Credit Canada

On Tuesday, January 19th at noon ET, I will be participating in an online discussion on how to tackle holiday bills and dig your way out of the holiday debt.  Join me in the discussion at globeandmail.com at noon.

Come the holiday season, I can’t help but think about George Bailey of Bedford Falls. Otherwise known as actor Jimmy Stewart, George and his townsfolk have become a staple of Christmas viewing as TV and cable networks air what the American Film Institute has labeled the most inspiring film of all time, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, directed by Frank Capra.

George Bailey offers a life lesson to all of us as a man who gives everything he has to family and friends, only to find that he is threatened with financial ruin; thanks to the dishonesty of Bedford Fall’s sleazy slumlord, Mr. Potter. But as George prepares on Christmas Eve to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge, his guardian angel Clarence Odbody arrives to save the day. (more…)

Now that the holidays are officially over a lot of us are bracing ourselves for the bills we’re going to receive this month. Overall, Canadians did pretty good in terms of spending this year, managing to decrease their spending by about 9%, but you wouldn’t have known it in the days following Christmas. Malls were crowded and people waited in lines outside of stores in the wee hours of the morning, ready to throw that plastic on the counter and take advantage of the sales. Did we forget about all the headlines? Did we forget that we’re in the worst economic downturn of our time? (more…)

Have any of you decided to throw-in the towel yet? Christmas is just two days away and a lot of us are running around trying to finish our last minute shopping and organize the best Christmas dinner ever, all the while staying within our budgets, keeping up with the kids, visiting friends and family, and trying to put in those last holiday hours at work.  Is it just me or does Christmas seem more like a marathon rather than a holiday? They say that the festivities during this time of year are breath-taking, but I think we’re taking that idea a little too literally…I’m out of breath! (more…)