Another option would be to use a peer-to-peer lending site like Prosper. These are fixed rate loans that are crowd funded on a 3 or 5 year payoff schedule. The interest rates are usually a lot lower than a credit card. Rates are based on a combination of criteria. The amount you are borrowing, your credit score, and your income all go into calculating the rate. There isn't a prepayment penalty, so you could pay it off early when you get your tax refund, win second prize in a beauty contest, etc. I'm not saying it's the wisest financial move, but the lower/fixed rate does make it a little more conservative than putting it on plastic. I've never borrowed from Prosper, but I've been a lender on there for almost a decade.