All Guides
Personal-finance guides for Canadian readers.
Long-form reference articles on personal lending. Each is reviewed annually and updated when material changes occur. The last-reviewed date appears on every guide.
Pricing8 min read
How personal loan rates are actually set.
Most rate quotes are a sum of two numbers — a base rate that floats with the market, and a risk premium specific to you.
Last reviewed
By the editors
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Decision6 min read
When a personal loan is the right move (and when it isn’t).
Four conditions that should hold before borrowing — and the alternatives worth considering first.
Last reviewed
By the editors
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Strategy11 min read
Comparing lenders without applying.
A practical method for evaluating three or four offers without putting hard credit inquiries on your report.
Last reviewed
By the editors
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Pricing9 min read
The full cost of a personal loan — APR, fees, and what they don’t tell you.
A practical method for calculating what a loan actually costs you over its life — and the items that most often surprise borrowers.
Last reviewed
By the editors
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Recovery7 min read
What to do if you’re declined.
Decline is information, not verdict. A practical method for understanding why and what changes the outcome next time.
Last reviewed
By the editors
Read the guide →By the editors