There are always times when things get tough in the financial area. We don't always think things through like we should, but we always want to put the tough things behind us and get past it. This can be evidenced by grabbing a payday loan only to regret it later on. Payday loans are by no means something evil, you just have to know how to use them properly. The main concern before taking out a payday loan is your confidence in paying back promptly.
To start with, a payday loan isn't always the right choice. You shouldn't allow yourself to be lured in by the ads you see and hear on radio and TV, or the Internet. Even if you feel quite desperate for cash, you need to consider all other alternatives before diving in. To me, you can define a payday loan like this - Expensive Cash.
A payday loans is a short term loan. The amounts usually loaned range from $100, up to $1,000. That amount will depend on your state. Their average terms are around two weeks. They're made by finance companies, check cashers, payday loan offices, and more. They are often referred to as being 'cash advance loans', 'post-dated check loans', or 'deferred deposit loans'.
Here's how it works - A borrower will write the lender a personal check reflecting the amount borrowed, and then receives that amount from the lender, minus their fees. The fees are usually a specific percentage of the amount of the check, and can be utilized as a fixed rate amount for specific amounts, like $15 for every $100 you borrow. When the borrower's next payday arrives, then they can redeem that check for cash, or else roll the loan over for two more weeks.
To give you some idea of expensiveness of payday loans, you should know this type of loan can cost you an average of 470% APR. The APR on a credit card will only be a bit above 60%. What a difference! The credit cards are bad enough, but payday loans are off the charts.
Let's say you need a payday loan for around $300, with a loan fee of about $17.50 for $100, and for a two week period. In order for you to redeem your check, you'll be paying $352.50 at the end of that two week period. You can either pay them with cash, or allow them to deposit your check. If you still can't pay, then you at least must pay your fees of $52.50 so you can renew your loan for a fresh two weeks. Now for borrowing $300 over 30 days, you've paid $105. This isn't cheap! When you compare that to a regular cash advance on your credit card, paid back within one month, it would only cost you around $15.
All you would need to have for taking out your payday loan would be an open account at your bank, with a regular job and steady income. But lenders aren't really interested in whether or not you can repay this loan. Knowing that is on you. If you don't happen to pay it back, then it will become an uncovered check at your bank. Failing to repay now will add bounced check fees from your lender, and overdraft fees from your bank. You'll now get some negative ratings on some of the specialized databases, and could possibly lose your current bank account. It can also now be much harder for you to open another account anywhere.
Due to the extremely high cost of borrowing, and the very short repayment terms, consumers tend to get trapped into repeating borrowing cycles. There are reports showing that about 60% of all the loans made each day, will either be loan renewals, or loans that are taken out by an exact same consumer, almost immediately after they've repaid their last one.
A payday loan that comes with a 3-digit interest rate, has been prohibited in 12 of your U.S. states. They are considered by these states to be usury caps or small loans.
The payday lending being done on the Internet has really become quite popular. You're able to apply online and have your loan direct deposited into your account. Then on payday, your loan amount is electronically withdrawn. Should you need to renew your payday loan, only the finance charges would be withdrawn.
Here's a good suggestion for avoiding taking out a payday loan. To start with, be a careful shopper. If you truly need money fast, then try getting it from other sources, such as an advance from your employer, or from friends or family. At least this will usually be repaid dollar for dollar with no fees (usually). Sit down and work out your daily as well as monthly expenditures, and make an effort not make any unnecessary purchases.
You also should try to build up some savings for times like this. Then you can avoid needing to borrow in the first place. Emergency cash should always be waiting for you right there in your bank account. But if you do end up going for a payday loan, never borrow more than just what you need, or what can be repaid with that next paycheck.
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