Fight the guilt when finances are tight

As the higher cost of living continues to squeeze household budgets, many Canadians find they have even less left over at the end of every month to squirrel away for the future.

- RITIKA DUBEY

Some might be feeling shame that they weren’t able to save enough over the last few months and are internalizing that emotion, Kalee Boisvert, a financial adviser at Raymond James Ltd, said in an interview.

“I would say it’s more so people feeling guilty that they’re not saving enough, that they wish they could do more,” Boisvert said. “I’m hearing this from a lot of people, so recognize that we’re going through a really tough season.”

While the cost of mortgage payments, rent, consumer debt — essentially everyday life — has jumped exponentially over the past few years, many household incomes did not keep pace — slowly chipping away at monthly savings quotas.

People often feel their inability to save enough is their personal responsibility, but the affordability crisis is happening externally, said Chantel Chapman, the CEO and co-founder of Trauma of Money.

“If there are affordability issues, we need to ask, ‘Whose shame is this,’ or ‘Whose guilt is this?’ ” Chapman said.

Most of the household income could be going toward paying bills on time, maintaining a roof over their head and putting food on the table, she said. There may not be enough after that to put into savings.