What Can A Personal Loan Be Used For?

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Personal cash loans are borrowed from banks, credit unions, or online lenders, and can be used for multiple reasons. For example, if you are short on finances., you could use a personal loan to pay off emergency medical expenses, weddings, travel, etc. You could also use one for more extensive, longer-term investments.

Easy personal loans can also be highly beneficial for consolidating debts or boosting your credit score once paid off.

In this blog, we cover the basics of personal loans, how they work, and what expenses you can cover with a cash loan.

What is a personal loan?

A personal cash loan is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to access money when you need it most. Generally, cash loans cover personal expenses, including short-term emergency or discretionary fees. Since personal loans in New Zealand are flexible, you can use them to cover a multitude of things, such as:

  • Educational expenses while you’re part-time working.
  • Home renovations and repairs.
  • Wedding costs.
  • Medical bills.
  • Reduced interest rates
  • Debt consolidation.

How is a personal loan different from an instalment loan?

Instalment loans such as student loans, car loans, and mortgage loans are used to fund more specific expenses. Personal loans are more versatile and can be used for almost any reason except for gambling and investing. Whether taking care of unexpected doctor bills or taking a vacation, you can use personal loans to provide you with the necessary funding to cover large purchases.

What are the different types of personal loans?

Personal loans may be secured or unsecured. Fast personal loans require collateral as a condition of borrowing. For example, you may secure a personal loan with a physical asset, such as your vehicle or house. When you default on the loan, the lender could take your collateral to fulfil the rest of your debt.
Unsecured personal loans don’t require collateral for you to obtain the loan. There are banks, credit unions, and online lenders who offer unsecured loans with no collateral to collect. This usually means borrowers must pay higher interest rates for an unsecured personal loan.

How can I apply for a personal loan?

You can apply for a personal loan from banks, credit unions or reputable online lenders. At MoneyShop, you can conveniently apply online for a loan between $200 to $20,000, and the application takes as little as two minutes! Our expert team will review your application. Once your application is approved, we’ll discuss the given loan terms and fund the loan once you confirm the established loan agreement.

What is a personal loan agreement?

A loan agreement protects the borrower and the lender from confusion or dispute. Within a loan agreement, you will find basic information regarding the loan, including interest rates, repayment terms, fees, penalties, and stipulations applied to the loan.

Get a personal loan with MoneyShop

If you want to apply for a loan, we make the process as easy and stress-free as possible! With competitive rates, streamlined online service, and helpful loan information, the MoneyShop team are known as New Zealand’s most trustworthy loan provider. Contact our friendly team if you want to talk about small or large fast loan options.

*MoneyShop loans are subject to responsible lending checks and standard approval criteria. Interest rates and fees vary based on your loan type and amount. For full details, please see our Privacy Policy, Terms & Conditions, and Costs of Borrowing page.

This information is general in nature and isn’t financial or professional advice. MoneyShop does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this content, and we recommend seeking personalised advice before making financial decisions

Our costs and terms

Loan amount

Borrow between $200 and $20,000, depending on your situation. Example: $3,000 over 78 weeks = $58.87/week.

Loan terms

Choose a term from 3 months to 3 years. Repay weekly. We’ll show your full schedule upfront.

Interest rate

The interest rates are 29.95% for loans with security or refinanced from existing loans, new unsecured loans are also 29.95%. The rate is fixed for the whole of the contract. Interest charges are calculated by multiplying the unpaid balance at the end of the day by a daily interest rate. The daily interest rate is calculated by dividing the annual interest rate by 365. Interest is charged when instalments fall due.

Default interest rate

MoneyShop doesn’t charge default interest. If your account falls behind, a $1 daily arrears fee may apply until things are back on track. Reversed payments incur a $5 fee, and missed‑payment contact may involve a letter fee (up to $50), a $5 phone fee, or an $80 + GST home‑visit fee. Any third‑party recovery costs are passed on at cost.

Establishment fees

One-time setup fee based on loan size:

Fee Cost
$200 to $499 $65.00
$500 to $800 $160.00
$800 to $5,000 for three years or less $300.00
$800 to $5,000 for three years or less $300.00
$5,000 to $15,000 for three years or less $310.00
Over $15,000 for more than three years $455.00

Some loan setup costs come from third parties — such as credit checks, PPSR searches, and security‑registration fees — and these are passed on at cost. Your account also has a daily administration charge of 55c while it’s open. We send statements every six months, and extra statements are free by email or $5 if printed. If you repay your loan early, an administration fee of $50 (averaged) may apply, along with any third‑party deregistration costs.

Rate type

Your rate stays the same for the whole loan. No surprises. No hidden fees.

Repayment frequency

Pay weekly. Example: $1,500 over 52 weeks = $44.83/week.

Example: Borrowing $3,000 over 78 weeks

  • Weekly repayment: $58.87
  • Total repayments: $4,592.86
  • Includes: Interest, $300 establishment fee, $0.55/day admin fee
  • Does not include: Any optional or default-related fees

 

This example assumes a fixed interest rate of 29.95% p.a., no missed payments, and no early repayment. Actual costs may vary depending on your loan amount, term, and repayment history.

Want to check your rate with our personal loan calculator?

Learn more about loan costs, interest rates, and fees on our Cost of Borrowing page.