 TITLE: What Is a Courtesy Loan? CONTENT: Alternatives When You Need Money Fast\n-------------------------------------\nTo avoid a payday loan or title loan, you can explore other options if you have bad credit or no credit. Among them are:\n*   **Unsecured personal loan**: You may be able to obtain a personal loan that doesn't require collateral from a local bank or credit union, or from an online lending platform like LendingClub, Prosper or Upstart. Be aware that you may need a solid credit history and a high credit score to qualify for the best terms, such as a low APR.\n*   **Cosigned loan**: A creditworthy relative or friend may be willing to cosign a loan you borrow, and perhaps give you a better shot at qualifying to borrow money than if you were to go it alone. Keep in mind that if you do recruit a cosigner, you could jeopardize their credit in addition to your own if you fall behind on payments or default on the loan altogether.\n*   **Loan from friends or family**: You may be able to approach a friend or family member about borrowing money to cope with your cash crunch. To head off future conflicts, be sure to put the lending agreement in writing and stick to your word. The agreement should spell out all the conditions of the loan, such as the amount borrowed, the interest rate and consequences for breaking the terms.\n*   **Credit card cash advance**: If you have a credit card, you may be able to borrow a certain amount of money as a credit card cash advance. When choosing among credit cards, try to pick the one with lowest APR for cash advances. Keep in mind that APRs for cash advances can exceed 25%, so this should only be considered as a last-resort option. END