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Pros and cons of personal loans – What you should know

BY READERS DIGEST

2nd Nov 2021 Managing your Money

Pros and cons of personal loans – What you should know
One of the best ways to borrow money when you need it is through personal loans.
They allow consumers to borrow a certain amount of money with a definite repayment date and a set interest rate.
This article will discuss the pros and cons of personal loans, more specifically, what you should know about personal loans.

What is a personal loan?

A personal loan is a loan which an individual may receive from the bank or another lending institution for personal purposes, such as buying items related to improving one’s home or paying for medical bills. One of the types of personal loans is prepaid debit card payday loans. They are given repayment terms, interest rates, and monthly payments, which are often flexible enough for the individual to repay without incurring too much additional interest over time.

How do personal loans work?

Personal loans are an optional method of borrowing money. The lender uses factors such as your credit score and income to determine if you are eligible for the loan. The lender will also consider the amount you wish to borrow, in addition to any applicable fees you would like to pay.
For example, when considering a $500 loan, the lender will want to assess how much money you can provide towards your loan compared with how much they are willing to lend you. 

Pros of personal loans

Despite the fact that personal loans have excessive interest rates, they are rather popular when paying off their loans. Also, if you have poor credit, do not worry because personal loan lenders often consider your income in addition to your ability to pay when deciding whether or not to provide you with a loan.
If you find that the amount of money provided by the lender is too high for your current financial situation, then you can adjust your repayment plan. Most lenders will only charge a small fee to change any portion of the agreed-upon terms and conditions. Below there are other pros of personal loans.

Competitive rates

Personal loans are suitable for people concerned about the high-interest rates of credit cards due to their large annual fees. Although personal loans have their own annually set interest rate that must be repaid on loan, the interest rates are generally lower than credit cards’ annual fees.

Collateral not required

Lenders of personal loans do not need any sort of collateral to obtain a loan. This removes any unnecessary risks associated with getting a loan, thereby reducing the overall costs associated with this type of financing. It also helps borrowers obtain more favorable terms when they obtain a loan for personal purposes. 

Qualifying credit

One benefit of using a personal loan for personal purposes is that you don’t need to have P{good credit to obtain a loan. If you can demonstrate that you have an income and pay the extra money back on top of your bills, you will get approved for a loan. This allows individuals to avoid lenders that charge high-interest rates instead of obtaining loans with more reasonable interest rates.

Predictable monthly payments

It is a good idea to know how much your monthly payments will be before making a decision about obtaining a personal loan. Personal loans offer predictable monthly payments because they do not have any interest rates associated with them, unlike credit cards which have varying interest rates with each purchase made using the card. 

Financial flexibility

Personal loans are a good idea because they provide you with financial flexibility. The lender will allow you to make additional payments towards the loan once you have received your paycheck for the month. In addition, these payments can often be made by phone, which is convenient and easy.
Image of a banner promoting Believe Homeowner Loans

Cons of personal loans

Personal loans are not suitable for people who want to be overly cautious with their money. While personal loans are a great way of borrowing money when you have good credit and income, having too many personal loans can be detrimental to both your credit score and overall financial health in the long run.

A great number of fees

Personal loans are not good for people who want their lender to charge them reasonable fees regarding the total cost of the loan. Although the interest rate on personal loans is often lower than most other forms of debt, many lenders charge additional fees with their loans.
These fees can include application fees, non-refundable credit check fees, and default/late payment fees. These additional costs can add up quickly if you are not careful when choosing your lenders.
When comparing different personal loan offers, look at each lender’s fee schedule very carefully so that you know exactly how much money you will need upfront in addition to paying back your monthly payments. 

Taking on more debt

Personal loans are not suitable for people who want to take on too much debt. The notion of "more debt" refers to borrowing more than you currently have the money to pay back, which can be very problematic for personal loan borrowers.
It is generally suggested that borrowers do not borrow more than they are comfortable with. For instance, if you face a $100 monthly bill, you should only borrow up to $200 to avoid running out of money when making your payments.

Credit consequences

One main drawback of using a personal loan is that if you have a poor credit history, you run the risk of accumulating a greater amount of debt than necessary. If your credit score is not strong and you cannot improve your credit score through hard work and careful budgeting, it may be challenging to acquire other personal loans in the future. 

The bottom line

Personal loans are suitable for people who do not have excellent credit scores and who know that they will need to borrow money from time to time. Personal loans do not require a large amount of resources, and lenders of personal loans often only need you to submit your income and residence in order to determine whether or not they will provide you with a loan. They also tend to have flexible repayment terms not to have trouble making their monthly payments.
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