Managing Your Finances
Are You Experiencing Financial Difficulty?
Seeking Help
You may be feeling overwhelmed by your debts and are worried about your financial situation. If your finances are causing you concern or you are beginning to experience financial trouble, the Nova Scotia Debtor Assistance Program is designed to offer counseling to those facing financial difficulty. Counselors may offer assistance in preparing a family budget or refer you to Consumer Proposals. You may also want to contact your own financial institution to learn about what they can do to help you.
Credit History
It's a good idea to check your credit history once a year. To learn more about your credit history and rating you can visit the Web sites of Equifax Canada, Trans Union of Canada, and Northern Credit Bureaus Inc., three national credit reporting agencies:
- Equifax Canada
- Consumer Information Centre
- Download a Request to obtain my credit history report (PDF - 20K)
- Trans Union of Canada
- Personal Solutions Page
- Download a Consumer Relations - Information form (PDF - 129K) to request your credit
- Northern Credit Bureaus Inc.
Budgeting
Keeping a record of your expenditures is very important. You may wish to visit the following sites to learn more:
The following sites may also be useful to help you manage your finances:
Calculators
- Canadian Retirement Income Calculator - The calculator takes you step by step through an estimate of the ongoing income you may receive throughout your retirement from:
- Money, Credit and Debt Calculators
- Credit Card Costs Calculator to help you determine the most convenient credit card to use
Consumer Information
- Information on consumer protection activities, filing complaints and tips
- Consumer Savvy - A collection of consumer articles.
- Online Shopping Assistant
- Consumer Information - Consumer Complaint Form
Other Tips and Resources
- Using Credit Wisely
- Managing Your Debt - What can you do?
- Canadian Consumer Information Gateway an online resource providing various information on consumer related inquiries including credit
- Getting Value for your Service Fees (PDF)