Consumer debt is at an all-time high and dealing with debt can be a lonely, frightening, and stressful experience. Some ways to manage debt-related stress include:
• If you are carrying balances on your credit cards, stop using them immediately and start making payments, starting with the card that has the highest interest rate.
• Talk to your financial institution to see if they have any suggested solutions to help you manage your debt.
• If your financial institution can’t assist you, select a credit counselling organization to help you evaluate your entire financial situation. This should be a local organization that does face-to-face counselling. Confirm with the Consumer Protection Office of Manitoba that the organization is licensed by the Province of Manitoba.
Brian Denysuik, CREDITAID, creditaid.ca