519-646-2222How did I get in this mess? It’s all about the small stuff!!
How did I get in this mess? When exactly did my debt problems really begin?
Ah, college – the land of free stuff and reckless optimism. I still remember FROSH week like it was yesterday. Vendors were everywhere, practically throwing freebies at us. We could win an iPad just by signing up for a VISA card! What a time to be alive, right? Back then, we were all brimming with energy, hope, and this lovely delusion that once we graduated, success would just fall into our laps like a gift-wrapped present.
Fast forward a bit – I graduated law school with a shiny new degree in hand, served my time articling at a local firm, and bam, I was called to the bar. They slapped the title “Associate Lawyer” on me, and I thought, “Yep, this is it, I’ve made it!” My girlfriend and I even went to the BMW dealership. I flashed my business card at the salesperson, who told me that all lawyers get a discount on purchases. Oh, how could I resist? I mean, come on, I couldn’t exactly roll up to the courthouse in the old clunker my dad gave me back in my final year. That would just be embarrassing.
But, hey, life’s a rollercoaster, right? My spouse got laid off when the factory shut down. No big deal – he’s smart; he’ll land something soon. Meanwhile, the kids have been less than stellar in school, the house is a pressure cooker, and we all just need a break. So, I booked us a trip to Cuba through some discount travel site. It was a breeze! They only needed my credit card, and boom, we were all set for a tropical getaway. What could possibly go wrong?
Of course, renting was getting old. Everyone else was out there buying houses like it was some kind of sport, so we found this awesome mortgage broker, Karen. She pulled off some magic trick, wiping our credit clean and landing us a first AND second mortgage. It felt like winning the lottery, and honestly, Karen earned every cent of her commission. We couldn’t have done it without her!
Then there was my wife’s car – that trusty money pit. It was falling apart, and every month it greeted me with a new repair bill. I needed something reliable for work, but new cars? Ha! Totally out of reach… or so I thought. Enter Brian, our hero. He found us a nearly new car and stretched the financing over nine years – just to keep those monthly payments “manageable.” He even got us some extra cash to wipe out the ol’ credit card debt. What a guy!
Then, I got laid off for a bit – because why not? The bills didn’t take a vacation, though, so I decided to make the minimum payments using my line of credit. Genius, right? Now, I’m totally up to date on my credit cards and car loan. Who needs a steady income when you’ve got smarts like this?
And my banker? She’s brilliant! She told me I could defer my mortgage payments – up to twice a year! No big deal, they just add it to the end of the mortgage. Oh, and if things get tight, I can always use my line of credit to make payments. It’s a foolproof plan to avoid foreclosure.
I had a little chat with my accountant about bankruptcy, but he steered me away from that mess. Instead, he suggested I crack open my RSPs and pay off some bills. No bankruptcy needed! What a lifesaver. I mean, who needs a retirement fund when I’ve got peace of mind today?
Speaking of smart financial decisions, I’m thrilled my bank offers multiple credit card options. I now have a MasterCard, a VISA, and an AMEX – because, obviously, one credit card is never enough. If one gets maxed out, I just whip out another. Stress? Never heard of her.
Oh, and taxes? Yeah, I might’ve neglected to file for three years, and now the CRA is breathing down my neck with threats of garnishing my accounts. But no worries, I’ll just switch banks. That’ll buy me some time to get caught up on my taxes – eventually.
At least I can still shop online! Thanks to Amazon, I can buy anything with just a click, and my credit card gets charged automatically. It’s like magic! And let’s not forget about Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes. My family practically lives on those services – they even deliver to schools! All tied neatly to my credit card, of course. So easy!
I have automatic payments set up through my credit card for so much stuff, my gym membership, the kids’ dance and music lessons, computer gaming apps, TV feeds, and all kinds of other stuff that we never use, but it is so convenient!
Life’s good, right? Right?