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People are taking on more debt for weddings, cars, and holidays as drawdowns up by 14%

Home improvement loans surpassed car loans in value for the first time in 2022.

MORE PEOPLE ARE taking personal loans out for home improvements, cars, holidays and education according to the latest figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland. 

Its report for the last quarter of 2o22 shows “strong growth” in personal loans activity compared to the same time period in 2021. 

The overall value of personal loan drawdowns has taken an annual jump to €1.6 billion in Ireland in 2022, up by almost 19% on the previous year. 

Home improvement loans have now surpassed car loans for the first time, while the fastest growing loan category remains ‘other loans’, which includes education, holidays and weddings. 

Brian Hayes, the Chief Executive of BFPI said that today’s figures show “continued growth in the value of personal loan draw downs.” 

“The value of home improvement loans rose by 15.3% year on year to €533 million, meaning they have surpassed car loans (€523 million) for the first time.

“The fastest growing segment remains the ‘other loans’ category which includes education, holidays and special occasions such as weddings with a jump of 36% on 2021, to €577 million,” he further noted. 

The overall value of personal loan draw downs in 2022 is the highest figure since BFPI started collecting this date in 2020. 

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    Mute Geoff Bateman
    Favourite Geoff Bateman
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    Feb 9th 2023, 9:48 AM

    Why would you take a loan out for a holiday if you are skint?

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    Mute Craic_a_tower
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    Feb 9th 2023, 10:27 AM

    @Geoff Bateman: lots of people do this an manage their income via loans. Unfortunately it is often the less well off who know no better as their parents always had debt so it seems normal to them.

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Feb 9th 2023, 8:14 PM

    @Geoff Bateman: Maybe to contribute to other people’s weddings!

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    Mute Paul Maguire
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    Feb 9th 2023, 10:36 AM

    Celtic Tiger 2 is at a bank near you.

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    Mute Bennett blaster
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    Feb 9th 2023, 12:54 PM

    Taking out a loan to buy a depreciating asset, derp

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    Mute Don Hogan
    Favourite Don Hogan
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    Feb 9th 2023, 12:48 PM

    Dumb

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