Train Your Children About Money

bankruptcy studentTrain your children about money

I have noticed that people getting into financial difficulty seem to be getting younger than in prior years.  I hope that this is not just myself getting older.  It is an obligation that we have as parents to train our children to understand what it means to earn money and to not foolishly spend it.

Simply giving them an allowance is not good enough.  They should do something simple such as making their bed, cleaning the kitchen table after dinner or cutting the grass in order to earn the allowance.  The concept or work equals money is very important when training young children.  As they grow older and want to play organized sports, go to camp or go on trips, it is wise to have them get a part time job to pay a small portion of the cost.  If they are going to university, there are several months of time off in the summer to find  a part time job which teaches them about money, time management, discipline and much that will help them in school and their future job.  If you decide to introduce your children to a  credit card, consider having a very serious discussion about the credit card being for emergency use only.  The options are to give them their own low limit card (which often requires the parent to guarantee)  or to give them a duplicate card from the parent’s credit card.  The downside to the latter is that they can have access to the entire limit on your credit card.

As a parent, your duty is to properly train your children, have faith that they learned what you taught them and pray they do not abuse the freedom that they have as they grow older.

Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.  

Why You Need a Good Credit Score

Why You Need A Good Credit ScoreBankruptcy Credit Score

Credit reporting agencies such as Equifax and Trans Union of Canada receive information about you, the consumer, from their members.  This information is entered on their system as part of your credit history and is then used as information to produce your credit score.

A low credit score means you will be more likely to be refused on an application for credit.  It will certainly mean that you will be subject to a higher level of “due diligence” from the lender while they evaluate your application for credit.  Even if you are approved, the interest rate you can expect to pay will be higher than you thought due to the fact that you will be considered a high risk.

Treat good credit and a high credit score as a financial asset.  You will be able to buy a home or a car with a low interest rate on the mortgage or car loan.  You will also be pleased that approval will be quick as there will less of a review of your credit application.

Landlords in rental apartments are now also requesting credit reports before they sign a lease to make sure you are a desirable tenant.  If you are applying for a new job that requires you to be bonded or if you are being considered in a promotion, it is not uncommon for the employer to ask for your credit report.  They want to make sure that you have a stable background and will not bring anything unfavorable to the company.  A request by the landlord or employer for your credit report will have no effect (good or bad) on your credit report.

You are allowed one free copy of your credit report each year by regular mail.  You can obtain a copy in person or on the internet but there is a charge for this faster service.  You should periodically ask for a copy of your report and check it for errors.  You do not want to try to fix an error while you are in the middle of trying to get a loan for a car.

Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.  

Executions Registered With a Sheriff, What To Do?

Executions registered with a sheriff, what to do? Bankruptcy Court

A debtor who has been discharged from bankruptcy or has completed a proposal has been relieved of all unsecured debts (with a few exceptions) –including a debt which led to a writ of execution being registered against the debtor’s property.  The execution is no longer enforceable after discharge, as the debt itself has been discharged.  However, the writ is not lifted automatically.

The first step in having a writ of execution lifted is to provide proof of discharge/proposal completion to the execution creditor’s solicitor, and request that the executions be removed. If the creditor’s solicitor is not co-operative, the discharged bankrupt should submit Form 60-O (REQUEST TO WITHDRAW A WRIT, links below) to the Sheriff’s office to request that the execution be lifted. If necessary, the debtor can bring a motion in court to have the execution lifted.

Form 60O: http://www.ontariocourtforms.on.ca/forms/civil/60o/RCP_E_60O_1105.htm or http://www.ontariocourtforms.on.ca/forms/civil/60o/RCP_E_60O_1105.doc.

Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.  

Am I Liable for Girlfriends Debts While We Are Together?

Are you in financial shape?I’m living with my girlfriend! Am I liable for a girlfriends debts while we’re together?

No.  You are not liable for her debts while you are together.  The reverse is also true – she is not liable for your debts incurred while you are together.  As well as neither of you is liable for each of your debts that either of you owed before you started living together.

Of course, if the two of you obtained credit jointly (i.e. – you both signed the loan or credit application) that you would make you both liable for the debt because it was loaned to the both of you.  Similarly, if either of you asked the other to sign any papers or documents with respect to an old debt – be careful- read what was signed – you might have guaranteed the debt and become liable if your partner defaults on it.  Also, be careful of giving your partner a supplemental credit card – the supplemental cardholder will be liable for anything they charged and, depending on the wording of the cardholder agreement, the supplemental cardholder may have made themselves liable for the entire debt on that credit card.

Please! Read everything before you sign anything.  Ask questions and understand the answers before becoming liable for another person’s  debts.

Contact Rumanek & Company Ltd. for more information on bankruptcy and debt solutions. Or please fill out the free bankruptcy evaluation form. To learn more please visit our YouTube Channel. Rumanek & Company have been helping individuals and families overcome debt for more than 25 years.