Our top 20 articles of 2017

We’ve had a grand old year on the MoneyAware blog, with 61 articles published and almost 1.5 million visits to the site.

We’re pleased as punch that our posts have reached so many people, and even happier that our older articles are still sought out and help people today.

Without further ado, here’s a round-up of the most popular articles on this here blog for 2017.

20. What happens when you make your final IVA payment?

9,380 reads

Finishing an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) isn’t an easy feat, so the rewards for completing it can be life-changing. We explain to readers what they could expect from their final payment, and give a few tips on how to continue looking after their expenses.

19. Are there legal ways to write off debt?

9,745 reads

Some dodgy companies use advertising to claim they can write off debt, particularly through social media, but their promises are often too good to be true. This post details five legal and safe solutions to deal with unmanageable debt – and not a single scam in sight.

18. Your IVA questions answered

10,364 reads

Loads of people land on MoneyAware looking for advice about IVAs. And each has different questions they want answering. So, we responded to the most obvious questions anyone might have if they’ve considering an IVA.

17. Nine debt myths busted

11,185 reads

Debunking popular myths about debt is one of our favourite things. To help people see through the fakery, we dispelled the nine most-repeated DMP-related myths. These are the ones to ignore if anyone says them to you!

16. Five budgeting apps road-tested

13,822 reads

If you’re not a fan of spreadsheets or piggy banks (I’m right there with you), apps for your smartphone can be an easy way to budget your money. We picked five apps and tested them for a week to see how they performed.

15. Eight bankruptcy myths debunked

17,000 reads

I told you we liked exposing myths! Bankruptcy sounds like a scary word, and there is loads of inaccurate information surrounding it. From bankruptcies lasting forever to having to go to court, we highlight some truths about the top bankruptcy myths.

14. Bailiffs: know your rights

19,839 reads

Bailiffs is another topic that frequently worries people. But the best way to deal with them is to know what your rights are, so we wrote this bumper post to give you clarity on a complicated topic.

13. The five things you need to do before going bankrupt

21,761 reads

When you’re thinking about going bankrupt, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re taking all the right steps. That’s where we come in! Our simple guide gives handy tips to prepare you for the big day.

12. How to clean up your credit file after an IVA

24,373 reads

You’ve done the hard work by getting through your IVA, but there’s a little bit more to do to get your credit rating back into shape. This post explains what to do next to give your finances a clean bill of health.

11. How do I get out of payday loan debt? Find out in five steps

24,493 reads

We know repaying payday loans can be incredibly stressful, and many people take out more loans to pay the previous ones. So, we laid out these five clear steps to stop the borrowing cycle and take control.

10. How do other people’s debts affect me?

25,965 reads

One question we get time and time again is how other people’s debts can affect your credit rating. Whether it’s your partner, dad or your housemate, can their debts affect you? We tell all in this simple post.

9. The 50 uses for distilled vinegar

27,112 reads

It looks like our readers love a condiment, but not just for eating! This post reveals 50 brilliant uses for white vinegar around the house, and it only costs around 40p for a bottle. What a bargain!

8. Default notices – what are they and what do they mean?

28,323 reads

This article puts people’s minds at ease about getting default notices through the door. We explain exactly what default notices are, what they mean, and what to do about them.

7. “Your debts written off!”: Is it too good to be true?

31,634 reads

Unsurprisingly, lots of people look for ways to get their debts written off and sometimes come across adverts that promise to do just that. But is it too good to be true? More than often, yes. This post looks at two solutions that ‘write off’ debt in a different way to what the adverts claim.

6. Our 101 ways to save money

31,975 reads

What’s better than a couple of ways to save money? 101 ways, that’s what! This is probably the biggest blogpost we’ve ever written, and we’re pretty pleased it’s one of the most popular. Get saving!

5. How to deal with a County Court judgment (CCJ)

40,579 reads

It can be scary to get County Court judgments in the post, so to ease the panic and explain the process in simple steps, we wrote a quick guide on what to do if you receive any county court paperwork.

4. How I went from £36k in debt to being back in black

50,875 reads

We’re not surprised at all that this positive story of clearing debt is one of our most popular articles on MoneyAware. Our friend CoffeeCurls told us her own debt experience and gave her tips to get others started on the road to debt recovery.

3. Statute barred debt: A step-by-step guide

53,013 reads

If you ignore your debts for six years, will they be written off? Sounds good, but unfortunately it’s not as simple as that. Knowledge is power, so this article explains what ‘statute barred’ means, and how it applies to different debts.

2. You’re in debt but what can your creditors actually do?

67,254 reads

You’ll have seen those daytime TV shows about burly bailiffs, which make them look very scary indeed and make you think the worst when your creditors start contacting you. This post lays out all the facts about what your creditors can and can’t do.

1. Our 20 weird and wonderful ways to make money

113,718 reads

Our most visited article of 2017 is a classic. We’re not surprised that people love reading about ways to make money – especially if they’re weird and wonderful! You might think some of these ideas are a bit too off the wall, but why not give some of them a go in 2018?

Posted by in Living with debt

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