Many employees who are just starting out may face a lot of financial obstacles in the way. Whether it’s securing enough funds for a long-term investment or paying off debts to enhance their credit score, many may turn to opening a personal loan to make ends meet. To put it simply, personal loans are unsecured loans taken by individuals in banks or non-banking financial companies to meet their personal needs and wants.
To become eligible for personal loans, certain documents containing the following information may be required for submission:
– Proof of income
– Proof of address
– Proof of Identity
– Tax bill/license for self-employed applicants
Personal loans differ from home and car loans in a sense that it is not secured against any asset. This means that the borrower doesn’t need to put up collateral like property to use the loan. This also means that the lender cannot auction anything you own.
Some of the considerations that comes with taking out a personal loan include:
Taking out a loan for the wrong reason
Personal loans are basically open-ended tools that can be used for any purpose. Many people who are thinking of funding personal luxuries without calculating how they are going to pay it back may be at risk for a bad financial record compared to others. To reduce this risk, make sure to explore other options first like applying for a part-time job or enrolling in credit card instalment plan.
However if you’re looking to pay for emergencies like high medical bills or a sudden trip to another country to meet family members then personal loans are a quick and efficient way to use the loan.
Higher interest rates
Because of its unsecured nature and the fact that a collateral is not needed, many banks offer personal loans with relatively higher interest rates which can take a toll on your budget.
Affected credit score
Many people who take out a personal loan run the risk of lowering their credit score especially for people who are unable to pay off their loan in the future.
Strict terms and conditions
While personal loans don’t have collateral, that doesn’t mean one can simply avoid repaying the amount under any circumstances. One risk that comes with taking out a loan is that there may be additional fees, charges, and conditions related to the interest rate charges. Some banks offer flexible payment options to help you pay off your debt faster.
While there are considerations in taking out a personal loan, there are also numerous advantages that employees can benefit. Some of which include:
Flexible usage
Many people favor taking out a personal loan because of the flexibility it provides. Whether you use it for emergency or personal reasons, taking out this kind of loan can be used for a variety of reasons without limitation.
Quick availability
People can take out a personal loan quickly where some banks can even dispense the necessary funds as quick as 24 hours of application. This is especially useful for people who are dealing with several emergency situations.
Require minimal documentation
Personal loans don’t need much documentation unlike mortgages and other debt instruments. This helps cut the processing time in half and get you the funds you need quicker.
Offers fixed monthly installment for a fixed number of years
Having one fixed equal monthly instalment or estimated monthly instalment can simplify your financial life since you only need to focus on one fixed amount and its due date on a monthly basis. This helps people focus on making a single payment instead of paying multiple bills which can be buried along with other errands.
If you are looking for a quick solution to certain needs then a personal loan can be a great instrument to use. However, many experts suggest that one has to check other available options before applying for a personal loan. This is to reduce the risks of affecting your credit score which is usually the basis on whether you’ll be approved for another loan in the future. Another reason why it’s best to seek out other options before applying for a personal loan is because many people who take out loans often struggle in paying them back. This alone can affect one’s financial standing which limits their possibility of financial stability in the future.
