AcademyLEARNING PATH
Borrowing Wisely
What a loan really costs, whether you can afford it, and what you are agreeing to when you guarantee someone else's.
Lessons in this path
- Understanding loan interestInterest is the price of using someone else's money. Here is how it is calculated, why two loans quoting "3% per month" can cost very different amounts, and what to ask before you sign.8 min read
- Can you afford this loan?Being approved for a loan is not the same as being able to afford it. A simple calculation you can do before you borrow.6 min read
- Understanding collateralCollateral is something you agree the lender can take if you do not repay. What can be pledged, what it is really worth, and what to check before you sign.6 min read
- Before you guarantee someone's loanGuaranteeing a loan is not a character reference. It is a promise to pay the debt yourself. Read this before you agree.7 min read
- What happens when a loan falls into arrearsMissing a repayment is a problem. Hiding from it is a much bigger one. What actually happens, and what to do in the first week.6 min read
Other learning paths
Money Basics
Start here if community finance is new to you. What savings, shares and loans actually are, and how a group turns them into something bigger.
Saving With Purpose
Build savings that survive a bad month — including when your income is irregular and standard advice does not fit.
Shares and Dividends
What owning part of your group means, how a dividend is calculated, and how to tell a healthy declaration from a worrying one.
KikumiKyo Academy provides general financial education. It is not personalised financial, investment, tax or legal advice.