But am I going to talk about a tornado on a bankruptcy blog? No I am not, but when many people tell me about their financial difficulties they talk about how they feel like they are in the eye of the storm. They know something is going to strike and they need to know how to deal with it.

It was wonderful to read that there weren’t any serious injuries in Leamington. When you read the stories in the newspaper, those affected by storm discuss that they listened to the activity outside and realized that they needed to make a plan for their safety. Financial problems are like that too.

When you realize the storm is coming, make a plan to deal with your debts. The first step is to see if you qualify for a consolidation loan or credit counseling. If you don’t qualify then a consumer proposal or bankruptcy in Windsor may be an option. If so, call me at 519-326-1467 or (519-250-8060 in Windsor) or 310-PLAN and I will help you weather the storm.

The main advantage of a debt consolidation loan is that it takes all of your debt and combines it into one monthly payment. Your new loan payment should be less than the minimum payments you were paying on your credit cards and loans. If it is not a lower monthly payment, this might not be the best option for you.

Another factor to consider will be the interest rate you will be charged. Most credit cards have interest rates between 10% and as high as 28% per year. The interest rate charged on the loan should be lower than you are paying now.

You will also need to consider any other terms the bank has. Do they want to put a lien on your car, or do they need a cosignor? If they do, you need to consider the risk to your car and the cosignor if you are unable to pay the loan in the future.

If you are able to make a monthly payment, but you don’t qualify for a debt consolidation loan, a consumer proposal might be a better option for you. You can call me in Windsor at 519-250-8060 or e-mail me to discuss this option in more detail.