"BC has the most heavily indebted population in the country. The average BC citizen has $37,879 in consumer (nonmortgage) debt. That's 40 per cent higher than the national average."

“Dave Malicki discovered his dark side as he plunged into a hellhole of debt.
The good friend, loving father and respected lawyer showed a flair for denial, counter-attack and wilful ignorance.
Many people thrashing in debt try to consolidate their loans. Malicki de-consolidated.
He divided his borrowing. He borrowed from his mom so he could fly to see his daughters in England, from his girlfriend to cover his rent, from a lawyer friend to cover his law society fee.
“I was in such a state of denial that when my girlfriend or family member would bring it up, I would turn on them and say that they didn’t have any faith in me,” he says. “It was a horrible, horrible thing.”
It grew worse. He fell behind in child support payments and feared he might not be able to borrow money to fly to see his children.
When his debts swelled to $85,000, his girlfriend and his accountant convinced him to get help. Ashamed and guilty, one eye twitching with anxiety, he dragged himself into a bankruptcy trustee.
A few hours later, he had filed for bankruptcy. A euphoria washed over him that has yet to completely fade, seven years later.
“I was walking on air,” he says. “I had tears of joy and relief.”
…
“A growing number of B.C. residents are running this emotional gauntlet. Beset by stagnant incomes and rising prices, B.C. posted a 42 per cent increase in people going bust over the past four years – far higher than the 11-per-cent national increase.
It’s little wonder insolvencies are surging: B.C. has the most heavily indebted population in the country. The average B.C. consumer has $37,879 in consumer (nonmortgage) debt. That’s 40 per cent higher than the national average.”
…
“Malicki, 46, is a beacon of hope for those who fear they will never rehabilitate themselves and emerge from the darkness of debt to a better life. He closely tracks all his costs. A renter and house-sitter, he has cut his spending to the point he only works in law halftime.
The rest of the time he works with children, and does paid and unpaid work outdoors. Next month, he flies to Tanzania for three months to help build a secondary school with a Vancouver-based charity.
“While I’m gone the child-support cheques will be sent out and all my obligations will be met,” he says.
Malicki offers three bits of guidance to people in a financial jam. The first is to talk to an expert – and do it now.
“Write down what you spend. By becoming aware of where your money goes your spending habits will change.”
His third piece of advice is reserved exclusively for people whose self-esteem has taken a hit – which is to say, almost every debtor out there.
“Forgive yourself once a day. Maybe twice.”
- from ‘The people’s debt: B.C. has the most heavily indebted population in the country — and the number is growing’, Paul Luke, The Province, 4 Nov 2012