Things to consider with an overdraft

With an overdraft there are a few things that you will need to consider.

The first is the overdraft limit, or extent. This covers how much money you are allowed to go overdrawn. Go above this amount and you might be liable for hefty fees or even have financial difficulties - for instance it could be that you have things like cheques bouncing and other undesirable outcomes such as that.

The next consideration is the interest rate you will be paying on the balance.

The lower the interest rate you pay the better, stick to that and you won't go far wrong.

However there are complexities that can make comparisons tricky for instance some might offer a lower rate at a certain level of overdraft and some accounts even have a certain sum that is interest free so if you hover at or around that limit then you should be just fine.

Remember that if you think you will use your overdraft a lot it might actually be worth getting an added extra current account which charges fees, but if you live at or around the overdraft limit then this can actually save you money in the long run, so is something that is worth considering.

The key with an overdraft is that you should see and use it as a safety net and don't use it unless you have to.

Sadly some see it as money that is somehow theirs to spend but really that is an illusion, it is not your money but a type of loan so view it that way and only use it if you really have to.

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