{"id":63286,"date":"2025-10-16T09:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T14:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/?p=63286"},"modified":"2026-01-01T09:57:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T15:57:43","slug":"holiday-loans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hrblock.com\/tax-center\/around-block\/financial-products\/holiday-loans\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a holiday loan? Get help navigating holiday finances this season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note: The offer period for Emerald Advance\u00ae Loan is now closed, but you can still visit our Emerald Advance\u00ae Loan site to learn more.<\/em>\u00a0Plus, you can always count on our\u00a0tax pros to get your maximum refund<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The holidays bring to mind idyllic scenes of cozy visits with friends and family, enjoying a special meal, and giving the perfect gifts. While your heart is set on making merry, your budget<\/a> may have a very different idea. We get it. Between gifts for family and friends, costs for holiday meals and parties, and even travel, holiday spending can wreak havoc on your finances, especially with rising costs.<\/p>\n\n\n

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With all that to consider, it\u2019s no wonder people feel overwhelmed about holiday finances<\/a> at the end of the year. If you\u2019re like some, you may be considering holiday loans or personal loans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re here to help you weigh a few loan options, including the H&R Block Emerald Advance\u00ae Loan originated by Pathward\u00ae, N.A., so you can make the best financial decision for you.  Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a holiday loan?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A holiday loan is a personal loan that can be used around the end of the year to help pay for holiday spending and expenses (sometimes a holiday loan is thought of as a Christmas loan or Christmas holiday loan). The actual loan amount, interest rates, and repayment term for these loans can vary from lender to lender. For example, you may be able to borrow anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. And some loans may have repayment periods that are as short as a few months or as long as five or six years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some commonalities too. These loans often have fixed annual percentage rates (APRs)<\/a> and provide quick access to funds, if approved. Plus, personal holiday loans can be used for any number of holiday expenses: holiday shopping and gifts, travel expenses, food, party costs, and d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Apply for an Emerald Advance\u00ae<\/sup> Loan today <\/h3>
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Make an appointment<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Holiday loan alternatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many reasons people choose to explore this type of loan during the holidays. Perhaps credit cards are not an option, or maybe unexpected expenses have cropped up depleting savings. In cases where you just need to get through a few tight months, taking out a larger or longer-term loan may not make sense and especially so if you can\u2019t meet the repayment requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those looking for a simple way to stretch their budget or just add some breathing room around their holiday finances during an expensive time of the year, there are alternatives to holiday loans, such as the Emerald Advance\u00ae<\/sup> Loan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Emerald Advance\u00ae<\/sup> Loan, a short term, personal loan, may be an option if you just need a little extra money to get by instead of taking out a big loan. (Hot take: Borrowing only the loan amount you need is one of our tips for better money habits<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We truly feel like family instead of just a customer. We use the Emerald Advance Loan around Christmas time, and it has helped us so much!<\/p><\/div>

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Kelli D.<\/p>

 Feb. 2025<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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You could get help with holiday expenses with an Emerald Advance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can apply for the Emerald Advance\u00ae<\/sup> Loan at participating H&R Block locations from Nov. 3 to Dec. 31, 2025.  If approved, you could get up to $1,500 to help with holiday expenses, unexpected bills and more. There are no required monthly payments \u2014 or any payments due at all \u2014 until March 31, 2026, when the full payment of the loan is due.  Plus, there\u2019s no impact to your credit score to apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Emerald Advance\u00ae<\/sup> Loan, you could get the boost you need to make it through the holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apply for an Emerald Advance\u00ae<\/sup> Loan today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Get the details about the Emerald Advance\u00ae<\/sup> Loan<\/a>, including the loan application and loan approval process and see how it could help you with some breathing room during the holidays. Or,  make an Emerald Advance\u00ae Loan appointment<\/a> to apply now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Holiday Loan FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is a holiday loan and how does it work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A holiday loan is a personal loan that can be used around the end of the year to help pay for holiday spending and expenses. Holiday loans work similarly to personal loans. In most cases, you fill out the lender\u2019s loan application to get started. If you\u2019re approved, the loan proceeds are deposited to your bank account, or they may have other methods to disburse the proceeds. Then over time, you pay back the loan in installments, often as a monthly payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Note: The Emerald Advance Loan is not a holiday loan. If approved, you could get up to $1,500 with no payments due until March 31, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do holiday loans compare to credit cards?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When deciding between holiday loans and credit cards for your spending needs, consider the following key differences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n