When it comes to debt, you might think it’s just all the same. In fact, debt can be good or bad based on its purpose and timing. The purpose is your reason for incurring debt, and it determines whether it’s good or bad debt. Equally, the time accorded for paying off that debt by the lender is also a crucial determiner of how beneficial that debt may be to you. 

So, when considering taking a loan, don’t just look at how much money you can borrow – look at why you’re borrowing that money and when do you plan on paying it back.

The next time you want to borrow some money, remember that not all debt is bad. While experts stress that any and every debt is a problem, there are several reasons that make borrowing worthwhile. 

In general, though, it’s a good idea to avoid credit card debt and short-term loans because they tend to have high-interest rates.

Some lenders offer consolidated loans, which means you don’t have to pay for individual loans separately. Nectar, a technology-driven loan lender, offers Best debt consolidation loans in NZ, and combines multiple debts into a single loan with a fixed rate, ensuring you don’t have to contend with multiple loan payments at variable rates. 

Good Debt

All investments are risky, but a good investment is one where the risk is lower. The returns are usually more predictable. Some examples of good debt include:

Mortgage 

As long as you are putting down at least 20% of your income into mortgage repayment on a house with affordable pricing, your mortgage payments should decrease over the years. 

The most common form of good debt is a mortgage, though this type of debt can also be bad if are looking into buying a house that is beyond your means to afford. 

In general, though, once the house is yours, you can expect a good return on investment when you sell it later on. Plus, since homes tend to appreciate over time, this means that as long as you don’t lose your job or get into other financial trouble, your mortgage payments will likely become less burdensome over time and may even decrease as property taxes go down or your income increases.

Student Loans 

If you get a degree that leads to a high-paying job, then your student loan can be considered good. In fact, many employers out there will help you pay for college once they realize that you could be a potential asset for the organization later on.

Business Loan 

If you can use the money from the loan to start or grow a business, then it can be considered good debt. Before taking a business loan, you should ensure that you have a solid and failproof business idea that won’t crash once it hits the market. If a loan helps you launch a profitable business then that loan can be considered a good return on investment. 

Bad Debt

Bad debt does not bring in any income, nor does it typically increase in value over time. Bad debt refers to any type of loans that are used for purposes other than investments. 

Credit cards and payday loans are typical examples of this type of debt because they don’t offer any sort of return on investment (ROI). The interest rates on these types of loans are often high and make it difficult for borrowers to pay back what they owe without adding to their financial problems.

Bad debt is money you borrow for things like a vacation, entertainment, or clothing. These items don’t increase in value and may depreciate over time. Bad debt has higher interest rates than good debt, making it more difficult to pay off.

Credit card balance 

While these may be cheaper than other forms of credit, they charge high-interest rates and there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to pay off the balance before it becomes due. If you do use credit cards, make sure you only use them for emergencies and pay off the balance at the end of each month, so they don’t become a long-term liability on your balance sheet.

Personal loans

They’re usually high-interest loans that can be paid in smaller payments. The amount paid each time is so low that it can take years to pay off the principal. The longer you carry personal loans, the more interest you’ll be liable to pay on it, and the less likely you’re to keep making the payments before due time. 

A personal loan is a type of debt that allows you to borrow money for a variety of reasons, such as paying bills or buying a car. Personal loans typically have lower interest rates than other credit products and can be used for large purchases or small emergencies.

There are two types of personal loans: secured and unsecured. Both types are based on your credit history, but the difference lies in how you use the funds. 

With an unsecured personal loan, you’re not required to put up collateral (something of value to ensure repayment) because the lender doesn’t have access to anything that belongs to you personally in case you default on the loan payment. With an unsecured personal loan, lenders rely on your income and credit score instead of collateral.

A secured personal loan is one where the lender will require some sort of collateral from you — usually something like a house or a car — if you were ever unable to pay back the loan fully. In this situation, the lender would take possession of the collateral and sell it off in order to recoup losses.

Payday loans

Payday loans, or high-interest loans that don’t require credit checks, are an example of bad debt. Payday loans are designed to get you through a short-term financial problem, such as an unexpected car repair bill, until you can get it paid through your next paycheck. 

However, most people use payday loans in the same way they would use a credit card: They spend the cash on something—perhaps a new TV—and then pay it back over time, with interest. If you’re trying to save money or live on a budget, paying back interest on what you’ve already bought is only hurting your finances in the long run.

Conclusion

It is nice to have financial freedom, but sometimes loan taking cannot be avoided. Not all debt is created equal, and good debt can help you get out of financial problems and achieve your business and life goals faster. You should be aware of what constitutes good debt, so you can avoid incurring the wrong kind of debt, which can only make you financially miserable with the never-ending payments.