
Should you take a rebate or 0% financing? It depends
Consider whether you’d like lower monthly payments or cash toward the down payment.
Katie Lowery is a Bankrate editor on the Loans team, where she shapes content to help people navigate personal loans, auto loans and student loans. She’s passionate about financial literacy and strives to help consumers make informed decisions with their money.
Before joining Bankrate, Katie edited personal finance content at LendingTree and CNN Underscored Money. She has spent more than a decade editing financial and economic content and was the sole editor of several award-winning books. When she’s not exploring the latest lending trends, Katie enjoys knitting, tending to her growing plant collection and traveling with her family. She currently lives outside Austin, Texas.
Borrowing money and managing debt can feel overwhelming, but if you have an understanding of the process and a clear goal in mind, your money can work for you. A great first step is to check your credit score and reports, then focus on improving your credit profile so you’re well positioned to borrow at an affordable rate.
Consider whether you’d like lower monthly payments or cash toward the down payment.
Home equity loans or balance transfer cards may be a better way to consolidate debt.
Sezzle offers buy now, pay later loans that allow you to pay down a purchase in four payments over six months.
The Alliant Credit Union personal loan is an excellent choice for individuals who have a respectable income and a strong credit history. It offers the advantage of no fees and no repercussions for settling your outstanding amount ahead of schedule.
OneMain Financial is an online lender offering unsecured and secured loans to borrowers with below-average credit.
Brigit is a pay advance app that lends small amounts — $250 at a time — that have set repayment timelines. There are no APRs,, but a monthly fee is charged.
Happy Money provides online loans with low rates to borrowers solely interested in eliminating high-interest credit card debt.
Rocket Loans has fast funding, although it does charge origination fees.