According to a report by the Center for Responsible Lending, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and policy organization, the payday lending business model is designed to keep borrowers in debt, not to provide one-time assistance in a time of financial need. Payday lenders reportedly collect 90 percent of their revenue as fees from repeat borrowers who cannot pay off their loans, rather than from one-time borrowers in short-term emergencies. Cash for Checks requires customers to pay off their entire loans within a two-week term, and offers a $25 discount for those who do so within five days of getting a loan, said Crain. While some states have cracked down on payday lending, others exempt the lenders from limits on interest rates partly because the loans are generally for small amounts. Look for the credit offer with the lowest annual percentage rate (APR)-consider a small loan from your credit union or small loan company, an advance on pay from your employer, or a loan from family or a friend. read more