PBNJ Productions/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Several emergency loan types, including personal loans and credit card advances, can fund urgent needs quickly — in some cases within one business day. Payday loans and title loans should be used as a last resort since they come with…

Key takeaways Private student loans may offer higher borrowing limits and potentially lower interest rates compared to federal loans, but they lack benefits like income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness. Private student loans may also be tax deductible, but they can carry the risk of potentially not being discharged in…

Dougal Waters/Getty Images Key takeaways First-time car buyer programs offer flexible qualification requirements and other incentives to make it easier for those with little or no credit history to finance their first car purchase. These programs typically have eligibility criteria such as being at least 18 years old, providing proof…

Buy now, pay later (BNPL) as a payment option is available seemingly everywhere. From department stores to airline tickets, you can make payments on small and large purchases with the convenient payment model. But as simple as it seems, buy now, pay later can be a slippery slope if you…