation allows you to combine your existing debt into a single repayment with only 1 lender. In addition to simplified repayments, you could save money by getting a lower interest rate and a better loan term when you consolidate. It generally makes sense to consolidate your debts; it will make managing your finances a lot easier.

What if I can’t manage my debts?

If you’re seriously struggling with some, or all, of your debts, try to stay calm and follow these steps.

1. Contact your lender/s and let them know your situation. They will be able to help you find a solution that works for everyone.
2. Consider debt relief. Debt settlement companies work on your behalf to negotiate your balances and set up payment plans, and could save you up to 30% on your debt.

Along with bills and taxes, dealing with debts can be a major part of adult life. However with these tools at hand, you should be able to get on top of the money you owe and pay off your balances in a way that’s affordable for you.

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Frequently asked questions

• What if I have bad credit?

  It’s still possible to qualify for lower rates than what you’re currently paying, especially if your credit score has improved since you incurred the debt. There are loans for people with bad credit. However, these options usually mean higher interest rates and charges.

• What's so great about consolidating my loans?

  When you consolidate your loans, not only are you simplifying multiple repayments into a single repayment, you’ll likely get a lower interest rate too if you have good credit.

• How long do 0% promotional periods for credit cards typically last?

  While it varies between providers, 0% promotional periods typically last from 3 to 12 months, sometimes longer.

• What are the best strategies for paying off debt?

  There are many different approaches to tackling debt, some of the more popular of which include the avalanche method and the snowball method. With the avalanche method, you make minimum payments on your debt and put any remaining money towards the debt with the highest interest rate. With the snowball method, you focus on 1 debt at a time, paying off the smallest first, then rolling that payment into your next biggest debt.

  You should adopt a method that balances the time it takes to pay off your debt with cutting down the cost of your debt. Be realistic about the effort and money you can put into making extra debt repayments while still challenging yourself to go the extra mile.

• What's the difference between secured and unsecured debt?

  If you’re required to provide an asset, such as a car or equity in a home, as collateral for a loan, this is known as secured debt. If you default on the loan, the lender can confiscate the asset and sell it to recover the amount you failed to repay. Unsecured debt has no collateral or backing and is thus riskier for lenders. This is why the interest rates on unsecured loans tend to be higher than the rates for secured loans. However, with an unsecured loan, you don’t run the risk of losing an asset.

• How does having debt affect my credit history?

  Your credit report contains positive and negative information about your debt repayment history, as well as details about consumer proposals and bankruptcies, should this apply to you. The information in your credit report goes towards calculating your credit score, which is used by lenders to determine whether you can get financing for vehicles, a home, personal loans, credit cards and other financial products.

• What if I want to dispute a debt?

  The first step is to contact the lender or credit provider and notify it that you wish to dispute the debt. If that doesn’t work, you could enlist the help of a professional credit repair service to make a dispute on your behalf. If there are any errors on your credit report, you can correct them yourself by gathering information and contacting your creditors as well as the credit bureaus.

• I'm being unfairly harassed by a credit card debt collector. What can I do?

  Most banks, trust companies and loan companies are federally-regulated financial institutions (FRFIs), while other financial companies including collection agencies are provincially regulated. If a federally-regulated institution is violating your rights under Canada’s debt collection rules, contact the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada to file a report. Alternatively, contact your provincial office of consumer affairs to report violations committed by provincially-regulated institutions.