<prompt> Human: If the numbers work out that its cheaper short and long term to borrow from your 401k then through other means, why is there still a stigma on this practice? Granted, the root cause is simply needing to borrow in the first place but if you isolate that and analyze just the borrowing choices, isnt this a good choice to make?Assistant: Well, if you borrow, you loose out on that money growing even though in most cases you pay yourself back with some interest.If you lose your job, that loan is due immediately or is considered a taxable withdrawal.Really the only downsides.Human: I suppose if under that same test, losing your job after taking out a private loan will have fairly material consequences as well?  <response>: Yes, but the full loan is not due immediately if its private. If you take out 10k from a 401k, for example, most people dont have that kind of cash lying around, but most people do have the cash to make a monthly payment on a private loan for awhile. 