in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, Ja nu ar y 9, 20 20 | 22 Canada's Largest Golf Show February 7-9, 2020 International Centre TICKETS ON SALE torontogolfshow.com • DEMO RANGE • LEADING INSTRUCTORS • GIVEAWAYS &MORE! PRESENTEDBY Join Us! TEPPANYAKI GRILL - SUSHI - SASHIMI - DIM SUM www.august8.ca 280 North Service Road W.@ Dorval Oakville 905-338-6228 Call us for reservations 7 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU. New! Chinatown Location Now Open $2.00 OFF LUNCH ONLY Dine-in,cash only & with this voucher.Offer valid at Oakville Location only. Limit 1 voucher per table. not valid on weekends and holidays $5.00 OFF DINNER ONLY Dine-in,cash only & with this voucher.Offer valid at Oakville Location only. Limit 1 voucher per table. not valid on weekends and holidays A FEAST FOR YOUR SENSES. ALLYOU CAN EAT LUNCH OR DINNER Thank you for Voting Us #1 for BEST SUSHI!!! Check out our Chinatown location while visiting Toronto Are you feeling depressed about financial issues in this first month of the new year?first month of the new year?f If so, you are not alone. A survey conducted by FP Canada (formerly known as the Financial Planning Standards Council) and Credit Canada asked Cana- dians what makes this time of year particularly uncom- fortable when it comes to fi-fortable when it comes to fi-f nances. One in five Canadians says their credit card balanc- es are larger than their sav- ings account. By Blue Monday, which is usually the third Monday of January and reported as the most depressing day of the year, six per cent of Canadi- ans have already broken their financial New Year's resolutions. As we all know, many overspend during the holi- days. This was stated by 21 per cent of those surveyed. Ongoing worries about fi- nances are not pleasant. Un- fortunately, more and morefortunately, more and moref Canadians are caught up in the dilemma of overspend- ing encouraged by easy cred- it. The October 2019 data compiled by the Office of the Superintendent of Bank- ruptcy showed that Canadi- ans are filing the highest number of personal insol- vencies in a decade. This is a real problem. And real problems de- serve real solutions. For those who considerFor those who considerF this the ideal time to tackle overspending, here are a few suggestions. First, decide if this is im- portant enough for you to change your habits, taking into account that most reso- lutions are often abandoned. Then, start with some easily achievable goals. Something as simple as con- trolling your spending for the next 24 hours. Try doing this for seven days in a row and celebrate your success after week one.your success after week one.y After a week or two of achieving your financial re- sponsibility goal, start pay- ing down credit card debt. Taking control of your fi- nances is key. You will be surprised at how even small steps in the right direction can make a difference in your outlook, and hopefullyyour outlook, and hopefullyy banish your financial blues. Peter Watson, of Watson Investments MBA, CFP, R.F.P., CIM, FCSI, offers a weekly financial planning column, Dollars & Sense. He can be contacted through www.watsoninvestment- s.com. OPINION TIME TO TACKLE YOUR OVERSPENDING SMALL STEPS CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE, WRITES PETER WATSON PETER WATSON Column