Well folks, I guess this is goodbye. I don’t exactly know who my replacement will be, but I imagine it will be someone with a similar story – financial success, mixed with credit dependence – financial fail, mixed with debt collection – debt consolidation, mixed with financial gain. You know the plot.
I’m sure Full Circle will be able to convince one of their clients to share their success story, just as Julia, Eve, Scarlett, Ben and I have.
That’s the beauty of the Full Circle consolidation plan; it works. And because it works, people want to share their stories.
But for now, I will say goodbye. It has been almost a year and I am moving ever closer to my goal of a debt free existence.
Thanks Full Circle for all the financial guidance. Couldn’t have got this far without your help.
Au revoir
-Tyler
So Long Partners...
My favourite entries from the last few months of writing:
“Pride Only Hurts” – I love this scene and even though Marsellus Wallace is convincing him to take a dive, his speech is inspirational.
When you make the decision to apply for a credit card, it’s hard to see the completely random purchases that will one day be charged to it.
One of the largest and most random expenditures I ever put on my credit card was emergency dental surgery. It seems crazy, but Vancouver dental work adds up. I had left my debit card at home and I needed to pay the full amount before leaving the office. I had no cheques, so I pulled out my Visa.
The bill was still on my card when I made the decision to leave my insurance gig. I probably should have waited till I paid off my dental work.
I haven’t made any emergency trips to a Vancouver dentist since then – thank God. I am completely satisfied with the work they provided; it’s just the bill that was shocking.
If I did require more work I would definitely come prepared with an alternative method of payment, rather than my credit card. It is always best to pay upfront and avoid the credit lure.
I’ve been a car salesman for close to a year now. Before that, as most of you know already, I was an insurance salesman. I consider myself to be fairly good at what I do – selling.
But before I got into sales, I saw my career path heading down a different road. My goal, ten years ago, was to go into the locksmith profession. Crazy, I know, but for some reason I thought being a Vancouver locksmith would be a really cool job.
Every exterior door in the city has one, so there would always be business. They don’t require a huge amount of technical experience to install, so I could pretty much learn my trade on the job. I wouldn’t have to rely on others for support; I could work alone on most jobs. And, I would be able to provide a needed sense of security to thousands of individuals.
Seemed like a dream job.
Lured by a higher starting salary, I ditched the lock world for the insurance industry. I guess they both provide security in a way…
Now, every time I lock my door when I leave my apartment I think, what if I had taken the other road. Who knows?
When you finish your debt consolidation plan you will be financially ahead, your credit rating will be improved and your heart will have received less anxiety than if you went at it alone.
At the completion of your plan, tally the interest you paid. Compare it to the potential interest you could have paid if you continued with a handful of creditors. Those numbers don’t lie. That is a huge savings.
When you cross the financial finish line, your borrowing potential will have greatly increased. You will have proved to your previous and future creditors that you are able to payoff your debts. An increased credit rating will help you buy your first home, invest in a small business or purchase a vehicle on credit.
Your heart will also thank you for completing the consolidation journey. Without a consolidation plan, debtors are forced to deal with collectors and phone-calls from each of their separate creditors. With a plan, debtors only receive one bill – the one from Full Circle. With less agitation comes less anxiety. Less anxiety equals a healthier lifestyle.
Credit counsellors at Full Circle spend their days talking to individuals like you and me who are currently going through difficult financial times. Apart from giving advice on how to move forward with a debt consolidation plan, many of the Full Circle counsellors find their roles include offering personal advice on how to properly inform the debtor’s family about the nature of their financial circumstance.
Because debt is often hidden from other family members, Full Circle counsellors always suggest that new clients disclose their situation to their spouse or significant other. A debt consolidation plan is a new beginning and new beginnings should always start with full disclosure.
Sometimes, this conversation can be harder than making the monthly payments. But it’s always best to explain your debt when you have a plan in place to pay it off. Stuck on the right words? Full Circle’s counsellors will be glad to talk it over with you.
ZestCash is a new player in the American payday loan game. What separates ZestCash and its current competitors is that ZestCash is done entirely online.
Although the company claims not to be a practicing payday loan operation, its purpose is to provide short-term loans for clients who need money fast.
Clients are evaluated and offered a maximum payment based on their navigation of the site and application form. Their movements are electronically fed into an equation that rates the viewers estimated ability to pay the premium back.
Payday loans are deadly because their short-term nature demands a high interest rate. If the debtor is unable to pay the loan amount, plus interest and fees at the end of the month, the interest compounds.
Before you take on a loan of this nature, consider the other option; what will I need to pay if I can’t afford to pay the premium for four months? How much needless interest will I pay? These are important questions.
Unfortunately, many of the debtors that contact Full Circle have accepted terms similar to ones offered by ZestCash. Full Circle can help these individuals with a consolidation plan, but lowering the interest on these loans can prove difficult.
Your best bet is stay away from lenders that offer quick financial rewards.
1. Gossip Mags – They’re there at the checkout, you’re bored, the cashier just went on break and J.Lo has a new man. The perfect storm. But resist! If you need to have the latest celebrity scoop, wait till you get home and read it online. Or we can tell you – she’s dating one of her dancers (again…).
2. Lottery tickets – You’re not gonna win. EVER!
3. Adding a Combo / Upsizing – Fries are the furthest thing from a healthy side dish. They can hardly be considered a vegetable by the time they are added to your sandwich or burger.
4. Water Bottles – Water is free and clean in this country. In most places… Take advantage of this fact and fill up your reusable bottle at home, work and while you’re out-and-about.
5. Oil Light – When the little light comes on, spend a few dollars and buy a few litres. Don’t let it linger like a solitary Christmas decoration you forgot to take down. An engine overhaul could cost you thousands.
Why do we wear helmets? Because we need to comply with a city bylaw or we value the information stored in our brain? Hopefully the latter reason.
Whatever the case, the amount of Vancouver cyclists wearing helmets on the street has dramatically increased in the last 15 years. Which is a good thing for taxpayers.
But what about the mountain? No laws exist, but it is highly recommended for a sport where the majority of full-day rides includes at least one spill. It would be insane not to.
The same can be said for leg armour. Downhill riders are risking their permanent mobility each time they attempt a trail without lower leg protection. Suiting up makes sense.
Iron Mountainwear is the leading manufacturer of leg armour in British Columbia. Their unique armadillo-like design protects riders with a lightweight armour that can withstand the hardest fall.
A helmet will protect the organ that lets you operate your bike. Leg armour will protect the engine that moves it.
Keeping our regular everyday finances in check can be a difficult task with debit cards, credit cards, change and cheques.
Tracking our spending is becoming increasingly complex. It is now easier than ever to overspend and windup on the wrong side of the line.
Like most things in life, less is more. If you can reduce your payment tools to two or possibly one method, you can keep a more accurate up-to-date record of how much you’re spending. You can also track where you’re spending your money.
Limiting your payment options will allow you to chose a service plan that meets your spending. Finding the right plan can save you money each month.
A Vancouver consolidation plan is similar in nature. With only one payment a month, you limit the number of creditors you have to keep track of. You also reduce the amount of interest you pay.
Interest is money that you will never see again. It’s money that goes straight to your creditors pockets without ever reducing your principal. If you can lower the monthly amount you pay towards interest, you can put more money towards erasing your debt.
This is basic finance. Why pay more, when you could pay less.
There are no strings, there is no fine-print to read, only a guarantee that your interest will be reduced.
That should be enough to get you interested. But it’s only the beginning of the advantages offered by a debt consolidation plan. Not only will your interest payments be reduced, you will also see an immediate change from your creditors. With a debt plan in place, you will never receive a bill directly from your credit companies. They will not call and they will not send you written warnings. The only piece of mail you will receive will be for the one payment you owe.
I know… You’re thinking the same thing I was; “Why didn’t I signup for this earlier?”
Sitting in my warm apartment, with the rain falling against the window, I wonder if the Occupiers are regretting their course of action. I know there are many who sympathize with their cause, but after working so hard to pay my own debts off, I find it hard to support a cause that wants their own debt erased with a magic flip of a wand.
The protests in New York City may have seemed like a romantic movement, inspiring our own Art Gallery encampment, but now with the rain and the cold weather, is it really that smart to voluntarily deny yourself one of the five basic needs? Wouldn’t it be more productive to come up with a plan on how to pay back your debt, rather than blaming others for their financial success?
The 1% got to the top tax bracket by working tirelessly. Sure some were handed family money, but they used that cash to build their own empire. It’s hardly fair to demand that they share with others who haven’t put in the time.
But this is a democracy and if people want to show their displeasure towards the current financial system by squatting on the Art Gallery lawn, I guess that is their prerogative.
Me, I’ll stay warm and continue to work towards my own goal of financial freedom.
It’s hard to save money for your credit payments, especially if it means severely cutting your social activities or family outings. There are other ways to make up the extra cash needed to pay your bills.
One place to start is your home. Simple energy saving tips can dramatically reduce your power bill. Here are a few that have been passed on to me.
1. Dirty Filters – Replace your furnace filters every couple of months. If they’re clogged, your furnace has to work harder to warm your house. A harder working furnace is dollars up in smoke.
2. Digital Readout – There is an obvious initial cost to a programmable thermostat, but some homeowners claim to have saved almost $200 the first year.
3. Cold Wash Clean – 85% of the energy used to do your laundry is spent warming the water. Switch the dial to cold and save money.
4. Don’t Let Your Crack Show – Make sure to weather strip all your windows and doors. Don’t forget the door that heads to the attic.
5. More of the Pink Stuff – Insulate all your walls, including the basement. This will keep the heat in. No sense warming the backyard.
The young lady on the other end of the phone identified herself as Rebecca. She was operating the switchboard. She said she had a few questions for me to help with her recommendation for the right counsellor for my case.
I answered her questions concerning my financial status and we talked a little bit about the burden of credit card anxiety. Then she directed my phone call to Morgan, a veteran debt management professional.
Morgan didn’t have the conversational skills that Rebecca had, but she immediately impressed me with her professionalism. She explained that Full Circle was going to do three things for me: they were going to give me one payment instead of six, they were going to reduce the interest that I paid each month and they were going to assist me in my financial decisions. In return, I would have to be committed to finishing the repayment program.
I explained to Morgan that I had recently pulled myself out a ‘life trench’ and was now looking to improve my status as a working professional. I knew the time was right for a plan and Full Circle was willing to provide that opportunity.
The blogs were a nice introduction to the debt consolidation process. The variety of entries and the personal accounts helped me put together a clearer picture of the services Full Circle offered.
One interesting point I learned was that the service was not in the business to offer a consolidation loan. I would be paying my creditors, through the Full Circle Company. This was reassuring. I already had enough creditors; I didn’t need one more.
It was also nice to know, that once in the program, my creditors would not be permitted to contact me. No more voice messages, angry letters or threatening emails.
The best news was that my credit score would enter a different category. The new rating would be R7, a rating reserved for individuals who ‘voluntarily’ enter a debt consolidation process. As I continued to work on my debt, my rating would improve towards the goal: an R1 rating.
The blog was actually a really interesting read.
And now look at me. I’m writing on the very same blog that inspired me to start a repayment program.
So, if you have been enjoying my story, make sure to scroll down and read the personal debt tales from the other four writers who have produced for this blog.
Thank you Scarlett, Ben, Eve and Julia. Your work has shed light on a service that many Canadians should learn about.
When I saw Julia next, it had been three days since she slipped me the Full Circle website. I was back at the diner, unfortunately not in her section. But she saw me and wandered over with a smile.
“So, did it help?”
“It looks promising,” I said, trying not to give away my skepticism. “Where did you hear about it? Do you work for them on the side?”
“Not really,” she replied, “but I have been writing a little blog on the topic of debt consolidation. See I was like you. A little lost, treading water in the deep end of the pool. But these guys saved me. And as a little favour to them, I write a weekly blog about my experiences with debt. You should check out the blog.”
“Wow! And it’s been working? Lower interest and all that?”
“Of course,” she said. “But the best part is I don’t have to deal with a mountain of bills, just one payment to Full Circle. It’s so incredibly easy, you’ll wonder why more people don’t use the service.”
“Huh…” I mumbled. “And you have no problem making the payments?”
“Nope! I worked out a manageable rate with Rob, my credit counsellor. It still hurts each month, but the money is being split between all my creditors. Full Circle handles all of that. It’s brilliant.
Give them a call. They can explain all the details and put you in contact with your own counsellor. You won’t regret it. I promise.”
She looked sincere, but I still wasn’t ready to call.
“What about this blog?” I asked. “Where can I find it?”
“Just type in ‘Debt Consolidation Vancouver’ into Google, it should be in the top three search items. Give it a read and let me know what you think.”
That night, I went home and read every post on the site. I called Full Circle the next day. I haven’t looked back since.
The Vancouver rain poured down in sheets. It was a dreary day in December, the day I met Julia.
I was on lunch break, sitting in a diner down the street from the car lot. I stirred the soup that was in front of me and waited for it to cool. As I waited, I took out my pen and wrote the list of my creditors on the white restaurant napkin – six in total.
There were two credit card companies, the Bay, a phone company, The Brick and a credit union. With the list written and my soup still cooling, I stared out at the falling rain outside.
I started to imagine all the cars I would have to sell to pay off each creditor. I pictured them piled on top of each other like bundled commodities.
“Quite the list,” a voice broke in. I turned and saw the waitress refreshing my coffee. “What’s your plan?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t really have one. I guess pay it off slowly,” I replied.
Insurance it was not, but you would be happy to know I was offered the job at the dealership. I worked there for eleven months. It was humbling, but I realized one thing: Sales is sales. If you can sell a pair of shoes, you can sell a used Toyota Corolla. You either have the gift of sales or you don’t; fortunately, I do!
By the third month I was selling an average of eleven cars a week. It was fun and I loved doing it. I asked questions to the other salesmen, studied vehicle specs at night and by the eighth month mark, I was one of the top sales staff.
With success, came the return of a steady income. I moved out of the parents’ place and bought myself a new coach.
I settled in and started my adult life over again.
The last thing I unpacked was an old cardboard box. It had originally held a new coffee maker, but it was now full of collection letters and old bills from an assortment of creditors. I poured the contents over the kitchen table and stared at the paper reminders for close to twenty minutes.
My folks let me move back home, but like my girlfriend, they too began to tire of my self-pity and lack of motivation to find work.
Desperate to get her son back in the workforce, my mother talked to one of her friends whose family ran a used car dealership. She convinced the husband of her friend to give me an interview for a sales position.
The lot was in Burnaby and I had to bus to the site for my interview. I shared a seat with an older gentleman who asked a zillion questions. I avoided most of the personal ones, embarrassed of my current financial state.
The elderly man explained that he had just retired, at 68. He had worked for over a dozen companies since he was twenty; some of them good and some of them poor.
He must have sensed my situation because he seemed to constantly return to the theme of perseverance; ‘Yes, life was hard, but hard working people find ways to succeed.’
I thought about this as I stepped off the bus and into the dealership.
Disillusioned, lying on my parents couch, a number of questions started to go through my mind. Where would I get the money to pay my creditors? Could I continue to hide from them? Where would my credit rating be in six months? Could I ever recover? How did I find myself in this situation?
I pondered this last question for hours. Why did I ever take on so much debt?
Well, the answer is easy. Debt is a necessary part of life. Credit provides us the ability to buy key living components, such as cars, homes and education. It keeps us afloat and lets us enrich our lives.
It is only when we lose the means to keep up with our payments that we fall into trouble.
Managing our debt is not always as easy as applying for credit. When times are tough, we need to find ways to pay the minimal amount to continue our good credit standing.
This is all visible to me now, but at the time I only thought to curse my creditors. Their collection notices were making my life more stressful.
Without an out, I continued to mope, blaming everyone but my self for my situation.
I remember the day clearly. I had gone to the gym in the morning, picked up a coffee at 7-11 and returned to my apartment. I was checking my phone for messages as I stepped off the elevator. I rounded the corner of the hallway on instinct and put the key in the door. Still looking at my phone, I turned the lock. Then I looked up.
Staring at me, taped to the hospital grey door, was a notice from the landlord.
My first thought was he must have the wrong suite. I had paid on the fourth – a little late, but I had given him the cheque.
I pulled the letter off and read it in disbelief. Apparently my cheque had bounced. I had ten days to pay. If I failed to do so I would be evicted.
I called the bank. I must have misjudged my automatic billing. It was true; I did not have enough to cover the rent.
I was forced to give up my apartment.
Nine days later I moved back in with my parents. It wasn’t an extended stay. But the request was humbling.
I know I am keeping you in suspense, but the details of my financial turnaround will come.
This week I have two more stories to share about my dark days, my time spent without a financial counsellor.
So, as I mentioned in earlier posts, my girlfriend left me when my debt anxiety began to ruin our relationship. I’ve never blamed her. It was a totally natural response. I was acting completely erratic. And, as I told you at the end of the post, we have since reunited.
But during those months when we were apart, I decided to dip my foot back into the dating scene. Let me rephrase that – I went on a single date during our time apart.
Let’s call her Angela.
Angela was the daughter of one of my mother’s friends. She was the owner of a small marketing business and was relatively the same age as me. My mom had decided that we would be great together.
I wasn’t expecting much, but when we finally met, I was blown way. She was beautiful, smart, funny and outgoing.
We went for a ride around the seawall using bikes from a friend who owns a rental company. After making our way over to Granville Island, we spent some time browsing the market. After half-an-hour of interesting conversation, Angela suggested grabbing something to eat at Sandbar.
Now normally I would have chosen the hot dog stand, but this girl was special and I didn’t want to seem cheap. I somehow convinced myself, that my remaining credit card could handle the date.
You see where this is going…?
After three rounds of drinks and a full meal, the cheque came – she didn’t even reach for her wallet. I gave the waiter my card and prayed silently. Of course it was declined and I had to politely ask the young lady across from me to pick up the tab.
The ride back was quiet. I could have easily brushed the embarrassment off, but the anxiety surrounding my debt situation returned and that was all I could think about.
We parted at the rental shop with only a hug. I didn’t bother calling her and she never called me.
When you’re at the top of your game, everyone is your friend.
At work, emails are returned promptly, the boss invites you over for dinner, the secretary gives you a smile that she only reserves for her boyfriend and your clients swear their allegiance to your services.
At the bar, girls come up and start chatting without even an introduction. They can somehow sense your success and economic potential.
At the gym, the pounds are removed and your muscle definition becomes clear and ripped.
Compliments are thrown upon you, discounts are offered and your Facebook page is full of humourous banter between friends.
Everyone wants to bask in your successful glow.
This is when the credit card companies seek you out and feed on your already inflated ego. They convince you that your income will only increase and that a $30,000 limit on your card is a good idea. ‘You’ll need a whole new wardrobe and a fancy car to keep up with your new, powerful colleagues.’
Then ‘poof,’ like magic, they are gone when your finances turn sour.
It’s bad enough living without the smiles, idle chat and social favours that you enjoyed, but without credit your life becomes a day-to-day struggle.
The only evidence of your creditors existence is the monthly bills they send.
It’s true what they say about fair-weather friends…
With the bill in front of me, I started another tally sheet. I put together a ten-year budget. It included a minimum sum that I could reasonably afford to pay each month. This money would be split between my creditors.
But in my desire to eliminate my financial problems, I forget about one of the biggest potential threats facing my limited capital: interest payments.
With more than a handful of creditors, I tried in vain to calculate the interest I would owe each credit company. After more than an hour I gave up. Interest is a bitch!
I was in over my head. I wanted to organize a schedule of payments, but without an accurate understanding of the interest I would be charged, my budget was useless.
All I knew was that while I struggled to stay above the poverty line, my creditors would be living the good life with all the interest I was paying.
My conclusion was this: I needed a financial advisor and I needed some sort of debt relief to lower my interest payments.
I went for a walk later that night and thought more about my options.
My thoughts kept returning to bankruptcy. Sure it was a coward’s way out, but it worked and my debts would magically disappear. I could improve my credit rating when I finally found a field of work I was happy in. I had survived my first nineteen years on this planet without credit; surely I could survive another ten or so.
The rebuttle to the last statement was made by my uncle the following day. I called him because he owned his own business and had gone through similar financial problems when his business faltered a few years back. ]
His response to my idea was quick and to the point. He asked me if I ever wanted to own a house? If I ever wanted to take a trip again? If I ever saw myself returning to the lifestyle I led when I sold insurance?
I answered ‘yes’ to all three and he responded with raised eyebrows and a smile.
“You can’t run from this,” he said. “You didn’t think about this predicament before you quit – did you? Well, now you’re in it and it’s your responsibility to dig your way out. If you want the life you lead before, you’ll need credit eventually. Bankruptcy is not an option.”
I went back home and pulled out the paper again. How was I ever going to pay this down?
Sometimes you have to hit bottom, to know how to climb back up.
Bottom came when a repo man appeared at my door on a Wednesday morning in April. He wanted my television, my couches, my sound system and my laptop. I was able to save the laptop with a quick loan from one of my neighbours. The couches, TV, speakers and receiver were put on a truck.
Sitting in my apartment that afternoon, I pulled out all my bills and made a list of what I owed. I wrote the number on a piece of paper with a sharpie pen and stared at it for over two hours as I thought about all the options at my disposal.
My Parents: I had gone to them for money when I was in University, but that was it. I could have gotten student loans, but they helped me pay for my entire tuition outright. I still owed them that favour. I couldn’t go to them again.
The Bank: Use one loan to pay for another…? I hear you could do it, but was it worth borrowing from one evil empire to pay another?
My Friends: They had money, but I had Butch’s nagging sting. I could never ask them.
Who or what then would be the answer? How would I continue with my payments with the smallest of incomes?
You know that scene from Pulp Fiction when Marsellus Wallace gives Butch a lecture on ‘pride’? It’s before all the shenanigans with the gimp. It takes place in that bar with all that red lighting.
Butch is being paid off by Wallace to take a dive in a fight he will partake in. After Wallace pays Butch, he has a few words on the topic of ‘pride’:
Wallace: The night of the fight, you may feel a slight sting – that’s pride (beep)ing with you. (Beep) pride! Pride only hurts. It never helps. You fight through that (beep). Cause a year from now, when you kicking it in the Caribbean, you going to say to yourself: ‘Marsellus Wallace was right.’
Now the speech is intended to keep Butch on track. It is supposed to remind him of his role and keep him from straying from the plan. Taking a dive is obviously not a noble path, but it is the one Butch has chosen.
The nugget of truth in Wallace’s speech is the notion of ‘pride’ interfering with our decisions. I thought of this speech the other day, when I looking back on my debt troubles.
At the time, pride was keeping me from progressing forward. It was stalling my desire to seek financial help. I knew I was in trouble, but pride had a firm grip on me. Maybe it was a macho thing, but I wanted to somehow suffer through my situation alone.
Anxiety is a killer and it comes hand-in-hand with debt. When your bank account is less than the sum of your monthly bills, it’s hard to concentrate on anything else. Relationships suffer, your heath declines and your sour mood is evident to all.
I know.
Let’s talk about relationships. I had an amazing girl for three years when I was working in the liability field. She moved in after a year and shared my Yaletown apartment with me. Things were good.
Then I quit. She supported me and said that if I wasn’t happy, then it was the right decision to move on.
During my extended sabbatical, she put up with my many days on the couch. She knew I needed a break.
But then the money started to run dry and I started to panic. I let my anxiety get to me and I took it out on one of the only people who supported my decision to leave insurance.
After months of quarrelling, she left. Packed her bags one day while I was out and vanished.
I didn’t talk to her for half a year.
We have since made-up. But it took a cold hard look in the mirror, a substantial break and a credit counsellor to see that my debt was the source of my troubles.
This is Tyler. I’m new to this, so you will have to bear with me.
I read a few of Julia’s posts, so I have an idea of what you are expecting.
My story begins with a new job. After University, a family friend helped me get into the insurance world. I took a job with one of the major brokerage firms in Vancouver. After three years of paying my dues, I was finally able to build a respectable client book. By year seven I was pulling in over $100,000 a year.
Then I started to get bored with the industry. I made sort of a fool of myself at a business meeting and a week later I handed in my resignation. I worked for another month to save face.
The problem with me quitting my job was the bills that I had acquired during the period when I was making money hand-over-fist.
I had the fast car, a posh apartment in Yaletown and a taste for the finer things.
After a year of semi-retirement, I was out of cash and unable to find work in a field that would interest me. I had to reconsider my finances. I wanted to hold on to a few of the luxury items I had gained when I was at the top of my insurance game, but there was little money to pay for them. Eventually I sold my car, but there were still other bills that I was struggling with.
Hi guys, it’s Julia here. It’s been awhile since I blogged. My life has taken a turn. I finally landed a teaching job! Hurray for me!!! And I have been busy preparing for my first classroom assignment this fall.
I landed a job in Creston B.C. It’s a small town of about 5,000 people. I’ll be teaching at Adam Robertson Elementary.
Finally, I will have a steady paycheck. I talked with Rob, my credit counsellor at Full Circle, and worked out a plan to increase my payments. Hopefully I will be financially free in less than three years.
Rob has been a rock for me and I cannot thank him enough for his support and advice.
But unfortunately, the new job will occupy the majority of my time. So I have decided to pass on the writing reigns to a friend of mine who also signed on with Full Circle Debt Consolidation. His name is Tyler. Hopefully he will provide you with the information you need to survive in this crazy city. Cause we all know how costly it can be…
My last piece of advice, and I know I’ve said it numerous times already, “you’re not alone.” There are a ton of Canadians out there going through the same financial struggles. Finding help is the only way to deal with your debt. If you try to turn your back on it, it will only rear its ugly head to bite you. Talk to Full Circle. They helped me and they can help you.
We all know the benefits of buying local food, but finding local goods can sometimes be a chore at the grocery store. The California produce is often front and center, demanding your attention with it’s chemically engineered, bug free, overly large exterior skin. Hide your eyes and your wallet. Go out of your way to hunt down products grown or manufactured in British Columbia.
A great place to start is farmer’s markets. Community stands are opening across Vancouver to offer summer produce at reasonable prices. The most recent addition to the already established weekend spots is the Kerrisdale Village Market, across the street from Point Grey Secondary. The Kerrisdale market is open every Saturday from 10 am – 2 pm until October 8.
Bring your own bags or Tupperware containers for produce. Most stands do not offer paper or plastic bags.
Also, feel free to ask questions about how the food is grown. Venders love to discuss their product and your interest may land you a reduction in price.
Words of market wisdom: Come early in the day for the freshest wares and late in the day for the best prices.
Imagine if you added all the hours together that you spent worrying about your debt. What could you do with that time?
You could read the entire Harry Potter series from his early days under the stairs to his final battle with Vold…. ‘The One Who Will Not Be Named.’
You could take ten windsurfing classes – that’s almost pro status.
You could weed, replant and water your garden a dozen times.
You could learn basic Spanish – enough to leave the resort with on your next vacation to Mexico.
You could retile the bathroom.
You could attend at least eight of your son’s soccer games.
You could film, edit and publish a video on YouTube explaining how easy it is to remove your debt with a debt consolidation plan from Full Circle.
Any of these options could be yours.
That last one stands out as a winner.
When you apply for a debt repayment program, your level of anxiety is greatly decreased if not eliminated. With Full Circle’s help, you will only have to make one payment a month; this amount will be dispersed between your creditors. You will have less interest to pay and you will know exactly how long it will take to eliminate your debt completely. Try it today. Gain back hours of your life almost immediately.
Remember that twitter message you posted about a month ago when you were out at the clubs. Maybe you don’t. But the Internet remembers!
If you are applying for work with a new company, the chances are high that your potential employer will run a full background check on your online activity. Besides calling your references and talking to previous employers, companies are now examining applicant’s social media, print and video history. It can be as easy as a Google search or as complicated as a social investigator. If there is dirt on the web, they will find it.
If you are worried about what may be out there, start with a Google search of your name. Depending on your online activity, this may bring up pages of references. Check each one carefully, including links that may take investigators to other incriminating information.
If your social media account is public, change the settings immediately. Put up a recent, respectable photo for your Facebook account. If your settings are private, this may be a non-issue. If you have serious concerns, change your name to an alias in your Facebook settings.
The same applies to Twitter. If your account features your name, delete it. Start again. The problem with Twitter is Google references every tweet you make. This also applies to friends or colleagues who reply or mention your name in their tweets.
Message boards are another area of concern. You may have responded to an article or a video using your full name. This may have taken place years ago, but remember, Google never forgets. If you find a post that uses language that you would not normally use, try to delete the post, or if needed, delete your account with that board.
Investigators or the companies themselves will use the information you supply in your resume. This includes checking your University boards for any mention of your name.
Be smart. Tighten up your privacy. Create accounts with names only your friends know. Block your Twitter and Facebook accounts when you go out on the town. Land the job of your dreams.
Love them or hate them, staff meetings are a necessary element of business. They pull us away from our daily tasks, but they also keep us aligned with the other members of our team or company. They bore us to tears, but they also give us a platform to speak our mind. Done effectively, they can focus the energy of a small group of people. Done haphazardly, they can kill initiative and breed complacency.
An effective meeting should always have one staff member as a mediator. This person needs to ensure both sides are heard for each issue. This person should also be in charge of keeping the meeting on task and on schedule. This figure should not be recruited from management.
Things to avoid when planning a meeting are a lengthy agenda. Keep it brief and focus on a few central topics. Try not to over-visualize the material. Charts and graphs are effective to use in limited doses, but a forty-three-slide PowerPoint presentation is excessive.
Another huge problem with staff meetings is punctuality. All the members involved are taking time out of their day to participate. If one member arrives late, everyone suffers.
No time for a formal meeting. Programs like Skype can help you keep face-time in different provinces. Just make sure the technology is setup well before the meeting – always good to do a dry run.
Between meetings, use email to correspond. Co-workers should have one work account that everyone knows. All emails should have a descriptive subject line for easy referencing.
Communication is vital; so don’t toss the baby out with the bath water. Change your meeting format and focus your attention on the most pressing matters.
Have you recently been laid off work? If you are between jobs and are finding it hard to pay your monthly bills, Full Circle Debt Solutions can help you get back on track.
When you sign up for a debt consolidation plan, Full Circle, with your permission, will contact your creditors and negotiate terms that are more amicable to your current income. If you are currently on unemployment insurance, Full Circle will help you find a way to pay for your living expenses and your debt.
No one likes to be out of work, but our payments still need to be made. The bankruptcy route can be long and painful, with lasting issues surrounding your credit rating.
Choose the safer route and apply for debt consolidation. Once you find work again, you will be glad you chose to continue your payments instead of throwing in the towel.
Here are some helpful resources for finding work in British Columbia.
A recent Canadian poll discovered that a quarter of Canadians carry no debt. The data was collected for Scotiabank, one of Canada’s largest banking institutions.
Interesting… a bank produced a poll about the lack of debt in our country. Isn’t that exactly what they want us to believe so we will go out and apply for a loan, confident, that like other Canadians, we can pay it off quickly.
What about the three quarters of Canadians that do carry a negative balance?
The same survey found that 19 per cent of the individuals polled from British Columbia feel overwhelmed by their debt. If three quarters of our province has debt and 19 per cent are overwhelmed, then there are roughly 600,000 BC residents struggling to pay their bills.
Is your small business suffering from budgeting issues? Full Circle Debt Solutions would like to pass along a few helpful tips for steering your enterprise in the right direction.
1. Always establish a company goal. Where does your focus lie? Does your major concern involve increasing your profit margins? Are you looking to expand? Maybe your focus is creating a diverse marketing campaign to spread the word about your unique enterprise.
Answering these questions will help you evaluate your company’s success. Sharing this focus with your employees will unite your team.
2. Knowing your focus is an important first step forward, but knowing where your company historically spends money can be just as valuable for advancement. Make a table of your financial data and organize it into three categories: revenue, direct costs and overhead costs. Are your costs growing at a faster rate than your revenue? Knowing where you spend your money will help you trim the budget. Keep your company goal in mind and adjust your spending accordingly.
3. Consider variables that may affect your business before the year-end. Have you properly budgeted for them?
4. Evaluate your company by comparing your data to industry benchmarks. How does your company stack-up.
The simplest list: your grocery list. We’re human, we forget things. Next time write all the ingredients down so you won’t have to make two trips to the store.
Make a list of important dates. You don’t want to miss your mother’s birthday – for the third year in a row.
If you have eight important clients to handle in a day, make a quick list and rank each one on their importance. Then make another list identifying how much time you think it will take to handle each client. Use these two lists to build your weekly working schedule.
Make a list of all the things you wish to accomplish by the time you’re 50. Post this somewhere safe, but visible.
Spend a few minutes and make a list of all your creditors.
Are you counting your change at the end of the month? Want to get rid of that expensive data plan? The Wifi Finder can help. Just start at your basic you-know-its-there hotspot. Your local Starbucks will do. Then use their signal to connect to the Internet and search for other hotspots in areas where you might need one, such as the neigbourhood you work in or the eight block radius you walk your dog in. Why pay for data when Wifi is faster and free.
2. Park ‘in’ Spot
This app locates free parking in your vicinity. This app is especially good for downtown. Given up on the free parking hunt? Use Parkopedia to locate a lot near your destination.
3. Save Benjis 1.1
The name refers to the American one hundred dollar bill, but the app works just as well in Canada. To use it, you scan an item in a store that you are interested in; let’s use the example of a new TV. After scanning your HD dream, the app will list all the stores in its database that carry that particular television. It will also tell you what each store is currently selling the TV for.
Like many young people my age, I was forced to take Business/Consumer Education in high school. Maybe force is too strong a word. The course was required to graduate.
Over the semester we learned how to do our taxes, a little about mortgages and we had a small portion of curriculum set aside for small business development.
What we were never taught was: How to apply for a credit card. What happens when you can’t make a payment? The perils of bankruptcy.
Now, as an adult in my thirties, I have had to learn those lessons the hard way. I should say the last two were hard. Applying for the credit card was easy.
But, as many of you know, I received my adult education credit when I signed up for a debt management program with Full Circle Debt Solutions. Robert, my debt counsellor, was my instructor. After a few meetings and a dozen emails, I had a management plan in place that I was proud of.
With less interest to pay, no collection calls and a move towards improving my credit, I was certainly better off than I was after completing my B.Ed. class.
And too think how close I came to declaring bankruptcy. Yikes. That would have been a disaster.
There’s plenty of personal finance advice out there, but oftentimes some of the most basic steps toward financial freedom are overlooked. For me, becoming a frugal person didn’t happen overnight. It was a process of discovering strategies that helped me save for the important stuff and avoid impulse buys. Here’s a simplified version of the steps I took. Maybe some of them will help you.
Avoid credit cards that don’t allow you to pay off your purchases immediately. Credit cards are important part of building a credit history, but you don’t need to accumulate balances to use them. Many store credit cards allow you to make a purchase and then pay off your balance immediately.
Create separate accounts for important payments and purchases. Setting up separate accounts for travel or car payments or new technology helps keep you from dipping into your savings during your everyday routine. It also allows you to see the progress you’ve made toward your goal.
Think before you spend. Do you spend a lot of money on a cable TV package you hardly use when you could be watching your favorite shows online or on Netflix? Do you pay for a long distance calling plan when you could be using a calling card? It’s important to think about every spending decision you make, knowing that spending in one place means giving up something else.
Squirrel something away. If you can accumulate a small amount and put it into an interest-earning certificate of deposit or another investment vehicle, even if it’s only for a short time, you’ll see your money grow and feel good about making even more frugal choices.
Buy in bulk. If you have the space to store large bottles of catsup and other staples, you can save a lot of money by shopping at discount stores that sell larger-quantity items.
There are a lot of other money-saving strategies I’ve adopted, such as driving slower to save on gas, but the ones I’ve listed here are key when you’re just starting to figure out how to live a better and more sustainable financial life. I hope they’re helpful to someone.
There’s that old saying about feeling like you’re taking two steps backwards for every one step forwards. It’s like treading water, knowing you’ll eventually get too tired to continue. It’s a scary, overwhelming feeling, but there is something you can do about it.
By working with licensed, professional debt managers at Full Circle Debt Solutions, you’ll see that you can make tangible progress toward your goals and climb your way out of that hole, without taking two steps backwards.
We can help make the calls from debt collectors stop and put you back on the path to prosperity. Give us a call to see how we can find a solution to your debt management problems. It’s the best phone call you can make for your future.
I think it’s important to focus on success stories. Stories that offer hope. Recovery stories.
Well, this week offered one of the biggest recovery stories in professional sports, as Manitoba was finally able to bring a hockey team back to Winnipeg.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 31st, with a somewhat sombre Gary Bettman in attendance.
Why will it work this time around? Strong management.
The Atlanta Spirit Group did nothing to market the team in Atlanta. The Thrashers were always an afterthought to the cities NBA franchise, the Atlanta Hawks.
In Winnipeg, the team will most definitely be the biggest card. They still have the Blue Bombers of course, but a NHL team is another sporting identity altogether. The True North Management Group will have no problem selling tickets. The Winnipeg fans are well aware of what will happen if they don’t manage to fill their arena.
Here’s to second chances!
Full Circle is 100% committed to reducing your debt and getting you back on track. They want to see you return to a life of opportunity, a separate routine from the shackled existence you now command. Reduce your debt, save money along the way and get back to enjoying the game.
As a society, who do we look up to? There are our friends and family, the few politicians who remain honest, local business tycoons like Jim Patterson and then there are the celebrities, the people who, through their looks, talent or birthright demand attention.
This latter group may seem like excellent role models, but often they struggle with the same issues we do.
Financial problems plague the rich and powerful. They may make millions, but they can be equally suited to burning millions.
Mike Tyson is a great example of this. Here is a young boy who fought his way out of the ghetto to become one of the most recognizable athletes in the world. He may have lost all credibility with his rape charges and his later antics in the Holyfield fight, but at one time Tyson was earning close to $400 million.
By 2003, after a fall from grace, Tyson owed $27 million in debts, $9 million for a divorce case and $13 million in back taxes.
Then there is the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. At the time of his death, Michael owed $400 million dollars to various large lending agencies and private financiers. His album “Thriller” is still the second largest selling album of all time, but still Jackson’s spending outdid his income. After his death, one forensic accountant estimated that Jackson was spending over $20 million per year more than he was actually earning. Yikes.
Am I the only one who is a little confused by the sudden escalation of the word “swag?”
I always thought swag meant the free stuff you got when you attended a conference or charity event. But now I hear hip-hop stars and celebrities using the word as an affirmation or noun to mean style or confidence. I even hear it being used as a verb: “swagged-out.” Then all of sudden I read that Puff Daddy has changed his name to “Swag.” What gives?
Well readers, I did some research and apparently swag comes from the hip-hop term “swagger.” Remember that song M.I.A. did with T.I., Jay and Kanye: “Swagga Like Us?”
No one on the corner has swagga like us
Swagga like us
Swagga swagga like us
I guess these four thought pretty highly of themselves.
Now the shortened form swag, picked up by the hip-hop group of the moment Odd Future (OFWGKTA), has taken off. For example, I was watching “Dancing With The Stars” (don’t judge) the other night and one of the dancers used it to describe their routine: “That is swag!”
If you’re thinking of using it in your everyday life, try alternating it for the word cool. “Do you think it would be swag if I wore my Bruins jersey to the game?” And the answer to that question is definitely no! That is not swag.
With the weather improving and real estate prices at an all time high, now is the time to sell your Vancouver home. Just make sure it’s ready to hit the open market.
The rain is behind us and the glorious west coast sun has returned. Your home, with its spring garden, has never looked better. These are the prime months to sell when everything about your home looks new and inviting.
The influx of foreign buyers has created a huge demand for property and houses that were once half a million are now over six figures. Sell and take advantage of the expanding bubble before it bursts.
But don’t forget to pay attention to the interior elements. If your plumbing system needs work, invest the money. Your value will increase and potential buyers won’t have an excuse to look elsewhere.
Campbell Care can prep your house for the open market by doing a complete maintenance package. With guaranteed results, the professionals at Campbell Care will service your whole home for less than you think.
One of the biggest obstacles I grappled with during my lowest point was the feeing of being alone. I had all this debt to deal with and no one to talk to.
All around me I saw successful people, going to their steady jobs, driving their luxury cars and living a life that was miles away from my own.
I kept asking myself: “Why me? I’m the only one who is struggling to get by?”
Each of us has a different story of how we managed to accumulate so many bills, but the final condition is sadly similar.
Strapped with debt, we take on second and possibly third jobs to pay off our credit cards and loans. We lose touch with our friends and our families and become consumed by the struggle.
Hello readers. This week I would like to pass on a few interesting tidbits I picked up from an article in the Globe and Mail. The column was titled “10 PR Tips for Small Businesses.” It offered cheap and easy ways to promote your business using public relation techniques.
Obviously my first thought was: “My online friends could really benefit from this material.” So here is my summarized version of their 10 tips.
1. What’s Your Story?
-What does your company offer? Why are you different from the rest? You need to figure out what makes you unique.
2. It’s Not All About You.
-The article stresses that PR is separate from advertising. It’s about offering something to the public – a service. Something they need, not you need to sell.
3. Find the Emotion
-You know those NHL Playoff commercials that are all over YouTube right now? Those History is Made spots. The reason why those are so effective is because they remind us of the emotions we felt when we saw that goal scored or witnessed that huge save. Your customer’s emotional attachment doesn’t need to be that extreme, but they need to connect with your product.
4. Know Your Target Audience.
-This is essential. Who are you trying to reach?
5. Write Concisely.
-Remove all the information from your press releases that isn’t important. In other words, edit your work. Send it to a friend or colleague to proofread. Read it again. Then read it again.
6. Adhere to Deadlines.
-The business world is a momentum machine. If you can’t keep up with it, you’ll be run over. Always submit your work on time.
7. Know the Media.
-Where are you submitting your work? Who subscribes to their publication? Why is your story important to their audience?
8. Press Release Versus Pitch.
A press release is a formulated article that follows strict guidelines. This works for news items that relate to your company. A pitch if less formal and can be written to attract a journalist’s attention for a follow up interview.
9. Develop a Relationship With the Editor.
-Social Media tools are great for this. Follow them on twitter and respond to their tweets. Befriend them on Facebook. Just don’t smother them.
10. Timelines.
-How often does your intended media outlet publicize? When will they need the information to produce an article that will be relevant with their readers?
Have you ever heard the fable about the ant and the grasshopper? Of course you have. The ant is the steady producer whose work ethic leads him to a life of security, while the grasshopper lounges and eventually struggles through the winter due to his lack of production.
It’s a sad tale, but an honest one.
The grasshopper’s heroic flaw is that he can’t see past the present. This is a condition that many of us, including myself, have experienced. We take the easy road and accept lines of credit to maintain a lifestyle that we are accustomed to.
What we can’t see at the time is how a seemingly easy decision to extend our credit line can damage our future opportunities. At the time, we can’t imagine that our decisions will possibly one-day limit our chances of purchasing a house or will result in a denial of a business license.
But a bad credit rating does just that. Improving that rating is not an easy task and that is why there are companies like Full Circle to offer assistance. Full Circle can get you back on track, building for your future.
Figures have just been released that show a dangerous trend among Canadian borrowers. The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy reported last Wednesday that bankruptcies in Canada were up 10.2 per cent in February.
The total number of Canadians that applied for bankruptcy status in the second month of the year: 6,774.
Ouch!
Trust me guys, this is not a road you want to travel down. Once you declare bankruptcy your credit record is ruined. You may be asked to surrender many of your valuable possessions such as your car. It also requires you to meticulously track your future income and expenses.
For those of us buried in debt, there are other options.
Applying for a debt consolidation plan informs your creditors that you are making a serious attempt to repay your debt. It will stop the phone calls, the angry letters and most importantly, it will put your credit history into a category that, with steady payments, you can come back from.
Alright readers, this week we are going to get a little personal. We’re going to talk about relationships and financial compatibility.
Before you jump into a serious relationship, it may be worth your while to have a long talk with your partner about their financial goals and current status.
You may have been working for years to improve your credit rating, but your new partner could be concealing thousands in debt. Financial conversations are just as important as discussions on childbearing. In an alarming statistic, 35 per cent of couples don’t talk about money before marriage. This is not healthy. You need to have the talk.
If you don’t ask you will never know. And sure it’s not very romantic, but neither is taking out the garbage. They both have to be done.
You don’t want to be carrying someone’s unpaid debt for the next twenty years. If your partner’s financial history is drastically different than your own, you may want to reconsider your compatibility.
If not. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Love conquers most things, but it doesn’t pay the bills at the end of the month.
Why are more and more Canadians finding themselves in debt trouble?
Perhaps it is connected with the ease at which we are able to pay with our credit cards. Scan, swipe or enter our digits, and bam, the purchase is completed. The speed at which we can buy products and services using a credit option is driving us into unthinkable debt.
Now Visa Inc. is making that process even easier. This fall, Visa will launch a new payment program called “digital wallet.” Designed for the online purchaser, the Visa wallet app will allow customers to simply enter their email address and password to pay for their purchases. No need to get out your card, and type in the 16-digit number plus an expiration date. That takes up to much time and god forbid you cannot find your card. Now, all you will need to remember is your email and password
Scary.
What’s next?
In the future will we just have to say the words ‘charge it‘ into a voice detector and we can walk away with an X-Box 1080?
Who knows?
All I know is the harder it is to use my credit options, the less likely I am to run up a huge bill.
So if Visa comes calling, maybe tell them you’re happy with the old ways.
This Sunday, May 8th, is Mother’s Day. It’s the one day set aside to remind our mothers how much they mean to our lives.
But how do we go about communicating this? Through gifts?
If I buy my Mom a huge basket of flowers, with every known blossom known to humankind, she would reply with a huge lecture on how I had wasted my money on a gift that will wilt by next week.
If I make my mother a card, she’ll love the effort, but the crayons and sparkle glue will only remind her of the fact her daughter is still struggling to make ends meet on the West Coast.
No, I think the best gift I can give my mother is the knowledge that with the help of my friends at Full Circle, I have finally got my life in order. Bills are getting paid, my credit level is improving and for the first time in years my head is firmly above the water line.
If you want put your mother’s mind at rest, sign up with Full Circle and give the gift of security. No more calls for financial bailouts. No more co-signs. No more teary phone calls complaining about your aggressive creditors.
It’s the gift she has been waiting for the past ten years.
The Conservatives have officially secured a majority government, the HST is being debated across the Province and businesses are failing around the Lower Mainland – And the big stories this week: the Royal Wedding, Bin Laden shot and the second round of the playoffs.
Bread and circuses!
Sometimes the major issues are clouded with inconsequential news stories and entertainment. These pop into our lives through the media and consume our time. In the process, we lose sight of the issues that concern our day-to-day lives.
Your credit situation is a major issue. Ignoring it will not make it go away. I tried that route and it only gets you deeper in the hole.
Enjoy the Canucks plyaoff run, be happy that there is one less psycho in the world and send your congratulations to the Royal couple, but don’t forget about your debt.
Contact Full Circle Debt Solutions and work out a repayment plan. You can always come back to the news of the day, but solving your credit situation should be your first priority. The more time you spend with distractions, the more interest you will accumulate. Start a debt consolidation plan today.
You may or may not know this, but once a week representatives from all the major credit card companies meet on the Death Star to plan new and evil ways to lure consumers into signing up for their high interest credit plans. Lord Vader mediates, while the Emperor controls the flow of the meetings.
Many of their schemes fall flat, but a few do succeed.
One of their most dastardly plots is the ’sports paraphernalia giveaway’. You’ve probably all seen this evil device at work at a Lions or Canucks game. The credit card companies set up a booth or stall and offer free merchandise if you sign up for a credit card. The merch is often a towel with the Orca on it or a Leo’s shirt, something that would literally cost less than twenty dollars.
But we’ve had a few beers, our boys are winning and they claim the towel is free – so we sign. And sure enough, a week later a credit card arrives in the mail.
For a fifteen dollar stuffed lion, we will pay years of interest payments. It seems absurd, but it works.
Avoid the tractor beam. Buy your towel at the pro shop and thwart the Dark Side.
Continuing on the Star Wars theme, R2D2 was a proud little protocol droid who did his work and stayed out of trouble. Actually, he continually disobeyed orders and had a quick temper. But he passed along a few very important messages that got the Rebellion back on their feet.
R7, a close relative of R2D2 (you see how I’m stretching), is a rating given to debtors who voluntarily choose to engage in a debt consolidation plan. In Canada there are nine rating marks with R1 being the perfect credit and R9 being bankruptcy. What R7 means to a future creditor is that the individual had problems with repayment, but sought help to pay off their debt. It means the debtor is dedicated to the credit repayment process.
The R7 rating is considerably removed from the R1 rating, but it shows that the individual chose to avoid bankruptcy. This is always a positive sign.
Three years after completing your debt consolidation plan, your credit rating will move back towards the R1 rating and closer to R2D2 status.
For more information on credit ratings, talk to a debt counselor by calling this number: 1-877-220-3328.
Hello readers, Julia here. This week I thought I would talk about an interesting trend I read about in a Vancouver Sun article.
It was about women and our forays into the business world. The article discussed the fact that a lot of women and probably men as well, tend to use financial help books to prepare themselves for their business ventures. The problem is that business books, by nature, are written in a dry, formulated language that leaves many readers abandoning their paperback by the end of the first chapter.
So what are we to do?
Support Groups!
I don’t know how many of you out there belong to a book club, but over the years I’ve been in a few. You meet with a few friends each week and talk about the chosen book you read, or tried to read. You discuss the characters, the symbolism, the plot, the naughty bits and then you spend the rest of the afternoon gossiping. You leave with a better understanding of the book through the exchange of ideas. You also finally get to hear why Penny dropped Shane.
Financial book clubs – just as valuable. Learn from your friends, talk about strategies that worked for them and throw in a little gossip as well. For your first book I would choose a lighter read, a book that could easily be finished in a week. I would start with Gail Vaz-Oxlade’s work, Debt Free Forever.
April 20th holds a soft place in the hearts of many Vancouverites. It’s a day for indulging in some of British Columbia’s finest. It’s a day when green enthusiasts can come together and share their love for a plant that many west coasters use to relax and unwind with.
This year’s celebrations will be held at the traditional meeting ground, the Vancouver Art Gallery steps. With tens of thousands expected to participate, the Vancouver gathering is considered to be the largest in North America. There will be free samples offered to the crowd, so no one goes without.
Proposed topics for discussion at this year’s event are the active promotion of legalization and the arrest of Marc Emery.
The festivities will begin at one o’clock and will build to twenty minutes past four. The gathering will continue until 9:00.
A post-party hip-hop show will take place at Fortune nightclub in Chinatown. The main musical guest will be the legendary Raekwon, of Wu-Tang fame.
Police will be on hand at the Art Gallery for the purpose of crowd control only.
One of the most important things about dealing with debt issues is knowing your personal rights. Your creditors may seem to hold all the cards, but there are rules that apply to their collection practices. Knowing these rules is an important part of managing your debt.
The first thing you should know, is that no creditor has the legal right to use threatening or intimidating language. This applies to contact with you, your family members and or any of your acquaintances. It is also against the law for them to publish a record of your failure to pay.
If a creditor has your correct contact information (home telephone number and address), they are not permitted to contact you at work. If, for some reason, contact cannot be made at the home number, a creditor can make ONE call to the debtor’s place of employment.
A creditor can only phone you between the hours of 7:00am and 9:00pm. They can only contact you on Sunday between 1:00pm and 5:00pm. They can never contact you on a stat holiday.
If you would like to learn more about your rights as a debtor, call 1-877-220-3328.
With your debt mounting are you forced to take on additional jobs? Maybe pick-up a blogging gig for you nights off? Has your free time evaporated?
Don’t run yourself into the ground trying to pay back your creditors. Sign up for a debt consolidation plan and work towards paying one realistic payment a month.
A debt consolidation plan could save you thousands in interest charges. It will also allow you to resume a normal life. One where you can take the odd night off. Maybe catch a movie or try that new bistro down the block.
It’s not a loan to pay back another loan. It’s a service.
Contact Full Circle Debt Solutions to apply today. The professionals at Full Circle will contact your creditors and negotiate terms that are consistent with your current income level.
You won’t have to spend your days off picking up extra shifts or spend your nights scouring Craigslist for a job that brings in more income. Full Circle will help you pay off your bills while maintaining the same lifestyle you currently hold.
For a no obligation consultation, call: 1-877-220-3328.
Well guys, it’s playoff time again and like most Vancouverites, all I can do to alleviate the excitement of Wednesday’s match-up against the Chicago Blackhawks is distract myself. Work is out of the question, I was in a daze the whole day. Television? Too many ‘History Will Be Made‘ ads. Bike ride? I always end up outside Rogers Arena. So I thought I would spend this weird purgatory period writing to you.
And you know what? We’re going to talk about the Canucks!
My question to you is this: “Do you think the Canuck organization should change the goal song from Green Day’s “Holiday” to something else?
I’m thinking something Canadian, or something by the White Stripes. Or… yes, I have it. “Howlin for You,” by the Black Keys. I’m a genius. Alright, your turn. Comment below and include your vote for the Canuck 2011 Playoff goal song.
Wave Your White Towel
Here’s hoping the Chicago Blackhawks don’t score a single goal in their own building and we don’t have to listen to that annoying song by the Fratellis!
The name of the company that saved me from my credit catastrophe is Full Circle Debt Solutions. An appropriate name for a company that specializes in returning dignity to the lives of average Canadians who may have been trapped in an otherwise hopeless cycle of credit debt.
No one plans to get caught up in a web of credit bills, but sometimes, through poor budgeting or unforeseen events, we find ourselves cornered by our creditors. With the two options of bankruptcy or repayment, the latter is often seen as the tougher road to travel.
Fortunately, Full Circle is in the business of helping Canadians fulfill their repayment obligations. Full Circle helps individuals pay off their debts by reducing their troubles to one easy payment. They accomplish this by negotiating a plan with your creditors.
It is in Full Circle’s best interest to help you find a plan that works with your income level. Talk to them today and meet with a credit counselor almost immediately. You will save thousands in interest payments.
Hey guys. I had a coffee with my friend the other day and she asked me an interesting question that is pretty relevant to what we’ve been talking about the last couple of months.
Her question was this: “Is a consolidation plan the same as a consolidation loan?”
The answer: Not at all.
If you signup for a consolidation plan with Full Circle, you are not loaned any money. You are not switching one creditor for another. Full Circle provides a service. They contact your creditors and explain your situation. They make arrangements for you to pay them back on terms that are more reasonable. This is the service they provide.
They also make it easy for you. Instead of three or more outstretched hands, asking for money, there is only one bill. With only one bill, your interest payments are greatly reduced. This can save you thousands of dollars.
Sounds almost too good to be true! Trust me. You’ll never look back. Well, until it’s all paid off and then you’ll be raving to all your friends just like I am.
So visit their site and fill out the quick-and-easy form.
In high school you planned your whole adult life out in one week of career planning. You intended to go to University for four years, get your Bachelor of Science Degree and then move on to a specialized field in bioengineering with a specialty in immunology. After a year abroad in Africa, you planned to get a job at a Canadian University to continue your work. By twenty-eight you wanted to own your first home and by thirty-three, start a family.
Turns out not everything goes according to plan.
After two years in Science, you switched to Arts. You graduated with a degree in creative writing and then spent the next three years trying to find a job in your field. After teaching English in Korea for two years, you returned to Canada and went back to school for a trade. Now working as a metal fabricator, you are just starting to pay off your huge student loan along with your three maxed credit cards. You’re thirty-four and a house seems at least a few years away.
Plan B got you a job that challenges you every day. It let you experience life in other countries. It let you experiment with your desire to write. And it helped you realize you were skilled in a field you never even considered ten years earlier.
When it comes time to pay, there are institutions that can help. Full Circle Debt Solutions will sign on to be in your corner. They can talk to your creditors to help devise a repayment plan. Visit their website today.
Boys. We’ve talked about this before, but I think it’s worth another refresher. If you are over twenty-five and looking to find that right someone, you can’t expect to land the women of your dreams when you have a massive debt tugging at your back pocket. It’s not attractive. Trust me. I don’t like mine and I definitely don’t want to marry another person who is in deep as debt as I was a year ago.
But unlike a poor gene physical attribute, your debt can be worked off. You spend all those hours in the gym working off the beer from the weekend before; why not spend some months seriously paying off your creditors?
Don’t know where to start? Look at your bills and find the one with the highest interest rate. Start there. Still confused. Hire Full Circle Debt Consolidation to help you manage your debt. They did wonders for me and look how confident I am now. All it takes is a visit to their site. Fill out the quick form and a debt counselor will call you back. It is that easy.
Now please, try it. And lose the facial hair. We’re not big fans of that either.
The ostrich is an interesting animal. It is the largest bird on earth and has the largest eye of any land animal. The latter feature gives the bird acute eyesight. It also has exceptional hearing. Just try and sneak up on one. Bet you can’t.
But why am I talking about ostriches? You got it! Because they stick their heads in the sand. And what does someone drowning in debt do? C’mon, I did it myself. Right, we ignore the problem and bury our responsibility.
Is this the best choice? Probably not.
But that’s why the ostrich comes equipped with powerful legs, to defend itself against predators. “Are you telling us to take a karate lesson to handle our debt.” No. But you can attack it head on when you seek the help of Full Circle Debt Solutions. By creating one easy payment, you can minimize the anxiety that comes at the end of the month when all your creditors come asking for a piece of your income.
Now I’ll let you in on a little secret. The ostrich head-in-the-sand connection is actually completely false. Ostriches lower their bodies as a defense mechanism, but they never shove their heads into the earth. They’re too smart for that. And so are we. So start paying back your debts and start seeing what’s really around you. It’s not as bad as you think.
This week I have another tip to pass along on how to make our hard-earned dollar go a little further. It concerns the price of gas in the Lower Mainland and for that matter the price of gas across the country. It’s skyrocketing! But that’s probably not news to anyone. With the unrest in the Middle East and the fate of nations being held at the hands of revolutionaries, the price of oil is reaching never before highs. Just last week, a station in Richmond posted their regular gas at a price pennies away from $1.40 a litre. I know, crazy talk. But that is the world we are currently living in.
So my tip, check out the GasBuddy app for your smart phone. Last week it was the 18th most downloaded app at the iTunes store. What GasBuddy does is track the daily prices of fuel around the city of your choosing. With this information they are able to post the best deals of the day, so you don’t have to spend time looking for them.
A noticeable trend in price spikes shows that Thursday night is a good night to purchase your fuel. Gas stations tend to raise their prices Friday morning, as many individuals load up their cars for the weekend.
So buy your gas during the week and download the free app to find the cheapest station in your neighbourhood.
With only a few days in the Premier’s office under her belt, Christy Clark has announced plans to make good on her campaign promise to raise the minimum wage in British Columbia from $8 an hour to $10.25. Clark claims that the $10.25 wage will be in effect no later than May 1st of 2012.
The increase will come in stages, with the first jump occurring in May of this year. The first bump will take the wage to $8.75. In November it will rise again to $9.50 and then by May of next year it will finally climb to $10.25.
Clark also plans to eliminate the training wage, which is currently set at $6 per hour.
The increase is an integral part of Clark’s plan to put families first.
The wage was last changed when Gordon Campbell first came to power, nearly a decade ago.
Though many small business owners are wary of the increase, Clark is confident that the new increase will not affect the economy in a negative fashion. Others believe that potentially, numerous jobs could be cut and replaced with atomization practices.
Friends. I’ve been telling you for weeks about my debt problems and yes, the numbers speak for themselves, but the number one reason I made the valuable decision to contact Full Circle Debt Consolidation was that the anxiety was killing me. I had all these bills coming in, a modest income and I felt helpless in my efforts to control my financial destiny. That’s where Full Circle can help.
By consolidating your debts, Full Circle can create a single payment plan that is much less daunting than five or more credit statements.
With a plan in place you will find yourself getting more rest, enjoying your leisure time and improving your output at work. Debt anxiety is a taxing affair that only has the potential to damage our regular activity.
Find freedom from the worry and stress of your credit debt with the help of the financial counselors at Full Circle. Your basic everyday demeanor will improve, you will take a positive first step in repaying your loans and your credit rating will remain level.
By reading this blog you are already ahead. Try the service of Full Circle Debt Consolidation. Call them today.
Renting is for suckers. That said, I am the city’s #1 tootsie pop. I have been paying rent for over eight years, if you include student housing and living with my brother. All that money I paid for a simple roof over my head and running water in the taps is gone. I will never see it again.
The smart option is home ownership. Paying into a mortgage is far more financially productive than paying a third party for the right to stay in their dwelling.
Full Circle Debt Solutions can help you right your credit ship. They will construct a tailored repayment plan that will direct you out of your credit cave.
Once you have proven to your creditors that you can make punctual payments, your rating will begin to show positive signs. You can also take your credit plan to the banks to present a powerful argument for your capacity to repay your mortgage.
Credit troubles should not be black spot for life. Reduce the risk. Talk to Full Circle about a plan and get your finances in order for the big move into your first home.
Folks, for those of us trying to rid ourselves of debt, there are a few institutions and practices we really should avoid.
At the top of this list is ‘gambling.’ Playing the lottery is fun and it’s nice to dream about all the millions that could be ours, but the math is obviously not in our favour. The lottery should not be seen as a viable option for ridding our self of debt.
Neither should weekly or daily visits to the Casino.
There are plans in place to expand the operations at Edgewater to include a monolith casino that would be attached to the newly refurbished BC Place. The B.C. Pavilion Corporation hopes to bring a massive casino and hotel venture to the property directly adjacent to the BC Lions new home.
This casino, if it was to be built, would be a huge draw for those looking to quickly pay off creditors.
But let me tell you, the risk is far greater than the reward.
The only solution to dealing with your debt issue is a well thought out debt repayment plan. Full Circle Debt Solutions offers this service to it’s many Canadian clients across our country.
If you have debt problems and are looking for a way out, avoid the distractions of the bright lights and chance games. Talk to the experts at Full Circle about a consolidation plan. It will take less time than you think to pay off your creditors, with zero risk.
Leave the gaming to your idle hours in front of your XBox.
My friends! I have a little entertainment saving tip for you.
Concerts can be an expensive luxury, especially if you want to check out some of the bigger acts that come to our fair city. Rihanna tickets went on sale last week and the majority of the seats were over $100. Ouch. The same applied for the Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj tour. Honestly, who was $140 dollars to spend on a one-night ticket? Not this young lady.
But don’t turn your back on the music. There are plenty of small shows playing around the city that are more affordable and way more intimate.
Hey Rosetta is playing the Rio Theatre on Friday night and tickets are only $25. This is an awesome venue to check out a show. And for all the hipsters, the Rio serves Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Saturday you have The Dears, an amazing indie band out of Montreal, playing Venue. Tickets, again, are only $25. And you can get as close to the band as the bouncers will permit.
So don’t let your limited finances hold you back from enjoying what the city has to offer. Just pick your events a little more carefully.
Stay tuned for more affordable entertainment options.
Vancouver, BC has recently won the honour of ‘Most Livable City in the World’ for the 8th time in a row or something.
Sure, Vancouver’s a lovely place with majestic mountains, beautiful beaches, clean air, lush forests and a temperate climate – but what of the cost of living in such a place?
It seems there is no room for a middle class in this city. Housing prices are the highest in the world compared to salary. The average house: $700,000. The average household income: $65,000. That’s over 10 times.
It’s crazy. No one can afford to live in Vancouver except overseas investors, and even they don’t live here. Take a look at Yaletown at night and you’ll see what they call the ‘Blackout Effect’ – a whole lotta empty apartments. Couple that with the worst homeless problem in the country, and it’s not looking so livable any more. (There is one really easy solution to kill two birds with one stone here – but I’ll leave the dot-connecting to the anarchists.)
Don’t get me wrong. I love this fair city. But it shouldn’t be inaccessible to own a place without accruing an impossible debt.
For now, I’m happy to rent. If I can consolidate my debt in Vancouver to a manageable number, then I’ll start looking into buying. And hopefully, by then, the prices will be back to normal.
Either way, the sun is shining. I’m off for a jog along the sea wall to the backdrop of the mountains and buildings of shimmering green glass all under the glorious blue sky.
Some people refuse to go into debt. They see it as a sign of weakness.
The reality: these people probably lead a boring life or have crazy assistance from some family benefactor.
The ‘D’ word should not be an evil phrase. It is a natural part of living in a monetary world. All of the perceived power nations run with a debt. Even China’s industrial boom is the result of the country going into massive debt. But what do these investments yield, stronger, more competitive nations.
Without debt, you would never afford to live in a house, pay for a new car, go on vacation or graduate from the school of your choice. It is a necessary element for achieving the lifestyle you deserve.
For those of us in our late twenties and early thirties, debt can sometimes seem like a dark cloud of oppression. Fear not. As I said, it gets better.
But for now, seeking out a debt counselor is often a proactive means of controlling your financial situation. The staff at Full Circle is an excellent resource for creating a plan to manage your debt. If you are having trouble meeting your payments, Full Circle will contact your creditors and create a repayment plan that is practical for your current income level.
Debt is not to be feared. We need it to lead progressive, full lives.
If you are struggling with your monthly payments contact Full Circle today.
With all the work I’m doing to pay off my debt, it is sometimes hard to find time to keep my body in the shape I like it to be.
(Ladies, we’re talking about the backside. Boys, we’re talking about your gut. And that joke about having a keg instead of a six-pack stopped being funny years ago.)
This week I considered joining a private gym. I confess my new infatuation with Vancouver’s adopted leader, Trevor Linden, lead me to ponder a membership to Club 16. Yes it’s in Coquitlam, but the chance to work out beside Linden had me looking past the drive.
Trevor Linden on the Treadmill
So I started doing some research and looked into the price. It cost $14.99 a month, but I would have to lock into a 12 month plan. I looked at my budget and even though I was spending almost right to the cap (Gillis style), I could just afford it.
But then a few days went by and I started to think about my idea with a little more clarity. How much would I honestly spend on gas? Would I use the gym for the five months of the year when Vancouver is truly amazing outside? What if I joined and decided three months down the road that it wasn’t for me?
Then I looked into Community Centre plans or lack thereof. The monthly price was a little higher, but there was no contract. The location was less than four blocks from my house. And the equipment was a little older, but the basics were all there.
Then I thought, what if I just used my home as a gym. I had stairs in my apartment for climbing, a park near by for running, a yoga mat for crunches and a old workout ball from an ex who thought he could tone his tummy by sitting in front of the TV.
Eureka! Julia’s private workout club was born.
I had enough bills already. A gym membership was silly, private or public.
And the best part. No gym monkeys posing in the mirror.
Try it. It’ll save you money.
-Worried about motivation. Find a friend and create a daily schedule. Push each other to increase your difficulty.
Being that I had a massive debt problem just under a year ago, I thought I should probably read up on what the paper’s expert had to offer; You know, just in case I could share it with you guys. After reading the article though, it occurred to me that every tip offered I had heard before. Don’t get me wrong! It was great advice, but it was like they had interviewed my debt counselor at Full Circle and stolen all of his wisdom.
Whatever the case, I thought I would pass on his pearls to my readership.
1. Work with a repayment plan
-This is exactly what Full Circle provides. Your personal credit counselor will devise a plan that works for your current income. If that rate changes, they can readjust the numbers to suit your needs. The focus of payment should always be on the debt with the largest interest rate.
2. Don’t Pay More Than You Have To
-Lose the balance protection insurance on all your credit cards. This is a scam! The article also puts forth a disturbing example of how paying the minimum payment hardly affects your overall balance. In most cases it only just covers your interest. Full Circle’s advice: When you have the funds, pay as much off on your high interest debt as you can.
3. Create a Spending Plan
-This is a where you can pinpoint just how and what you are spending your money on. It’s great for cutting needless expenditures. The Globe suggests using a site to create your plan. They endorse MoneyStrands. See how it works for you.
4. Don’t Shred Your Cards When You Finally Pay Them Off
-Credit cards do have their perks. Rental insurance, extended warranties and lost or damaged items are just a few reasons to hold on to your plastic. Ironically, they could end up saving YOU money.
5. Don’t Go Down That Road Alone
-This is exactly the service that Full Circle provides.
Part of my problem when I was struggling with my debt issues was the denial of my growing debt. The bills would come and I would immediately stash them in a drawer in my room. The numbers depressed me and I knew I could never pay them.
The same applied to my bank statements. I never wanted to know how far I was into my overdraft or the amount I had spent on my Visa that month. I just wanted to pay the minimum and move on with life.
This, dear friends, is no way to live.
You need to be conscious of your spending if you ever plan to manage your life in a progressive manner. One way I found to manage my resources efficiently was to signup for online banking. It literally only takes a few minutes and you can do all your account transfers and budgeting online.
Opening monthly bank statements can be traumatic. Opening your account online is easy and painless. You will also be able to track your balance as you move through the week. It is an excellent resource for financial management.
No Internet access? Use the computers at your local public library.* You can check your Facebook, watch YouTube and manage your money all in one stop. Try it. It helped me. And most of my friends said I was beyond help.
*When working on computers at the library and at Internet cafés, always remember to clear your cache and reset your browser. You do not want your banking information getting into the wrong hands.
It’s confession time. You already know most of the details of the past two years of my life. You also know I smoke. And I love to shop.
But I bet you didn’t know that I am a huge fan of historical fiction. I love combat scenes, heroes, knights, cavalry charges and battle strategy. I sometimes fantasize about running an infantry unit at work, as I supervise the junior waitresses beneath me. When I’m hiking, I find myself daydreaming about how a mounted unit would move across the terrain. When I fill my purse in the morning, I think about how much else I would need to carry if I was a soldier marching off to war.
I’m not a Roman soldier or a knight of Camelot or even a Canadian foot soldier. None of these heroes would have thrown themselves at the foot of their enemy and begged for mercy. But that is how I perceived my move to contact Full Circle Debt Solutions. I surrendered, just before ruin.
But then it hit me one day: ‘Julia, you’re not surrendering. You are choosing the best option possible. You are admitting defeat, sure, but only in battle, not in the war.’
My white flag was raised to save the rest of my soldiers, to help secure a life for the ones who lied wounded. My actions were for mercy, but I would return. I only needed time and the resources to compete, both of which Full Circle provided.
Well hello again. It’s me Julia, your friendly storyteller and fellow debtor. If you have been following my story, you know that by the fall of 2009 I was seriously floundering.
Let’s quickly review my situation for those who weren’t paying attention:
I was unable to find work in my field of study, Education.
I found a job as a waitress to pay for my rent and the minimal payment on my card.
Student loan repayment had me paying another $357 a month until I got it reduced to $187.
I found a position inside a school, but fortunately it was only volunteer. Income tax can be a killer.
To get back and forth to my non-paying job I bought a car. Correction; I agreed to start making payments on a car.
Now let’s add up those monthly totals:
Credit card min. payment: $110
Student Loan: $187
Car payment: $263
Rent: $720
Subtotal: $1280
Lets add to that my other major expenditures:
Groceries: $375 (roughly)
Cigarettes: $120
Gas: $60
Subtotal: 555
Grand Total: 1835
Ouch. And I was barely making $2,000 a month. Paying the bills, but only when I could. I prayed for an easier way, a path of less resistance. It came, finally, but not before I added another debtor to my list…
Fellas, I know times are tough and we all are a little bit strapped for cash after Christmas, but trust me, you need to take advantage of the Dine Out program running now in the many restaurants around Vancouver. This may be the only time you can take your girl to that restaurant she has been talking about for weeks. With a fixed menu at incredibly reasonable prices, you can afford to play the high roller for one night.
If you really want to impress her, find your own gem using the Dine Out map at the Tourism Vancouver website. You can search under cuisine type, which really helps.
A little tip though, stay away from the wine list. Last year I went with a friend to a a little French bistro on Broadway. The three-course dinner was billed at $38 a piece, but somehow the waiter convinced us to buy a bottle of red. He neglected to mention the price. The bill came and we owed close to two hundred dollars once we had factored in a tip. A student loan payment up in smoke.
The Dine Out program began on the 24th and will run until the 6th of February.
Then, on the 23rd I got a phone call from a friend working in the Surrey school system. He told me that the school he worked at had drastically cut back the hours of the teacher librarian. They were looking for potential teachers to volunteer their time in the library. He asked me if I would be interested.
Of course I said yes. But as I hung up the phone, my one thought was: “How am I going to get to Surrey three days a week.”
Now, I know what you’re thinking: ‘the Skytrain runs right out there Julia.’ And yes, I am aware of this mysterious people transporter, but realistically it wasn’t an option. My job in Vancouver and the school in Surrey were both more than 5 km’s from a station. That meant a bus on each end.
By the end of the month, I signed myself up for yet another expense: a 1999 VW Golf. Yes, I could have bought a cheaper model, but I figured if I was buying a car I should probably buy one that was going to last me. And when I use the term ‘buy,’ I use it in its loosest form. Clarkdale provided me with a decent finance package but the monthly payment still eclipsed my monthly student loan bill.
So just when I was getting a grip on my debt, I dug the hole a little deeper. If only I heard about debt consolidation sooner.
But, on the positive side, I was in a school. Working for free. Thumbs up for volunteering! Yayyy….
Let me preface this entry by stating that no, I do not have Bieber fever. I am perfectly healthy, besides the odd cigarette. I like Spoon, The Black Keys and I am super pumped for Interpol later this month.
But what I would like to say is: “Damn, that Bieber kid puts up with an awful lot of hater abuse. Imagine going on your YouTube site and reading all the terrible comments that people write about you. I really don’t know how he does it.
Well, that’s not entirely true. When I was at my lowest, I remember hearing murmurs from certain friends and family members accusing me of getting into a debt situation that threatened to ruin me. I just had to put my head down and know that the plan Full Circle had set out would lead me to the Promised Land.
Bieber does the same. He plays almost every night, he blogs, he tweets and he looks past his critics towards the final goal: Freedom 25. The young man believes in himself, he has talent and he’s reaching almost every top 40 market in the world. And while I might not be as talented or prolific, I am doing my own gig and getting it done. In no time at all, I will be able to look back and be proud of the long journey I embarked on to remove, what I thought was, insurmountable debt.
July 2009 – The Heavy Hand of the Federal Government
Opening up the bill, I slowly scanned the statement provided by the National Student Loan Bureau; $357 a month was to be my minimum payment. Wow. That was half my rent!
Well my friends were at the beach, I spent July working like an animal and worrying about how I could pay my credit cards and my loan payments. I felt alone, left to meek out a meager existence in a forest of debt.
Then a co-worker told me that I could apply for debt relief. By filling out a form and providing details on my current income, I could become available for a short term, reduced payment plan. I applied and two weeks later was accepted.
My new payment was $187. Steep, but manageable.
I paid the minimum on all my bills at the end of the month. Again, I was just barely surviving. The credit card interest was killing me. I needed a way to pay them off and focus solely on reducing my debt to the government.
I also needed out of the waitressing gig and into my field of study.
We all have that moment when we are pulled from the gutter and given hope that tomorrow will be the return to better days.
Without being too sappy, my moment was when I contacted Full Circle Debt Solutions. I called to ask about a plan to consolidate the huge mess of unpaid debt I found myself drowning in. It was 2009 and I had borrowed from every available source I knew. One year later, I am working towards paying off every creditor I owed. I have renewed hope, I am more confident in my decision-making and my attitude on life has done a full 180.
The same sort of inspiring event happened to a homeless man named Ted Williams this week. Williams was begging for money at the side of the highway in Columbus, when a media personal recognized his talent. He returned with a video camera team to film Williams speak and record his story.
Williams, in the video that went viral in a matter of minutes, holds a sign that claims he has the ‘God given gift of voice.’ Watching the tape, you realize that the homeless man is far from exaggerating. Williams, who once worked as a radio host until he lost his way with drugs and alcohol, has a voice that belongs on Monday Night Football.
The Columbus Dispatch posted the video and asked if anyone could hire the out-of-luck announcer. Well, within a week Williams had a job with Kraft Foods. The Kraft Food Company is currently running a campaign to Feed America through 20 million meals. Hiring Williams, the Kraft Company latched themselves on to the viral news story. With a commercial already in the can, Williams voice will soon be heard, again, all across America. And this time he’ll be paid.
Addictions are a tough subject to bring up. I’m not to fond of talking about my brother’s illness and I’m sure addicts aren’t too keen on discussing their own slides. But some addictions carry a little less severity than others.
This week I want to talk about this city’s addiction to java.
It’s rampant. I thought it was bad back east with the Tim Hortons craze, but they have nothing on Vancouverites.
You guys are hooked on the Mermaids brew. She has her three pronged triton deeply imbedded in your psyche. You need her elixir to start your day. You make plans to meet at her lair with potential partners. And you sneak in just before closing to get your last cup for the long night of work ahead.
These visits add up. It’s almost five dollars for every non-fat, extra shot, caramel latte you order. Plus, one out of every three visits you add a munchie. On an average week your bills could total over sixty dollars. That’s ludicrous. And we’re not talking about the rapper.
Want to save money? Buy a thirty-dollar coffee maker, some filters and a generic tub of fine grind. Bring your tub to work and brew your own blend at the job. It might seem weird at first, but you will soon see the difference in your pocket book at the end of the week.
Small things like these can have you saving money instantly.
All right my followers, it’s a new year, a new beginning, time to get your life in order. Trust me, once you do these few simple things, you will feel so much better about your daily routine.
The first thing you need to do is organize. Forget the money issues for a sec and take the time to clean up your living area. Clean the bathroom, the kitchen, the closet; especially the closet. Throw out any old clothes you don’t think you will wear again. Next, do your car. Get rid of all that junk you’ve been lugging around.
All right, now back in the house.
Next is your purse/backpack/wallet. If you are one of those people who likes to collect receipts (which is great!), find a shoebox and store them away. You don’t need those little paper reminders in your back pocket. Then take your key ring and remove any key that you don’t use on a regular basis. Do the same with your cards, pens, and cell phone adapters; anything that you might be carrying with you that is of little or no use discard.
Do you know what you just did? You consolidated. Now, it is a little trickier with your finances. That’s where Full Circle Debt Consolidation can help. Their expert credit team can help you minimize the bills that reach you. Your only concern will be one simple sum that will arrive once a month.
The way he explained it, this statistic is troubling because it could spell financial ruin for families who have over extended themselves. The threat comes in the form of rising interest rates. Currently interest rates are at a all-time low, but as the economy rebounds, these will start to rise. When they do, some families may not be able to meet their higher payments.
I brought up the matter with my credit counselor at Full Circle. He told me that this was exactly the reason why debt consolidation is a smart move for any Canadian with a variety of credit card and personal debt payments. Consolidate and you only have to make one payment at a fixed rate. It’s simple. Even I get it. And you know how much financial trouble I used to be in – We’ll get back to that next week.
Here is another article if you want to read more on the debt-to-income crisis. You’re welcome…
No, really it’s not. It’s actually a lot brighter. But even after finding Full Circle, my guardian angel, I still have to pay my daily bills. One of those is my cell phone bill. We all get it. Every month. And it’s always bigger than those lousy cell phone companies promised.
I’m with one of the big ones. It starts with ‘R’ and ends like tigers. Didn’t leave much to the imagination there did I? So this company has me on a basic plan of… I think it’s like 65. But like all those plans it ends up being in the high 70s or 80s each month. And, I know, it probably is my fault for going over my minutes and calling during the day. But sometimes its unavoidable.
So Rogers (whoops!) has me in a contractual trap. I’m stuck paying these ridiculous bills until my contract runs out in the spring.
WRONG.
There are ways out. The easiest being: a simple pay-off. A small fee for each of the months left on your contract.
But then what. I need a cell phone!
The answer is in the Wind. Wind Mobile has way better deals than Rogers. FACT! For forty dollars I got an unlimited Canada wide talk and text plan. Listen to me, I sound like an advertising talking head. But it’s true. Way cheaper, no contract, keep your old phone number. It’s awesome.
The Winds of Change
And no, I’m not on commission. Just wanted to pass along some advice from my own life.
Save money. Pay off your debt quicker. It feels good.
So, that night when I got home I followed Alexis’s advice.
Google Search: Debt Consolidation Vancouver
• Debt Consolidation in Canada – Full Circle Debt Solutions
Debt consolidation and debt management options that can reduce your debt payments … -Crystal, Vancouver. Thank you for again taking the time to talk to me …
www.debtgone.ca/ – Cached – Similar
6935 120 Street, Delta
(604) 724-3242
Amongst the top three results was the entry above. After looking over their site, I gathered that this must be the company Alexis was referring to. They offered a complete package of debt consolidation and credit counseling.
After calling their toll free number, 1-877-220-3328, I got hold of a young man named Robert. Rob explained my rights as a debtor and laid out my options to move forward.
He promised me a dramatic drop in interest payments, a convenient single payment and my own credit counselor. It sounded to good to be true.
But I told him I would have to think about it.
The next day, before work, I called back and signed up for a consolidation program. I haven’t looked back since, well besides recalling the events for you, my dear readers.
Next week I’ll get into a little more detail about how I wound up, in what I thought, was financial ruin.
Till then, sleep well. And remember, there is help out there. I found it at Full Circle.
Well, I should probably tell you how I found my financial saviours.
It all started with a text conversation, with my good friend Alexis:
Alexis: OMG! Have you heard the Arcade Fire’s new album? Frking amazing!
Me: Yeah, I downloaded it last nite. The Sprawl 2 gave me goosebumps.
Alexis: You know theyre coming in Sept?!?! Lets get tix!
Me: Love to, but honestly, I have 0 funds. Can’t even afford to pay Rogers bill. This time next week I may be sending this msg by carrier pigeon. LOL
Alexis: Seriously, is it that bad? ☹
Me: You have no idea!
Alexis: You know my brother signed up for this debt program online.
Me: Oh yeah. You know what it was called?
Alexis: No, but Ben said it made his life way easier.
Me: How???
Alexis: Well for 1, he got in touch with a credit counselor. They explained his rights and then worked out a plan for repayment.
Me: Was this 2 different org.s?
Alexis: No, the debt program and the counselor were from the same company. I think the term Ben used was debt consolidation.
Me: Sounds like a disease.
Alexis: Hey! Don’t you knock it. Ben is way better off now. You should try it. Just google debt-consolidation-Vancouver.
Me: Alright, I’ll try it. But if I develop a thirst for kool-aid…
Alexis: LMAO!!! Don’t worry babe. It works.
Hello out there in cyberland. (Echoooo….)
My name is Julia and I have financial problems. Yes, I am one of the many who can’t seem to manage their finances. Too many bills, not enough steady income.
A few years ago I thought I had it all under control. I was just about to finish my Post-Bac Education Program and head straight into a teaching job. Oh, naive Julia of two years ago, if only I could warn you…
Now, in December of 2010, I have still not found my way on to the TOC list of any district in the Lower Mainland. I am working as a waitress four nights a week and volunteering at a local elementary school three days a week. I also work sporadically at an English school in North Vancouver.
Still Waiting For My Own Classroom
Most days, my schedule is pretty tight, but sadly I am not making nearly enough to cover all of bills that seem to fill my mailbox.
I’ve asked my parents for help and they have provided me with a small amount of money to keep me afloat, but that too is running out.
I came out West to make it on my own and I am determined to succeed.
But determination doesn’t pay my student loans.
Thankfully, a friend tipped me off to a company that specializes in getting lost souls like myself back on track.
And that my friends, is why I am writing this blog. To share with you my story. And to offer hope to those floundering in financial woes.
Did you know there’s an app on your iPhone that will let you automatically screen your calls so that ‘black list’ calls will never interuppt your dinner?
Collectors. If you have ever had to deal with these annoying blood-suckers, you know the problem. They call at dinner-time, they call in the morning, they call at all-hours. All they care about is money.
Collectors are bad on the morale. They are a kill-joy and an energy suck. They need to be avoided, or, nipped in the bud.
It’s a bit of a crazy thought to think that the guy pushing the shopping cart through your neighbourhood with cans and bottles rattling along to Yankee Doodle actually has more money than half of the people in this country.
Debt is scary business. It’s a matter of re-assessing your life to know that you are not what you own – you are what you owe.
To most Canadians, debt consolidation is a foreign term. Not many people know that there is a way that they can take a bunch of high cost debt and simplify it into one easy monthly payment.
To find out more about how you can consolidate your Canadian debt, contact Full Circle Debt Solutions today.
They can help you on your way to reducing your debt by as much as 2/3rds. It’s not as difficult as you think.
To find out more go to www.debtgone.ca or call 1-877- 220-3328
Vancouver is a city of extremes. It’s the kind of place where firework shows and sporting events get shut down if you mention booze or cigarettes, but its #1 export is drugs. Vancouver is a city where housing prices are the highest in the world compared to income. No one can afford to live here, but everyone does.
Half of the apartments in Yaletown and the Olympic Village are empty, but we also have one of the largest homeless populations in Canada. In Vancouver, everyone exercises and every second restaurant has a vegan menu. Then there’s the crack epidemic. Vancouver has Air Care so your car doesn’t pollute. And every second car is an SUV. There’s no smog, but there’s massive opposition to public transit. Cyclists ride en masse to create change. But when they get it, no one’s happy.
Here, you need to smoke outside, but only if you’re smoking cigarettes. They call Vancouver ‘No Fun City’ because they shut down all the great venues to watch shows. But they also call it Vansterdam because you have hemp shops on Hastings and the smell of BC’s finest is never more than a block or two away while strolling downtown.
If you live in Vancouver, it’s one or the other. It call be a ball, or it can be a drag. Chances are, you’ll need to be out of debt to enjoy it to the fullest.
Vancouver, BC debt solutions are a little different than other cities. If you have hundreds of dollars in monthly payments, and if these are credit cards and you are paying crazy 20% plus interest on these bills – you aren’t ever going to get anywhere.
But there is hope. If you live in Vancouver, BC, and you are interested in Vancouver debt consolidation solutions you have a friend in Full Circle Debt Solutions.
The first thing you need to do is examine your options.
1. Do you own a home? If you own a home in Vancouver, BC then you are already ahead of the game. You will be able to consolidate all of your high-cost debt almost instantly with a home equity loan or second mortgage.
2. If you don’t own a home – are you good with numbers? Take a good, hard look at your financial statements, at your chequebook, and at your organized bank statements and data. If you have all of this available, and you check it weekly, you can probably make some headway to the steps you need to sort out your debt.
3. HELP! If you can’t balance a chequebook on a 40 foot concrete slab. then you might just need a little help from people who deal with numbers and figures every day. A lot of what we do is just make sense of your financial situation. Because we live and breathe this stuff, it’s easy for us to make it easy for you to understand. Sometimes the best thing you can do is just get a consultation about your debt situation, so we can offer practical advice.
To find out more about Full Circle Debt Solutions, give us a call today. We would be more than happy to help you out. It is our goal to see everyone in Canada out of debt.
I was talking to my ex-boyfriend the other day on the phone.
We are still friends and we still keep in touch from time to time. And in a funny way, no one knows me better than Stan. We went through a lot when we were young, idealistic early-twentysomethings.
One of those principals was that we would never allow anyone to pay for anything for us. His dad was a successful businessman and he even had Stan working for his company selling insurance when he was in high school. But Stan was never big on insurance. He’d rather grow out his hair and strum along to Donovan. That’s what I loved about the guy, he went his own way.
And he really stuck with it. He ended up getting his own recording studio, years later. And now, talking to him, he’s doing okay.
We got into a conversation about debt though. I guess owning your own studio isn’t the cheapest endevour to set out on, and being as stubborn as Stan was, he refused to get any help from his dad. This meant that he was up to his eyeballs in debt when I talked to him.
You know my story. My debt was simply out of control up to just recently. So I told Stan about debt consolidation options available and how with the right debt management, how he could save his bruised credit.
Stan was all ears. I have to say, even though I haven’t seen him in years, I still miss my crazy hippie friend.
Every once in a while, we at Full Circle Debt Solutions take a step back to reflect at the stories that have been posted on our debt consolidation blog.
We started this experiment with Scarlett, the artist. She was deeply into debt thanks to credit card bills, bad credit and student loans. She wrote about her Vancouver debt adventures. You can follow along here: Scarlett’s debt consolidation story.
Our next author was Ben, an accountant. For a guy who was good with numbers, he certainly had his debt management problems. You can follow his debt consolidation story here: Ben’s debt management story.
Then along came Eve, who joined us earlier this month. Eve is a dental assistant from Vancouver, BC. She had a few problems balancing her chequebook and keeping her credit cards in line, so she eventually found us to get her debt under control. You can follow Eve’s adventures here: Eve’s debt consolidation story.
So like I mentioned earlier, I had just recently graduated as a Certified Dental Assistant and I was now enjoying life in the workforce earning a decent wage. About 6 months in I received a letter regarding my student loan, stating that the interest payment freeze was over and I was now responsible for the payments of my previous student loans. Ouch. Also, my newest loan was now requiring monthly payments.
Vancouver is an expensive city and I soon found my new wealth drying up. I was struggling to make monthly minimum payments and rent, let alone any extras for fun. It’s such a trap, like a hamster on a wheel. Any extra money I had would go straight onto my ever growing credit card bill but it didn’t make a difference. My funds would run out before the next pay period so back on the credit card it goes. At this rate I would never pay anything off not to mention be able to afford to do anything fun. I wish someone would have told me about Full Circle Debt solutions at this point in my life.
It felt exhilarating to be released from school and to finally be earning a proper wage. I managed to land a great job that paid more then I expected ($19/hr) to start and I was on my way. Life was good. Roger and I were stronger then ever and I suspected that we would soon be moving in together, away from wild roommates and communal living!
And boy did I spoil myself those first few months after school! But I deserved it, or so I rationalized. A girl can only take so much suffering and I used a great deal of my new cheques to spruce up my wardrobe and buy lovely things for my house that I could never afford before.
It took about 6 months for the dust to settle and then I realized that I was in a whole world of trouble but I’m off to sleep right now so this story will have to continue later.
I decided to take a brief interlude from my story to talk about something fantastic that I did today… I bought a new bed from Simmons Mattress Gallery! This may not be a big deal to some but those people probably haven’t spent their entire adult life sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress that they inherited from an old flatmate. Or maybe they have but when I laid my head on that pillowy mattress top I knew that I could never go back.
I feel so grown up!
I should also point out that this isn’t an impulse buy. I have no intention of stepping one little toe back into debt now that I have clawed my way out thanks to Full Circle Debt Solutions. I happen to stroll by the West Broadway and Oak Simmons store daily so this is an idea that has been ruminating for a long while, long enough for me to wait for a deal and pay with cold hard cash.
Actually, vocational school wasn’t all bad. Dental Assisting is a very practical and hands-on profession, which I found a refreshing change of pace from my university days. It felt good to be a little settled on a career path too. I was able to put a hold on my former student loan interest payments while I was in school so my debt was less intrusive to my day-to-day existence.
Plus I was in love! His name was Roger and was a ruggedly handsome carpenter that I met through a friend of a friend on a wild night at the commodore. We drank martinis and discussed everything under the sun until dawn.
Love has an all-consuming quality and my year of dental assisting school whirled by soon spitting me back into the workforce.
You know when something haunts you? No matter what you do or where you go, there it is. It hangs over your head until it becomes a part of your DNA and you can’t remember life without it.
That was my debt.
Before I found Full Circle Debt Solutions I was lost. I would oscillate between trying to be responsible by paying the miniscule amounts I could towards the debt or throwing my hands up at the sheer absurdity of my struggle and splurge to treat myself with some new clothes or such.
It was such an intense feeling to feel this debt looming over me and being powerless to do a thing about it. I became accustomed to avoiding thinking about it all together. I reasoned that there was nothing I could do about it so no point dwelling on the topic. Something like plugging ones ears and singing la la la la la la I can’t hear you! Probably not the best strategy granted.
Anyway I do digress. What I’m trying to say there is a way out. Don’t give up!
Hi, my name is Eve. Full Circle Debt Solutions has asked me to join this forum and share my story in the hopes of inspiring other people to utilize their services and finally get out of debt. I can still hardly believe that I did it!
I’m a pretty average girl in most aspects of my life. Unfortunately, I have excelled in one particular area … the accumulation of debt.
Now it wasn’t always this way. My early 20s procured a false sense of wealth. Tax-free tips earned from various waitress and bartending gigs left me with a continuous wad of bills tucked into my pocket. I didn’t know anything about budgets and didn’t need to. I always seemed to have cash in my hand.
Then, as many people in the service industry do, I soon grew weary of dirty dishes and a general lack of respect given to people working jobs that don’t require an education or specialized training. So, I packed up my bags and headed out west to Vancouver, BC.
