With the New Year upon us and Christmas bills starting to pile up, countless Americans are wondering how they will pay the bills and cover the taxes due in April. Payday loans are one solution to individuals feeling the crunch of bills and taxes. A cash advance will enable you to pay those bills and take care of impending circumstances without over-extending your credit cards or racking up non-sufficient fund fees. This source of fast cash is used by many Americans to eliminate the long-term high cost of credit card interest rates while providing an instant cash solution for their pressing needs. Why would you consider a payday loan? That is the question many American workers ask when they are looking for a solution to their bills, and unfortunately, those working class individuals without pristine credit are shut out of traditional options like low interest rate credit cards and home equity lines. The payday cash loan has become a practical option for individuals experiencing a financial emergency. To meet the requirements for a payday loan, most cash advance services require you to meet a few qualifications. First, you need to be at least 18 years of age and a United States citizen. Second, you need to have a job or be able to show that you receive some kind of regular income, which brings in at least $1000 each month. Third, you must have a checking account (a few will qualify you with a savings account) to finalize the transaction. Some companies will include additional requirements, but these are the most common prerequisites to obtain a payday advance. If you meet these conditions, you generally have to fill out the company¡¯s online form to find out how much you will qualify to receive. They, like nearly all lending institutions, will gauge the amount you may borrow by the amount of your income, although, unlike most lending institutions, these companies are much more lenient in their lending practices. In general, the majority of the online payday advance companies do not disqualify you because of bad credit, bankruptcy history, or prior bad checks. There are no long lines and no long delays while the company reviews your application. In addition, this process takes place in the comfort of your own home or office, not the cold atmosphere of a bank. Most companies have a relatively simple and quick online form for you to fill out, and once your loan is approved and you speak with a representative, the company deposits cash directly into your bank account. Make sure you review the website completely, and read the details. Do you find the fees fair, and are the terms acceptable? In order to receive a cash advance, companies require you to have a bank account because when it is time to pay back the loan, the company will simply deduct the principle and fees from your account during your next pay period unless you ask for an extension. Now the fees seem extremely high for this service unless you do the math on how much it will cost you not to take the short-term loan. What did you pay for your last bounced check? Most banks charge between $25-$35, and often times merchants charge a matching fee. The expense of a payday loan does not sound nearly as bad once you consider the bank charges and credit reporting that takes place when you bounce a check. If your credit card company were going to charge you a $29 late fee and raise your interest rate, wouldn¡¯t you be better served to take an advance on your paycheck rather than take the long-term consequences of higher interest rates? Of course, there are payday loan companies that are out there to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers, and that is why you must do your homework and make sure the fees and terms are acceptable. Lately, many news articles have criticized the payday loan industry, yet these same reporters have not questioned the excessive fees and interest rates charged by traditional lending institutions. Obviously, it is in the best interest of banks and credit card companies if consumers continue to accept their Machiavellian policies (remember Machiavelli advocated deceit to gain and maintain power). Non-traditional lending companies challenge this totalitarian authority and give the working class another option besides paying outrageous credit card fees, bank fees, and unwarranted interest rates.

Danielle Peck is the partner and research specialist for www.skitastic.com, a website that provides information and resources on cash advance and payday loans. You can visit the website at: http://www.skitastic.com.

About the author:

Danielle Peck has a Degree in Sociology, and spends much of her time examining new phenomena in culture. Her main goals in this pursuit encompass both social and personal change while finding the link that makes us all human in the twenty-first century.