![A worried woman looks at bills](https://www.bankrate.com/2021/06/16133203/Alternatives-to-emergency-and-payday-loans.jpeg?auto=webp&fit=crop&width=230&height=150)
Emergency and payday loan alternatives
Payday loans are an easy way to get cash, but they have sky-high interest rates.
You have a world of options at your fingertips when it comes to paying down your loans. Knowing what they are is the key to becoming debt-free.
— Hanneh Bareham
Hanneh Bareham, a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠, has been a personal finance writer with Bankrate since 2020. She started as a credit cards reporter before transitioning into the role of student loans reporter. She is now a writer on the loans team, further widening her scope across multiple forms of consumer lending.
She has been featured in multiple national and regional media outlets, including Yahoo, CNBC, Business Insider, The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Times and more. Her desire to empower borrowers comes from her own experiences as a college graduate managing her finances during a tumultuous economic climate. She aims to help others reach their goals through a better understanding of macroeconomic trends.
When she's not checking her repayment strategies with a loan calculator, Hanneh enjoys acting, baking and trying to find the best cup of coffee on the East Coast.
When it comes to taking out any sort of installment loan or repayment plan, it's so important to know exactly what you're signing up for. Before applying, read the terms and conditions or find the basic loan details — like interest rate ranges and repayment terms — on the lender's website to make sure you're doing what's best for your finances.
You have a world of options at your fingertips when it comes to paying down your loans. Knowing what they are is the key to becoming debt-free.
— Hanneh Bareham
Payday loans are an easy way to get cash, but they have sky-high interest rates.
If you’re looking for a low-cost loan, ask your bank if it offers passbook loans.
Students in more than 30 states may be able to get their tuition covered.
Use this guide to help you through the credit card application process. Learn everything you need to do to apply for a credit card and increase your chances of approval.
While JG Wentworth is a well-known company, there are still drawbacks to consider. Here are a few examples of what we like about the company and what we think could stand to change.
Bankrate walks through all of the essential steps in the student loan refinancing process, letting you compare rates, start research, or get offers.
Pay for school the smart way. Find a winning lender with our list of the latest and greatest so you can focus on your school, not your school loans.
Get prequalified for the best personal loan rate for you. Use our personal loans marketplace to get a loan for debt consolidation, major purchases and more.