Credit Counselling Services
Establish better spending habits and find lasting debt relief – we can show you how!
What is credit counselling?
Credit counselling gives you the knowledge and resources to make better financial decisions and avoid debt problems. In Ontario (and elsewhere in Canada), credit counselling is mandatory after a successful discharge from a bankruptcy or consumer proposal.
Understanding how to properly manage your money may seem intimidating, especially if you’ve been overwhelmed by debt problems for many years. It can be tough to know where to start.
That’s where we come in!
Financial guidance from licensed professionals
At David Sklar and Associates, our team of Licensed Insolvency Trustees has provided credit counselling in Ontario since 1997. They’re patient, understanding and passionate about teaching people how to take control of their money.
By working with us, you’ll acquire first-class money management skills. With boldness and confidence, you’ll learn how to make your money work for you, not the other way around!
The guidance you need to make better financial decisions.
We can’t understand why there’s no formal real-life financial education offered in our schools. No wonder there are so many Canadians drowning in debt—it’s simply not right!
That’s why we’re so passionate about helping people get control over their finances.
Learn how to manage your debt!
In a comfortable, judgement-free environment, we’ll discuss your financial situation and carefully explain your debt relief options to you. We’ll share strategies with you that will help you learn how to budget, how to save, and how to manage credit.
You’ll finally be in a position to establish better spending habits, leading you to a financially free future.
What you’ll learn through credit counselling:
- How to set and reach financial goals
- How to identify and overcome poor financial habits
- Create and manage budgets
- How to use credit effectively
- How to save money
- How to establish strong credit
Budgeting couldn’t be easier…
Understand your financial position
Identify your financial goals
Create your new budget
Monitor and adjust when needed
One of the best tools that anyone can have is a budget.
Many of our clients learn how to successfully use a budget for the first time. These are valuable lessons that can be used by everyone who wants to manage their debt and build their financial security.
Step 1 – Clearly understand your current financial position
This step can be a little scary, especially if it’s your first time assessing the state of your finances. Just remember to be as honest and as accurate as possible. The more details you identify, the easier it’ll be for you to navigate your way out of debt and work toward financial stability and security.
To get started, review the expense & income worksheet below – it’ll serve as a handy starting point for working toward your financial goals. We recommend that couples work on their family budget together.
Step 2 – Clearly identify your financial goals
Financial goals are not the idle fantasy of sudden and extreme wealth, they are the reality that you can create for yourself if you use your money wisely. When first setting financial goals it is important to set goals that you will be able to achieve in a reasonable length of time. Compare your Average Monthly Income to your total Average Monthly Expenses – is there money you could earmark for paying down your credit cards? If so, how much do you think you could pay your cards down by?
Step 3 – Create your new budget
At this point, you have completed your Expense & Income worksheet, you have a good idea of how you are spending your money and how much money you are earning. You have begun to identify those financial goals that will help you to do the things you really want to do with your money – and you have selected one or more financial goals to start working on.
Now you will now be able to set up a budget worksheet using the link below. It is important that your budget records are correctly dated. Get used to thinking and re-thinking your Budget – it will take several months before it is a good fit for you. Even then, in order for your budget to be current and accurate – it will have to change to match your changing financial reality.
Step 4 – Monitor your budget and make required changes
Establishing the habit of successfully living on a budget requires a focus on your financial goals, consistency in monitoring your spending, sitting down and reviewing your budget and goals every month, and accepting the fact that you can do this!
No one is perfect – there will be good and not-so-good months – recognize your successes and don’t beat yourself up over your slips. You are on the road to a debt-free life – and there are a lot of lessons to learn along the way – but you have a map (your budget), and you will get there.
Credit Counselling FAQ's
Credit counselling in Ontario is required by law when filing for bankruptcy or filing a consumer proposal. In both processes, an individual is required to complete two credit counselling sessions. The first session will typically occur two months into the proposal, whereas the second will generally occur 7 months into the process.
When we provide personalized credit counselling services, we consider your unique needs. We will work with you to determine how long you will require these services. If credit counselling is being provided for a bankruptcy or consumer proposal, you are required to attend two mandatory sessions.
While credit counselling is involved in a consumer proposal, the two are different processes. Credit counselling refers to sessions through which a counsellor provides an individual with financial education to help them achieve financial wellness. A consumer proposal, however, is a legal process through which an individual is able to pay a reduced amount of debt in a set period of time (usually 5 years).
Credit counselling is advised for those with a low consumer-debt-to-income ratio. Credit counselling can either solely help you manage your debt, or help you to identify if you require a consumer proposal or bankruptcy to more effectively rid yourself of your debt burdens. These services are especially beneficial in situations where:
- You find yourself frequently utilizing cash advances
- You are applying for additional credit cards
- You are constantly borrowing money to make monthly costs
- You are relying on loans
- You’re unable to pay credit card minimum payment
- You continue to spend outside your budget
- You are considering bankruptcy or a consumer proposal
There are many benefits associated with getting credit counselling when you are seeking debt relief. Credit Counselling in Toronto can help you to achieve financial ah-ha moments by providing:
- Personalised counselling from a trained financial professional like the counsellors at David Sklar & associates
- Lower interest rates on credit card debt
- Removed late fees & additional charges on debt
- Reduced total of debt
- Loans consolidated into one monthly payment for more manageable repayment
- Tools and resources for better money management
- Guidance on bankruptcies and consumer proposals
If you are experiencing serious debt problems, contact us to explore your options. Call David Sklar & Associates at 1 844-962-9200 or click on the FREE CONSULTATION button at the bottom of your screen to get started. During the consultation, we will help you identify what your current financial situation is and how best to fix it. With offices throughout Ontario – we are here to help.
Patience and Compassion
David Sklar & Associates is staffed with patient and encouraging counsellors who are committed to the financial empowerment of every person we assist.
We know that debt is overwhelming and stressful, which is why we provide a judgment-free atmosphere where we explain the options and help you make an educated decision. The team at David Sklar is committed to providing the tools and resources you need to achieve financial wellness.
We are driven and are passionate about helping you erase your debt. When you choose us as your Licensed Insolvency Trustee, you can have peace of mind that we will provide you with compassionate and educational credit counselling services.
Personalization
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to debt management. The counsellors at David Sklar & Associates provide you with the one on one attention you need to establish a debt management plan that is well suited to your needs, capabilities, and lifestyle. Our sessions are catered to your unique needs to help you set feasible goals.
Certification
Our team is made up of certified insolvency counsellors who are equipped with the knowledge and experience necessary to provide reputable credit counselling services to you.
Consultation
A good credit counselling agency in Toronto will provide you with a free consultation to assess your unique needs.
When you are seeking debt relief and require a plan of action — but don’t yet want to make a commitment — you can have peace of mind that we will provide you with a free consultation to go over your current finances and your different options. Then, we will work with you to determine the best path to help you achieve debt relief.
Experience
We have been successfully helping people achieve financial empowerment through credit counselling in Toronto since 1997. Our team of experienced counsellors understand bankruptcy and debt management and are committed to sharing that knowledge to help you reduce your debt.
Advice on Credit Counselling
Getting into debt is easy. Getting out is a different story.
But it's still possible!
Did you know there is a Canadian debt relief program federally regulated by the Canadian Government, designed to help citizens avoid claiming bankruptcy? This amazing program can only be administered by a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT).
If you’re struggling to make your payments every month and creditors won’t stop calling, we can help.
What our clients are saying.
We are David Sklar
Our team of Licensed Insolvency Trustees in Ontario can help you get out of debt and in control of your own financial future. We’ve helped thousands of people and we can help you too.
We know this is stressful, but you're not alone.
It’s going to be okay.
Book your free consultation today. We’ll do the rest.
