Some people think about getting a signature loan to pay down debt, or take a vacation trip. The uses of signature loans are many. But do you know the signs of financial trouble?

Here are some things to look for that indicate you may be in over your head:

* Do you routinely spend more than you earn?
* Are you forced to make day-to-day purchases on credit?
* Are you able to make only the minimum payments on monthly credit card debts?
* If you lost your job, would you have difficulty paying next month's bills?

If answered yes to most of these, then its time to face the music: you may need a signature loan, but you also need to work up a family budget to get control of your expenses. It has been proven time and again that the single most effective tool to gain control over your family spending is to develop and stick to a realistic budget.

Before selecting a company to get your signature loan, it is best to compare different loan plans. Services and fees vary greatly, as do interest rates, so compare as many programs as you can.