Nowadays, taking a loan is as easy as logging in to your favorite social media site. No more CI or Customer Intelligence and personal background assessments are needed. In just a few minutes, your loan application could be approved depending on the loan usage and the amount to be loaned. In fact, Homecredit, a financing company here in the Philippines approves gadget, appliance, and cash loan by showing two valid IDs with a salary slip only. But regardless of the type of loan that you are applying for, no matter how big or small it is, it is still important to consider the following points even before thinking of having a loan.
Is it a need or a want?
Most of the time, some people take loans for wants. Newly-released gadgets and fancy cars are few examples of wants. Most of them are not income-generating possessions that could depreciate in value in few years. However, a gadget and a car might become one of the needs especially if these mediums are essential to run a business.
Calculate the rate of interest
This factor is pretty much obvious before getting a loan. It is important to know how much the lender will take away from your pocket. Clearly, the lower rate of interest, the better. And in order to lessen the interest considering the same amount of loan, try to minimize the period of paying for the loan.
Affordability to pay for the maintenance
If you’re considering a loan for a car or a real estate, you have to take into consideration the upcoming costs in order to upkeep the maintenance of your properties. Can you handle the fuel expenses? How about the property taxes? Just be sure not to be one of those people who loaned considerable amounts for buying kinds of stuff only to realize how maintenance is costly and unaffordable in the long run.
Your own earning potential
While it is very easy to over-count the eggs that haven’t been hatched, it is also easy to underestimate the future expenditures, not to mention the unforeseen events that may happen. If you think your earnings is just enough to pay for the amount you are about to loan, then think again. Having enough is never enough since it may also mean that you’ll be living from paycheck to paycheck until your monthly loan installment is finished.
Read the documents
Always read everything that has been written on the agreement loan before signing it. Do not rely solely on that sales representative for he must have skipped several important details that may be used against you in the future.
No matter how many times I look at it, a loan is just another term as debt. And as what I’ve said in my recent Credit Story, a debt will always mean “Enjoy now, Suffer later” for me. It can only be “Enjoy now, Enjoy even more later” if the rate of return of the loan’s purpose (i.e. business, investments) is greater than the rate of interest. But if you badly wanted it that much, just make sure to be financially-ready for the added fiscal obligations that you are about to face, or else, you will end up selling other possessions just to pay for your loan.
Nicely put. Loans either make you or mar you. One should think wisely what the end result of obtaining a loan will be. @smaeunabs, I love that part where you said "Enjoy now, suffer later". More like one is postponing one's suffering.
Don't let those beautiful sweet-coated mouth representatives sweet-talk you. As she rightly put, go through the loan terms and agreement word by word, letter by letter and take your time to study the terms of the loan and agreement because at the end, once you pen your signature, ignorance will never or can never be an excuse.
My sister had a bad experience of signing a loan contract without looking closely at the interest rate, which made her really broke paying for a loan that has nearly 50% interest in 6 months.
Indeed, ignorance is never an excuse. Thanks for sharing your insights @aprecious!
hindi masama ang mangutang.. what is bad!! pag nangutang ka lang igastos sa isang luho o d nman importanteng bagay.. nakakadismaya yun.. baon na nga sa utang mangungutang pa ulit.. yung ang sarap batukan. .. nice one
marami akong kakilalang ganito, hindi pa nga nakakabayad ng utang, mangungutang na naman ulit. Ang mas masaklap, hinu hu u na nila ako ngayon, ni hindi pa nakabayad kahit isang sentimo. hahahah
hahaha.. ganun na talaga mga tao ngaun.. sarap putulan ng ulo..
hahahah talaga! kaya minsan, mas nakakahiya pang maningil kesa mangutang hahahah
I always stay away from the subject of debt because I've developed a negative vibe for it, Shie. Pero you laid out the subject of your article clearly, and I'm feeling a different vibe for debts already. Bitaw Shie, I second Darryll's request. Session 2, please!
Yaaaay puhon Abby! excited napud ko for our next session, I'll beep you guys if maluag luagan na among sched. :D Karon kay down kaayo ang Phil Stock Market, but this is a very good time to buy shares, kwarta lang gyud ang kulang hahahah
Mao jud Shie. I think kailangan sad madunggan imong point of view bitaw. I'm about to enter the corporate world na. I need to hear from someone who does a lot of stuff and still manages to remain driven.
Lisod gyud kaayo at first sa akoa ang time management. Pero everytime naa koy free time sa work, dira ko magbasa2 about finances. Dira pud ko mag reflect ug mag assess sa akong current situation if unsa pay pwede nakong mabuhat to broaden my knowledge not only about finances, but also about personal development hahahah charet.
It is really hard to remain driven. Naa say days nga kapuyon ko ug sakto paba ni akong mga gipangbuhat hahahah. But I think it is pretty much healthy to undergo those phases pud. Kay if mustart nakog question sa akong self, meaning naa pagyud diay koy dapat pang i improve.
And if there's one thing nga akong i advice sa imo, be a normal employee lang sa gyud. Promotions are good, but the mental, physical, and emotional exhaustions aren't worth the pay. Para naa pa tay time to learn other things in life. Kay usahay gud and work gyud ang hinungdan maong maluya natas laing butang. hahahaha
yaaay wishing all the best for you Abby :D Welcome to the prison, ay corporate world diay hahahah
Hahaha! Thank you for the well-wishes, Shie! Kanus-a kaha kutob akong sentensya ? Hahaha
Your posts always make me reassess my decisions in life. I really admire how passionate you are in your advocacy. Can’t wait to learn new things from you. 2nd session na please. haha!
-Darryll
Yaaaay it's my pleasure @legendaryll! :D Puhon magkita napud ta ninyo hahahaha stocks session nasad :D I'll beep JC. Hopefully magka session ta after sa Steemsummit :D Yaaaay excited nako :D