Credit and Debt Counselling

A Step Beyond.ca provides information to assist you so that you will be able to manage and live within your means.

The following resources are provided to help you on your way to Financial Wellness:

 Developing a Budget -- to establish "where you are now":

• determine monthly living expenses ( variable and fixed)
• calculate monthly income
• determine monthly debt obligations and payment schedule
• track income, expenses and debt in a system that works for you
• formulate a budget geared to your income and expenses

  Money Management Skills -- to establish "where you want to" be:

• determine what your financial goals are
• distinguish between needs and wants and living within your means
• assistance to calculate spending limits
• education / tools provided to assist in tracking and monitoring expenses
• asking creditors for assistance in reducing interest rates, lowering monthly payments
• pay cheque planning education and tools provided
• prioritizing the order of who you pay and why

Financial Planning Ideas -- to establish "how to get to" where you want to be:

• individual financial assessments prepared
• determine how to pay yourself first
• discuss renting vs. buying a home
• obtain your credit report and decipher what it means
• formulate a plan to meet your financial commitments and goals
• discuss credit and debt solutions
• education planning ideas, develop a plan for your children's future education
• are you protecting your future and your resources with adequate insurance protection

Information is provided to assist you in dealing with Creditors and Collection Agents

• negotiations with creditors
• settlement offers to creditors
• garnishments (assistance dealing with creditors)
• statements of claim and what to do with them
• writing letters to creditors regarding debt issues, credit problems
• preparing / organizing finances to meet with creditors to obtain additional credit

  Consumer Information and Education Complaints / Resolution Assistance

• discuss possible solutions to resolve Consumer complaints
• what information is required to resolve a dispute with a company

  Income Tax planning to get the most out of your financial planning

• investing in RRSP'S / spousal RRSP'S and why they're important
• determine which income tax deductions reduce taxable income
• operating a home based small business and reducing taxable income