Cash Advance Online

Life has a habit of sending unexpected costs your way. If your financial situation is already precarious, a seemingly small expense can tip the scales into chaos. A cash advance offers one way to put a temporary bandage on the situation.

In the article below, we will explore what a cash advance is, when it might come in handy, and how a cash advance might impact your financial situation.

Types of Cash Advances

Cash advances come in a few different forms. It’s helpful to understand the basic details of these different types of financial tools. Here’s a closer look at each:

• Credit card cash advance: A credit card cash advance is a financial transaction in which an individual borrows money from a lender or financial institution against their credit card’s available credit line. This borrowing typically comes with a higher interest rate than regular credit card purchases and often incurs additional fees.
• Online cash advance: An online cash advance is often a short-term funding solution that doesn’t require collateral and offers a fast approval process. Although these can come with fast access to cash, the high fees can make them an expensive choice.
• App-based cash advances: Some financial apps offer short-term cash advances through their platform. Depending on the situation, you may be able to receive a cash advance of a few hundred dollars through some apps. But many of these financial apps require a monthly subscription fee and also charge fees on your cash advance.
• Payday loan: Payday loans are short-term loans that often involve a fast approval process without any collateral assets. These loans tend to come with high fees and a short repayment window. They often require borrowers to repay the loan and fees on their next payday, which can lead to a cycle of debt for those who struggle to meet these terms.
• Title loan: A title loan requires collateral through the borrower’s vehicle title. While a title loan might come with a higher loan amount than other options, the borrower risks losing their vehicle if they don’t uphold the terms of the loan.
• Installment loan: An installment loan often comes with a longer repayment term and fixed monthly payments. Like an online cash advance, there is usually no collateral required for an installment loan. But installment loans tend to offer lower fees than other loan types.

It’s worth noting that for many, the term cash advance is associated with credit card users. But the other types of borrowing might be considered a cash advance.

What is a cash advance?

A cash advance is a short-term loan that gives you access to the funds you need upfront. These types of loans tend to have a short repayment term. Additionally, it’s usually relatively easy to qualify for a cash advance.

While cash advances are generally a convenient option, this tends to be an expensive type of loan. Most cash advance borrowers can expect to find high interest rates and fees embedded in the  fine print.

Generally, borrowers are expected to repay the funds quickly. You might have a few weeks to repay the funds, which means a cash advance might not be able to do more than get you to the next paycheck.

How much cash can you withdraw using a cash advance?

The amount of money you can withdraw through an online cash advance varies based on several factors. Every lender has their own set of rules about what amount of money a borrower can qualify for. But in general, borrowers with higher credit scores and reliable incomes will tap into the most borrowing power.

In many cases, you can expect to borrow a few hundred dollars through a cash advance. For example, you might be able to borrow between $50 and $500 with a cash advance. But some lenders might be willing to advance you $100 or more.

If you want to take a cash advance against your credit card, the amount you can withdraw is not equal to your credit limit. Instead, the amount you can withdraw might only be a few hundred dollars, even if you have an overall credit limit of several thousand dollars.

Cash advance terms

The details of a cash advance vary based on the lender. But as you read through the fine print of your loan offer, it’s helpful to have some common cash advance terms in your vocabulary. Here’s a look at some terms you might what to know:

• Interest: Most cash advances come with an interest rate attached. The borrower is expected to repay the loan amount with interest. In general, the interest rate attached to a cash advance is much higher than the interest rate tied to a personal loan.
• Cash advance fee: Some lenders will charge a cash advance fee. The borrower is required to pay this fee before receiving the much-needed funds.
• Annual percentage rate (APR): The APR accurately assesses the total cost of the interest charges and fees that you’ll accumulate over the course of a year. Unfortunately, the APR attached to most cash advances is relatively high, which makes for an expensive loan.
• Loan term: The loan term indicates how long you have to repay the loan. In general, most cash advances require complete repayment within a few weeks or months.
• Collateral: Most cash advance loans don’t require collateral. But if you come across this term, collateral is an asset that you pledge as security for the loan. If you don’t make your payments on-time, the lender has the right to seize the collateral asset as payment.
• Credit check: Many cash advance loans don’t require a credit check. A credit check happens when the lender takes a look at your credit report, which triggers an entry on your credit report.
• Approval speed: Some cash advance lenders are able to approve and fund your loan within the same business day. Others may take several days to finalize your approval and send you the loan funds.

Pros and cons to cash advances

Every financial product has some advantages and disadvantages to consider. Here’s what to keep in mind about cash advances.

Advantages of cash advances

Let’s start with the advantages of taking out a cash advance:

• Quick Access to Funds: Cash advances are known for their speed in providing funds. In emergencies, they can be a convenient source of cash, often available within hours. That could give you access to the funds you need to cover an emergency expense.
• No Credit Check: Many cash advance lenders don’t require a traditional credit check, making them accessible to individuals with poor or no credit history.
• Simple Application Process: Applying for a cash advance is typically straightforward and can often be done online with minimal documentation.
• Short-Term Commitment: Cash advances are designed to be repaid within a short term. With that, you’re not tied to long-term debt obligations.
• No Collateral Required: Cash advances are unsecured, meaning you don’t need to put up collateral like your car or home to secure the loan. With that, you won’t put these valuable assets at risk of loss to get your hands on the cash you need.

At the end of the day, a cash advance can help you keep your head above water when an unexpected expense is thrown your way. The limited borrower requirements and simple application process make the idea of a cash advance enticing.

Disadvantages of cash advances

Of course, there are also some disadvantages to consider when it comes to cash advances.

• High-Interest Rates: Cash advances often come with very high interest rates. The price of sky-high interest rates makes cash advances extremely costly in the long run.
• Immediate Interest Accumulation: In terms of credit card cash advances, interest usually starts to accumulate immediately. That’s a contrast to most credit card purchases, which often have a grace period before interest charges start to accrue.
• Cycle of Debt: Many borrowers struggle to repay the loan within the short repayment window, leading to a cycle of borrowing and high fees that can be difficult to break.
• Limited Loan Amounts: Cash advances typically offer relatively small amounts of money, which may not meet substantial financial needs. But even a few hundred dollars might be enough to help you get through a difficult time.
• Financial Instability: Relying on cash advances can lead to financial instability, as the high cost of borrowing can consume a significant portion of your income, leaving you with less money for essentials like rent or groceries.

A cash advance can alleviate financial distress in the short term. But in the end, a cash advance can put more pressure on your situation when it’s time to repay the loan. Before signing up for a cash advance, evaluate your financial situation. If you don’t have another way to cover an expense, turning to a cash advance might be a necessity. But if you can find any other way to cover the cost, you might be better off avoiding a cash advance.

Does a credit card cash advance impact my credit score?

A credit card cash advance won’t directly impact your credit score. Unlike taking out a new loan, the credit card issuer has already approved you for a certain level of cash advances. With that, you won’t trigger a credit check requirement if you take out a cash advance with your credit card.

However, a credit card cash advance can impact your credit score in the long term. Specifically, taking out a cash advance will impact your credit utilization ratio. If your credit utilization ratio rises too high, this can have a negative impact on your credit score.

When you take out a cash advance through your credit card, the amount you take out will impact your total credit. For example, if you have a credit card balance of $500 and take out a cash advance of $200, then your total credit usage is $700. If you have a credit limit of $5,000, this means you’ll have a 14% credit utilization ratio for this card. In general, it’s best to keep your credit utilization ratio low. When your utilization ratio rises above a certain amount, it can hurt your credit score.

Alternatives to a credit card cash advance

If you need an influx of funds to make ends meet, a cash advance isn’t the only option on the table. Before jumping into a credit card cash advance, don’t hesitate to explore all of your other options. Below is a breakdown of some of the other ways you can get your hands on the funds you need:

Family and friends

A close family member or friend may be willing to give you a short-term loan. In general, a loan from someone you know comes with more forgiving loan terms and lower interest rates. If you decide to pursue this option, try to get the agreement in writing to make sure you understand the deal.

Of course, it might be embarrassing to ask for a loan. But you might have someone in your life who is happy to offer you a helping hand. Before you move forward, consider the potential impacts on your relationship. It might not be worth risking the goodwill to temporarily solve your financial issue.

Tap home equity

If you are a homeowner with significant equity in your home, tapping into your home’s equity through a home equity loan or home equity line of credit could alleviate your financial woes. The downside of this strategy is that you are essentially taking out a second mortgage, which means you risk losing your home if you cannot keep up with the payments.

The upside of a home equity loan is that you can usually find relatively low interest rate options.

Get a personal loan

A personal loan is a type of installment loan that doesn’t require any collateral. If you have a reasonably good credit score and reliable income, getting a personal loan might be an option. In general, personal loans come with much higher loan amounts available and lower interest rates attached.

Evaluate your expenses

If you are tight on cash, the first place to look is at your own spending habits. It’s really important to understand why you are in the financial situation you are in. For some, an unexpected expense did throw a wrench in your carefully laid plans. But for others, the need for a cash infusion is a result of spending beyond their means for an extended period of time.

Take a close look at your spending to determine which category you fall into. If you are consistently overspending, it might be time to work on overhauling your financial habits. Find ways to cut back on spending in your budget. A few common strategies include cutting back on subscriptions, eating out less times each month, downsizing apartments, and choosing to drive an older vehicle.

Of course, it’s not always possible to cut spending. But if it is an option for you, consider pursuing this strategy.

Boost your income

While there is a limit to how much you can cut out of your spending, there is no limit to how much you can add to your income. A higher income can help you handle some of your cash flow issues more easily.

Some possible ways to increase your income include asking for a raise at work, picking up overtime hours, selling things from around the house, and picking up a side hustle. Personally, the possibility of a side hustle is the most exciting. Consider building a side hustle around a skill or interest you already possess. For example, consider walking dogs for cash if you love pets. Or if you want to pursue your interest in graphic design, consider moonlighting as a freelance graphic designer.

Increasing your income might not be easy. But it’s usually worth the effort. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

The bottom line

Getting a cash advance online could be the solution for your short-term cash crunch. While a cash advance might be able to help you make ends meet for now, the high costs could make it harder to build a stable financial future.

Before you apply for an online cash advance, explore all of your alternatives to help you avoid taking on a loan with a very high interest rate.

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