Tue 22 Dec, 2009
January is traditionally a month when people find it hard to make ends meet. The indulgences of the holiday period often leave bank balances stretched to the limit, credit card balances worryingly high, and loads of vying demands on whatever spare money is not yet spent. It's not surprising then that for many of us, our January budget is an unsolvable problem, and towards the end of the month cash simply runs out.
If you're fortunate, your bank overdraft may be able to bridge the gap, letting you defer sorting out some of your expenses until your budget settles down again in the spring. Alternatively, you may have some leeway on your credit card that you can utilize to cover essential costs, although taking out cash on creditt card accounts is notorious for being overpriced.
What can you do if none of these two options are appropriate?
The answer is, for some, to apply for a cash advance. While wage day advances are far from inexpensive, they are fast to arrange and are obtainable by more or less anyone who has a regular wage or salary and a suitable bank account, with a tarnished credit score not normally being an issue. Payday advance loans are usually for a small amount, a few hundred or so, and are borrowed over a period of weeks rather than months. A fixed fee of around 15-20% of the amount you borrow is imposed, which you pay when you pay back the borrowing when you get your next wage.
Most loans also have the facility of being renewed or prolonged, so that you can defer paying back the loan for another month, albeit at the cost of a fresh set of charges. While this is conveniant for some, it is also precarious: it can be all to simple to get stuck into a spiral of borrowing which is a challenging drain on even the most healthy of finances. The expense is also an issue, as cash advances are very costly compared to virtually all other kinds of finance.
All the same, if you find yourself in difficulties come month end and run out of funds, then a pay day loan could be a rapid and accessible solution – just make certain you are aware of and can cope with the dangers involved.