Moonlighting for Medical Trainees to Cover Med School Debt

A doctor’s residency is one of the most critical times for gaining experience and building a career. The more patients you see, the more procedures you do, the more proficient at practicing medicine you’ll become. And yet, many residents are overwhelmed by more than just a demanding schedule—most are struggling under a mountain of debt.

After four years of pre-med and four years of med school, most residents are overwhelmed by their student loan payments. In fact, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the median debt balance for graduating physicians—while in decline—was still $192,000 in 2017 .

Since residents only make an average of $54,000 per year, many have to put off their loan repayments until after their residency. Some may even be forced to borrow more to make ends meet. The AAMC estimates that a graduate with around $190,000 in debt could have monthly student loan payments between $1,500 and $2,800 after their residency.

Even despite an already-heavy workload, the pressure of student loan payments can motivate many residents to look for additional sources of income to reduce their debt burden. Some of the most potentially lucrative gigs young doctors can take on are medical moonlighting jobs. In this article, we’ll take a look at moonlighting for medical trainees. We’ll cover how medical moonlighting jobs work, some of the restrictions involved—and the pros and cons.

How Does Medical Moonlighting Work?

Medical moonlighting essentially refers to taking on extra medical work as an independent physician. Residents take on moonlighting jobs to supplement their salaries, pay down student loan debt, and to get additional experience and practice beyond their responsibilities in their residency program.

Most medical moonlighting jobs fall under the category of what’s called “locum tenens” jobs, where you substitute for other medical professionals that are out on leave or help provide additional coverage at hospitals that are temporarily short-staffed. Often, you are able to pick and choose shifts that work with your schedule.

While moonlighting might seem like the perfect solution to financial stress, the policies and restrictions on resident moonlighting can be tricky to navigate. While residents who are licensed physicians are legally allowed to take on jobs providing medical care, residency programs tend to have their own policies on whether residents can take on extra work.

Some programs prohibit moonlighting entirely, while others might limit moonlighting to residents further along in the program. Many programs will require you to get prior permission from a supervisor before you start moonlighting and you may have to formally state your reasons and goals for moonlighting.

Some residency programs allow you to take moonlighting shifts at the hospital facility where you are currently working, but you may be restricted from taking work outside of your hospital network.

In addition to getting approval from your program, you will also want to ensure that your extra work still keeps your total work hours under the Accreditation Committee for Graduate Medical Education’s limits. For safety reasons and to keep residents from being overworked, the ACGME caps all medical trainees’ combined education and work hours at 80 per week. It also requires that one day in seven is free of work and education responsibilities, and that no resident can work more than 24 hours in a row.

If you are interested in medical moonlighting, check out your own program’s moonlighting policy to see what types of opportunities you’re allowed to take on.

What Are the Benefits of Resident Moonlighting Jobs?

Taking on a few moonlighting shifts per month can add up to substantial extra income—especially on a resident’s salary. While the rate can vary depending on the job, most medical moonlighting jobs come with a high hourly rate that can make the extra hours very worth it. Some residents are even able to double their salary by doing so.

Even though the extra cash tends to be the main motivation behind moonlighting, there are other pros as well. For instance, you might be able to get valuable experience that you don’t typically get in your residency program or you may get much more practice with certain skills or procedures.

The extra hours in another area of the hospital—or in another hospital nearby—can give you insight into how other units operate. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to work with many more professionals in the field, expanding your network and potentially your future career opportunities.

What Are the Drawbacks of Moonlighting?

The main drawback to moonlighting is the lost time. As a resident, you’re already working long hours on a grueling schedule while also trying to hone your skills in your chosen specialty. On top of your current workload, even an extra shift here and there can mean you lose out on time with friends and family—or precious sleep.

Taking on too much work can lead to mistakes and high stress levels. If you’re earning extra cash now but the quality of your work in your residency is compromised, moonlighting might not be worth it for you. As a resident, your first job is to learn, practice your skills, and build a foundation for your career. It can be a bit of a balancing act.

An additional caution related to moonlighting relates to medical malpractice. You will want to make sure that each moonlighting job you take on offers quality malpractice coverage. Working through a trusted moonlighting agency that covers its workers appropriately can help ensure that you’re covered.

Other Solutions for Paying Down Med School Debt

For some residents, moonlighting won’t be an option. Their program might not allow it, or the demands on their time are too great already. There are other student loan repayment options for medical residents to keep in mind. For residents who are struggling to make their payments, refinancing medical school loans might be a good solution.

When you refinance your student loans, you are essentially paying off your current loans with a new loan that has a new interest rate and new terms. There are a few benefits to refinancing your loans:

Potentially lower interest rate: Depending on your financial profile, you may be able to get a lower interest rate than you are currently paying on your loans. With a lower rate, you might pay less in interest each month.

Potentially lower monthly payment: In addition to possibly getting a lower interest rate, you may also be able to get a new payment plan that has a lower monthly payment. This could help your cash flow from month to month (but this typically means you extend your term).

Streamline your repayment: When you refinance, you’ll only have one simple loan payment instead of multiple payments. This can make it much easier to make your payment each month (but it could increase the amount you pay overall).

There are some potential drawbacks to refinancing that are worth considering, too. Federal student loans have several repayment benefits such as deferment and forbearance that you would have to give up if you refinanced. Federal loans also have income-based repayment programs and public service loan forgiveness programs that you would no longer be eligible for. However for those who don’t foresee needing those benefits, refinancing your loans may help you get through your repayment faster—and with less stress.

Ready to explore your refinancing options? Visit SoFi and get a free rate quote in minutes.


Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SLR18184

Read more

Getting Your Home Office Setup Off the Ground

An increasing number of workers in the United States are telecommuting, ranging from those who are self-employed entrepreneurs to those employed by companies that permit, endorse, or even require telecommuting.

Telecommuting advantages are numerous. Remote workers don’t have a long commute to the office (no commute at all, actually), which allows them to get to work quickly and easily. When they arrive, they won’t get distracted by water cooler gossip, and they can work with the sniffles without infecting anyone else. Because they don’t need to drive to work, they use less gas, which helps the environment and is a money saver.

This arrangement can work well across generations. Millennials have been called the driving force behind telecommuting, but it’s an ideal arrangement for older workers who need more flexibility in their schedules but aren’t yet ready to retire.

Overall, remote workers can focus on the job at hand in a quiet space, set up in a way that allows them to be as productive as possible.

Simple Home Office Room Ideas

Here’s the beauty of telecommuting: home office organization can be arranged according to your needs and preferences. While your coworkers have to deal with the noisy plight of open-office floor plans, you have the flexibility to organize your home workspace in a way that suits you.

Start by choosing the best room in your home for your office. Options range from transforming a spare bedroom to using a section of the basement—some even construct a separate outbuilding. What about an attic remodel to create private office space that’s separate from the rest of your house? You can even add your own office bathroom.

After you’ve decided where you’ll put your office, determine the big-picture layout. You’ll want to include a desk, for sure. How about a couch? A physical board where you can post calendars and documents? Built-in cabinets? If you will regularly (or even occasionally) have clients come to your home office, where will they sit? What will make them feel comfortable?

Strategically determine how and where to place lighting. “Poor lighting,” notes an article in The Spruce , “can reduce your energy, dampen morale, produce eyestrain and headaches, and ultimately impair your ability to work effectively.” This isn’t an area where it makes sense to skimp, so ensure you’re getting enough light in a way that doesn’t produce glare. The article notes how natural light adds unique benefits. How would adding extra windows—or even a skylight—transform your home office?

Heating and cooling is crucial, because you need to be comfortable to work at your best. And again, if you will be seeing clients there, even sporadically, appropriate heating and cooling is doubly important.

Since you’re going to be spending a good portion of your day in your office, you’ll want to make it look attractive. Should you wallpaper? Or paint and add eye-catching borders? Install plush carpeting or hardwood flooring? Add hardwood cabinets that are functional and beautiful? What pictures would add just the right finishing touches?

Making Your Home Office Comfortable

Ergonomic design can help to prevent stress and strain, and this includes how and where you put your computer, printer, keyboard, mouse and any other equipment you’ll have around your office and on your desk. The Mayo Clinic offers ergonomic office room ideas, including ensuring there is clearance room for your knees beneath your desk. If the desk is too low and you can’t adjust its height, put sturdy blocks beneath the desk legs. Too high? Raise your chair. You can even pad any hard edges on your desk.

The Mayo Clinic also advises readers to keep your mouse within easy reach, on the same surface as your keyboard. Adjust mouse sensitivity so only a light touch is needed. Don’t forget to find the perfect desk chair. Make sure the chair you select offers the support you might need, feels comfortable, and comes with a decent warranty.

Cost of a New Home Office Setup

How much will your new office cost? It depends on a few factors, including the square footage of the space, whether you’ll need to add a new wall to create dedicated office space, whether your wiring is sufficient for the added lighting and equipment, whether your heating and cooling system in your home is sufficient, and so forth.

An article on HomeStratosphere.com offers some general guidance on what you might expect to pay. Here are a few of their 2018 pricing estimates:

•  New wall and accompanying insulation: $1,500
•  Single room rewiring cost: $1,400
•  Flooring:
      •  $2 to $5 per square foot for carpeting
      •  $3 to $18 per square foot for hardwood flooring
•  Skylight: $2,500
•  New fireplace: $,3000

Homeadvisor.com points out how the “success of modern home offices, especially in high-tech industries, depends on your electronic devices.” And, really, how many jobs today don’t rely to some degree on electronic devices? Very few.

In fact, one of the technologies that makes telecommuting possible is videoconferencing. So a fast and effective computer network is typically at the heart of today’s home offices. HomeAdvisor.com shares that the national average for installing this network in a home office is $370.

Installing new phone jacks and associated wiring costs, on average: $164. This site also points out the value of having built-in bookshelves to give your home office a touch of sophistication. For that, figure a potential cost of about $2,293 .

Understanding the Home Office Tax Write Off

First and foremost, you’ll want to talk to your accountant before taking advantage of any home office deductions. In advance of meeting with your accountant, you can find some information about home office write offs at MileIQ.com , including possible ways you might be eligible to deduct a portion of your mortgage payment or rent for some renovations, along with other home-related expenses.

MileIQ explains that your home office needs to be a dedicated workspace—separate from your bedroom and living space—and used exclusively for business purposes to potentially qualify for a home office tax write off.

If you’re interested in deducting home office expenses, it’s important that you keep detailed records, including how much mortgage (or rent) you pay for your home office. (If you do rent, you may want to have a copy of your lease handy when you go see your accountant.)

Also, it’s probably a good idea to keep proof of any property tax amounts you’ve paid, along with your utility payment costs, relevant insurance payments, and any other expenses that may play a role in your home office deductions.

And you can always go to the source and see what the IRS has to say about home office deductions for the current tax year.

Funding Your Home Office Setup

If you don’t have savings to invest in a setup right away, a personal loan can be a great way to fund home renovations for an office space. If one qualifies, personal loans can be used to renovate and create a new office in your home.

If you qualify for a low interest personal loan, it could be a much more attractive option than using high-interest credit cards to fund your home office setup (or continuing to pay bills and manage your finances from your couch).

Plus, when you take out a personal loan, your home is not used as collateral—unlike a home equity line of credit. Because a personal loan is not a lien on your home, you also can get the funds in a lump sum and pay your contractors as various aspects of your home renovation are completed.

The sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be enjoying the comforts of your home office. A personal loan from SoFi.com can help fund many home renovations—and it takes two minutes to find your rate!


The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SoFi does not render tax or legal advice. Individual circumstances are unique and we recommend that you consult with a qualified tax advisor for your specific needs.
PL18159

Read more

What to Know About the Parent PLUS Loan Program

Parent PLUS loans can be an important tool when it comes to funding your child’s college degree. When your child has gotten back his or her financial aid offer and counted their Stafford loans and Pell Grants, you might find you fall a little short. After all, the Department of Education’s budget doesn’t always account for skyrocketing college fees. That’s why the Parent PLUS loan program has gained popularity over the last 30 years. In 2017, there were around 3.5 million Parent PLUS borrowers ; the average Parent PLUS package is around $15,880 a year. Stafford loans may not cover the total cost of college; Parent PLUS loans can help fill in the gaps.

So what exactly are Parent PLUS loans? They are simply loans issued by the federal government for graduate students or parents of undergraduates. What makes them different from any other type of federal student loans? Unless you’re applying for them as a grad student, these loans are issued in the parent’s name, not the student’s. Financial responsibility, therefore, lies solely with the parent and any cosigners, not the child.

The nitty-gritty details can be a lot to handle. That’s why we made you this Parent PLUS loans guide—we’ll take you through how to apply, how much you could receive, and how much you could pay in interest.

What are Parent PLUS loans?

Parent PLUS loans (also known as Direct PLUS loans) are federal loans offered to parents of undergraduate students. Graduate students are also eligible for Direct PLUS loans, although in the case of grad students, the students themselves who apply for the loan. The interest rate for Parent PLUS loans is set once a year, and because these are fixed-rate loans, the interest rate doesn’t change throughout the life of the loan.

At the moment, the interest rate for Parent PLUS loans is about 7.6% . There is also a loan fee on all Direct PLUS Loans; as of October 1, 2018 that fee will be nearly 4.25% of the loan amount (which is deducted from each loan disbursement proportionately).

How much can I borrow?

The maximum amount you can borrow for a Parent PLUS loan is simply the cost of attendance (as determined by your child’s school), minus any grants or scholarships (or any other financial aid) your child may have received.

How do I get a PLUS loan?

Before applying for a PLUS loan, you will need to fill out and submit a FAFSA® to see what additional aid your child may qualify for. After that, the financial aid process really depends on the school in question. You may want to call the financial aid office of your child’s school before you apply for a PLUS loan, since different schools require different information. Many colleges will require you to fill out the application online. Note: This application takes about 20 minutes to fill out, and it will include a credit check.

What happens if I get rejected?

If your PLUS loan application is rejected based on what they call “adverse credit history,” you may still have options. You can seek out an endorser—which is someone who qualifies and who will agree to pay the loan back in the event that you are unable to. In addition, if you don’t qualify for a PLUS loan on your own, you will be required to go through PLUS credit counseling .

If there are extenuating circumstances impacting your credit history, you can submit documentation to support your appeal to the Department of Education (they provide a list of extenuating circumstances they will recognize if you’re having trouble getting approved for a Parent PLUS loan.)

If you continue to get rejected, your child may be eligible for other unsubsidized federal loans as a result. Consult with a qualified financial aid advisor for details.

When do I have to start repaying?

As a Parent PLUS loan borrower, you will have to start paying back the loan as soon as the entire amount is disbursed. You can, however, request to defer payment while your child is in school—as long as they are enrolled at least part-time. You can even request a six-month grace period once your child finishes school or drops below part-time enrollment. But remember, interest accrues even while payment is deferred.

What happens if I lose my job?

In the event of unemployment, borrowers can contact the Department of Education to request forbearance on the loan. If you are permitted to enter forbearance, you won’t have to make monthly payments for up to three years. However, interest still accrue during forbearance, so your debt will likely increase by pausing payments.

Pros and Cons of Parent PLUS

Pros of a PLUS loan

Parent PLUS loans are federal loans, which means they enjoy most benefits that come with federal loans. For one thing, interest rates are fixed for the life of the loan, so your interest rate will not change or go up from the time your loan is first disbursed. Under certain circumstances, federal loans may be forgiven, cancelled, or discharged.

Cons of a PLUS loan

If federal loans are taken out in the parents’ name(s), the parents assume total financial responsibility for the loan—they cannot transfer responsibility for paying off the Parent PLUS loan back to their child. As parents near retirement and their child becomes capable of paying back his or her loans, it might make more sense to refinance their Parent PLUS loan and transfer the debt into the child’s name.

Are Parent PLUS loans holding you back? Check out SoFi’s Parent PLUS loan refinancing!


Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website on credit .
The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SLR18120

Read more

How Exceeding Your Minimum Loan Payments Can Pay Off in the End

When you need a little extra cash for a big-ticket item like a wedding, home renovation, or unexpected medical bill, taking out a personal loan may be the practical choice. But managing your debt load can be stressful. Depending on your situation, making your minimum loan payment (or payments) can be discouraging if you feel like you’re not really making much progress.

When you’re making on-time minimum payments (without missing any), it still takes you five years to pay off a personal loan with a five-year term. While there are no quick tricks or easy fixes, one strategy is to accelerate the repayment of your loan. One way to accelerate your loan repayment is by regularly exceeding the personal loan monthly payment.

Paying More than Your Minimum Loan Payment

Exceeding your minimum loan payments on a regular basis may improve your financial outlook and potentially your credit score. Ultimately, getting out of debt sooner may give you greater financial freedom to do the things you want to do with your money.

But before you start prepaying your loan, be sure to check with your loan holder to confirm their policies regarding loan repayment. Some lenders charge additional fees for paying extra each month or paying your loan off earlier than planned.

One option, if you currently have a loan that comes with prepayment fees or penalties, is to consider looking for an alternative lender. While you’re at it, maybe you can find a loan with a lower rate and better terms. SoFi personal loans have no prepayment penalties, so if you want to exceed the monthly payment on your personal loan, you’re more than welcome to.

When you take out a personal loan with SoFi, you also become a member of a vibrant community that offers a wide range of advantages including member discounts, career services, unemployment protection, community events, and a robust referral program. If your current personal loan has prepayment penalties, check out our personal loan payment calculator to see if switching to SoFi might help your debt repayment plan.

Rethinking Your Debts

One of the biggest challenges that comes with exceeding your minimum loan payment is budgeting that extra money to pay toward your loan. Once you’ve decided that this is your goal, take the time to review your finances and look at your overall debt. If you are carrying a few loans with different rates and terms, it could be time to reevaluate them.

Think of this as an opportunity to simplify and align all of your debt, and optimize your monthly payments. This may mean consolidating credit card or student loan debt. By refinancing your student loans, for example, you could reduce the number of loan payments you are currently responsible for tracking. You may even qualify to refinance with a better interest rate and terms. This may help get you on the right track and further encourage you to put more money toward your debt each month.

If you’re trying to consolidate credit card debt, a personal loan might be the right solution. Ideally, you would be looking for a personal loan with a low-interest rate and reasonable repayment terms. Before you commit to a new loan, it’s a good idea to consider the agreement in its entirety, including fees, penalties, and terms.

Awarded Best Online Personal Loan by NerdWallet.
Apply Online, Same Day Funding


Your Long-Term Financial Strategy

While debt consolidation is one piece of the puzzle, your long-term financial strategy could also include bigger goals like saving for retirement or perhaps buying a home. It’s also a good idea to put extra money aside in an emergency fund for unexpected expenses.

As your earning power increases, you can pay more than the minimum on your debt and start to move closer to debt freedom. In turn, this may allow you to then reallocate funds to other areas of your financial life. And just like that, you could be on your way to building the financial life you truly want.

Learn more about how SoFi personal loans or SoFi student loan refinancing can help you get out of debt. Our loans come with no fees required or prepayment penalties.


Notice: SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi always recommends that you consult a qualified financial advisor to discuss what is best for your unique situation.
PL18182

Read more

Creative DIY Nursery Room Ideas

When preparing to welcome a baby into your life, you’re often faced with an ever-expanding to-do list that multiplies as you get closer to the big day. Here, you’ll find tips to help bring calm to chaos, especially when it comes to setting up your first nursery.

There are tons of unique nursery room ideas that can provide inspiration as you design the baby room of your dreams. Redecorating can be expensive, so we’re here with our best DIY tips and baby room ideas to help guide you through the process without breaking the bank.

From cool effects or murals you can paint on the wall, to easy ways to get the storage you need in adorable baby room furniture, the options are endless. We help you sort through all the great baby room ideas so you can visualize the perfect nursery room for you and your baby; all while giving you the tips you need to keep the project within your budget.

Not sure how you’re going to pay for it? We give you estimates for how much everything will cost and suggestions for how to pay for all that baby room furniture and those cute DIY accents.

Use Paint to Make the Biggest Impact

Paint is cheap compared to high-end baby room furniture. So, buy less expensive furniture and make your statement with color.

You could pick a fun shade to paint all four walls or you could decide to create an accent wall or to use color blocking to make a real statement. For example, you might decide to paint one wall a slightly darker or brighter shade of the same color or paint it a complementary color. You could also choose to paint stripes, a chevron effect, or clouds on the ceiling.

If you’re really artistic, you could add a mural with animals or popular cartoon characters. Do your painting skills leave something to be desired? You can buy murals to put up on the walls instead.

Price tag: $100 to $200

Get a Soft Rug

If you have hardwood floors, a rug won’t just help your feet stay warm when you come in for late-night feedings. You’ll also want a cozy surface for your baby to play, and later, learn to crawl. You can get a rug at a local hardware or furniture store that can bring out some of the colors in your decor and provide a soft buffer between your child and the hardwood.

Price tag: $50 to $300

Create Your Own Art

Blank walls are boring, but art can be expensive to buy. So, why not make it? Get jumbo letters from the local craft store that spell out your baby’s name and hang them on the wall. Figure out the theme of the room to help you come up with other ideas.

For example, you can go to the zoo with a camera and then print out pictures of animals for an animal themed room. Or become inspired by the night sky and put up sparkly stars and a moon on the walls. You can also find cool fabric and tack it onto a canvas for a fabric panel .

Price tag: $50 to $100

Help Baby Sleep

Every baby is different—some cry more and some start walking much earlier. But the thing that you can expect with almost any newborn, is that they’ll wake up throughout the night. Make sure that your nursery is an oasis designed to help your baby sleep. To do that, make or buy blackout curtains to ensure that the sun coming in the blinds won’t interrupt a good nap. Making blackout curtains is easy with a quick trip to the fabric store.

You might also want to buy a noise machine that will help soothe your baby to sleep or make a mobile that will keep them entranced until their eyes start closing. Mobiles are easy to make with a quick trip to the craft store.

You should also consider getting a video or audio monitor so that you can keep an eye (or ear) on your baby while they’re sleeping.

Price: $50 to $100

Store Everything Safely and Neatly

Babies require a lot of new purchases—clothes, toys, clean diapers, and backup clothes for when the diaper malfunctions and your baby needs to be changed. Make sure that you have all the necessary furniture and storage you need so that you can easily tidy up the room so you don’t trip over a toy and can always find the rash cream.

Storage systems don’t have to be expensive. You can get used dresser drawers on Craigslist or at a garage sale that you can refinish and paint to fit the room. You can also get inexpensive storage systems for toys at local discount furniture stores. Want to add your own spin to things? Luckily, there are a lot of great IKEA hacks for baby room furniture. Sometimes you can even buy things like an unfinished wooden trunk and paint it to match your nursery.

Just remember, it’s important to fasten all the furniture to your wall so that when your baby starts pulling themselves up and walking nothing topples over on them.

Price: $150 to $300

How Do You Pay for It?

Once you’ve decided on a theme and color scheme and you’re ready to get DIY-ing with all these great nursery room ideas, you’ll just need figure out how to pay for it. One challenge that comes with having a baby is the number of expenses that come at the same time. You have to buy all sorts of clothes, toys, carriers, and gadgets to make sure your newborn stays safe and looks cute in all the pictures you’ll be taking. In addition, there are medical expenses and maternity clothing.

Rather than worry about how you’ll pay for it all or tap into your emergency fund, you might consider getting personal loans to help you pay for some of the baby expenses — including decorating the nursery. Interest rates are relatively low, which means that you can likely get a loan at a low rate compared to a credit card. For that reason, it might be a much better idea than putting the expenses on a credit card, which typically have high interest rates.

In addition, with a personal loan, you typically choose a term length of anywhere from one to 10 years. Extending your repayment over multiple years could reduce your monthly payments. The longer the term length, the more you’ll pay in interest over the life of your loan.

When looking for a loan, you may want to look into securing a fixed interest rate so that you can lock in your low rate over the life of your loan.

Considering taking out a personal loan to make your baby room ideas come to life? Check out SoFi’s great rates and flexible terms on personal loans.


External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

PL18166

Read more
TLS 1.2 Encrypted
Equal Housing Lender