Payday loans and credit cards are both great sources for fast, emergency cash. Both credit products can help you make ends meet from paycheck to paycheck, or take care of a sudden emergency that catches your finances off guard. So what’s the difference between credit cards and payday loans, and which is better for fast cash?
Credit Cards
Qualifying for a credit card usually requires a credit check. The lending bank reviews your credit history to see if you’ve paid existing loans and other credit accounts on time, how long your accounts have been open, how much debt you have in relation to your available credit, etc. This is usually done to ensure that applicants are financially responsible. However, any mistakes you’ve made with your credit stays on your report for up to 7 years. If you missed a few payments several years ago while you were out of work for example, the missed payments reported by the lender remain on your credit report and bring down your score, even if you’ve cleaned up your act since then. Mistakes from up to 7 years ago can stand in the way of opening a new account if you need one.
To get a good interest rate on a credit card, you need a good credit score. The worse your credit, the higher your interest will be. If you have bad credit and still want to open an account, you can apply for a secured credit card, which you pay for with a deposit before the bank approves your credit limit. The interest rate on a secured credit card will be much lower than you might otherwise pay.
Credit cards are useful for emergencies, but you’ll likely end up paying for your expense in financing over several months or more. If you have good credit and a high available limit, credit cards may be a good solution for you. Otherwise, consider a payday loan.
Payday Loans
Payday loans can work for emergencies just as well as a credit card, and they don’t require any checks of your credit score for approval. You can get the cash you need within the same day you apply sometimes. Depending on how much cash you borrow, a payday loan can be more expensive than using a credit card, but they’re much more convenient and don’t depend on your credit score for approval.
Consider the benefits and drawbacks of both before applying and choose the option that makes sense for your finances.