A personal loan is a great way to relieve financial burdens. You can use it to cover the cost of an emergency, a family vacation, or a big purchase such as a new car. But managing a loan can be challenging if you are unfamiliar with the ins and outs of lending and budgeting. Missing a payment on your loan can put a ding on your credit score, which will make it harder for you to access financial products in the future. To help you manage your loan, here are some tips you can use to regain control of your finances:
Set a Budget
Creating a budget is a simple but effective way of managing your expenses, ensuring that you have enough money to cover bills, loan repayments, and daily essentials. A good method of budgeting is to divide your expenses into broad categories, making them easier to calculate and keep track of. By setting a budget for yourself, you won’t have to worry about having less money than you know you should or be unsure whether you’re overspending or not.
Make Your Payments On Time
Making a payment after its due date can cost you. If you default on a payment, you will face late fees and penalties, the sizes of which can vary depending on the lender. Additionally, if you took a loan from your credit card company, missing a loan may have adverse effects other than late fees. You may be penalized by receiving an increase in your annual percentage rate (APR) on your credit card for making even a single late payment.
You should also note that being late on a payment will reflect negatively on your credit report. One late payment may not ding your score by much. However, several instances of paying after the due date will likely lower your score significantly.
Falling behind too much on your payments may lead to your debt being transferred to a collections agency. A loan in collections can wreck your credit score and will put you in a stressful situation. Collections agencies can be aggressive, calling you several times a week to urge you to make a payment.
Pay a Little Extra
While paying the minimum amount required keeps your loan in good standing, it is usually better to pay a little extra. By paying more than your monthly minimum, you can reduce the overall length of your loan repayment plan. If you can decrease your loan balance sooner, you will pay less interest in the long run.
However, you have to make sure to review your contract or talk to your lender first before making any extra payments. Some financial institutions will not allow you to pay more than the minimum without prior warning unless stated otherwise in your contract.
Consider Consolidating Your Debt
When managing several loans from multiple lenders, you might find yourself overwhelmed by various due dates, interest rates, and terms you need to keep track of. One good way to solve this problem is through debt consolidation. This process involves combining multiple loans into one. In most cases, consolidating your loans can give you access to lower interest rates and better terms. To top it all off, you will only need to stay on top of a single due date.
While debt consolidation can be an effective way of managing multiple debts, you still have to make your payments on time, every time. Otherwise, your credit score may be impacted negatively.
Monitor Your Credit Score
As with everything involved in your finances, the way you manage your personal loan will reflect on your credit report. If you are diligent in making your monthly payments, you can improve your score. On the other hand, failing to pay on time multiple times can send your credit on a nosedive.
The Bottomline
Taking on debt is something you should not take lightly. You should always consider whether you are ready to commit to diligently paying on time. If you already took out a loan, you have to pay attention to your due dates, the terms offered by your lender, and your overall financial standing. By managing your loans well, you can regain control of your finances and start your journey to being debt-free.
