Payday loans go by so many different names. They can be called post-dated check loans, check advance loans and cash advance loans. In simple terms, a payday loan is a short-term loan that comes with a high interest rate. When you apply for it, you will be given cash by the lender and you will pay it by writing a personal check that is payable to the lender, with the fee of course. You can also pay the amount you borrowed by authorizing an electronic withdrawal from your own account on the date of the agreed payment schedule.
What fees are charged for a payday loan?
The fees you are going to be charged are dependent on the amount that you borrow, or a percentage of it. Sometimes, the fee is for every $100 that is lent. Once you extend the loan, additional fees will be charged to you. you may think that such a rate won't hurt, but experts say that the interest rates applied on these loans can be between four to nine times more than the amount you actually borrow.
How does a payday loan work?
Say for example you borrow $500 and you intend to pay it on your next payday. Your personal check which will be payable to the lender should be for $550. That is the principal amount plus the fee of $50. You will then receive $300 cash and the lender will agree to hold your check until your next paycheck. On your payday, you can choose to either pay the lender in cash and you get back your check, or let the lender deposit the check you have issued. Should you wish for an extension, you will be charged an extra fee and your check will be held for another two weeks.
What's wrong with having a payday loan?
Taking a short-term loan in the form of payday loans is very expensive. As shown in the example, the cost of your loan for two weeks is $50, or ten percent of your initial loan. Many people also feel that they get into a much worse financial situation after paying off their payday loan. What's more, you will be very likely to be so dependent on taking such loans that it will be very hard to stop it, which obviously becomes very costly.
What can you do to avoid having to get payday loans?
Loans are certainly inevitable these days. With the economic recession everyone is suffering from, and not to mention the continuously increasing cost of living expenses, there are just so many reasons why you are likely to need a loan. But of course there is always a way that you can avoid being in a very undesirable financial situation. Keep in mind that only you can find the best solution to your financial problems.
If you have no choice but to have payday loans, then the best thing you can do is make sure you borrow only the amount that you need. Be careful enough not to have the vicious cycle of repeated borrowing of money.
