People Seeking Financial Help on the Rise in Thunder Bay as Local
Organization Celebrates National Credit Education Week
by Scott A. Sumner
The number of people looking for financial advice continues to increase in Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay Counselling Centre is reporting a 28% surge in the number of clients accessing their credit counselling programming over the past year. Thunder Bay Counselling Centre and several agencies in Canada celebrated National Credit Education Week recently, dedicating to promoting sound personal money management through money resolutions.
“ In the past year we have seen a 28% increase in clients accessing our services after they have run into financial difficulty. I think it says people are looking for solutions after the problem rather than proactively before. We want you to be proactive in looking after your money,” said Sheri Fata, Thunder Bay Counselling Centre Manager.
“ The holiday season is in fact very difficult. We want to make sure people are setting goals ahead of time and establishing spending plans for the season and sticking to them. What we do is sit down and look at the facts of their current situation. You have to know exactly where you are at today and that is really looking at the numbers, tracking your expenses, tracking your income and knowing exactly your position,” said Fata. “ Then we take a look at your future goals and where you want to be down the road. Then we establish very clear next steps. The goal has to be very specific, measurable, reasonable,
achievable and time framed in order to get there.” “ We are seeing people from dealing with student debt to those reaching retirement . Everyone is facing very unique situations. There is a lot of social pressure in having things now and keeping up with the neighbours,” said Fata. “ We are here to help and our counselors are waiting to help. They are there to help you establish those goals on a drop in or an appointment basis .” Linda is a client of the Thunder Bay Counselling Centre “ I was afraid of what I was going to go through but I am really glad I did because once I got it rolling step by step, month by month I started feeling really good as far as paying the bills off. I knew I had goals to look forward to at the end. The day they told me Linda you are now debt free I stood up, kicked my heals and jumped out of my seat. I was very happy and it was like a boulder was taken off my shoulders. Now I can do a little bit more in the house. I recommend the program and wish I would have done it much early.” Visit www. tbay counselling.com There is no charge to do that initial assessment
