![](https://www.bankrate.com/2023/11/01171452/loans-vs-credit-cards-which-is-best-for-holiday-shopping.png?auto=webp&fit=crop&width=230&height=150)
Loans vs. credit cards: Which is best for holiday shopping?
Loans and credit cards can help you pay for holiday gifts, but there’s cons to each.
Heidi Rivera is a personal finance writer and reporter for Bankrate. Her areas of expertise include personal loans, student loans and debt consolidation, in addition to data collection and analysis. Heidi started covering personal finance topics in late 2018 and her work has been featured in several publications, including Money, MSN Money, Yahoo Finance and Money Under 30.
Before working in finance, Heidi spent several years in post production, working as a subtitle editor for different TV and film studios.
When she isn’t giving her best financial advice, Heidi enjoys spending time with her cats, crafting and pinning home decor ideas on Pinterest.
Before applying for any loan product, make sure you understand how the APR (annual percentage rate) works and how it accrues. I certainly didn’t know this when I took out private student loans in college and was surprised to see how much my balances had grown once I graduated. If possible, make interest payments even when you’re in your grace period — this can make a world of difference in the long run.
Loans and credit cards can help you pay for holiday gifts, but there’s cons to each.
Debt settlement can help you get out of debt faster, but it will impact your credit.
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.
Make sure you're borrowing from the best of the best. Find the latest and greatest personal loan lenders with this year's Banakrate Awards.
Self-employed individuals vary by their industry and work.
Bankrate looks at managing debt in financial crisis
Getting a credit-builder loan is easier than getting a traditional loan.