09/06/2023
BEFORE TAKING THE LOAN
1. Borrow only for the right reasons
Personal loans are useful for short-term needs. Borrowing for the sake of luxury is nearly always a red flag... Of course, the rules may be different when you’re a billionaire. But for everyone else, It is important that you carefully evaluate your reasons for borrowing and whether it is your sole alternative for raising funds.
A good reason to borrow is to invest in a business that can make money, buy a car to ease your mobility, and so on. Other reasons could be for academic purposes or health emergencies. Avoid borrowing to buy the latest fashion items or other liabilities.
2. Don’t bite more than is necessary
Only borrow what you need.
Just because your loan facilitator gives you a huge credit line doesn’t mean you should max it out every time. If you need ₦50,000 but the loan company says you can borrow up to ₦75,000, stick to ₦50,000.
Yes, I understand this may be difficult but it’s an important step to managing your loan.
3. Read the fine print
Unlike installing computer software where most of us hardly read the terms and conditions, always read in-between the lines before taking any loan.
With how accessible personal loans are these days, it is easy to fall into the temptation of accepting all terms without reading through them.
Some loan companies insert terms in-between lines that may not be best for you, while others use bogus language and lawyer-speak to mask their true intent; your duty is to be sure you fully understand all terms and conditions before committing.
4. Choose the right lending company
Following the above point, you have to review different loan companies and their terms before choosing the right one for you.
Don’t rush to install every loan app on your smartphone and start accessing loans without doing your due diligence. Just recently, it was discovered some loan apps were backed by international loan shark rings preying on unsuspecting borrowers.