Debt might be a fact of life this time of year, but experts warn of long-term impacts

With the holiday shopping season shifting into high gear, many Calgarians will be reaching for their credit cards.

But those decisions about taking on debt to put smiles on faces can be the unwelcome gift that keeps on giving, putting the squeeze on your ability to qualify for your first — or next — mortgage, say experts.

"Where people sometimes make a big mistake is they don't realize how much of an impact their debt has," said mortgage broker Joe Jacobs, president of Mortgage Connection Inc. in Calgary.