Practical Canadian guides — Debt help
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Find my debt relief options30 articles · Page 1 of 2
Statement balance vs current balance: what should you pay?
Two different balances on the same account can make a simple payment feel confusing. Start with the statement date and the payment due date.
Compare the options COMPARISONDebt snowball vs avalanche: choose a repayment order you can sustain
Once essential expenses and required payments are covered, the next question is where to put an extra dollar.
Compare the options SITUATIONCredit card cash advances in Canada: what to check first
A cash advance can look like an ordinary withdrawal, but the borrowing terms are not the same as taking cash from your own savings.
Read the guide SITUATIONPayday loan alternatives in Canada: address the gap, not just payday
Start with what the money is needed for and when the shortfall would genuinely end. That gives you a better comparison than looking only at the amount available today.
Read the guide COMPARISONConsumer proposal vs debt consolidation in Canada
Both can be described as a simpler payment, but they are fundamentally different ways of dealing with debt.
Compare the options COMPARISONInsolvency vs bankruptcy: what is the difference in Canada?
These words are often used as if they mean the same thing. Separating them makes a debt conversation much less confusing.
Compare the options SITUATIONLicensed Insolvency Trustees in Canada: who they are and what to ask
If formal debt options are part of your question, make sure the person responsible for that advice and process holds the relevant licence.
Read the guide REVIEWCredit Canada review: counselling, debt plans and questions to ask
If the problem is managing existing payments, a counselling conversation is different from applying for another loan.
Read our review REVIEWCredit Counselling Society review: services and repayment-plan questions
The Credit Counselling Society operates at nomoredebts.org. A distinctive web address is worth noting when several similarly named debt services appear in search.
Read our review REVIEWConsolidated Credit Canada review: counselling, not a consolidation loan
The word “consolidated” can sound like borrowing. In this case, the organization’s own description makes a different distinction.
Read our review REVIEWDebt.ca review: debt information and a provider-introduction service
A debt-help website and the professional responsible for a debt agreement can be different organizations. Debt.ca’s own disclosure makes that distinction important.
Read our review COMPARISONCredit Canada vs Credit Counselling Society: compare the counselling conversation
Both organizations describe free counselling. The useful comparison is what each would propose for the same debt and household budget.
Compare the options COMPARISONCredit Canada vs Credit Counselling Society vs Consolidated Credit Canada
Similar names and “one payment” language can hide meaningful differences in what you are actually choosing. Start by identifying the service, then compare the proposal.
Compare the options COMPARISONDebt relief in Canada: compare your options
You do not have to know which debt solution you need before asking for help. Start with the problem you want to solve: expensive interest, payments you cannot sustain, or debt that needs a formal review.
Read the guide SITUATIONConsumer proposal process in Canada: steps and timeline
A consumer proposal has several milestones. Understanding which one you have reached can make letters from a trustee or creditor less confusing—and help you ask the right question next.
Read the guide SITUATIONConsumer proposal FAQs: eligibility, debts and co-signers
The important question is not just “Can I file?” It is “What would this change for me—and what would it leave unchanged?” Use these questions to prepare for a Licensed Insolvency Trustee conversation.
Read the guide COMPARISONConsumer proposal pros and cons in Canada
A workable debt arrangement should make sense beyond the first payment. Compare the whole commitment: which debts it addresses, what it costs and what happens if life changes.
Read the guide DEBT TYPEStudent loan forgiveness in Canada: repayment help explained
If your student-loan payment is difficult, start by identifying the loan—not by assuming you need a new one. Government repayment assistance, occupation-based forgiveness and private borrowing follow different rules.
Read the guide SITUATIONWage garnishment in Canada: rights and next steps
A garnishment notice deserves prompt attention. If a deadline or deduction is approaching, contact an appropriately qualified legal professional or your Licensed Insolvency Trustee directly. Do not wait for an online enquiry to protect a deadline.
Read the guide SITUATIONPersonal bankruptcy in Canada: process, duties and alternatives
Considering bankruptcy does not mean you have already chosen it. A useful assessment explains what the process would do in your circumstances and compares it with the alternatives.
Read the guide SITUATIONCredit counselling in Canada: services, costs and questions
You can ask for help without knowing the name of the solution. A counselling conversation should help you understand your budget and choices—not pressure you into a product before you understand it.
Read the guide DEBT TYPEUnpaid credit card debt in Canada: what can happen?
An overdue balance can create a lot of uncertainty. Start by separating what has already happened from what you are worried might happen, then respond to the actual account or notice in front of you.
Read the guide SITUATIONHow to negotiate credit card debt in Canada
A useful creditor conversation begins with a realistic request, not a promised discount. Prepare the facts, ask what the creditor can consider, and understand the written terms before paying.
Read the guide PROVINCEDebt relief in Ontario: local rules and next steps
Start with the type of debt and the stage it has reached. Ontario has local rules that need to be considered alongside national debt options. This is general information, not a decision about your eligibility.
Read the guideLet’s make it about your situation.
Explore your next step with a few questions.
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General information, not personal advice.