The holiday season has a way of putting stress on your finances. Even if you’ve saved all year long to buy gifts and host loved ones, you never know what types of financial challenges you’ll run into during this time of the year.

Fortunately, there are a variety of strategies you can use to relieve stress and better enjoy the holiday season.

Here are three ways an installment loan can help around the holidays:

1. Buy What You Need

You need to think long and hard before borrowing money to buy gifts and take on other holiday expenses, but this could be just what you’re looking for.

A personal loan, for example, is a type of installment loan that you can use for pretty much any expense imaginable.

If you need extra money during the holiday season, this is one of the best ways to get your hands on additional funds.

Tip: don’t borrow money unless you have a plan for repaying it after the holiday season. It may sound like a great idea during the holidays, but you don’t want to regret your decision after the new year.

2. Catch Up On Your Bills

Did you spend all your extra money having a good time during the holiday season? From gifts to parties and everything in between, you may have parted with quite a bit of cash.

Now that the holidays are over, you’re wondering how to get your finances back in order.

With an installment loan, you can catch up on current and past due bills. You can also use this to consolidate debt, such as credit cards, as a means of saving money on interest.

3. Buy Some Time

You spent too much money during the holidays and now you’re regretting it. Since you can’t take back gifts or go back in time and skip all those holiday parties, you need to get serious about the next steps.

If you don’t have enough money on hand (or enough money coming in) to meet your financial obligations, an installment loan can help. With this, you can buy time to earn enough money to slowly get back on track.

Tip: make sure the use of an installment loan doesn’t make your situation worse, such as by taking on another payment that you can’t afford.

Plan for the Holidays

There is no denying the fact that the holiday season is one of the most exciting times of the year. It can also be one of the most costly, especially if you’re spending money without considering the long-term impact.
The holiday season picks up in full swing in November, so the end of summer is a good time to start planning.

Answer questions such as:

• How much money do you need to make it through the holiday season?
• What are some expenses that you can’t avoid?
• What are some expenses that you can eliminate from your budget?
• Do you have money in the bank to pay for holiday expenses, or will you rely on a loan or credit card?

By answering these questions, among others, you’ll find it easier to plan for the holidays. And when you plan appropriately, you don’t have to worry about regretting your financial decisions in the new year.