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Credit card providers are offering more competitive deals which are contributing to Britons turning away from using debit cards, it has been suggested.

The online shopping trend has also boosted the popularity of flexing the plastic, which provides protection for shoppers should they be a victim of fraud, says Sainsbury's Finance.

"People are also finding themselves slightly more economically stretched and are therefore using some of these short-term secure borrowing tools to manage their household finances," comments head of Sainsbury's Credit Cards Donald MacLeod.

Another borrowing method could be for individuals to take out a loan such as a secured loan, although this type of credit could be secured against a current property.

However, in some cases, such credit can be paid out on the same day, which may be beneficial to cash-strapped consumers.

It was recently advised by Gocompare that adults should research the best value financial products on the market before making a decision as to what to apply for.