Somewhere in Governor Scott Walker’s arsenal is a subliminal organization that fuels the Wisconsin budget. It ducks below the radar of people like Paul Ryan, with his Catholic simple life, or Tea Party righteousness. It’s almost a bit more devious than Nicodemus hiding from Jesus in a tree or the impound lot or paying Wisconsin speeding tickets in cash.  It’s known as Wisconsin payday loans, the litany of seedy lights that pocket streets like Tower Avenue and Belknap Street in Superior.  It’s a trap for those in a bind and a trap door for quick loans that become long term.  It preys upon the need and desperation of the individual, but the two are hard to sort.  It’s mafia style, and it’s allowed by a would-be state government that prides itself as a no-cash welfare state but approves of poor people getting snaked.
The average payday loan in Wisconsin is 537 percent.  The best of the payday loan places is Security Finance, located on Tower Avenue.  They won’t give you a loan beyond your budget.  For example, someone making around $1300 a month can get a $400 loan and only have to pay $85.00 a month.  That is reasonable and do-able.  USA Cash Network, run by some outpost in Utah and located on Belknap, charges $1611 in interest and principal off of a $300 loan. They only have one employee who works six days a week and I doubt is working on comparable commission. They are the worst and they will up your interest rate rapidly if you don’t pay on time.  The first three or four payments don’t count toward the principal at all, and even after you pay $400 or so, you are barely dipping into the principal.  
American Cash 2 Go, located on Tower Avenue near the Goodwill, is reasonable and helpful.  They require a checking account and a blank check, but if you close your checking account, they will work with you.  They have a long-term staff member named Carla who is efficient and flexible.  They do require bi-monthly payments, but you can pay back at a rate as low as $58.00 for a $400 loan.  Check n Go is the most visible on Belknap Avenue, right across the Bong Bridge.  They offer installment loans and title loans.  The installment loans on a $1200 income can be offered up to $1600, which means the customer has to pay back an average of $170 every two weeks.  The temptation is real at Check n Go to take the cash when you know you can’t afford to pay it back.  
Title loans are a bad idea because if you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to pay, then you could lose your car.  However, Wisconsin Auto Title loans is more reasonable than Loan Max, which seems to want to prey on you before you get your big toe in the door.  The only problem with Wisconsin Auto Title Loans is that they lost their building.  It was condemned by the city.  In order to pay your loan off, you must send in a money order or meet an employee at Walgreens.  They still are legitimate; they have a headquarters in Hudson.  I paid off a car title loan, and five days later my head gasket went out and I didn’t use the car anymore.  But I still own the car, at least.
Overall, the payday loan option is a dark turn down an endless road.  Unless you are taking out an installment loan for $300 and short term, you should not consider it unless you are in a really tough spot.  I had a foreigner friend whose whole paycheck went to paying back interest on payday loans.  When she had no real income to live on, she had to get wire transfers from her country of origin from relatives.  She was too scared not to pay.   American Cash 2 Go, Check n Go, and Security Finance will all work with the individual if they fall a week or 10 days behind.  USA Cash Network will try lowdown tactics even if half the loan is paid.  Wisconsin Auto Title Loan will offer reduced closing payments if 75 percent of your loan is paid.  They will drop $100-200.   
If you have sensitive relatives, don’t give your relatives’ phone numbers out when the crap is ready to hit the fan.  You don’t want your most judgmental relatives calling you on the carpet.   If you have average to semi-good credit, online loans are good, too.  Plain Green Loans and Castle Payday loans are flexible in offering $1000 loans to people with credit scores around 550-600.  Having foresight is good in budgeting, and avoiding borrowing is the best route.  Somewhere in Wisconsin, a welfare mother who was turned down by the county is eating a hamburger Happy Meal at 537 percent interest.  The snakes outsmarted the badger social conscience.