You may be able to negotiate with a lender or biller for better terms or reduced payments on existing debts. Or maybe your student loan provider will grant you a period of forbearance. That may free up cash to put toward your emergency.

Risks: You might face fees to refinance debts or penalties for delaying payment.

If a friend or relative is willing to lend you money to help you through a rough patch, you may be able to pay very low interest on the loan.

Risks: If you default or disagree about the terms, it could sour the friendship or family relationship. It wouldn’t, however, affect your credit score.

Some employers offer low-interest loans to help workers through temporary financial hardships. Credit unions and banks also offer personal loans.

Risks: Borrowing always carries a risk since you need to pay it back. However, you’ll often pay a lower interest rate for a personal loan than a cash advance from your credit card or a payday loan.

A cash advance from your credit card gives you immediate access to funds.

Risks: Credit card issuers charge a higher interest rate on advances than on charges and often charge cash advance fees (either a percentage or flat rate). Plus, interest could start accruing immediately. If you can, covering the expense by charging it is likely a better option.

Loans are not permitted from IRAs, but your employer-sponsored 401(k) plan may allow you to borrow from your retirement savings. The government sets limits on how much you can borrow, and you must repay within five years unless funds are used to buy your primary home. Interest rates are determined by each plan.

Risks: If you lose your job or decide to leave, you may need to repay the balance immediately or face big penalties. You’ll also miss out on potential growth in your retirement account.

Borrowing against the equity in your home through a home equity loan, line of credit (HELOC) or a cash-out refinance can be a sound way to get cash. Since these loans are secured by the home, they typically carry a lower interest rate than a credit card or personal loan.

Risks: If you default, you risk losing your home to foreclosure. HELOCs typically have variable interest rates that can adjust, and all home loans may come with fees.

You may have the option of withdrawing money from both 401(k) and IRA plans.

Risks: Cashing out a retirement account will typically trigger hefty taxes. In fact, if you’re under 59½, you may face a 10 percent penalty for early withdrawal plus an income tax charge. On top of that, you’re putting your retirement at risk. Consider exhausting your other options first.

Payday lenders give high-interest loans (rates are often 400 percent and may even reach 1,000 percent) for small amounts of money, and the borrower is expected to repay the debt around their next paycheck.

Risks: Because of those high fees, a majority of borrowers end up stuck in a cycle where they’re forced to take another loan. The fees are so high that payday loans are a leading cause of bankruptcy.

Bank of America does not recommend using payday loans.