Become A Smarter Borrower

With a nation that has in the region of a Trillion pounds of debt one could say we are serial borrowers. Before you consider borrowing money it is wise to consider a few important points.

· Shop around for the best deal

This may sound like a no brainer but many people still use their high street bank to borrow money. These are usually the most expensive and with the Internet you can spend 30 minutes in your home finding the best deal.

· Make sure you understand the APR

Although the lender will outline the APR charges this may not be the actual amount you will be paying. Make sure you get the true cost of your loan.

· Keep the repayment period as short as possible

The longer you take to pay off your loan the more expensive it gets. Try and limit the repayment period to less than 5 years. For example, a £5,000 loan borrowed over five years at an interest rate of 9% will cost you £103 each month, this may sound affordable. But overall, it will cost you £6,176 - £1,176 in interest. If you borrowed it over three years, your monthly payments would be £158 an increase of 53% in payments however you would only be paying back £5,694, which is substantially less.

· Make sure you read the fine print

Lenders make a fortune in charging their customers payment protection. There are usually several conditions attached to this kind of protection so make ensure that you get the protection you want should you not be able to keep up the payments. There are usually redemption penalties if you pay your loan off early so make sure you are aware of these charges before hand.

· Avoid Secured loans if possible.

Loans of this type are commonplace in the UK are commonplace following the increased equity value arising from the house price boom of recent years. It is only advisable to release equity if you are going to be adding value to you home. If you fail to keep up payments you can be at risk of losing your home. This again will be mentioned in the fine print, although you should be aware of this.

There are hundreds of loan companies in the UK at the moment. With our low interest rates it has been quite affordable to borrow money. This is one of the reasons we are a nation in the grip of a debt epidemic at the moment. If you can reduce your interest payments then take action now.

If you have between 6 ? 9 months left to pay on your loan you could transfer this balance to a 0% balance transfer credit card. You can then pay this balance off from your new credit card at no cost over the 6 or 9 month period depending on what the introductory rate is.

Do your homework there is more than enough information and loan comparison websites to make sure you make the right choice when it comes to taking out that loan.

Grant Marwick is a freelance writer and owner of http://www.1st-in-loans.co.uk where you will find advice and more articles on personal loans

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Why Choose a Personal Loan?

Are you wondering why choose a personal loan? One of... Read More

Secured Business Loans ? Equipping Your Business Blueprint With Concrete Groundwork

Somebody once said, 'Business is not financial science; it's about... Read More

What is a Bad Credit Personal Loan?

A UK Bad Credit Personal Loan is a loan designed... Read More

Cosmetic Surgery Loans ? Discovering How It Feels to Look Your Best

Market research of UK's cosmetic surgery ascertains the fact that... Read More

Guide to Bridging Loans

Here is a useful guide to bridging loans. This is... Read More

New Car Loans - How You Buy a New or Used Car With Poor Credit

Consumers buy a new or used car with poor credit... Read More

Quickest Payday Loans - Things To Look For in a Cash Advance Company For The Fastest Loan Processing

To find the quickest payday loans, you need to look... Read More

A Borrowers Guide to Bad Credit Loans UK

If you find yourself in a situation where you need... Read More

Secured Loans Information

A secured loan is a personal loan which is generally... Read More

What Is A Second Mortgage?

A second mortgage is a loan that is secured by... Read More

Refinance Car Loans - Refinancing Your Car Loan Online is Convenient

Refinancing your car loan online is now more convenient. Your... Read More

Benefits of a Bridging Loan

A bridging loan has many benefits, some of which are... Read More

Bad Credit Car Loans - Why They Are Easier To Get Than They Ever Have Been

Car loans are easier to get by using an online... Read More

Need a Personal Loan? Have Poor Credit? See if a Payday Loan Would Work For Your Needs

Poor credit and a financial emergency don't seem to mix... Read More

Bad Credit Payday or Cash Advance Loans - No Credit Check Required

If you are in need of extra cash until pay... Read More

Business Credit Scoring: Is It a Killer Application or Application Killer?

In his 1968 seminal novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Arthur... Read More

No Credit Check Personal Loans - If You Need Fast Cash, A PayDay Loan Online Is a Very Quick Process

Online payday loans can get you fast cash through a... Read More

Financial Openings Without Warranty Alias Unsecured Personal Loans

Isn't it the trillionth article on unsecured loans? All are... Read More

Fast Cash Payday Loans

If you need cash now there are several options available... Read More

Long Term Unsecured Loan?

In order to understand qualifications for loan approval, let's examine... Read More

Benefits of a Home Owner Loan

There are many benefits for choosing a Home Owner Loan,... Read More

Why Choose a Bridging Loan?

Listed below are some of the reasons for choosing a... Read More

Secured Car Loan - if Car Signifies a Second Home to You

Cars ? they are your passion, necessity, luxury, earning member.... Read More

Useful Tips on Personal Loans

Here are some useful tips on Personal loans. You can... Read More

Online Loans Made Easy

What will it take for you to get a low... Read More

UK Student Loans Explained

Student loans seem to be the only feasible way out... Read More

What?s All the Hype about Omni Military Loans?

The average person some time in their adult lives will... Read More

Devising Newer Ways of Repayment

How good would it have been had there been no... Read More

Why Payday Loans Should Be Avoided

If you are considering getting a payday loan for the... Read More

Federal Debt Consolidation Loans For Students

For American students, the U.S. Government came up with a... Read More

A Guide to the Bad Credit Personal Loan

Here is a useful guide to the bad credit personal... Read More

Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

FHA loan programs:FHA AccessFHA Cal GoldFHA Rural GoldFHA Mutal Mtg.... Read More

How To Reduce Your Payments

Are you paying out too much every month for your... Read More