When Is A Payday Loan A Good Option?
Emergency payday loans are controversial. With annual percentage rates as high as 5,000%, payday loans can seem like a terrible deal. In this article, our credit experts compare the costs of some alternatives and explain when using a payday loan may actually a good idea.
A Case Study
Let’s look at a specific example to see how a payday loan could be helpful. Consider the situation of a man we’ll call Joe. Joe had to repair his car this month and doesn’t have enough money left in his bank account to pay his bills. His two credit cards, car loan, and a utility bill add up to $300. Here is a breakdown of what he owes:
-Credit Card: $35
- Credit Card: $35
-Auto Loan: $200
- Utility Bill: $30
Joe doesn’t get paid for another six days and the bills are due now. He currently has only $20 in the bank and will be paid $800 after taxes next week. Joe usually pays his bills on time and has pretty good credit. What are his options?
|
Options |
Pros |
Cons |
Charges |
Total Costs |
| Obtain an emergency payday loan for $300. | The money is deposited into his account overnight. No credit check required. | If Joe doesn’t pay back the payday loan within the 14-30 day term, his costs can increase dramatically. | A payday loan for $300 dollars costs $60 to $90 total, depending on financial standing. | $60-$90 |
| Pay the bills by check and simply hope for the best. | It’s possible that some of the payments may not be processed until after Joe gets his next paycheck. | Most likely, the checks will bounce and Joe will be charged expensive fees. | Both banks and retailers charge about $25 per bounced check. For five bounced checks, Joe will owe at least an extra $250. Plus, these bounced checks could appear on his ChexSystems record for five years. | $250 |
| Pay the bills by check and count on overdraft protection from the bank. | Joe will be able to pay all his bills on time, as long as his overdraft protection covers his payments. | His bank will charge expensive overdraft fees each time his payment checks bounce. | At $25 per overdraft charge, paying five bills could potentially add up to $125 in overdraft charges. | $125 |
| Pay his car loan and utility bills using his credit card and skip his credit card payments. | Joe will avoid making late payments on his loan and utility bills. | He will still make late payments on his credit cards and it will be expensive to get a cash advance with his credit card. The late credit card payments will damage his credit. | $70 in late fees for the two credit cards. The interest rate for a cash advance will be about 22%-30%. If he pays the debt off in two months it will cost him about $5 in interest. Joe’s rates may go up because of his late payments, costing him more. | $75.00 |
| Skip paying his bills until after he gets his paycheck. | His loans will not be foreclosed or his utility accounts closed due to just one month of late payments. | He will have to pay late fees for each account. The credit card and loan late payments will damage his credit scores. | $70 in late fees for the two credit cards plus a 10% late fee on the utility bill. Also, Joe’s interest rates may go up because of his late payments, costing him even more. | $73.00 |
| Borrow money from a friend/relative or request an advance on his paycheck from his employer. | Joe will get the $300 he needs without any fees or interest rates. | It can be embarrassing to ask to borrow money. Borrowing could strain Joe’s relationships if he can’t pay it back quickly. | No costs. Only Joe’s pride is damaged. | $0 |
| Ask his creditors, lenders, and utility companies for help. | Many financial companies offer assistance to customers struggling with paying their bills. Since Joe is usually a good customer, he may be able to move his due date or have his late fees waived. | Not all companies are willing to help. Joe will have to spend a lot of time on the phone speaking to each company. | No monetary costs if Joe manages to work out agreements with all five companies. Joe’s time is the only cost. | $0 |
Joe’s Choices
In Joe’s situation, an emergency payday loan is actually one of the more affordable options. As long as Joe repays the loan as soon as he gets his next paycheck, this may be his best choice. Skipping his bills, bouncing checks, using overdraft protection, or paying with his credit cards could all end up being more expensive than using a payday loan. Joe would do better by borrowing the money from a friend or using his savings, but these may not always be realistic options.
Conclusion
Payday loans can be very expensive. But when used responsibly, a payday loan may be more affordable than the potential alternatives. If you are considering obtaining a payday loan, be absolutely sure that you can pay the amount you borrowed back within the 14-30 day loan term.
Payday loans are also known as cash advance loans because they are designed to be repaid as soon as you receive your next paycheck. When you are unable to repay the loan within the specified period, the loan is not being used correctly and quickly becomes very costly. You can read more about payday loans and the state laws that govern this industry online.
Still confused about Pay Day Loans or need some help deciding on your cash advance options? Then let the experts at The Andres Financial Group help you. Our network of highly trained professionals that have over 30 years of combined experience in the buyout of future payment streams can you get you the money you need now. Contact us Today!
Comments(1)
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