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Lesser of Two Evils: Credit Card or Bank Loan?

June 23rd, 2011 at 10:17 pm



The original post can be found here:

Text is Debt Free and Link is http://www.daviscoachingsolutions.com/credit-card-or-bank-loan
Debt Free

I recently spoke to a young couple… we’ll call them Jim and Judy. Jim and Judy were both working, they had their $1,000 beginner emergency fund, they were working their debt snowball and were well on their way to financial freedom.

All of a sudden, life smacked them over the head. They got hit with some unexpected legal fees for $3,000 AND then a tax bill for over $2,000. They definitely don’t have enough cash to cover over $5,000 of unexpected expense.

So their question was, “Should we pay these bills using a credit card or a personal loan from the bank?”

As you know, I don’t believe in borrowing money, if at all possible. So my first recommendation was to try to work out a payment plan for each of these bills, pick up extra hours or projects at work, start selling stuff and doing anything else that would keep them from having to borrow the money.

But it got me thinking…in a situation where all these possibilities have been exhausted, and there still isn’t enough money to pay the bills, which option would I recommend? Which one is the lesser of two evils?

Credit Card or Bank Loan?


Let’s take a look at the Pro’s and Con’s of each:


Credit Card Pro’s

- You don’t necessarily need great (or even good) credit to qualify. Heck, even children’s dead hamsters get credit card applications.

- Some credit cards offer very low, or even 0%, introductory rates. So you could pay little to no interest.

- It’s very easy to apply for a credit card.


Credit Card Con’s

- With credit cards, it’s very easy to get stuck in the “minimum payment trap,” keeping you in debt longer and paying more interest.

- If you still have a balance at the end of the intro period you will be subject to the card’s much higher standard rate. In fact, some cards will back-charge you for interest on the entire original balance.
Credit card interest rates are subject to change at any time with very little notice.

- You now have a credit card at your disposal, increasing your risk of getting into further debt.


Bank Loan Pro’s

- Bank loans have a fixed repayment period, forcing you to pay the loan off within a specified timeframe.
These loans usually carry a fixed interest rate and monthly payment.

- A personal loan will usually offer a lower interest rate than the standard rate on a credit card.

- You borrow a set amount of money. This means you can’t borrow more the way you could with a credit card.


Bank Loan Con’s

- These loans are risk-based, meaning you will usually need good credit and a low debt-to-income ratio in order to qualify.

- Often times, these loans aren’t advertised. You will need to call or visit a local bank or credit union to apply.


The Verdict

Let me reiterate, I do NOT believe in borrowing money, if at all possible. But in the very rare case that it can’t be avoided, I would highly recommend a Bank Loan over a Credit Card, any day of the week! The main reason is that credit cards allow you to make minimum monthly payments that are designed to keep you in debt for the rest of your life! If you must borrow, go with a Bank Loan and add the balance to your debt snowball. Then, attack your debts with such relentless force that everyone around you thinks you have literally lost your mind.

This is NOT a game. This is your life, your well-being, your future and your children’s future we are talking about here. Life happens and we can’t stop it. But you can prepare for it.

Step 1. Save up $1,000 as a beginner Emergency Fund.

Step 2. Work the Debt Snowball and become Debt Free as fast as possible.

Step 3. Save up 3-6 months of your living expenses as an Emergency Fund.

If you follow these steps, you will never find yourself in a desperate position with debt as your only option. And you will never, ever, ever have to borrow money again! THAT’S TRUE FREEDOM!!!


Yours In Freedom,

Clint



Join the conversation…which option would you have chosen in this situation? Leave your comments below!