A short-term cash loan is a financial management tool that provides a sensible alternative to costly bounced checks, late payment charges and tarnished credit ratings.

There are times when cash loans are justified. Short-term cash loans provide occasional help to those who need it, to pay for an unexpected car repair or a similar emergency expense.

Short-term loans are also a good idea if you are in danger of being late on certain payments. This can be far more expensive than any cash advance loan fee, since it can damage your credit rating and make future loans more expensive. This is especially true in the case of mortgage or car payments. Some people also take out loans to pay for luxuries like a vacation or a new television.

An increasing number of consumers choose a short-term cash loan to cover unexpected expenses or to bridge a short-term cash crunch, without incurring revolving debt. These loans are not intended to be a long-term financial solution, but to care for immediate cash needs. The annual percentage rate and terms of the loan vary by state.

Since a short-term cash loan is a short-term solution to an immediate need, it is not intended for repeated use in carrying an individual from payday to payday. It is helpful when an immediate need arises, but a short-term cash loan is not a long-term solution for ongoing budget management.

Short-term cash loans differ from short-term payday loans, which are loans intended to be paid back out of the borrowers next paycheck.