Alternatives to payday loans
There are other options. Consider the possibilities before choosing a
payday loan:
When you
need credit, shop carefully. Compare offers. Look for the credit offer
with the lowest APR - consider a small loan from your credit union or
small loan company, an advance on pay from your employer, or a loan
from family or friends. A cash advance on a credit card also may be
a possibility, but it may have a higher interest rate than your other
sources of funds: find out the terms before you decide. Also, a local
community-based organization may make small business loans to individuals.
Compare the
APR and the finance charge (which includes loan fees, interest and other
types of credit costs) of credit offers to get the lowest cost.
Ask your
creditors for more time to pay your bills. Find out what they will charge
for that service - as a late charge, an additional finance charge or
a higher interest rate.
Make a realistic
budget, and figure your monthly and daily expenditures. Avoid unnecessary
purchases - even small daily items. Their costs add up. Also, build
some savings - even small deposits can help - to avoid borrowing for
emergencies, unexpected expenses or other items. For example, by putting
the amount of the fee that would be paid on a typical $300 payday loan
in a savings account for six months, you would have extra dollars available.
This can give you a buffer against financial emergencies.
Find out
if you have, or can get, overdraft protection on your checking account.
If you are regularly using most or all of the funds in your account
and if you make a mistake in your checking (or savings) account ledger
or records, overdraft protection can help protect you from further credit
problems. Find out the terms of overdraft protection.
If
you need help working out a debt repayment plan with creditors
or developing a budget, contact your local consumer credit counseling
service. There are non-profit groups in every state that offer
credit guidance to consumers. These services are available at
little or no cost. Also, check with your employer, credit union
or housing authority for no- or low-cost credit counseling programs.
You m ay get more information on other bad
credit personal loans at the bad credit loans center.
If you decide
you must use a payday loan, borrow only as much as you can afford to
pay with your next paycheck and still have enough to make it to the
next payday.