Cash advances are very expensive. You can expect to pay around $25 for each $100 that you borrow, so keep that figure in mind when you are looking for a loan. Use the average to base the rates of each lender that you check out. If they are way higher or lower, proceed with caution. Loans that are way cheaper than the average usually will have some sort of catch or hidden fee that will screw you later on.

Not all lenders online are actually lenders at all. Most of the websites that you come across are actually lead generators that earn a commission when you get a loan. This isn’t inherently bad, but not all are created equal. You may even get a cheaper rate this way, since some of them shop your application around for the best rate. The rule of thumb is that if it feels fishy, it probably is, so stay away from those!

Paying back cash advances has its problems as well. If you have the option between writing a check or having the lender automatically withdraw the funds from your checking account, go with the check. In the case that you fail to pay the loan back, a lender that has access to your checking account will bleed your funds dry until they feel that they’ve recouped their money.

Deals that sound too good to be true usually aren’t true, deals that feel fishy are usually fishy, trust your gut and if it doesn’t feel right move on! There are so many people out there that want to lend you money that you shouldn’t waste your time with something that might cause you grief later!