Applying for a loan entails a great deal of responsibility on the part of the borrower. And part of being a responsible borrower is borrowing the right amount according to their current needs. That way, you can avoid getting buried further in debt with the loan.
While the right amount that one should borrow for a quick cash loan depends mainly on individual circumstances, there are a few things to keep in mind in determining that amount.
What do you need the money for?
This is the first and the most important consideration when deciding how much to borrow. Whether it’s for a new laptop or make home repairs, do your diligent research to determine how much you would need to meet those expenses and plan accordingly.
Part of your research should involve getting the best rates available for whatever expense you will be using the loan for. Getting a loan should not be an excuse to splurge on higher-priced items which may not give you value for the money that you will have to pay back.
On the contrary, the fact you are not using your own money should make you more mindful of the value of the goods or service that you will be paying with the loaned amount.
How much you can borrow
Even if you already have an amount in mind for the loan, there’s no guarantee a legal money lender will give you the desired amount. You need to consider the minimum and maximum loan amounts of any lender you may borrow from, as each financial institution follows a different set of qualifiers for how much they are willing to lend to a given borrower, if such a borrower would qualify for a loan in the first place.
Usually, lending institutions would take into account a borrower’s monthly income, their source of funds, loan history (if any), and credit score. With these factors coming into play, as a borrower you should manage expectations that you may not be able to get the full loan amount that you originally sought for.
Monthly payments and loan costs
Often overlooked but very important nonetheless, borrowers should take into account the monthly payments involved, even if the amount you seek to borrow is approved.
The more you borrow, the larger the monthly payments will be due to the interest rates and other possible costs. This may affect your finances in the long run if you have not planned out your loan carefully.
In this case, it is a matter of thinking ahead and not just of the now. It is important to not just take into account how much you need to borrow now but how much it will take to pay back the borrowed amount and the additional costs involved.
It is important to ensure that you can afford the repayments and that the payment terms are acceptable on your end to fulfill.
Loaning within your needs and means
The idea of being able to borrow money for certain expenditures can be a Pandora’s box in which one might be tempted to borrow more so to buy other items which may not be considered as a need.
Especially if you do not see yourself having the means financially to cover for the additional loan amount, such impulsive actions will only bury you deeper in debt. It is therefore an important discipline to be strict in ensuring your financial well being, and that includes making sure that you do not borrow more than what you actually need.
Closing thoughts
Some people have a mistaken notion that getting a loan is an opportunity to splurge on the things you want and forget the responsibility of paying it back. Availing a loan is a responsibility in itself so above anything else, temper those urges and be a responsible borrower.
