Most Canadians expect to erase their debts by age 53, finds a new CIBC poll.
That’s an improvement over the bank’s 2011 poll, which indicated the average age was 55. So, despite a steady climb in consumer debt levels, people are more optimistic about their earning power and spending habits.
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Currently, most people between the ages of 55 and 64 (67%) are still carrying debt, compared to 64% in 2011. The top types of debt are lines of credit (40%), mortgages (32%), credit cards (29%) and car loans (25%).
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To cut down on amounts owed, people have:
- made sacrifices and cut spending (46%);
- implemented household budgets (41%);
- made at least one lump-sum payment on top of regular payments (40%); and
- worked with an advisor (16%), though 25% haven’t sought help.
“Few Canadians are…having conversation[s] about how to reduce their debt[s] with advisors,” says Christina Kramer, executive vice president of Retail and Business Banking at CIBC. “But most…would benefit from sitting down with [someone] who can look at their personal situations and help them work out realistic plan[s].”
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