The Comparison Notebook/Plain-English personal-loan guides5 guides · updated regularly
00Section / Index
Smart loan comparison, explained.
The guides we'd hand a friend before they applied for a personal loan. No hype, no upsells. Comparison-first.
ComparisonCriteriaDecisionRiskProcess
G-01
How to actually compare loan rates in Canada
APR is only the start. Five other comparison points that change the answer.
6min
Read time
G-02
Drafting
What lenders look at (and what doesn't matter)
The four signals every personal-loan lender weighs — and the ones that surprise you.
5min
Read time
G-03
Drafting
When NOT to take a personal loan
A short, honest guide to the cases where the answer is to walk away.
4min
Read time
G-04
Drafting
The hidden costs of 'guaranteed approval' loans
When 'no credit check' is a flag, not a feature. What to look for in the fine print.
7min
Read time
G-05
Drafting
How long should it take to hear back from a lender?
Realistic timelines for personal-loan decisions, by lender type.
5min
Read time