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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.

With over 20 per cent of adults in the UK believing that they will miss out on a wage increase this year, taking out a loan to cover 2009 ventures may be a plan of action that many have to take.

Furthermore, over nine million of workers are unsure whether they could find employment should they be made unemployed from their current job, uSwitch.com reveals.

And the total of such missed pay rises would total £3.1 billion this year, the website claims.

Indeed, such individuals looking for ways to finance a new car or home improvements may have to rely on secured loans instead, although these may be secured against a current property as protection for the lender.

"The onset of the recession can not be stopped and the threat of unemployment is still a very real fear," warns personal finance expert at uSwitch.com Louise Bond.

However, the website recently claimed that home heating bills can be slashed if people insulated their lofts to at least ten inches - a move which could be covered with a small personal loan.

Now could be the right time for Britons to take out a loan and start work on any home renovations that they may have been promising to do.

Indeed, a recent report by the Land Registry has noted that the average UK house price in November represents a 12.2 per cent decline from the same period in 2007 and a 1.9 per cent drop since October.

And while secured loans are potentially tied against a current property, such borrowing may be needed to cover the costs of home improvements to boost the value of a house once the market recovers.

This type of credit could not only be easier to obtain, but may also have a lower annual payment rate than other borrowing methods.

Furthermore, the Land Registry discovered that the value of homes have declined in every region in England and Wales.

Meanwhile, taking out a loan may be a necessity for some after David Kuo, head of personal finance at Fool.co.uk, said banks are going to cut available overdraft limits in 2009.

A financial freeze due to climbing energy bills can be thawed out if people follow the advice of one consumer website.

Such is the assertion of uSwitch.com, which states that switching from a standard to an online payment plan could see new customers save an average of £170.

Home improvements such as loft insulation with a depth of at least ten inches is another way that people can slash their home heating bills, the website claims.

But taking out a loan to pay for work on a property could be a wise move for those without the household coffers to cut their bills in the long term.

Secured loans - which could be paid into an account the same day - could provide the cash boost for those looking to get underway with their home improvements.

"You should also talk to your supplier to see if they can help you with a grant or funding towards more expensive energy efficiency steps such as insulating your home or getting an energy-efficient boiler," advises Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com.

Meanwhile, the Land Registry recently discovered that November's average house price of £161,883 represents a 1.9 per cent drop from October.

Britons looking to enjoy adventures during their retirement may find that the state pension is not enough to live on.

According to research by Friends Provident, £832 is the typical monthly amount that people believe will provide them with a comfortable retirement.

Over 50 per cent of individuals claim they will live partly or fully off the state pension - despite it currently standing at £439 for a single person.

"When the state pension was first paid in 1909, those people who qualified for it would have been delighted at the extra support it gave them in their retirement," comments Martin Palmer, head of corporate pensions marketing at Friends Provident .

As such, people who are looking to treat themselves to trips abroad or a new car may find that a loan is one way to provide the extra cash to fund such ventures.

Such an option may be a wise move after it was recently warned that credit card companies are going to become stricter about how much they lend, according to David Kuo, head of personal finance at the Motley Fool.

With an annual payment rate that could be lower than other loans, secured loans could be the financial solution for many people in their retirement.