Facing Debt? Start With a First-Week Checklist
You do not need a perfect spreadsheet to begin. Gather the facts, separate urgent issues from longer-term choices, and make your next conversation more useful.
Read the guide ↗Debt help, in plain language. For Canada.There’s life
There’s life
after debt.
Right now, it might be hard to see past the next payment. Start with clear answers, understand your options, and give yourself room to think about what comes next.
A clearer way forwardYou don’t have to figure
it all out today.
it all out today.
DebtHelp.ca is an educational website. We explain the options; qualified professionals assess your individual situation.
Who we are ↗01 / Start where you areWhat’s on your
What’s on your
mind right now?
You don’t need to know the name of a programme. Start with the question that feels familiar.
01
Keeping up, but not getting ahead?
Make sense of interest, minimum payments and where your money is going.
02The payments no longer fit?
Start with the full picture, then learn who can help you work through it.
03Trying to choose a debt solution?
Compare what each route changes, what it costs and what to ask first.
A little perspectiveYou’ve been juggling the payments.
You’ve been juggling the payments.
Now, look at the whole picture.
Income changes. A business slows down. An unexpected expense lands at exactly the wrong time. Whatever brought you here, understanding the numbers is a useful place to begin.
Our first-week guide helps you put the details in one place, spot what needs attention, and prepare for a useful conversation.
Start with a simple checklist01
A repayment plan
Understand the numbers and build a payment routine that fits.
02Credit counselling
Budget support and an explanation of informal repayment arrangements.
03Debt consolidation
Explore the costs and conditions of replacing debts with new borrowing.
04Consumer proposals
Understand a formal offer to creditors administered by a trustee.
05Personal bankruptcy
Learn about the legal process, its duties and its consequences.
No option is right for everyone. Costs, eligibility, credit consequences and creditor participation can differ.
See the comparison03 / Put some numbers to itWhat could a different
What could a different
payment change?
Try a simple repayment estimate. Adjust the payment and see how time and interest change under the model’s assumptions.
Try the repayment calculatorNo name, email or credit check. The calculation runs in your browser.
A smaller balance. A clearer picture.
Your pace.
Your plan.
Your plan.
Illustrative graphic. Use your own figures in the calculator for an estimate.
04 / The debt guidesGood questions deserve
Good questions deserve
clear answers.
Practical guides to the things people want to understand before making a decision.
Explore all 15 guides ↗Before You Sign a Consolidation Loan, Ask These Questions
One payment can be simpler. It is not automatically cheaper. Compare the rate, repayment term, security and total amount payable before replacing your existing debts.
Read the guide ↗
Debt-relief warning signs: questions to ask before you sign
A convincing promise can leave important details unanswered. Check who is providing the service, what it changes and where your money goes.
Read the guide ↗Our approachLess noise.
Less noise.
More understanding.
Debt information should help you think clearly. Here’s how we approach it.
Read our editorial approach ↗01
The full picture
We explain responsibilities and consequences alongside the potential benefits.
02
Sources you can follow
Our guides link to Canadian government and other primary resources, so you can check the details.
03
A clear role
We publish educational information. We don’t administer debt programmes or assess your eligibility.
You don’t have to arrive
with all the answers.
A useful conversation starts with the right questions. Learn who can help and how to check their credentials.
Find qualified help