If you are in a financial situation where you need to find a quick way to get your hands on some money and are thinking about looking into what types of payday loan companies can help you out, then you have probably already heard some of the more over-the-top claims that some lenders promote. Whether it's being able to get instant cash loans or be approved for one hour payday loans, sometimes it's hard to believe what they're saying, which might make the payday loan process much more confusing than it ever needs to be. Although some of the things that some of these lenders say are potentially possible from a financial standpoint, it's good to know what's available to you form a payday loan or cash advance standpoint before you get too deep into an actual application.

This article will focus on the speed that you various types of payday lenders can honestly get you the money that you need as well as some overall information, tips and thoughts on the payday loan industry and what your expectations should be if you decide to go this route of financing.

Like I said before, payday lenders tend to stretch the truth a bit whenever they are marketing and advertising what they can offer you from a loan standpoint. Some claim to be able to get you instant money even tough they can't and some claim to get you approved with no hassles even though they don't. But, even though some of the cash advance lenders might not be able to back up what they're claiming, there are plenty of legitimate, secure and safe payday lenders out there that can most likely get you your fast cash as soon as you need it.

Currently you can apply for payday loans two different ways, online and from a retail store location, and depending on how quickly you are looking to get some money in your pocket will help determine which one you should go with. I say this because if you are truly looking for a same day payday loan and you can't wait even until the next morning to get the cash you need, then your only option would be to physically go to a nearby retail store location such as Loan Mary, Check N Go, Check Into Cash or Advance America. You'll need to go visit one of these retail stores because they are the only true 'instant' or 'same day' payday loan lender that is able to approve you right on site in a matter of minutes. If your only possible option is to get your money this quickly, then you will need to plan on stopping by one of them so that you can start the approval process.

Just to make sure that you're prepared once you get there and so that you can have all of the things that you need already with you so you can fill out your application, I will list out a few tips on applying and other information that you should be prepared to show the lender once you find yourself in one of their retail stores.

• Some type of identification: You will need to prove that you are of age to apply for a loan. Most lenders require that you are at least 18 years of age (and a few require that you're 21)
• Proof of employment: One of the standard requirements that most all of the payday lenders will need to see is proof of employment, which means that you will need to bring in original or copies of your most recent pay stubs. To be more specific, most require that you have a take-home income of at least $1,000 per month to even begin the application process.
  
• No current payday loans: To apply for a new payday loan, most lenders require that you are not currently paying off another payday loan with another lender. If this is your time applying, then you obviously won't need to worry about this at all.
• Be aware of your state's payday loan laws: Different states have different payday loan laws and restrictions, so if you are planning on applying for one, you first need to make sure what is allowable in your state. Some states don't allow any cash advance or payday lending at all, so you had better make sure to research what your state's laws are like.
• You won't need to submit a credit report: One of the great things about payday loans is that none of the lenders ever require that you get a credit check before you apply, which means that even if you have bad credit you will still be able to get the money you need.
• Active checking account: To repay the loan once it's due (on your next payday) you'll write a post-dated check to the lender of your choice. if you don't have an active checking account you're not going to be able to get a payday loan. If you're looking to get an online payday loan or cash advance your checking account has to be able to accept electronic payments so that the lender can deposit and withdrawal your loan and loan repayment (plus fees).
• Physical address: Most payday loan lenders will require that you have some type of physical address of where you currently live.

These tips will get you up to speed on what to expect once you being the application process for a cash advance or payday loan, so just be sure to do plenty of research on each of the lenders that you are considering and you'll find one that you're comfortable working with in no time.

If you are thinking that you would enjoy the convenience and additional confidentiality that applying for a payday advance online provides, then you just need to be aware that no online lender will be able to get you the money you need any earlier than the following business day. This is because they can't just hand you a check or cash like a lender can in a retail store location, so they will need to work with your bank to electronically deposit your loan once you're approved. This is still a very fast option, but it's not going to be able to be true to the same day stipulation that you might be looking for (and needing). But, besides these small differences, going online for your cash advance is a great option that you should consider if you're not it a super hurry.

Finally, I'd like to finish this article with some thoughts on using these types of payday loans as a way to boost your current lack of cash flow. All I want to stress is that these types of payday loans are strictly to be used for one-time and emergency types of financial situations where you don't have any other options until your next payday. Just remember that there is such a thing as an easy payday loans, but there is not such a thing as cheap payday loans, so when you're looking into getting one of these instant cash loans be sure to remind yourself what you're getting into and not to ever make a habit out if it.