A lot of Albertans have dug themselves into a financial hole.

According to the latest consumer trend report by Equifax — the average debtload in the province is $27,072.

That’s 30 per cent higher than the rest of the country.

Bruce Alger, Trustee with Grant Thornton doesn’t think a lot of people have the best grasp on finances.

“Fifty per cent of the population thinks when they get an increase in their credit line it’s money in the bank — the other 50 per cent thinks they’re crazy!”

He says there needs to be more education from a young age.

Alger says they are seeing a lot of people in financial difficulty.

“What were really trying to do is restructure them and help them avoid bankruptcy filing a proposal to their creditor too,” explained Alger. “As a matter of fact at our shop now over 50 per cent of the filings are not bankruptcies, they are proposals. ”

He says bankruptcy is not something you want to do lightly.