Everyone tries to plan for the unexpected--we put aside money for "rainy days", we plan, we prepare, and we make ourselves ready for any eventuality. But for all our planning, there are still circumstances "beyond our control", and when we're hit with a surprise layoff, a pricey car or home repair, an unexpected medical expense, or something else that qualifies as "rainy", we often find the pinch is greater that we can handle by ourselves--at least at that instant.

So what are our options?

Personally, I always try to have emergency funds available, but after those are used up, and I've max'ed out my credit cards, and pushed myself too far into my bank overdraft, I need to find a small solution to handle my (hopefully small) financial trouble. I know that money is coming soon, but today I have needs that need to be met.

But since I've already used up my credit with the bank, I need to approach another service, like those cash advance companies you see in the papers and on television ads. Cash advances are a form of a loan that come with different sets of charges and fees, but their advantage is that they have a fast application process, and they can answer the financial bell when you need some immediate funds.

Cash advance businesses are getting very good at what they do. These payday loans work work through (relatively) simple online application processes, and can approve your request for small sums of money in a very fast fashion. With direct deposit, a cash advance company can get you some money into your bank account just in time to meet that automatic payment withdrawal, or to assist you with some other right-now expenses that couldn't be met by your other credit terms.

Hopefully we won't need to rely on others when those rainy days arrive, but if and when they do, we can be grateful that we have other options when the rain starts to fall.