3 Times Payday Loans Make Sense

In a financial crunch, some people write checks even though they know they don’t have enough money in their accounts. Since many financial institutions are raising overdraft fees, it may be cheaper to choose a payday loan instead of incurring fees. Overdraft fees can quickly add up, particularly if you’ve written multiple checks. In this case, it may be wise to opt for the payday loan. Site like CashNetUSA offer lower fees so you aren’t paying a lot of extras.

If you must pay a ticket or court costs, and you don’t have the funds you need, it might be cheaper to take out a payday loan. Failure to pay court costs and other fines can create more problems in the long run. If you can retain your driver’s license or avoid additional fines by paying the money you owe immediately, this is always a better option. If you know that you are going to need payday loans more than once, certain payday loan services will lower your interest rate if you have a history of paying on time, so that can save you some money on your loan and will be better than taking on fines or penalties.

It can be very expensive to re-establish utility service if it’s disconnected for non-payment. In this case, a payday loan is a viable solution. It’s something that should only happen once, though. If you find yourself turning to a payday loan on a regular basis, you’re not using this option wisely. If you constantly struggle to pay utility bills, it may be a good idea to reach out to a charitable organization or find another means of obtaining the necessary funds.

Payday loans aren’t cheap, but they can be the cheaper alternative from time to time. It’s important to avoid becoming trapped in a payday loan cycle in which you often use loans on a regular basis or take out a new loan to pay off previous loans. If you use a payday loan responsibly, it can make life easier, but if you don’t, the financial damage can be substantial.

If you are in the market for a reliable payday loan service, there are a couple you can choose from. Here are our favorite payday loan services. Both reward you for paying on time with lower interest rates and higher loans, and both are trusted payday loan services.

Overview: LendUp is a very new payday loan service, started in 2012. They currently only operate in 15 states but are continuing to expand. LendUp is a great service for those who plan on taking out several payday loans, since they offer a rewards system that allows you to take out larger loans at a lower interest rate over time. Another great service that LendUp offers that other payday loan sites don’t is instant deposit; you can get your loan in 15 minutes or less.

Price: $17 per $100 borrowed

APR for loan: 36%-406% (depending on credit)

Maximum amount of loan: $1,000 (although you have to start with lower loans, like $250, and work your way up by paying on time.)

Maximum timeframe of loan: 30 days

Typical loan price: If you take out a $250 loan for 30 days, you would owe $293.40, including $43.40 in interest.

Requirements: You need proof of income, a checking account and your paycheck schedule, as well as typical identity information like social security number and photo ID. LendUp does not require a credit check.

Features: Like most payday loan sites, you can get direct deposit straight to your checking account. LendUp offers same-day and next-day deposits, as well as automatic withdrawals for paying the loan back. The company also offers payment extensions if you can’t make a payment date and no penalty for paying off your loan early, if you want to save on interest.

Customer service: LendUp offers telephone and email support, as well as helpful FAQs, but does not offer an online chat function.

Overview: Rise is even newer than LendUp, starting in 2013. Rise is not only trying to change the way payday loans work, but also the financial literacy of their clients. They also offer a rewards system that can lower your APR over time, but you can gain rewards for paying on time as well as taking financial courses and signing up for their credit score program. This commitment to education shows that they truly care about the financial well-being of their customers.

Price: $2-$14 per $100 borrowed

APR for loan: 125%-363.86% (depending on credit)

Maximum amount of loan: $5,000

Maximum timeframe of loan: 14 days

Typical loan price: On a loan of $2,600, you would be paying $6,173.16, which includes an interest rate of 225%.

Requirements: Much like LendUp, you will need proof of income, a checking account and your paycheck schedule, as well as typical identity information like social security number and photo ID. The difference is that Rise DOES require a credit check to be approved.

Features: Rise offers the same kind of features that LendUp does, including direct deposit into your checking account, automatic withdrawals for paying the loan back, payment extensions and no penalty for early payoff. They do offer next-day deposits but not same-day deposits.

Customer service: Rise offers the same telephone and email support, and helpful FAQs, but also does not offer an online chat function.

This article originally appeared on our Huffington Post blog here.