Using a Small Personal Loan to Save Money

If you have never heard of a small personal loan, you may be wondering what it is and how it can help you. Though some small personal loans are interchangeable with payday loans, where you are given money at a very high interest to use until you are next paid, there are others that are more useful. Small personal loans are basically any unsecured loan that is for $10,000 or less which is often used in lieu of credit cards.Who Can Receive a Small Personal LoanOne problem with small personal loans is that often they can be difficult to obtain if you have bad credit. Many lenders will insist on collateral for the loan, making you place your car or home in jeopardy should you be unable to pay the loan. Small personal loans are really a better option for those with better credit scores who can obtain these funds at an interest rate much lower than many credit card companies.The Uses for Small Personal LoansIf you are one of those people with good enough credit to qualify for an unsecured loan, the next step is to determine what use it would have to you. Unlike home or auto loans which must be used for specific purchases, personal loans can literally be used for anything. Some ideas for the use of an unsecured personal loan are:A means to consolidate debt (often credit card debt) into one payment with lower interest rates.Many small personal loans will have interest rates as low as 5.9% which is much better than even the lowest credit cards. Using this kind of loan to consolidate debt in this way can literally save you hundreds in interest.A way to make a large purchase, such as home furnishings, with a longer term payment plan and a lower interest than offered by stores.Other home improvement projects can also be costly, such as furnace replacements or upgrade to windows, the roof, etc. Basically, you can use small personal loans as alternatives to a home equity loan if you cannot get one. A unsecured small personal loan can provide a great way to get improvements done quickly with the lowest interest rate around.A method for paying unexpected expenses over time that provides a better interest rate than credit cards.Emergencies happen, and there is really no way to fully prepare for them. That’s why they are called emergencies. If you have already had any number of these situations happed, consolidating your payments for them into small personal loans can go a long way in making the pay back process easier.A safety net that you can use for “emergency” funds such as unexpected medical bills, car repair, etc.On the flip side, you also want to be prepared for these events in the future, and using a loan to build a safety net allows you the reassurance of knowing that you have already made the plan to pay the loan back, rather than worrying about doing so in the midst of a crisis.Finding Small Personal LoansThe final question you may have is where to find these loans. Obviously a great place to start is at the bank where you already hold an account, especially if it is a credit union.Having an account is not a guarantee for success, but your current financial institution is familiar with you and your credit history, plus they may offer lower interest rates to current customers. However, if this is not an option for you, consider one of the many online lenders who offer similar loans at similarly fantastic interest rates.