Can I Apply for a Second Personal Loan?

Even after borrowing a Personal Loan, you might find yourself in a situation that might require additional finances. Emergencies can occur at any time, even after you have borrowed a Personal Loan. In these situations, borrowing funds for the second time might prove to be your saving grace. But the first question that would strike your mind is can I apply for a second personal loan while I am already repaying an existing Personal loan? Read more to find out:

Can You Get a Second Personal Loan?

The answer is yes, you can apply for a second Personal Loan. However, just like the first time, you will have to prove your eligibility to the lender for your loan to be approved. You can use a personal loan eligibility calculator to evaluate your eligibility and calculate the maximum amount you can borrow based on various eligibility factors. However, here are some factors that you should consider before opting for a second loan:

• Debt Cycle: While opting for a loan might seem like a quick fix solution to your financial woes, it might throw you into a cycle of debt. If you are considering opting for a loan, it might be wise to re-think your decision or evaluate other possible means of financing your expenses. 
• Impact on Your Credit Score: Borrowing a second loan will increase your overall credit limit utilisation. If applied for too quickly after getting the first loan, it might also indicate that you are too hungry for credit. This could lower your credit score and will make it difficult to obtain a loan in the future.
• Higher Debt to Income Ratio: Your debt-to-income ratio refers to all your monthly payments divided by your monthly income. This figure indicates your potential to repay borrowed finances and is used by most lenders before sanctioning your loan. If more than 40% of your disposable income goes towards EMI payments, you might be unqualified for a second personal loan. 

What are the Alternatives to Opting for a Second Personal Loan?

Here are some alternatives to consider before opting for a second personal loan:

• Savings: Although this might seem obvious if the expense you are planning to borrow for is frivolous and can be delayed, re-evaluating your spending habits and generating savings might be a better alternative to opting for a second personal loan.
• Debt Consolidation Loan: To avoid the hassle of repaying multiple loans simultaneously, you can consider refinancing your debts into a single personal loan enabling you to manage your repayments with ease.
• Top-up loan: You can check with your lender for a top-up on your ongoing loan. The advantage here is that you can get it quickly with minimal paperwork. 
• Loans Against Securities: You can avail the option of obtaining a loan against securities at competitive rates of interest by pledging various financial assets as collateral. 
• Personal Loan Balance Transfer: A personal loan balance transfer enables you to transfer the balance of your loan to another lender. This, combined with a top-up loan might prove to be a better option if you are offered better borrowing options as compared to those offered by the current lender. Opting for a top-up loan also helps in obtaining finance at reasonable rates of interest and eliminates the hassle of managing two different loans at the same time.

A second personal loan can cause a significant dent in your finances if not managed correctly. Hence, it is advised to evaluate the various options at your disposal and select the solution that best suits your needs.

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