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5 The borrowing process

exempt products. If savings are taxed, the likelihood is that the rate of interest received
after tax will be lower than the interest paid for borrowed money. Thus, other things being
equal, it would usually be the case that using existing savings will be cheaper than taking
out debt to fund a purchase.
The second option is to build up savings before purchase. Again, this will depend on
having disposable income above expenditure, which would allow savings to be built up. It
also depends upon Philip being prepared to defer the enjoyment associated from having a
music system for the period of time it takes to build up the savings. For the same reasons
as the first option, this second option would most likely be cheaper than using debt to fund
the purchase.
The third and fourth options both involve taking on debt. For the reasons given above, it’s
likely that using a mixture of savings and debt would be cheaper than funding the
purchase solely through debt. For the sake of clarity, in the rest of this section we’ll
assume that Philip chooses to borrow the full amount.

Activity 7
What issues would Philip need to consider in our example of buying the music system?
Comment
Philip would need to consider the relative importance of buying the music system
within the wider context of his existing goals. He would need to think about the
constraints on his resources, and calculate whether repayments can be afforded within
his household budget. In thinking through affordability, individuals should also consider
the possibility that their circumstances may change. For instance, if household income
were to fall or be interrupted during the term of the loan, could repayments be
afforded?

5.2 Which debt product?

Philip may or may not have been thinking through all of the issues discussed above, but
we have assumed that he is going ahead and wants to fund the purchase by taking out
debt. Philip will then need finance, and the debt product which is used will depend upon a
number of factors, including price, flexibility and the length of time over which repayments
are made. Box 6 describes the different debt products.

Box 6 Debt products

● Overdrafts: These provide a flexible means of accessing debt on a bank current
account, up to a limit approved by the lender. Unapproved overdrafts normally
attract penalty fees and higher interest charges than approved overdrafts.
● Credit cards (including store cards): These will have a credit limit set by the
lender and normally require a minimum amount to be repaid each month –
typically between 2 per cent and 5 per cent of the balance of debt. Prior to the time
when the payment is due, there may be a short period of interest-free credit.
Credit cards will vary widely in the interest rate charged on the balance that is not
paid off, and some may have an annual fee attached, although many do not. Store

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