Getting out of debt on a low income

Get Out of Debt

Table of Contents

Advise on getting out of debt and saving money

Growing debt for anyone can become more of a concern if that amount just keeps on piling up and there seems to be no end in sight with being debt free. At any income level, if your spending habits get out of hand, and you are living beyond your means, then you can easily have debt that is out of control.

Budgeting!

At any income level, you need to have a budget so you know exactly how much is coming in and how much you are spending on your fixed expenses, and most importantly your variable spending. Not keeping track of these for all parties in your family can potentially lead to a debt disaster.

Options for Reducing your Expenses

We designed a money management series to specially help people in these types of situations. Taking control of your financial statements is the first step towards lessening your debt levels. https://davidsklar.com/blog/budget-basics-overview/

Reviewing your currently monthly expenses is a good place to start to have an idea of exactly what is happening with your finances.

Fixed expenses

Your fixed expenses such as rent/mortgage for example will not be an easy change in the short term for many.

Mortgage / Rent – take note of your monthly rent or mortgage payments. For your mortgage payments, take note of your interest rate, if your mortgage term is coming up, you can look to shopping around for a better rate. If you are Renting, then look at getting a smaller place at a lower cost to help keep your overall monthly costs down.

Credit Card Payment – For all of your credit cards, this includes store credit cards as well. Take note of the amounts owning on each card and their interest rates. The interest rates for some cards could be much higher than others. The interest rates on some of your cards could surprise you. Try sticking to one credit card. Try to avoid having credit cards from your favourite stores, many times their interest rates are high, and if you keep a balance on them, all that savings you thought you were getting are now gone.

Loans (Auto Loans Etc) – for every loan that you have, take note of the time left on the loan, the interest rate and amount owed.

Variable Expenses

Your variable expenses will be one of the main areas that you may discover you are spending more that you thought you were, and there can be areas where you will need to curb your spending habits. You can expand the main categories below depending on your spending habits so you can get a better idea of your approximate spending in each area. You could discover you are spending too much each week/month on fast food, coffee or restaurants.

  • Heat
  • Electricity
  • Cable
  • Phone
  • Internet
  • Clothing
  • Child Care
  • Transportation expenses
  • Entertainment/Restaurants
  • Other Variable expenses

Other Expenses

There are always expenses in other areas that can pop up that can help pile up your debt.

If you are a home owner, then setting aside emergency money for possible unforeseen expenses is advised.

  • Home Insurance
  • Taxes – Property (for home owners)
  • Auto Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Taxes – Income
  • Expenses for Holidays and Birthdays

See our Setting up Your Budget from our budgeting basic series

https://davidsklar.com/blog/budget-basics-step-3-setting-budget/ for more detailed information and spreadsheet examples.

Tally up all of your monthly expenses. Add up all of your fixed, variable and other expenses. For some of the other expanses these may be a yearly/quarterly expense. In these cases, take an average.

Next you need to determine your average income per month (after tax income). This can be per person or per household depending on your current situation.

Tallying up all your expenses and sources of income into one spreadsheet can really be eye opening. If your expenses are consistently higher than your income per month, then your debt level will continue to rise. Look to areas where you could be overspending or areas that can be reduced.

Call the licensed professionals at David Sklar & Associates at 416-498-9200 for a Free, confidential consultation. During your consultation, we will review your financial situation, and discuss the options you have for getting out of debt and getting on with your life.

Take Your First Step Towards A Debt Free Life

If you are overwhelmed by debt, call us at 1-844-962-9200 to book a FREE, confidential appointment. We will review your financial situation in detail and discuss all of your options with you. Alternatively, you can fill out the form below and our team will reach out to you. 

Share This!

Very processional and understanding of my situation. Thanks to all your team.
Luc Valade
1695320109
Jennifer Norton's exceptional assistance with my consumer proposal was life-changing. Her professionalism, expertise, and dedication were evident from the start. Jennifer's thorough explanations and attention to detail created a tailored proposal that set a clear path to financial freedom. She went above and beyond, advocating for my best interests and providing invaluable support. Thanks to Jennifer, I'm on track to a stress-free financial future. I wholeheartedly recommend her – she's not just a financial expert; she's a life-changer. Thank you, Jennifer!
Thomas
1695089142
They made a difficult situation, easy thank you.
Ray Barkley
1694806611
I had a great experience with Christine from David Sklar & associates. Very professional, and easy to get through. Thank you
fukinwith doug
1694804075
Great customer service and a smooth process to get your finances on track. Informative and thorough.
Adrian Downey
1694799042
From the moment I sat down in the office, I felt welcome and at ease. Grace Cuffaro was both friendly and highly informative. She is extremely knowledgeable and answered all of my questions in detail, making sure I understood before moving on. I was reassured throughout the process that I was making the right decision and that it was not uncommon nor anything to be ashamed of. I didn't expect my appointments to be such positive experiences, but that's exactly what they've been!
P Bains
1694670814
I was in a tough financial position and found myself searching for relief. I came across David Sklar & Associates page when doing my research on financial advice. The reviews were amazing, but I was concern because I didn’t know what to expect. I made the decision to set up a consultation and had the pleasure to meet with Jennifer Norton. Right from the beginning, she was attentive, knowledgeable, and pleasant to meet with. The experience was painless and very educational. Jennifer made sure I understood my choices, answered my questions, and concerns promptly, in person, over the phone and via email. I’ve been working with Jennifer for a couple months now and I am pleased that Jennifer is the manager handling my file. I would and have recommend Jennifer Norton, David Sklar & Associates to anyone in need of direction regarding finances.
A.L Thompson-Lawrence
1694547608
I had my first meeting with Jennifer, she was really understanding and extremely helpful, and got everything done in a timely manner.
Tamas Wint
1694534757
Jennifer Norton has been the most helpful throughout this truly embarrassing situation that I find myself in. She is informative, understanding, and there is absolutely no judgment. She has handled everything in a very professional and respectful manner and I am SO glad that I have them on my side. Definitely a huge weight off my shoulders.
Jody T
1694533927
Rhoda, Jerry, and the entire David Sklar & Associates Staff were very professional and were great to work with. They taught me a lot regarding financing and I would recommend them to anyone facing financial troubles as well. Rafael L
Medanun
1693930422
js_loader
DS david skalr icon

Book your free consultation.

Call 1-844-962-9200 or fill out the form below. We’ll do the rest.

Contact Us