Featured News 2012 Personal Loans vs. Credit: What You Should Know

Personal Loans vs. Credit: What You Should Know

Do you need to borrow more money in order to make ends meet this month? As you fall deeper into debt, you may start to realize that your credit is dropping. When borrowing, you have a lot of different options. You can use a bank or a credit union to get the money you need. You can put the debt on a credit card or take out a home equity loan. You can choose a variable rate or a fixed one. There are a lot of different choices that you can explore when you need to borrow some cash for an item or expense. Another option that is on the market for your benefit is a personal loan. There are a variety of differences between a personal loan and credit, and it is important for you to note these differences before borrowing.

A personal loan carries a fixed interest rate. This means that no matter what changes there are in the economy and what happens with inflation and deflation, your interest rate will remain constant. This is different from a variable interest rate, which changes with the rise and fall in the value of the dollar. The nice thing about a fixed interest rate is its reliability. Admittedly, many variable rates start off lower than the fixed one too. But you can expect your interest rate to climb once you are locked into the loan, and you may end up paying more in the long run.

As well, with personal loan you will have a payback deadline. This is called a fixed repayment period, and is normally within one to five years from the day the loan was taken out. Once your repayment date is set, it cannot be moved around. When it comes to credit cards, borrowers are allowed to make minimum payments and keep the outstanding balance on the card. This often leads to problems, especially when consumers start racking up debt on the card. Sometimes, consumer debt can become so overwhelming that is causes the need for bankruptcy. Often a personal loan can help you to have certainty that your debt will be paid by a certain date.

If you started your own business and are looking for a loan, then a personal loan may be a better choice than credit. This is because ABC News says that personal loans give entrepreneurs a chance to prove themselves. It’s often hard to borrow for a business that is brand-new. Banks normally don’t want to lend to entrepreneurs unless they can see proof that a product has already been significantly successful. Banks will want to see figures concerning sales and revenue, and some brand new businesses may not have the data that those banks want. Personal loans will look at your personal credit and finances, rather than your business success. This can help you to get the money that you need. Sometimes, the interest paid on a personal loan for business purposes can even be tax deductible.

Personal loans are also helpful when it comes to home renovation projects. In the past, banks and credit unions were more than willing to lend home equity loans for people who wanted to do a home improvement project. If you were creating a new dock or redoing your kitchen, the bank was willing to lend money to help you with the projects. Now, stricter mortgage loan requirements and depreciating home values have caused banks to balk at lending money for these purposes. Personal loans have rushed in to help with lending in this area.

Because you will be repaying the principal from the beginning, you will be sure that your debt is covered within a few years, which will leave you happy and ready to start a new project. With any sort of borrowing, it’s important to remember to pay back the debts. If you fail to pay back your expenses, then chances are that you will gather creditors, who will start contacting you to get their money back. When creditors add up, it can lead to overwhelming debt. You may get stuck with thousands of dollars you can’t afford. Creditors can press a lawsuit to get their money back. A mortgage lender can even threaten you with foreclosure, and anyone who has issued you an auto title loan can seize your car. Eventually, you may need to declare bankruptcy in order to protect your assets and restructure your finances. Be careful when borrowing, and if you get into trouble, contact a bankruptcy attorney.

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