Loan Jungle
There are instances in life in which you may have considered taking out a loan. Maybe you wanted to borrow money because you needed a new car, a little extra student loan, or you wanted to bring your loved ones on a dream vacation. Not only are the reasons many and varied, but so are all the different types of loans you can take up, like for example quick loans. It is a jungle of options and it is easy to get lost in it. Therefore it is essential to know how to find one’s way through it, but to navigate in the jungle is not always easy.
Taking out a loan is not something one should take lightly. As a consumer, it is wise to think through what you want from the loan and be clear about the consequences of taking out the loan. You should also consider your income and find the loan amount that best suits one’s financial capacity.
Banks operate in concepts that can be difficult to understand for a first-time borrower, but that is easier than you think, if you get a clear idea of the basic concept. If you choose to take out a loan, you become a borrower. The banking institution that lends you the money is called the lender.
When you borrow money, it is important to bear in mind the covenants, banks are bound to. The loan terms include the repayment period, loan fees, as well as the total cost of the loan you want.
As a consumer you have the right to know both the nominal and effective interest rates on the loan you are going to take out and you should make sure that you get all the necessary information from your banking institution. While the nominal interest rate is the current nominal interest rate, it is the effective interest rate that tells how much the loan actually costs and therefore is what should be of most interest for you. The effective interest rate includes, among other things, start-up and deposit fees. The effective interest rate will be the actual cost of the loan taken up. Before you engage in a loan, you should be clear about the actual cost that you are taking on and make sure that you can handle the installments over the repayment period.
It can be a lot of information to learn about once you have decided to borrow money. The hardest part is often to decide how much you should borrow and what type of loan you should choose.