New Year is a time when every person needs a considerable amount before Christmas. Many borrowers borrow cash to buy gifts, finance an event or take a family trip together. And more than 50% of residents apply for online loans from microfinance institutions. Is it worth taking a holiday payday loan on the eve of Christmas and New Year? And what are things everyone should know about such loans?
What are Christmas Loans?
Christmas loans are personal loans that you can use to pay for any holiday-related purchases. These loans can bridge the gap between your gift list and your bank account.
Holiday loans are offered by various financial institutions like banks, credit unions and online lenders and typically come with fixed monthly payments over a specific period of time, typically 1 to 60 months. Small loans can be repaid in one lump sum within a few weeks.
What Can You Use a Holiday Loan For?
Christmas loans can be used for various purposes, and borrowers do have to disclose the reason they borrow cash.
For example, you can use a Christmas payday loan for the following purposes:
- Purchasing gifts for friends and family.
- Traveling for the holidays.
- Buying food for a festive table and decorations.
Some lenders have specific policies around how the borrowed funds cannot be used, though this varies from lender to lender. To learn how you can use a holiday loan, contact your lender.
How Do Christmas Loans Work?
Christmas loans are a type of personal loan designed for holiday expenses. You can borrow cash to purchase presents, travel or for any other legal purpose. If approved, you’ll receive the money, which you’ll pay off over time – in a lump sum as soon as you get paid or over a set period – with fixed monthly installments. The loan terms will vary by lender for every borrower.
Each lender has its own eligibility requirements and terms, so always shop around to find the best Christmas loan lender for your unique needs.
How Much Money Can You Borrow With Holiday Loans?
Depending on the lender, you may be able to borrow between $100 and $5,000 to buy Christmas gifts for your family and friends or to cover other holiday expenses like festive meals and plane tickets. Nowadays, most applicants request a $1,000 loan for holiday expenses.
The amount of your loan and your interest rate will be based on several factors such as your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and your monthly income.
Do You Qualify for a Christmas payday loan?
To apply for a Christmas payday loan, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Have a government-issued ID.
- Provide proof of income.
- Have a Social Security number.
- Have an active bank account in your name.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
Some lenders may ask for additional information and documents. Some may have a minimum credit score requirement or a minimum monthly income requirement to ensure that the borrower will be able to repay the loan as agreed since there isn’t collateral or a guarantor.
How to Apply for a Christmas Payday Loan: Step by Step
If you apply through our online platform, you will need to follow a few simple steps:
- Apply Now. Fill out an easy online application. It takes only 5 minutes and there is no paperwork and no faxing involved.
- Get Matched with the Right Lender. The system will analyze your request and select the right lender for your unique needs.
- Get Approved. You will get a lender’s decision instantly. There is no long wait for an answer.
- Get Your Money. Once approved, the lender will deposit your money right into your bank account. No hassles.
Pros and Cons of Christmas Loans
Before you apply for a holiday payday loan, consider the pros and cons:
Pros
- Better terms than credit cards, typically. People with good credit are likely to get a loan with a lower APR than with a credit card.
- Fixed APR and monthly payments. You can repay the loan in fixed monthly installments. The terms and rates are transparent.
- Quick funding. Christmas loans can offer quick funding, sometimes as soon as the same day of the next day.
- Funds can be used for whatever purpose. You can use a holiday loan to cover any expenses from airplane tickets to Christmas gifts.
- No collateral required, typically. Unsecured holiday loans don’t require collateral, so you don’t risk losing any valuable items.
- Could boost your credit. Your credit score will increase if you pay off the loan in a timely manner.
- Small amounts available. Holiday loans typically start at $100 with online payday lenders. You may find larger loans at banks and credit unions.
Cons
- Higher interest rates. Bad credit loans are more expensive than traditional personal loans.
- Increased debt load. It’s not recommended to take on debt obligations for unnecessary expenses.
- Potential origination fees. Many lenders charge an origination fee, ranging from 1%-8% of the total loan cost.
How to Get a Christmas Loan With Bad Credit
You can get a Christmas payday loan with bad credit, but you must be more selective. Some lenders will not perform a credit check, but those will have higher interest rates on the U.S. market, which might not be suitable for you. The last thing you want for Christmas is to get into a debt trap where you must keep taking out loans to pay off other loans.
If you have a low credit score, you can work on improving your credit before applying for a holiday loan, or you consider a secure loan, where you provide collateral (for example, a car). Make sure you know that you can pay back the loan if you choose this funding option, as you do not want your valuable items to get repossessed.
Where Can I Get a Christmas Loan
We will help you find the best Christmas loans if you need extra cash during the festive period. In fact, there are many good reasons to apply with us:
- Speedy process: Apply online in a matter of minutes and get an instant decision. If approved, you can receive the funds as soon as the same day.
- Extensive network of licensed lenders. All lenders from our network are reputable and trusted.
- Bad credit accepted. You have high chances of getting approved even if you have a poor credit score. Many lenders offer loans with no credit check.
- Easy-to-meet criteria: You do not have to provide a guarantor or collateral, and a bad credit score won’t prevent you from getting approved.
- Flexible repayment terms: Choose the repayment option that suits you most, depending on how much money you need.
- Transparent terms and rates: Lenders from our network never charge hidden fees like some Christmas loan lenders do.
- Friendly service: We are always here to help if you need advice about your loan.
- Good reputation: Our clients rate us ‘excellent’ on various independent review websites.
Other Options for Purchasing Holiday Gifts
Here are 10 alternatives to Christmas payday loans:
- Consider a Payday Alternative Loan (PAL)
- Apply for a “Bad Credit” Personal Loan.
- Borrow From Family or Friends.
- Ask Your Employer About Cash Advance.
- Seek Help From a Credit Counselor.
- Get a Side job.
- Consider a Low-Interest Credit Card.
- Explore Lending Circles.
Best Budgeting Tips for Christmas Time
Christmas and New Year’s eve are always associated with big expenses because you need to buy gifts for relatives and many friends, prepare a festive menu and create an appropriate atmosphere at home. Do not deprive yourself of all the joys. You just need to adhere to a few rules so that you do not find yourself broken after each New Year:
- Plan your expenses ahead of time. The main pre-New Year’s rule is planning. It is advisable to divide the shopping list into several groups: gifts; entertainment; menu. The New Year’s menu should be drawn up in detail. Step-by-step purchases help to correctly distribute finances and not leave the entire amount in the store in one visit. It is worth taking care of gifts in advance until prices have risen in the pre-New Year’s turmoil. This will allow you to find the most beneficial offer and not spend too much in a hurry. It is important that each position from the list has an amount limit that will not allow you to spend more.
- Keep track of expenses. Listing alone is not enough. The budget can be perfectly planned, but if it is not adhered to, unnecessary expenses and going into the red are inevitable. Doing home bookkeeping will help to notice deviations in the estimate in time and correct it. It can be a special program, a mobile app for managing personal finances, or a simple spreadsheet with a clearly marked budget, income and expenses. Such accounting takes no more than 5 minutes a day but helps to avoid rash spending.
- Compare offers. In order to save money, you should compare the offers of large retail chains. As a rule, market prices are lower than store prices, and the choice of goods is no less. Do not forget about online stores. In addition to convenient delivery, online shopping provides an opportunity to read product reviews in advance. This will allow you not to be disappointed in the purchase and not to look for a replacement at the very last moment. In addition, shopping via the Internet protects well from rash and emotional purchases.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are holiday loans a good idea?
Whether a holiday loan is a good solution for you depends on your individual financial situation. If you have good credit and are eligible for low interest rates, a Christmas loan may be a great option for you, especially if you have no savings and pay for the expenses up front. Be sure to compare lenders, rates, fees, amounts and terms to get a loan that best fits your needs and budget.
Can you get a Christmas loan with bad credit?
Yes. You can get a holiday loan even if you have bad credit, though it may be hard to qualify with some lenders. Payday loan lenders are willing to work with bad-credit borrowers, though you may face higher interest rates. Before applying for a no credit check loan, try to improve your credit score so you can boost your solvency in the eyes of lenders.
Is it hard to get a holiday loan?
The difficulty of getting a holiday loan depends not only on the lender’s eligibility criteria but also on the borrower’s creditworthiness. If, for example, you have a poor credit score and a low income, it may be not easy to find a personal loan lender. Other factors that are considered include the purpose of borrowing and your credit history. If you do not qualify for a personal loan, consider a title loan or a pawnshop loan.