Title Details

Why Do You Need This Book?

How to Use This Book.

Chapter 1: Understanding Debts and Expenses.

Credit.

Debt.

Secured loans.

Unsecured loans.

Expenses.

Essential expenses.

Nonessential expenses.

Borderline/debatable expenses.

Identifying your expense types.

Chapter 2: Assessing Your Situation.

Preparing Your Work Area and Gathering Your Tools.

Figuring Out How Much You Owe.

Total debt.

Debt as a percentage of income.

How Did You Get Into Debt?

Determining Your Priorities.

Looking at Your Resources and Assets.

Chapter 3: Putting Together a Budget.

Determining and Refining Your Debt Repayment Goals.

Be positive.

Take your plans into account.

Establish a time frame.

Write down your goals.

Creating a Budget.

Evaluating Your Budget.

Planning to Stay Up to Date.

Chapter 4: Using Your Budget to Get Ahead of Your Debt.

Using Your Discretionary Income to Pay Off High-Interest Debts First.

Cut up your credit cards.

Forget your savings for the time being.

Paying Down Other Debts.

Chapter 5: Moving Money to Improve Your Debt Picture.

Finding Cheaper Debt.

Lower-interest credit cards.

Credit union loans.

Mortgage refinancing.

Consider Using Your Home as Collateral.

“Finding” More Money.

Reducing essential variable expenses.

Changing your (expensive) habits.

Finding miscellaneous money.

Cutting to the quick.

Talking to your family.

Chapter 6: Getting Help.

Debt Counselling and Other Debt Help.

Personal Counselling.

12-Step and Other Recovery Programs.

Government Assistance.

Your municipal or provincial/territorial housing authority.

Canada Revenue Agency.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC).

Helpful government websites.

Beware of Scams.

Chapter 7: Taking Drastic Measures.

Knowing Your Rights.

Dealing with Creditors.

Talking to your credit card company.

Dealing with fixed loans.

Stopping repossession of your car.

Considering Consolidators.

The real problem may not get fixed.

Consolidators may not help as much as you hope.

Not all consolidators are good consolidators.

Chapter 8: Last Hope: Filing for Bankruptcy Protection.

Your Best Bet: Avoid Bankruptcy.

Understanding Dischargeable and Nondischargeable Debts.

Alternatives to Bankruptcy.

The Consumer Proposal.

Starting Bankruptcy Proceedings.

Finding a trustee.

Surrendering your property.

Determining Whether Bankruptcy Is for You.

Chapter 9: Changing Your Lifestyle to Avoid Debt.

Altering Habits.

Avoiding Temptation.

Stay out of temptation's path.

Practise contentment.

Finding New Interests.

Getting Beyond Yourself.

Thinking Long Term.

Pursue further education.

Change jobs or careers.

Relocate.

Keeping Your Goals Fresh.

Update.

Restate.

Celebrate.

Finding Support.

Working Toward a More Secure Future.

Pursuing information.

Starting to save.

Final Review.

Q&A.

Scenarios.

Answers.

Consider This.

Practice Projects.

Resource Centre.

Internet.