The personal loan is a very good option when compared to credit cards. You can get the help you need to deal with some unexpected expenses as you save money on potential interest. In the US alone right now, there are around 20.2 million people that took out personal loans so the advantages are obvious. However, this does not mean you should blindly take one when you see the option.
To help you out, here are some things you have to consider whenever you look at a cash app to take out a personal loan.
How Much Money Do You Actually Need?
This is the first and the most important question you need to ask yourself. You can get a small loan of around $500 with ease but most lenders do have some minimums, like $1,500. In many situations, if you need under $500, a better option would be to borrow it from family members or friends. This helps save money in the long run. It does not make sense to pay interest when you can get a loan from a friend without interest.
How Do You Pay The Loan Back?
Is the personal loan paid to the creditor directly? Do you have to set up your bank account for automatic payments? These are some questions you have to think about.
When you use the personal loan to help you with debt consolidation, some lenders let you directly send funds to some other creditors. You do not have to deal with the bank at all. But, if you want more control or the money is used for some other purposes, the checking account is an option to seriously consider.
What Is The Repayment Period?
With personal loans, the repayment payment start in under one month from when you receive the cash. The repayment terms you have to agree with vary in length between 6 months and several years. The monthly payments and the interest rates are both impacted by the repayment period you agree too.
To put things as simple as possible, when the repayment period is longer, you end up paying more back. So, finding a balance that makes it comfortable for you to repay the personal loan as soon as possible is the best thing you can do.
What Is The Interest Rate?
The interest rates for personal loans vary a lot from one lender to another. In some cases, you can see something as high as 30%. In others, the interest rate is just 6%. This difference is justified by your credit score and the repayment terms that you agree to.
For a 2 years personal loan, the average APR is now 11.23%. Because this is lower than the credit card APR average, the personal loan becomes a good alternative. However, if you are not careful in reviewing the interest rate, you can end up taking out a loan that is not at all great for you.
At the end of the day, personal loans can bring in huge help when you need it the most. However, your research will dictate if you get a good loan or not.