Short-Term Borrowing: Pros, Cons and Why

Of course debt is to be minimized and avoided. We have all heard this time and time again. But not everyone’s life circumstances are perfect. What were once two-earner households are now one-income households. That will stretch a budget very thin very quickly. Throw in a healthcare problem, an expensive (and poorly-timed) car repair, on top of an underwater mortgage, and you will find that life can be quite imperfect, despite all your best efforts.

These are the grey areas, the shaded nuances of personal finance. You can be a frugal and restrained shopper. But while your weekly savings from coupon clipping might be $75 or $100, that $5000 deductible on your health insurance can wipe out a year’s worth of savings in one playground accident. So how do you manage? Particularly if you lack a rainy day fund or credit line with a credit card issuer?

Short-term loans are one option. Even if you have imperfect credit and no collateral to offer, you can get one in the form of a payday loan advance. These are designed to be small and paid back within 30 days or less (on your next payday). It’s emergency money for times that absolutely call for it, with three distinct benefits:

1. Psychologically easier – These loans do not ride on your back for months and years, as is usually the case with credit card debt. You know that it is a necessary financial tool, but that you will settle up the debt in just a few days or weeks.

2. Long-term financial damage is limited – The comfort is more than psychological. A short-term loan is far less expensive than one held for the long term. The cost of debt always rises with the longer that debt is held.

3. Reduces the negatives of missing due dates – Short-term borrowing is often done to make timely payments on key bills. If you make a required payment on certain debts, you avoid penalties, higher interest charges and poor credit reports.

For the busy working person, the other benefit is that with online technologies these are faxless payday loans. The time required to process an application is about five minutes and can be done any time, day or night, from one’s personal computer.