There will be many instances in life where you find yourself in a financial crunch. Whether you have been financially savvy or you have been careless about your spending, financial obligations or requirements can always take you by surprise. What do you do when you are faced with a sudden cash crunch or emergency and don’t know where to turn to for the extra cash?
You may be considering several options, such as taking out a payday loan, a gold loan, a loan against property, or even borrowing from family or friends. All of these have their own set of pros and cons, whether it is high interest rates, the risk of losing the collateral that you placed against the loan, or just the risk of putting your close friendships or family relationships at risk by borrowing money from them.
Is there a better way to get the money you need when you need it without putting yourself through unnecessary stress?
Fortunately, the answer is yes, and it lies in personal loans. Personal loans have a whole host of benefits when compared to all the other options listed above. It is a smart choice when faced with any of the various situations you might find yourself in life when you are in desperate need of money.
Why are Personal Loans a Smart Choice?
The major advantage of personal loans is that they do not require any collateral. While this may result in interest rates that are a bit higher, you can still have peace of mind that your precious belongings will not be seized in case payments get defaulted.
Another advantage of personal loans is that there is no restriction on how you spend the money. You can use it for anything under the sun (legally, of course!) and that is entirely up to you. You can even use it for a variety of different purposes, all using the same amount of money, without any limitations on it. This gives you greater freedom to spend the loan amount exactly the way you wish.
Top 10 Reasons to Apply for a Personal Loan
There are myriad reasons people apply for a personal loan depending on personal, financial, or professional challenges they may be facing in their lives. Here are the top 10 reasons people usually apply for personal loans:
1. Consolidation of Debt
This is often cited as the number one reason people opt for a personal loan. This could be to settle a credit card payment or a personal loan to a family member or friend or even to settle an outstanding payment on another loan, such as a housing loan or a car loan, or an educational loan. It also makes sense to take out a personal loan to settle the outstanding amount on a credit card because the interest rates on personal loans are far lower than those on a credit card. By paying off your credit card payments on time and in full, you can improve your credit score and have a higher chance of getting approved for loans in the future.
2. Emergency Medical Expenses
Whether you have a health insurance policy or not, medical emergencies can be very stressful and may require a lot of cash which you may not have in hand at the moment. The quick disbursal times for personal loans ensure that you get the money you require without adding to the stress of the medical emergency at hand.
3. Financing a New Business
If you have been hit by the entrepreneurial bug, and are looking to finance your new enterprise, a personal loan can help you hit the ground running in no time. Business loans have stringent requirements that may be hard to meet for new entrepreneurs, such as providing tax-related documents and proper financial history. With a personal loan, you can circumvent all that.
4. Funding Higher Education
Educational loans are often provided by banks only after admission has been secured. Also, it may not cover all the expenses. At this point, a personal loan is most convenient to ensure that you have enough money to cover all your expenses even before you have secured admission to your dream institution.
5. Enjoying a Vacation
Now you don’t have to put off your vacation dreams for the next couple of years just because you don’t have the money right now to pay for them. You also don’t have to charge your vacation to your credit card and run up huge bills with heavy interest rates. A personal loan can be used to fund your dream vacation right away, so you can start living your life exactly the way you want it now.
6. Home Renovation
Whether you are renovating your home for a wedding, or festival, or just because you want a breath of fresh air in your home, a personal loan gives you the freedom to get the money you want to spend on exactly how you want to renovate your home. It doesn’t matter if it is a fresh coat of paint, new antique furnishings that are likely to break the bank, or an entirely new floor to your home or a new room.
If you are looking to improve your home and are interested in furnishings, then a credit card may help fund the choice to opt for antique furniture over regular furniture as it can be slightly more expensive for a wonderful piece of history. Changing the furnishings in your home is no easy feat, and you need to ensure you choose the right furniture before spending on your credit card, as it will be tricky to go back on your decision.
Also Read: 7 Tips When Applying for A Personal Loan
7. Wedding Expenses
Weddings can run up a lot of expenses in Australia. Whether you want a low-key wedding or a destination wedding, it doesn’t come cheap. If you want to celebrate your special day in style, with just a handful of people or hundreds, a personal loan is just what you need to get started on the road to marital bliss without breaking the bank or burning a hole in your pocket. And while you’re at it, you can use a portion of the money to fund your honeymoon to an exotic destination too.
8. Buying Gizmos
So, you have been eyeing the latest iPhone or a new laptop or Xbox but don’t have the cash to buy it? No problem. A personal loan can come in handy at times like this and you don’t have to feel guilty about paying an astronomical amount on interest rates too.
9. Buying a Vehicle
You can opt for a personal loan over a car loan if you don’t want to take the risk of keeping your vehicle as collateral for the loan until it is repaid in full. With a personal loan, you will have the satisfaction that your car is truly yours even if you haven’t finished paying off your loan.
10. Moving Expenses
If you have dreamed of relocating across the country or even outside the country, a personal loan can help you take care of your moving expenses, whether it is paying the rental advance in the new place, buying new furniture, or moving your belongings as well as potentially moving your vehicles long distances with an auto shipper.
There are many more occasions in life where a personal loan can come in handy. Whatever the reason, you can be sure that applying for a personal loan is something you won’t regret. Also, to find out the top banks with the best interest rates for personal loans in 2022.
