As a student you want to borrow money, but what should you pay attention to? A few tips for students in the Netherlands

If you have a lot of costs as a student and these costs are difficult to reduce, you can consider taking out a loan. Nowadays, more and more students are borrowing money and it seems to get easier and easier. By increasing tuition fees for long-term students, the money problems don’t seem to decrease any further either. In some cases you could choose for a mini loan or as Germans and Dutch people say, mini kredit oder kleinkredit.

These student loans are often characterized by being cheaper and more flexible than regular loans. Because of its flexibility, a student loan is most similar to a revolving credit. It is possible to borrow money for a few months and then reset the loan to zero when it is no longer needed. It is important to make a well-considered choice in advance. In any case, it is important to avoid being in the red. It is better to borrow something and not be in the red, than not to borrow something and be in the red. Banks soon charge 16% interest when you’re in the red. In addition, the interest rate of a flash loan or mini-loan is much higher and the term is relatively short.

Parents

The cheapest way to borrow is through your parents. You can make agreements with your parents about the way of repayment and with what term. In addition, you often pay no interest or in consultation a small percentage. When you make the choice to borrow money this could be a ‘cheap’ way.

DUO – IB Group

If we look at the lenders is the cheapest way of borrowing for students, DUO – IB group. In addition to the basic grant and additional scholarship that you can apply for as a student, a loan can be taken out. Interest has to be paid on that loan, the interest rate for 2011 is 1.5%. This amount can be paid after your studies and it may take 15 years. A minimum amount of € 45.41 per month has to be repaid. If you have problems paying back, there are possibilities to pay back a period less or even nothing. In Germany it even gets better with 500 euro kredit at MKSHFT Germany.

Borrowing from employer

Nowadays it is also possible to borrow money at a low rate in consultation with the employer. This will be cheaper than the bank, but more expensive than with the IB Group. However, the employer is not obliged to provide a loan.

What are the possibilities for student loans at ABN AMRO?

Through the website of ABN-Amro you have the possibility to take out a student loan. With this student limit you are cheaper in the red between € 1.000,- and € 5.000,-. This student limit is a revolving credit and is different in size. For example, MBO students can have a maximum of € 1.000,- in red and first year HBO/WO students can have a maximum of € 2.500,-.

You borrow at 8.6% interest and for a maximum of six years, after six years the limit (with normal use) is continued at the then current interest rate of a Private Limit Plus.

How can I borrow from Rabobank as a student?

At the Rabobank you can choose for a Student Loan. The redemption takes place after the end of your studies, maximum 1 year. During the study the interest due will be credited to your credit. If you have a windfall in the meantime, you can pay back a part without penalty. With an amount of € 2.500,- you pay 10,9% and with a maximum amount of € 6.000,- you pay 10% interest. The interest rate becomes 9.8% and 8.9% when one of your parents becomes a co-contractor.