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With the typical two-week payday loan, you can end up paying fees that are equal to an APR of almost 400%, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB.

And if you can't pay back the loan when it's due, you might be tempted to take out another costly loan. It can turn into a revolving door of debt, which you want to avoid.

Payday loan alternatives

If you’re looking for a short-term loan, then consider these cheaper and better alternatives to a payday loan.

Personal loans to get you one step ahead

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1. Ask your employer for a loan

One payday loan alternative is to get a loan from your employer.

Some employers are willing to provide a paycheck advance. You'll want to talk with human resources to discuss if this is an option for you. If you work for a small company, you may consider approaching the owner of the business.

2. Find a work-based loan app

For those of you that want to avoid approaching your employer directly, there’s an app for you. Some employers are offering their workers low-cost emergency loans using apps and services such as HoneyBee, Salary Finance and TrueConnect.

Other apps like Earnin and PayActiv give you access to the money you earn as you earn it, so you don't have to wait for your normal payday.

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3. Apply for a personal loan

Personal loans offer a lot of flexibility. They can be used for just about anything from consolidating debt to buying a new car. A personal loan is an unsecured loan, which means you don't need to put up collateral, like a house or a car, as you would do with a secured loan.

Personal loans are offered by banks, credit unions and online lenders. They tend to have fixed interest rates, and The repayment terms range anywhere from two to seven years, giving you plenty of time to pay them back.

More: Best personal loans

4. Negotiate a payment plan

If it's routine bills that are putting you in a bind, reach out to the people you owe and see if they'll cut you a break.

You might be surprised to find that most institutions, from your utility company to your credit card issuer, will be willing to negotiate a payment plan.

You don’t want to just stop paying these bills because they will hit you with fees. On top of that, they will report your missed payments to the credit bureaus, which could damage your credit score.

Instead, call and ask if they'll pause your payments, or accept smaller ones that you can afford, for a period of time to help you pay off the debt.

5. Get a cash advance from your bank

Your bank or credit union might be able to offer you a cash advance. Most banks offer some sort of payday loan alternative or allow you to take an overdraft to help you through your financial crunch.

If you do choose to go this route, be sure that you're not paying sky-high interest, and ask about any associated fees.

6. Turn to your credit cards

As a last resort, you may use your credit card as a payday loan alternative.

Paying your bills with plastic or even taking credit card cash advances will likely be cheaper than a payday loan.

But the downsides are that you'll be piling up credit card debt, and a cash advance will come with a high APR and a fee – usually $10 or 5%, whichever is higher.

You'll need to pay off the balance as quickly as you can to avoid interest charges that will pump up the amount you owe over time.

More: Personal loans vs. credit cards

Avoiding a payday loan

Unplanned expenses are just a part of life.

Looking ahead, you’ll want to start building an emergency fund so that you can avoid having to seek out a payday loan or payday loan alternative.

What's best way to use a personal loan?

A personal loan can be used to consolidate debt, take a much-needed vacation or complete that home improvement project.

With Credible, get a personal loan quote from vetted lenders in minutes - for free. There are no hidden fees and you can get prequalified in just three minutes.

Don’t let a lack of cash hold you back.

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Disclaimer

The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter.