Alternatives to Payday Loans

Written by Veronica Ott
Fact-checked by Caitlin Wood

Alternatives to Payday Loans

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Installment Loans Payday Loans Personal Loans

The payday loan business is a very lucrative business. Companies that are involved in this market benefit from the excessive interest rates and fees that they charge for their products.

And while it can be argued that in many ways, payday loans are a great option for certain consumers. If you need a loan, and fast, payday loan companies do a great job in getting you cash. The APR they charge is exorbitant. 

The cost to consumers is excessive, maybe even abusive, but that’s not the only issue at hand. Often times, Canadian consumers who are credit constrained or dealing with financial misstep are uncertain of the alternative options available to them. Whether you need help covering the cost of a vehicle repair or are trying to make ends meet, there are payday loan alternatives out there that can help. 

Why Payday Loans Can Be Harmful

Before we look at some alternatives to payday loans, let’s understand why payday loans can be dangerous.

• Predatory in nature – There are many payday lenders out there who prey upon borrowers who they know will end up having to repeat the payday loan cycle, which means they will be collecting more interest with every loan taken out. Borrowers need to be on the lookout for these types of lenders, who will approve anyone for a loan, despite their credit or financial status.
• High costs – As mentioned, the interest rates charged on payday loans are generally very high. In fact, they can be so high that they make these loans extremely expensive and nearly impossible to repay in full by their due date.
• Easy to get, hard to payback – Just about anyone with a bank account can get their hands on a payday loan, but not everyone will necessarily be able to repay the loan amount, plus interest. When the interest amount is tacked onto the original loan amount, the total number can be difficult to repay.
• Payday loan cycle – As noted earlier, there is always the risk of getting stuck in a payday loan cycle. If you are unable to repay the payday loan when it’s due, you may find yourself needing to borrow again. But this time, you’re paying high-interest rates on the original loan amount, plus the interest portion on the original loan. As such, the amount you need to borrow can incrementally increase, trapping you in a financial hole that you may not be able to get out of without outside intervention.

Rather than put yourself at risk with a payday loan, you may want to consider other options when extra funds are required.

Payday Loan Alternatives

As we all know, emergencies happen to the best of us and you may be in need of some quick cash. Payday loans are not the most optimal form of financing, if you can, use an alternative form of financing. Let’s explore your alternatives further below. 

Choose an Installment Loan or Personal Loan

Installment and personal loans tend to have quicker approval times, lower interest rates, and longer repayment terms when compared to payday loans. To repay an installment or personal loan, you’ll be required to make a scheduled payment, usually monthly or weekly. The repayment schedule is much less stressful compared to payday loans where the entire amount plus interest becomes due in a short period of time, typically two weeks. 

You might be wondering, what about credit score requirements? Installment loan lenders will likely consider your credit score, but they will be more concerned with your ability to repay the loan. If you have a steady income and a history of timely payments, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. This is especially true if you choose to work with an alternative lender.

Credit Cards and Cash Advances

If your emergency expense can be covered by a credit card, that is an excellent solution. If you can’t use credit, cash advances from your credit card are another option. While there is a hefty fee for using a cash advance, it’s a small price to pay for the convenience of cash. Furthermore, you’d be paying exorbitant interest on a payday loan anyway, a cash advance fee is can be more affordable. 

Just remember that interest starts to accrue on withdrawn cash from credit cards the day you make the withdrawal. Even though you have a longer amount of time to repay the debt, don’t wait too long because interest can build up quickly. 

Secured Loans

If you have an issue obtaining an unsecured loan and have an asset that can be used as collateral, you can consider getting a secured loan. Each lender has varying collateral requirements. Reach out to lenders to determine if your collateral is acceptable. 

Try a Credit Union

Credit unions are known for offering affordable interest rates on their loans. These institutions tend to consider additional approval factors on top of credit scores as well. It’s definitely worth a shot to get a loan from a credit union as they are one of the best lenders on the market.

Borrow From Friends and Family

Pride can be difficult to overcome, but remember that we all need help from time to time. Most friends and family will be more than happy to help you with your short term financial problems. The benefit of borrowing from friends and family is there won’t be any interest. However, don’t take advantage of your loved ones, do your best to repay them quickly. 

Use Your Emergency Fund

If you have an emergency fund, situations like these are precisely what the fund is for. Hopefully, the fund covers the entire cost if not, you can use your fund in conjunction with another financial tool. If you don’t have an emergency fund, learn from this experience and build one for future financial emergencies. 

Ask Your Employer For an Advance or Extra Hours

Many employers are completely understanding of emergencies and are willing to help you out with an advance. Your boss is human too and will likely understand exactly what you are going through. It can be awkward to ask your employer but do your best to ask calmly and respectfully. Despite your nerves, it’s definitely worth your while considering the money will be interest-free. The worst thing that can happen is your boss says no. 

Alternatively, you can ask your boss for extra hours to make more money. This money can be put toward your financial emergency. You can find a temporary or permanent side job for extra cash. Of course, if your financial issue is time-sensitive, this might not be an option. 

Speak To Your Creditors

While coming up with the money needed to handle your financial crisis, you should communicate with creditors. Ultimately, creditors want to get paid. When you communicate with creditors regarding when they can expect a payment, they will be less likely to escalate the situation. You want to avoid escalation if possible as that would put you in a worse financial position. 

Creditors are people too. They will likely understand your temporary situation and work with you to extend your due date or create a repayment plan. Again, lenders want to get paid at the end of the day, even if it means the terms need to be adjusted. 

Consider Getting Credit Counselling

A credit counsellor can help you adopt healthy financial habits. Credit counselling can help you budget, create a debt repayment plan, control spending among many other things. A credit counsellor can also help you get through short term financial hiccups such as a financial emergency.

How to know when credit counselling is right for you? Find out here.

Do You Need More Drastic Debt Relief?

If you’re looking to take out a payday loan because you the majority of your monthly income goes toward debt payments, you may want to consider seeking more drastic or specialized debt relief help. A credit counsellor can help you find the right fit. Whether it’s debt consolidation or even a consumer proposal or bankruptcy. 

When Are Payday Loans a Good Idea?

If you’ve explored all of your other options and none of them will work, considering a payday loan should be your option of last resort.

Before proceeding with a payday loan, ensure that you understand the terms and conditions completely. Interest, due dates and other fees are very important to analyze when it comes to payday loans. If you aren’t crystal clear on the loan’s structure, you may run into worse financial trouble or cycle into debt. 

Getting Out of a Financial Emergency

Financial trouble happens to the best of us. Do what you can to handle the situation effectively without turning to payday loans. If you need to use a payday loan, be sure to pay it on time and in full to avoid worse repercussions. But, if you’re looking for an affordable and affective alternative to a payday loan, we can help. Whether you want to be contacted to an installment loan provider or are looking for more information about debt relief options, Loans Canada has the options you need.