Online loans cover last-minute holiday needs

There are two kinds of people when it comes to the holiday season: Those who have their shopping entirely finished the day after Thanksgiving, and those who seem to leave every detail to the last minute. For those in the latter category, there are lines of nontraditional credit that can offer funding needed for last-minute holiday expenses, writes Personal Money Store, and many cash advances are even available online for added convenience. There are a few basic requirements needed for such loans, according to the website. Money recipients must be legal U.S. residents, currently employed, at least 18 years of age, provide proof of identity and have an active bank account. These loans are similar to short term loans in the way they are obtained, but they offer a little extra flexibility. Traditional short term loans often require those who take a loan to repay the money from their very next paycheck. But holiday loans often allow for small installment payments until the loan is paid off. Companies that give out the loans can let their customers know that they are not alone in needing money help. According to the blog Reason, short term loans are incredibly popular these days. There are 22,000 short term storefronts in the U.S., and the industry loaned a combined $35 billion in 2009.