People use loans for a variety of reasons. Whether you are looking to buy something you can’t afford without a loan (like a car or apartment), you find yourself not being able to afford your bills, or just need some cash.
The most common types of loans you will come across are Bank Loans, Small loans/Cash loans and No/Low interest loans. If you are in financial difficulty you can call Financial Counselling Australia for free advice.
You might be considering a bank loan if you are thinking about buying a car or needing a larger sum of money for something like a holiday. These loans can often be between $5000 to over $10 000, depending on the amount you can afford.
Firstly, you will need to apply for the loan to find out if you are eligible. This can be a lengthy process as the bank will want to know as much information as they can about your finances. Will have initial eligibility criteria that you have to meet which normally includes:
It’s common to think that a small loan or a cash loan is a fast and easy way of getting the money you need. These loans can be the most risky as they are given by businesses that are not regulated in the same way as banks. So before you go ahead and sign a contract there are definitely a few things you need to remember.
Businesses that give cash loans or quick loans are often called ‘Payday lenders’ or ‘high-cost short-term lending’. The fees and interest rates on the small loans that many offer can be quite large and you could end up paying way more than you actually borrowed in the first place!
A small amount loan is a loan of up to $2,000 that must be repaid between 16 days and 1 year. You will normally have to pay it back through a deduction from your bank account.
You will need to fill out an application and take in important documents like bank statements, bills, credit card statements and possible other documentation the credit provider requests. This will help them to determine if you can afford to pay back a loan.
You will normally need to pay an establishment fee at the beginning of the loan, monthly account keeping fees plus interest. This all paid is on top of the amount that you borrow. All these fees mean that it is extremely important to read all the information and the contract before you receive the loan so you know exactly what you are going to be paying and if you can afford it.
There is a National No Interest Loans Scheme run by Good shepherd Microfinance, they can also offer low interest loans. Unlike ‘payday lenders’ and banks they are a national community organisation that does not make money from the loans they give out. The loans are normally between $500 and $1,200 and are normally for educational expenses, household items like fridges and washing machines and medical expenses.
To qualify for one of these loans you need to be a low income earner. Normally, this is determined by whether you are eligible for a Low Income Healthcare Card. Next, you will need to make an appointment for an interview where your income and spending is worked out to find out whether you can repay a loan. The loan can then be paid automatically out of your Centrelink payment if you have one.
Before you think about getting a loan, it’s good to go over the basics of borrowing money, and to make sure you have thought about other options. There is some great information about borrowing money on Money Smart’s website.
