What is a Payday Loan?

Perhaps you are having trouble keeping your checking account full, and you are a little pressed for money. You are a week away from payday, and you just need a little money to get you through until then. So what’s the best way to get that money without having to pay a ton of money in interest and without committing to a credit card account or loan that will last longer than you need it to?

Many people will go to a company providing payday loans. This is the source of the money that many people get so that they can squeak by until they get paid, then pay back the loan and the interest with the check as well. But what is a payday loan, where do you go to get one, how do they work, and are they really the best way to borrow money?

1. How it Works

A payday loan is a loan that you can get basically instantly. You must go to the payday loan officer and write them a check for the amount you want to borrow and the fees they are charging you based on the percentage of the amount you are being loaned. These fees are usually a very high percentage of the amount borrowed, mostly because you are pressed for money and most likely to accept just about anything they’ll charge you, as long as you can get the money you need to get through.

They will then hold your check there for the amount of time that was agreed upon, then they will deposit that check. It is up to you to get your money in the bank in time for that check to go through without bouncing. You can extend the amount of time that you have the loan before you pay it off, but you will be charged extension fees that can be just as much as the original fees, but is most often more expensive.

2. Is it the Best Option?

Payday loans are very convenient because they give you fast access to cash you need now, without the binding ties of a long term loan or a burdensome monthly credit card payment. However, the interest rates are substantially higher than that of a regular loan or a credit card account. If you do not get payday loans often because you are financially stable, perhaps payday loans are not a bad idea if you do not have to deal with the inconvenience of long term loans or credit agreements.

Still, living from paycheck to paycheck and counting on a payday loan between each of these periods is an unwise choice of money management because, though you may be in a tight spot now, money problems can almost always get worse. Owing money during such a short term and with such high interest rates will only add to your potential money problems and result in debt that you could have avoided. If you need to get a payday loan frequently, why not get a regular loan, with lower interest rates and less risk?