{"id":2952,"date":"2021-12-13T09:00:43","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T17:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/?page_id=2952"},"modified":"2023-12-18T03:26:24","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T11:26:24","slug":"resolutions-dealing-with-debt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/resolutions-dealing-with-debt","title":{"rendered":"8 New Year&#8217;s Resolutions for Dealing with Debt in 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Canadian debt levels have been on the rise for years. According to Statistics Canada, the ratio of household debt to disposable income was 173.08% in the second quarter of 2021. That means for every dollar Canadians earned, they owed $1.73.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make things worse, many Canadians are still dealing with the financial fallout of COVID-19. Government assistance programs are wrapping up even though many haven&#8217;t returned to full-time work. Couple that with the holiday season, a time when people typically spend more than usual, and it\u2019s a recipe for debt disaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re feeling the squeeze, know you\u2019re not alone. But without a plan to address it, debt could harm your credit score, relationships and mental health. To get your debt under control, here are some financial resolutions to make in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-debt\">What debt is and how to handle it<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Confront your debt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people struggle with debt. While it\u2019s likely not something you\u2019re proud of, you needn&#8217;t feel ashamed. In fact, just taking the time to read about how to get out of debt shows that you\u2019re ready to get your finances in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To deal with debt, the first thing you need to do is confront it \u2014 look the entire amount right in the eye and let it know you\u2019re not afraid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a spreadsheet or on a piece of paper, list how much you owe, who you owe it to and how much interest you\u2019re paying. To keep things organized, you could organize it either the amount you owe or the interest rate. It might look something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"c-tablepress-table-wrapper\" style=\"overflow-x: auto;\">\n<table id=\"tablepress-18\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-18\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Type of debt<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Current balance<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Interest rate<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Payday loan<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$675<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">45%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Credit card<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$3,687<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">19.99%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Auto loan<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$15,000<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Bank line of credit<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$4,000<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">6%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Student loans<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">$25,500<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><b>TOTAL<\/b><\/td><td class=\"column-2\"><b>$48,862<\/b><\/td><td class=\"column-3\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This visual reference will help you plan which debts to tackle first and, as you update it over time, make it easier to track your progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Make a budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have a detailed budget already, now is the time to make one. Creating a budget can happen in just a few simple steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, write down your net income, which is the amount of money you bring home every month after taxes and costs like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-ei\">Employment Insurance<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/investing\/what-is-the-canada-pension-plan\">Canada Pension Plan<\/a> contributions are deducted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, write down your fixed expenses \u2014 things that cost the same amount every month \u2014 such as your rent, utilities and cell phone\/internet services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, record the minimum required payment for each of your debts, including credit cards or student loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, list out your variable expenses \u2014 things that might cost a different amount each month \u2014 like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-to-save-money-on-groceries\">groceries<\/a>, entertainment and gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, subtract your total expenses from your net income to see which is higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Are you spending more than you take in? If so, you may have to make some lifestyle changes in order to deal with your debt. Is your income higher than your expenses? If so, you\u2019re in a great position to allocate extra money toward debt payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-to-budget\">How to budget your money<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Choose a debt repayment strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Armed with a good sense of how much debt you\u2019re carrying and a reasonable budget, it\u2019s time to plan your attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your first goal should be to avoid collections by making on-time minimum payments on all debts. But due to the interest rate charged by creditors, just making minimum payments won\u2019t actually reduce your overall debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to shrink your balances and eventually become debt free, you\u2019ll need to pay more than the minimum. But with only so much income to work with, which debts should you focus on first?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two debt repayment strategies that can help you decide: the debt avalanche method and the debt snowball method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Debt avalanche<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With the debt avalanche method, the debt with the highest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/banking\/what-is-interest-rate\">interest rate<\/a> is your top priority. Make the minimum payment on all your other debts, and then use any funds this frees up to pay extra to the creditors that are charging you the most interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s simple math when you think about it. Credit card debt that charges 19.99% interest is costing you more in the long run than student debt with a 3% interest rate. The debt avalanche strategy requires patience, but it pays off by eliminating your most expensive debt first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/how-credit-card-interest-rates-work-in-canada\">How credit card interest rates work in Canada<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Debt snowball<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With the debt snowball method, interest rates don\u2019t matter \u2014 you focus on the debt with the lowest balance first. Make the minimum payment on all your other debts, and then use any extra funds this frees up to pay more toward your smallest debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this won&#8217;t result in the same savings as the avalanche method, completely paying off a debt is an accomplishment that may give you a welcome psychological boost. And once that debt is eliminated, you can take the entire amount you were paying toward it (monthly minimum plus any extra funds) and target the next-smallest debt \u2014 just like a snowball rolling down a hill and getting bigger along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/debt-to-income-ratio\">Understanding your debt-to-income ratio<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Freeze your spending for 30 days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It doesn\u2019t matter how much debt you have, challenging yourself to a \u201cno-spend\u201d month can help you regain some control over your finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The concept is simple, you eliminate all non-essential spending for 30 days. Think: getting food delivered, buying clothes online or renting digital movies. What you consider essential may differ from others, but the idea is to minimize your spending to free-up some cash for debt repayment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a month seems impossible, try for a week first and then increase that timeframe next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-does-price-match-work\">Price-matching tips to help you save money<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Transfer your debt to a low-interest credit card<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/best-credit-cards-in-canada\">credit cards<\/a> allow you to transfer existing debt from another card. This can be beneficial since balance transfer options often come with favourable terms. For example, your interest rate might be 0% for 12 months on the transferred amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you focus on making extra payments during this promotional period, you could get pretty far ahead because your entire payment would be applied to the balance. Plus, if you transfer your balance from a high-interest card to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/what-are-low-interest-credit-cards\">low-interest credit card<\/a>, you\u2019ll still be paying less in interest when the promotional period ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/best-balance-transfer-credit-cards-in-canada\">What is a balance transfer credit card?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Consolidate your debt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-a-good-credit-score\">good credit score<\/a>, you may qualify for a line of credit from your financial institution. This is important because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/banking\/how-to-get-a-bank-loan\">bank loans<\/a> often have a lower interest rate than credit cards or personal loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Assuming you\u2019re approved for a line of credit that\u2019s sufficient, you could take that loan and immediately pay off all your other debts. You\u2019d now only have one monthly payment to worry about, and thanks to a lower interest rate, you may be able to shrink the balance more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-debt-consolidation\">Is debt consolidation right for you?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Focus on your credit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Paying down your overall debt can have a positive impact on your credit score, as it reduces your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-credit-utilization\">credit utilization ratio<\/a>. And a better credit score will make it easier to get approved for balance-transfer credit cards or debt consolidation loans. Use strategies like the debt snowball or avalanche to chip away at your balances, and you may see a stronger score as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to improve your credit score is to get a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/credit-cards\/what-is-a-secured-credit-card\">secured credit card<\/a>. These cards require a cash deposit and you can only spend the funds you\u2019ve deposited. But every on-time payment will help rebuild your credit score over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u00bb MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-to-check-your-credit-score\">How to check your credit score and rebuild credit history<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. Seek professional help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re overwhelmed by your debt or unsure about what to do next, consider getting help from a professional. One option is to speak to a licensed insolvency trustee, as they can advise you if a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-a-consumer-proposal\">consumer proposal<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/what-is-bankruptcy\">declaring bankruptcy<\/a> is a viable solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, there are non-profit debt counsellors or debt coaches that may be able to give you advice about budgeting and debt consolidation options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The point is, you\u2019re not alone. If your debt is keeping you up at night, resolve to take action in 2022 \u2014 even if it&#8217;s just reaching out and talking to someone who can help you get things under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nwb-authors nwb-authors__footer wp-block-nerdwallet-blocks-authors-card\">\n\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__wrapper\">\n\t\t<h4 class=\"nwb-authors__title\">\n\t\t\tAbout the Author\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/barry-choi\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"nwb-authors__image\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/BarryChoi-e1626212860872-100x100.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twidth=\"120\" height=\"120\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\talt=\"Barry Choi photo\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/barry-choi\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Barry Choi<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nwb-authors__bio\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Barry Choi is a freelance personal finance and travel expert. His website moneywehave.com is one of Canada&#039;s most trusted sites when it comes to all things related to money and&hellip;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/barry-choi\" title=\"Read more about Barry Choi\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Read more about Barry Choi and explore their articles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t<section class=\"c-block-card-grid container\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"c-block-card-grid__title\">\n\t\t\t\tDIVE EVEN DEEPER\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll column-four\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-369\" class=\"c-block-card post-369 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-finance topic-personal-finance cluster-personal-finance\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-credit-reports-work\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"191\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1214479802-e1625169976763-460x191.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"How to Get a Free Credit Report in Canada\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-credit-reports-work\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tHow to Get a Free Credit Report in Canada\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Your credit report is a record of your credit history that&#8217;s used to calculate your credit score. Get your free credit report by contacting a credit bureau.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/sandra-macgregor\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Sandra-MacGregor-e1626212852416-40x40.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Sandra MacGregor<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/janine-devault\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/05\/Janine_headshot-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Janine DeVault<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-369 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-2366\" class=\"c-block-card post-2366 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-finance topic-personal-finance cluster-personal-finance\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/holiday-shopping-strategies\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"192\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/GettyImages-1086666842-e1635524858761-460x192.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"7 Money Strategies for Savvy Holiday Shopping\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/holiday-shopping-strategies\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\t7 Money Strategies for Savvy Holiday Shopping\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>When shopping for holiday gifts this year, create your own discounts, use credit card rewards and consider alternative payment options. <\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/shannon-terrell\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/Shannon-Terrell-headshot-e1648578818586-40x40.png\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Shannon Terrell<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-2366 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-362\" class=\"c-block-card post-362 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-finance topic-personal-finance cluster-personal-finance\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/types-of-debt\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"192\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/GettyImages-1163500880-e1625170630536-460x192.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"Understanding the Main Types of Debt\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/types-of-debt\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\tUnderstanding the Main Types of Debt\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>Debt can be divided into several types: secured and unsecured, good and bad. Other types of debt include credit card debt, student loans, medical bills and mortgages.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/hannah-logan\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Hannah-Logan-e1626212867388-40x40.jpg\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Hannah Logan<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-362 -->\n<\/div><div class=\"c-block-card-grid-scroll__column\">\n<div id=\"post-2435\" class=\"c-block-card post-2435 page type-page status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry content-classification-personal-finance topic-personal-finance cluster-personal-finance\">\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__inner c-block-card__inner--large\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"c-block-card__image-wrapper\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-to-make-money-online\" rel=\"bookmark\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"460\" height=\"192\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/11\/GettyImages-1257358262-e1636469693720-460x192.jpg\" class=\"c-block-card__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"18 Ways to Make Money Online and Offline in Canada\" \/>\t<\/a><!-- .c-entry__thumbnail -->\n\t\t\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\n<h4 class=\"c-block-card__title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/personal-finance\/how-to-make-money-online\" rel=\"bookmark\" class=\"c-block-card__title-link\">\n\t\t18 Ways to Make Money Online and Offline in Canada\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__content\">\n\t\t<p>There are numerous ways to make money online and off \u2014 like freelancing, selling unused stuff, housesitting and more. <\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"c-block-card__authors\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"nw-written-by-layout-inline--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/author\/shannon-terrell\" class=\"author url fn\" rel=\"author\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/Shannon-Terrell-headshot-e1648578818586-40x40.png\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>Shannon Terrell<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .c-card__content-wrapper -->\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><!-- #post-2435 -->\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Facing your balances, making a budget and choosing the right payoff strategy can help you deal with debt in the new year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":2958,"parent":104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/article-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","_nw_pros_cons_block_schema":""},"content-classification":[13],"topic":[267],"cluster":[268],"pp_author":[23],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>8 New Year&#039;s Resolutions for Dealing with Debt - NerdWallet Canada<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Want to deal with your debt next year? 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