Has inflation increased your debt?
Inflation is now forcing some Canadians to find different ways to afford day-to-day expenses.
The amount of credit card debt among Canadians has tripled in the last two years - per Stats Canada.
Economists say lower-income Canadians are turning to credit cards with high-interest rates to pay for the necessities and now, those people need help.
Joel Grisé is a Licensed Insolvency Trustee at Fontaine and Associates in North Bay.
He told CTV News the need for his services is skyrocketing.
“The phone stopped ringing in March of 2020 and didn’t pick up until, I’m going to say January that’s just come by,” Grisé said.
“Right now I’m having a hard time keeping up with phone calls.”
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
For those who have experienced credit card debt know it is a stressful situation – but experts say it also comes with many lessons.
“We regretted it because we were in debt there for a while after racking up our credit cards,” a Sault native told CTV News.
“We went over to Credit Counseling and we used their services and paid off our debt.”
Another Sault resident said it didn’t him long to find himself “in the hole.”
“I got my first credit card, eligible up to 2,500. I maxed that out in probably three months.”
The 23-year-old is in the process of paying off that debt and said he has received some good advice since then.
“They told me whatever you spend on your credit card to just immediately pay it back with your cash or your debit,” he said.
Grisé said with the right habit changes and a plan from someone like himself, some can eliminate their debt in as little as nine months.
Though swiping or tapping a credit card may be easiest when shopping, he said it is not how financial experts recommend you do it.
“They can do more harm than good,” Grisé said.
“And if you want a little bit of education, if you use credit or debit, you’re going to spend 13 per cent more than if you use cash.”
Debt experts said that while everyone’s financial situation varies – if a person owes more than $5,000 or has been trying unsuccessfully to get out of debt for more than two years they may want to seek help and talk to an expert.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.