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Boosting a home's security by using a loan to cover the costs of new materials and equipment could be a wise move for Britons to make.

Indeed, home security is as important as ever, according to a spokesperson for the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Buying a good quality intruder alarm and UPVC windows and doors are just some of the steps that he suggests homeowners take, although a loan could pay for such improvements.

"The pre-requisite that insurers always look for are good quality door locks, reaching British standard 3621 as a bare minimum," he advises.

And thieves may currently be targeting properties in the hope of finding expensive gifts received for Christmas, the ABI spokesperson adds.

Furthermore, individuals may also want to consider getting double glazing fitted, after the Daily Mail suggested that this could save households £140 a year off their energy bills.

But for consumers cash-strapped because of the festivities, secured loans could prove to be an easy cash injection for their bank accounts to receive.

Fed-up consumers looking to get away from it all may have already taken out a loan in order to pay for the family to go on a much-needed exotic trip.

And while people may be bickering over which destination to go to, one sector commentator claims that all-inclusive holidays could be not as pricey as they seem at first glance.

Indeed, such holidays allow people to budget before they go, says Travelsupermarket.com, meaning that a loan could go further than expected.

"You know what it is costing you before you go and you've paid for that before you travel, so you are not coming back to a huge bill," claims Bob Atkinson, travel expert at the website.

Furthermore, mums and dads can decide beforehand how much extra they may need to spend per person, he adds, which may include day trips and holiday gifts.

As such, taking out secured loans could ensure that once a family gets to their destination they can afford to splash out to make the most of their time away.

With the interest rate cut down to 1.5 per cent by the Bank of England, secured loans may come with a cheaper price tag.

The Bank of England has announced an interest rate cut today (January 8th), which takes the level down to the lowest seen in the history of the financial institution.

Individuals looking to take out a loan could find themselves benefiting from this move, if the bank or building society they choose decide to match the cut with their own rates.

And while cash-strapped consumers eager for a bank account boost may be considering secured loans - because of the lower annual percentage rate that may be on offer - it could be advised that they wait and see which loan providers follow the lead of the Bank.

HSBC has raised the interest rate on its tracker mortgages in preparation for the cut, which sees the rate stand at 1.5 per cent.

Lloyds TSB and the Cheltenham & Gloucester (C&G) have stated that they will match their standard variable mortgage rates to the decline.

Stephen Noakes, C&G marketing director, comments: "No matter how much is cut from the Bank of England base rate, we'll continue to pass it on to existing customers until product rates reach zero per cent."

But struggling Britons may have to wait and see whether such savings will be passed on to loan products available on the market.

Households in Britain could save hundreds of pounds a year by making their home more energy-efficient, work which could be covered with a small loan.

According to the Daily Mail, investing in a condensing boiler with heating controls can bag households an extra £345 a year for their coffers.

Insulating a loft to 270mm can also wipe off around £205 a year off energy bills, a saving which could make taking out a small loan a wise investment because of the money saved further down the line.

And while double glazing could be pricey to install, heat loss through windows is reduced by 50 per cent, cutting £140 off energy bills each year, the newspaper continues.

"Paying by direct debit can save you ten per cent on your bill with almost every supplier and you should look out for cashback incentives offered by the various comparison websites," the resource suggests.

Indeed, households looking to kick start 2009 with a greener home may find they want a loan in their account as quickly as possible, a benefit of secured loans.

Burst pipes during the cold snap has led to Lloyds TSB Insurance receiving a 15 per cent surge in claims.

Almost 1,500 people are made unemployed every day, according to a report, meaning that taking out a loan to see them through financially unstable times may be action that many take.

Indeed, an average of 1,490 each day lost their jobs in the three months prior to last October, Credit Action reveals.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development claims that this will increase to an average of 1,644 each day during the next 12 months.

Furthermore, Credit Action states that "the British Chamber of Commerce estimates that over the next two years, UK unemployment will rise to a peak of 3.1 million, some ten per cent of the workforce".

And around 18,000 credit card applications are rejected each day, the report continues, which may mean borrowers have to find credit from other sources, such as secured loans.

In related news, it was recently suggested by Sainsbury's Finance that people are turning away from debit cards and using credit to pay their way.

Carry on caravanning is the message that holidaymakers are deciding to push this year, with caravan parks witnessing a surge in bookings, a claim suggests.

According to the Herald, the number of spaces in caravan parks already booked for the year ahead has shot up by 15 per cent.

The Association of British Travel Agents has also found that demand for luxury tents - which include beds and stoves - has boosted the number of camping holidays sought after by individuals.

Indeed, taking out a loan to cover the cost of a new motor home, luxury caravan or tent - and other family ventures - could be an ideal option to take.

Jamie Taylor, a caravan and leisure show organiser, says that with the number of households finding that they have less cash to splash, "more and more people are choosing to holiday in the UK, with many opting to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of caravanning which can work out significantly cheaper than a foreign holiday".

In related news, turning to credit such as secured loans may be a move that many people make, after Nationwide found that people will have to take stock of their finances and decide the best way to stay afloat during the credit crunch.

Consumer confidence fell by four points in December, dropping from 51 to 47, according to a report.

News of troubled retailers and redundancies has dealt a blow to the economic expectations of Britons, Nationwide reveals.

Cash-strapped consumers did point out that now could be a good time to buy items such as fridges and television while the high street continues its discounting frenzy.

As such, taking out a small loan to cover the costs of home renovations and DIY could be an option that households wish to consider while materials and equipment might be cheaper.

Nationwide's chief economist Fionnuala Earley states that there are signs that individuals are taking steps to prepare for the financial challenges of 2009 "and this is likely to become more evident in the coming months as people take stock of how current and future economic conditions may impact on their personal circumstances".

Indeed, borrowing cash via secured loans could be one idea that people take into consideration when organising their financial situation.

However, Borro.com claims that going to a modern pawnbroker for a short-term loan is a viable option for struggling households.

The cost of Christmas could hit the pockets of consumers this January but people searching for credit may find that the banks have restricted their lending.

Such are the claims of Borro.com, which states that a modern day pawnbroker is one avenue which individuals might consider to help with their household cash flow.

Indeed, the online pawnbroker believes that it could become a mainstream service for people looking to obtain a short-term loan, secured against the value of goods they own and intend to keep.

"This year with the credit crisis and banks continuing to trim consumers' credit card limits, there will be fewer options than at any time in the last 30 years," claims Paul Aitken, founder and chief executive officer of Borro.com.

January is the month when access to personal credit is at its most restricted, he adds.

But cash-strapped consumers may also like to consider secured loans against their home, which could not only be more easily available, but may also be in a person's bank account within the same day.

Meanwhile, NS&I recently stated that falling costs in areas such as petrol and food could mean that more disposable income can be placed into a savings account.

Home improvements could help prevent people having to put in pricey claims for weather-damaged property, one sector organisation has advised.

As a cold snap sweeps Britain, Lloyds TSB Insurance has announced that it has seen a 15 per cent increase of claims for burst pipes, although this is expected to rise.

Indeed, the average cost of a claim for this incident occurring is £1,400, the insurer states, which may highlight the importance of weather-proofing a home and having a home insurance policy in place.

Homeowners may want to take out a loan to cover the cost of having heating appliances serviced and insulating outside taps, lag pipes and loft tanks, action which the firm says could avoid unnecessary damage.

"A little bit of preparation now could save you from having to deal with escaping water from burst pipes or a broken boiler," suggests managing director of Lloyds TSB Insurance Phil Loney.

As such, using credit such as secured loans to make extensive home improvements could avoid costly consequences further down the line.

Taking out secured loans may be an attractive financial option for many after uSwitch.com revealed that over a fifth of adults believe they will miss out on a pay rise this year.

More Britons will be able to boost their household coffers as price rises on everyday items start to ease.

Such is the claim of an NS&I spokesperson, who says that prices of utility bills, petrol and food may even reduce in cost, although some cash-strapped consumers still may need to rely on the financial crutch of a loan to cover any big new year ventures.

Indeed, over 50 per cent of UK adults claim they do not have enough money left from their income to put in a savings account.

"There are very few people in a position where they don't need to put some saving away to put them in a better position," the spokesperson continues.

He adds that 12 per cent of people claim that they do not need to save, or do not have the time.

As such, individuals looking for a quick cash injection may find secured loans to be an attractive choice, especially since the money could be paid into an account on the same day.

The amount of disposable income households saved, rather than spent, in the first quarter of 2008 stood at -1.1 per cent, although this improved to 0.4 per cent in the second quarter.