Whether you’re just starting out, going through a change, dealing with financial challenges, or just overwhelmed with the amount of information and advertising around managing your money, financial counselling can help. For many of us, money management wasn’t a class we took in school. We are here to help everyone, regardless of what stage of life you are in or how much money you have.
Thunder Bay Counselling offers one-on-one financial counselling to help you achieve your future goals. Our trusted and professional counsellors take the time to understand your personal situation and recommend supports that will improve your finances for the long-term.
We have helped hundreds of clients, including seniors, newcomers and people on low incomes, to set spending plans and work towards a better financial future. We are ready to provide you with a free financial assessment today!
Drop-In Financial Counselling
Free Drop-In Financial Counselling every Tuesday, 12:00 Noon – 4pm.
Our drop-in service is here to help if you are:
Worried about money or debt
Looking for tips to spend less and save more
Interested in learning more about personal financial matters
We can help with information on:
Budgeting
Credit
Bank Accounts
Saving
Government Benefits
Other ways to make the most of your money
Thunder Bay Counselling is located at 544 Winnipeg Ave.
Assistance to Access Banking and Income Supports/Benefits
Financial Literacy Education
RESP Information and support
For more information or to make an appointment call (807) 684-1880
Learn More About Financial Counselling Services
One-on-One Counselling and Coaching
Regular one-on-one counselling sessions provide ongoing support to talk about your financial goals and challenges in confidence with no cost to you. Our professional counsellors offer impartial information, tools and resources to help you navigate your personal finances, without trying to sell you anything. We support you to develop money management and spending plans that will help you to take the right steps towards financial wellness.
Spending Plans and Budgeting
Dealing with bills and balancing household budgets can be overwhelming. If you need help to determine your financial health or if you want advice about how to start paying down debt, Thunder Bay Counselling can help at no cost to you. A financial assessment will help you look at your income, assets, expenses and debt to determine your financial situation. With an understanding of your current position, our counsellors will work with you to develop spending plans that make sense for you and your family.
Support to Access Banking and Income Supports
Our services include free advice to access the right banking services and support programs. We know which programs can put free money in your pocket such as income supports and tax benefits. Our helpful professionals offer support to individuals and families at no cost and will ensure that you are choosing the right financial options for you.
Credit Counselling and Debt Management Plans
Credit Counselling helps you to reduce debt and better manage your financial wellness. Our certified Credit Counsellors have extensive experience in customizing personal debt reduction programs. There is no fee for our Credit Counselling services.
A Debt Management Plan is designed to help clients pay off debt in a set amount of time. It is a formalized agreement where our Credit Counsellors provide you with support to deal with creditors. Creditors usually agree and, in some cases, may reduce or eliminate the interest rate and/or fees on the debt. We make debt repayment simple and stress free with one monthly payment that is disbursed to creditors. There are administrative fees that apply which will be reviewed with you prior to you making any commitment.
Ontario Registration #4138616
Financial Literacy Education
Thunder Bay Counselling offers unbiased information and consumer education on a wide array of topics related to personal money management to help you make the right financial decisions. Our Literacy Education programs are offered in one-on-one and group sessions to meet diverse needs. If you want to learn more about your consumer rights and be better prepared to manage your finances, ask us about our Financial Literacy Education programs.
Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP’s)
Start saving for your child’s education after high school with an RESP. The Canada Learning Bond (CLB) is $500 offered by the Government of Canada to help modest-income families start saving today for their child’s future post-secondary education. Your child could receive $100 every year until he or she turns 15 years old to a maximum allowance of $2,000. Canada Learning Bonds can be used to pay for full-time or part- time education including apprenticeship programs, Colleges and Universities. Let Thunder Bay Counselling help you get started for free.
Thunder Bay Counselling is a community partner of SmartSaver, a non-profit organization whose goal is to make it easier for families to understand and access the government money that is available for education after high school using an RESP. Read more about how to start your kid’s education savings with free money.
Filing your income tax is an important part of financial management and may help identify income benefits and savings. Thunder Bay Counselling is proud to partner with the Lakehead Social Planning Council in the provision of Tax Clinics that are free of charge for people living on low incomes. Visit LSPC’s web-site at www.lspc.ca for more information.
Thunder Bay Counselling is proud to be an Ontario Financial Empowerment Champion organization and part of the Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Ontario Registration #4138616
Important Notice
COVID-19 continues to evolve quickly. As a result, we are not providing face-to-face service at this time. Please call us at (807) 684-1880 during regular working hours to make other arrangements for your appointment.
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If you have a fever and/or new onset of cough or difficulty breathing AND in the 14 days before symptom onset, you have:
Been to a COVID-19 impacted area, or
You have been in close contact with a confirmed or probably case of COVID-19, or
You have been in close contact with a person with acute respiratory illnesses who has been to a COVID-19 impacted area
Please contact your worker to cancel or make other arrangements AND contact your health care provider, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (807-625-8318), or Telehealth Ontario (1-866-767-0000). Any no show fees will be waived until further notice.
