The Best From 2012

Let’s take a look a back at some of our popular blog posts from 2012 and give you a chance to see what you’ve missed or revisit some useful resources.

We’re going to break this list down into 5 sections (although some of these topics overlap).

#1 – Loans

There are a lot of different types of loans out there: payday loans, personal loans, unsecured and secured loans, car loans, equity loans, you name it. The trick is knowing which type of loan to apply for given your specific needs. Now, this idea doesn’t apply for things like car loans or mortgages because those loans are more straightforward, however if you are looking for a $1000-$5000 loan, what are your options? What are your best options? How does your credit score affect your qualification? Well, we tried to tackle a lot of those questions throughout the year, and some of the articles that really stuck out are as follows:

– When should you consider private lenders?
– Bad credit loans
– Alternatives to payday loans

#2 – Infographics

Last year we were responsible for the creation of a lot of new resources, among which were two very popular infographics. The pair were responsible for facilitating the understanding of some very important and innovative home ownership products.

– Buying a house online
– Road to Home Ownership: Renting to Own

#3 – Debt

Debt is always a popular topic amongst our readers, especially the subject of reducing debt. Of course, reducing debt comes with a lot of benefits: increased wealth, increased credit ratings, improved loan eligibility, etc. However, many Canadians are unaware of many debt reduction strategies available to them. The following 3 articles were a hit among many of our readers and customers, and our intention is to share this benefit with as many Canadians as possible. Here they are:

– How do I get out of debt?
– Do it yourself: Reducing your debt
– Dealing with collection agencies

#4 – Mortgage

2012 was an important year for mortgages, especially when you consider the introduction of the new mortgage rules back in July. However, beyond that, we also tackled a lot of little known bits of information that are actually vital to your success in your road to home ownership. Our most popular mortgage articles this year are as follows:

– What to do if your banks says no
– Bank loyalty means paying more?
– Line of Credit vs Second Mortgage
– The Ultimate Home Buying Guide
– What banks say they offer, vs what they really offer

#5 – Credit Score

Last but not least, our readers are always interested in information about credit scores. Whether its information explaining how a credit score is calculated, or an article explaining why credit scores are not the holy grail of loans, we’ve had you covered. Check out last year’s hits:

– 5 ways to improve your credit score
– How is your credit score calculated?

Caitlin Wood

Caitlin is a graduate of Dawson College and Concordia University and has been working in the personal finance industry for over eight years. She believes that education and knowledge are the two most important factors in the creation of healthy financial habits. She also believes that openly discussing money and credit, and the responsibilities that come with them can lead to better decisions and a greater sense of financial security. One of the main ways she’s built good financial habits is by budgeting and tracking her spending through the YNAB budgeting app. She also automates her savings so she never forgets to put aside a portion of her income into her TFSA. She believes investing and passive income is key to earning financial freedom. She also uses her Aeroplan TD credit card to collect Aeroplan points so that she can save money when she travels.