Personal loans are available for just about any use. You may need to search for a lender, but they’re out there.
Even so, borrowing comes at a cost and repaying a personal loan is a responsibility. Nonetheless, personal loans can fill a gap in certain circumstances.
Personal loans can offer you financial flexibility and access to many things that you couldn’t afford to buy in one lump sum. Instead, the lender provides you with quick money so you can get what you want or need now. You repay what you owe in comfortable payments over time.
How Does a Personal Loan Work?
Secured personal loans are usually easier to obtain since the lender has extra assurance they’ll get their money back. They’re backed by collateral such as a home or car.
However, most people don’t want to risk a major asset just to borrow money. That’s why lenders offer unsecured loans. These loans are riskier for the lender and they carry higher interest rates, but they don’t involve your assets.
When you take out a personal loan, you pay back the amount you borrowed, plus interest. Some lenders charge various fees too, so read the fine print carefully.
The interest rates lenders offer depends on many factors. Each lender determines their own criteria and how much emphasis they place on each factor. Common factors used in personal loan assessments include credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and your income.
Once you’re approved for a personal loan and sign your loan contract, repayment begins. Making timely payments is very important since this information appears on your credit report and affect your credit score. A good credit history accounts for 35% of your credit score.
When Can a Personal Loan Help?
Unsecured personal loans aren’t necessarily the cheapest way to borrow. Still, they can be a good option for you in some cases. The following are scenarios where you may want to consider a personal loan:
- No access to a low interest credit card or line of credit
- Amount you want to borrow exceeds your current borrowing limits
- Don’t have or don’t want to use collateral to back your personal loan
- Want to have a precise date when you’ll pay off your debt
- Prefer a fixed payment amount
- Don’t want to pay compound interest charged on credit cards
You may also have specific reasons for considering personal loans. The following are specific reasons many people choose a personal loan over other credit products.
High-Interest Debt Consolidation
Carrying many debts is a headache. You must track and pay all your bills on time, which can be very stressful.
If you carry balances on multiple high-interest credit cards, you’re also paying more interest than you should. Credit cards compound interest which increases how much you owe quickly. This makes it much harder to pay off your debt.
You may also want to consider a personal loan to cover a payday loan. Payday loans have some of the highest interest rates in the lending industry, so you will probably pay far less.
Similarly, you may want to qualify for a personal loan with a lower interest rate to replace an older one that’s costing you too much. Just check that the lender offers a fee-free experience. Otherwise you may end up paying unnecessary application or origination fees, or prepayment penalties.
Personal loans normally use simple interest. If you’re approved for a personal loan, you can eliminate your high-interest debt and pay a single monthly payment. This could also lead to you becoming debt-free much sooner. Of course, everything depends on the lender and the personal loan you choose.
Making a Major Purchase
Even if you have money in your savings account, you may not want to touch it. You may not want to put a big charge on a credit card either. That’s where personal loans can come into play.
Instead of shelling out a large amount of money, the personal loan provides you with a lump sum of money upfront. You agree to pay interest on this and the original amount. You repay your loan in regular payments.
One of the greatest benefits of personal loans is financial flexibility. You decide on how long you want to take to repay. When you spread your debt out over a longer time, your payment drops. If you want to get out of debt quickly, you can shorten the term and pay higher payments.
Funding a Life Event
Major life events can be very expensive. Whether you’re financing a wedding, bar mitzvah, anniversary party, or honeymoon, taking out a personal loan could save you money.
Why? First, it is very easy to slap expenses on credit cards. Second, the interest on credit cards is usually high and unless you pay off the full balance you’ll pay interest on interest. Third, without establishing a set amount to spend on the event, it is far too easy to spend too much.
However, borrowing a set amount through a personal loan can make it much easier to keep an eye on your spending. Scale back costs as your funds dwindle, and still have a great event.
Boosting Your Credit Score
Taking out a personal loan may improve your credit score, if you handle it properly. It is possible to get personal loans for bad credit and slowly rebuild your credit history.
If this is your only personal loan, it may improve your “credit mix” too. Personal installment loans are in a league of their own on your credit report. Handling one responsibly could be a definite plus on your credit report.
How to Get a Personal Loan
You can apply for a personal loan in-person or online. Generally, online lenders tend to have a shorter application, approval, and funds release timeline. Some are more lenient too.
Online loans through a reputable lender are just as safe as those through brick-and-mortar lenders. They may use different processes, but a licensed lender isn’t riskier. Some verify your income electronically so there’s no need for paper documents, but they all eliminate office visits. That makes the loan process much more convenient.
As mentioned, lenders offer a variety of personal loans, including personal loans for bad credit. You may even qualify for a personal loan if you earn money through a pension, self-employment, or government benefits. Even so, if you’re always refused for a personal loan you should take additional measures.
Is a Personal Loan Right For You?
Personal loans can be useful in many circumstances. However, you shouldn’t get a personal loan to cover your daily expenses. This will just make it harder to make ends meet. You may not want to borrow if you do not have a stable income either. That could lead to missed payments and a poor credit score.
If you feel you’re in a position to borrow and comfortably repay a personal loan, you should spend some time finding the best loan and lender. This could save you plenty of money and avoid headaches. Consider these factors before you decide:
- Get pre-approved by at least three lenders. The pre-approval process does not affect your credit score and you can see what’s available to you.
- Check for a license. Reputable lenders have a license in your state which ensures they follow personal loan lending legislation.
- Decide on a personal loan amount beforehand. Determine how much you need and don’t add on more.
- Consider more than personal loan interest rates. A good loan is fee-free. A good lender offers a simple, fast, worry-free experience.
- Be realistic. Don’t take on more debt than you can handle, even if a creditor is willing to give you a personal loan. Only borrow when necessary and consider all other options before you do.
Taking on debt is always a big decision. Do your homework and only borrow when you must. If you’re looking for personal loans online, FlexMoney offers one of the fastest and simplest processes in Missouri. Borrow up to $2,000 with 12 months to repay. Check us out and get a personal loan today.