How to Borrow a Short-Term Loan Wisely

Many people in the UK will turn to a short-term loan at some point. Whether it’s in the form of an online payday loan or another type of short-term funding, these borrowing options tend to be a very convenient way of accessing cash, with swift application processes and many lenders willing to provide much-needed finance to those with a poor credit history or bad credit score. However, even if you’re only borrowing a short amount of money for a short period of time, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t approach with some caution. These types of loans often have high interest rates as they are unsecured, and tend to be provided on the basis that they are there to help in a financial emergency, rather than for purchasing luxuries. So, if you’re considering a short-term loan, what can you do to ensure that you are choosing and using it wisely?

Avoid ending up in a debt trap:

Before applying for payday loans or any other kind of short-term finance, it’s important that you thoroughly assess your finances and determine how much you will need. Many people fall into the trap of taking out a loan only to realise that they have not considered the full amount that they will need to pay back including the interest, and then find themselves in a similar situation to the one they were in before getting the loan. As a result, many borrowers end up tempted to take out another short-term loan to cover their outstanding expenses, which can quickly turn into a cycle of debt. So, be sure that you’re fully aware of the complete amount you’ll need to repay, to avoid any nasty surprises.

Consider alternatives:

Payday and short-term loans are usually provided on the basis that they are for use in a financial emergency, so it’s worth making sure that you have exhausted all other avenues possible before you go down this route. If you need quick cash, there are other options that you might want to consider such as selling higher value items like computers, TVs and other electronics, or jewellery, which could quickly provide you with some much-needed cash. And over the long term, it’s worth setting up an emergency fund that you pay a small amount into each month so that if you do find yourself in a position where you require urgent financial assistance in the future you have savings to turn to instead.

Carefully consider the amount you borrow:

As a general rule of thumb, you should only get a short-term loan to cover the amount that you specifically need in that moment of time. While it can be tempting to borrow more – especially if a larger amount is available to you – it could actually end up being more trouble than it is worth, as the interest amount will be higher when repaying. So, be sure to only use a short-term loan for the essentials such as living costs, emergency bills, or home repairs, and don’t borrow more than the expense is going to cost you.

Short-term loans can be a convenient way to get emergency cash when you need it, but be sure that you approach this kind of borrowing wisely.