A consumer proposal when you have no assets is often the simplest and safest way to deal with overwhelming debt because you have nothing at risk during the process.
When someone has no home equity, no investments, and very limited savings, a proposal becomes extremely straightforward: you keep everything you own, your debt is reduced, and all interest stops immediately.
For many Canadians, this is the cleanest path to a fresh financial start.
Filing a consumer proposal when you have no assets is often more direct because creditors are not relying on the sale of property to recover money.
This makes approval simpler and often leads to a lower settlement.
People with no assets benefit from:
- Lower monthly payments because there is nothing to liquidate.
- Less paperwork since no asset valuations are needed.
- Reduced creditor opposition, as creditors get more than they would in bankruptcy.
- Instant interest relief with all charges frozen from day one.
- Complete protection through the legal stay of proceedings.
With fewer complications, the path to approval is usually faster and more predictable.
What You Keep During the Proposal
When you have no assets, a proposal allows you to retain everything you currently possess without risk of seizure. This includes:
- Your bank account and any future income.
- Your personal belongings, clothing, furniture, and essentials.
- Any small savings or emergency funds you’ve managed to keep.
- Your car if it is paid off or has little equity.
- Your tools or work equipment needed for employment.
A consumer proposal when you have no assets is designed to protect your stability, not disrupt it.
Debts You Can Include
Most unsecured debts qualify for inclusion, making the proposal an excellent option when your goal is to simplify finances.
Debts commonly included are:
- Credit cards with high interest rates.
- Lines of credit and overdraft balances.
- Old personal loans and bank loans.
- Tax debt and CRA balances.
- Payday loans or fast-cash advances.
Everything is combined into one affordable monthly payment.
Why a Proposal Works Well in This Situation
A consumer proposal when you have no assets is often the best alternative to bankruptcy because you avoid the stricter requirements of bankruptcy while still reducing your debt significantly.
You benefit from:
- Keeping all property without reporting or asset loss.
- Predictable payments that remain the same for up to five years.
- No surprise reviews based on income or asset changes.
- Major debt reduction, often around 70% of the original amount.
- Lower long-term impact on credit compared to bankruptcy.
If you already have no assets, a proposal gives you relief without further financial hardship.
This consumer proposal calculator shows an approximate of how much you could save.