 This is episode 500, and Doug does a solo rant exploring the factors contributing to the despair felt by Canadians. He reflects on how the past four years has affected our economy.  He touches on the cost of real estate, the stock market, fatalistic YOLO, inflation, and strategies for achieving wealth.  Enjoy!   Related Links:  Build a Get Out of Debt Repayment Plan  -  https://www.hoyes.com/debt-relief/get-out-of-debt/ Statistics Canada. Table 18-10-0004-01  Consumer Price Index, monthly, not seasonally adjusted -https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1810000401  Statistics Canada, Wealth Gap -    https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/230331/dq230331b-eng.htm  CPI Basked Weight Visualization -   https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/2018016/cpi-ipc-eng.htm  National balance sheet and financial flow accounts, fourth quarter 2023 -https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240313/dq240313a-eng.htm  Wealth Gap, Statistics Canada -   https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240122/dq240122a-eng.htm  Bank of Canada, Monetary Aggregates (Money Supply) -  https://www.bankofcanada.ca/?p=47527  Canadian Real Estate Association, National Statistics -   https://stats.crea.ca/en-CA/  November 2023 Federal Government Fall Economic Update -   https://www.budget.canada.ca/fes-eea/2023/report-rapport/anx1-en.html#a1 Episode 270, The Fable of the 20 Dollar Bill - https://youtu.be/5fYfAvSnNps?si=ziTAfuUWwbdmYHvk

500 –  Why Do We Feel Despair? (A Rant)

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Doug and Ted sit down to chat about the 2024 federal budget. Believe it or not Doug actually read the entire budget! They discuss taxes, what a budget means, making tax filing automatic, government single sign-in portal, reducing CRA call centre wait times, NSF fees, free and affordable bank accounts, cell phone charges, credit reports, and payday loans. They also get into detail about how credit for paying rent will impact Canadians.   Timestamps:   00:00 Documentary announcement   02:37 Why should you care about the Federal budget?   03:00 Taxes   06:28 What is a budget?   08:07 Automatic tax filing for low-income Canadians   10:29 Single sign in portal for government services   11:35 Reduce CRA call centre wait times   12:07 NSF Fees   14:23 Free and affordable bank accounts   17:47 Cell phone fees   18:38 Credit for paying rent   24:12 Credit utilization for rent   26:10 Student housing   27:45 Credit bureaus   29:03 Payday loans   29:55 Final thoughts   Related Links:   Should Rent Be a Part of a Credit Score?:  https://www.hoyes.com/blog/should-rent-be-a-part-of-a-credit-score/ Federal Budget 2024: https://budget.canada.ca/2024/home-accueil-en.html TurboTax Personal Tax Calculator:  https://turbotax.intuit.ca/tax-resources/canada-income-tax-calculator.jsp Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/b-7/index.html

504 –  2024 Federal Budget: Unintended Consquences?

 How much does it cost to own a pet? Join Doug and special guest Maureen Parent as they break down the expenses, from breeder fees to food, vet bills, travel, dental, training, and more! Maureen offers valuable tips for managing your pet's expenses while avoiding debt.  Time Stamps:  00:00 Introduction  02:05 What are the upfront costs of owning a pet?  06:11 The regular costs of owning a pet  16:55 The unexpected costs of owning a pet  20:33 How much does it cost to board your pet?  21:55 Practical advice for owning a pet  24:04 Pet Insurance  25:42 Smaller pets vs. large pets  27:30 Can rescue pets save you money?  27:55 Toy and treat tips to save you money  29:59 Conclusion    Related Links:  The Cost of Dog Parenthood in 2024 - https://www.rover.com/ca/blog/cost-of-dog-parenthood/

503 –  Pet Ownership Costs & Tips to Avoid Debt

 Should you buy a home or rent in Canada? We look at the risks and expenses involved when it comes to purchasing a home.  From the unpredictable market trends to steep mortgage penalties and ongoing maintenance costs. As we weigh at the pros and cons, this episode may make you rethink your views on homeownership, not only as an investment but as a consumer choice. Could renting be the smarter choice in 2024? Watch the episode now to find out.  Time Stamps:  00:00 Introduction  01:00 Reasons you should own a home  03:38 Is a mortgage a forced savings plan?  06:10 Reasons not to buy a home  06:21 Timing is everything in real estate  08:17 Variable rate interest only mortgage vs. amortization mortgage  12:03 Moving if you own a home vs. if you rent  15:29 Maintenance  18:50 Credit creep  24:11 Practical advice     Related Links:  Homeowners Bankruptcy Index: https://www.hoyes.com/press/homeowner-bankruptcy-index/  Hoyes Michalos Bankruptcy Study: https://www.hoyes.com/press/joe-debtor/  Why Does Home Ownership Cause Financial Problems?: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/why-does-home-ownership-cause-financial-problems/  Think Twice Before You Get a Home Equity Line of Credit: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/think-twice-before-you-get-a-home-equity-line-of-credit/  Why a House Does Not Guarantee Financial Security: https://www.hoyes.com/blog/why-a-house-does-not-guarantee-financial-security/

502 –  Should I Buy or Rent a Home? What Makes Sense in Today's Market

Blair DeMarco-Wettlaufer, the Chief of Operations Officer of Kingston Data & Credit joins Doug to discuss the consequences of unpaid debts and their impact on your credit score. They look at real-life scenarios and provide practical advice to manage your credit report.  They also discuss what collection agents can and cannot do when it comes to reporting your debts to the credit bureau and how to dispute old debts, so they don’t affect your credit. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 01:45 If you don’t pay a collection agent can it affect your credit score? 04:33 The Statute of Limitations Act. 05:30 The Credit Bureau. 09:45 How and when do collection agents report to the credit bureau? 16:20 What collection agents cannot do when reporting to the credit bureau. 18:14 Can a collection agency remove a debt from your credit report? 23:24 What happens if a collection agency keeps calling the wrong number? 26:07 How owing a collection agent can affect your credit score. 27:43 Practical advice from a collection agent. 34:05 How to reach out to Blair DeMarco-Wettlaufer.    Related Links: How Old Tickets and Fines Can Destroy your Credit Score:   https://www.hoyes.com/blog/how-old-tickets-and-fines-can-destroy-your-credit-score/   'Insanely old' city ticket wreaks havoc on Ottawa man's credit score: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/insanely-old-city-ticket-wreaks-havoc-on-ottawa-man-s-credit-score-1.7141166   Long-forgotten fines won't linger on credit records, city assures residents: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/city-of-ottawa-parking-ticket-debt-owed-collection-credit-score-1.7152329 Blair Demarco-Wettlaufer’s Blog “Receivable/Accounts - Information for Credit and Collection Issues”:  https://receivableaccounts.blogspot.com/   Legislation Links Cited in the Podcast:   Collection and Debt Settlement Services Act of Ontario:  https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c14    The Provincial Offenses Act, section 76:  https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90p33#BK105 The Limitations Act of Ontario sets a basic limitation period of two years:  https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/02l24#BK16 The Consumer Reporting Act of Ontario:  https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c33#BK11     Blair Demarco-Wettlaufer’s Previous Appearance Links on Debt Free in 30: Episode 20 – January 17, 2015 - Stop The Collection Calls: Advice from Blair Demarco-Wettlaufer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tsrKacdx4U Episode 57 – October 3, 2025 Collection Agents: How Did They Find Me?:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SMU1R5N0ms Episode 70 – January 2, 2016 – Top 10 Tips for Dealing with a Collection Agent:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=736J-IefWrI Episode 264 – September 21, 2019 - How to Negotiate With a Collection Agent:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgNWpKfBUwU  Episode 296 – May 2, 2020 - Dealing with Collection Calls in COVID-19: Debt Negotiations, Deferrals, and Credit Report Impact:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S86gnBEkeUY  Episode 373 – October 23, 2021 - Your Top Collections Questions Answered by a Debt Collector!:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue8gFE2Z48w Episode 477 – October 21,2023 The Messy World of Debt Collection and Statute-Barred Claims:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uN82x3ts1k&t;=115s

500 – Why Do We Feel Despair? (A Rant)

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