When you're looking for a cheap loan, you probably just think about the interest rate (or APR), but there are other charges to consider that might make a difference. For instance, some lenders charge a loan arrangement fee when you apply or a fee for rapid delivery of the money into your account. Like credit card companies charging an annual fee, this might bring your interest rate down, but you'd be better off looking for a cheap loan with no fees and a low rate.

There are plenty of cheap loans available in the UK. Most high street banks and building societies offer one, most of these companies offer an online option as well, and new online banks are launching all the time. It's difficult to know where to start looking for your cheap loan, but all this competition means that there's one for everyone, it is just harder to sort through the huge amount of offers to find that perfect loan for you.

UK mortgage lending in August broke records for the tenth consecutive month, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has announced. Overall mortgage lending rose to £32.7 billion in August, up £300 million, or 7.2 per cent on July's figures, and 21 per cent up on the same month of 2005. "Record lending in August reflects the rise in mortgage approvals during the early summer combined with increasing house prices," said CML boss Michael Coogan.

Despite shrill complaints from lobbyists and fevered media speculation on the next move, most Britons say that they are entirely unaffected by the recent interest rate rise. Almost four-fifths of mortgage holders - 78 per cent - say that their finances are unchanged following the quarter point increase in the cost of borrowing in August. This was because their mortgages are on either fixed or capped rates, said 45 per cent, while 33 per cent said that they could easily afford the increases in mortgage costs.

The average adult in the UK has almost double the recommended minimum financial 'safety net' squirreled away in their bank accounts, according to Birmingham Midshires. Enough savings to survive three months of incapacity, or £4,128, is recommended as a sensible minimum precaution, says the building society. The average UK adult has £7,548 in the bank, enough to cover 167 days, or five months and 17 days, according to Birmingham Midshires calculations.

Low cost loans come in many different shapes and sizes. When you consider a low cost loan, you might only look at the Annual Percentage Rate charged, but you should also be aware of the other ways in which lenders products can benefit their customers. The key to finding a low cost loan is shopping around and understanding the market. Click here for our free Guide to loans to help find the perfect low cost loan.

Whether you are looking for a personal or secured loan, finding the cheapest loans in the UK is easy with MoneyExpert.com. Our loans comparison service carries out a free and impartial search of the personal loans market to find the UK's cheapest loans. We update our loans information every day, so you know you are finding the very latest cheapest loans.

A low rate loan is a great way to borrow for a big purchase or to consolidate existing debts. The market for low rate loans is huge, and with all the price competition out there it can be difficult to choose between the offers available. Don't worry - MoneyExpert.com offers completely impartial advice and can help you choose your low rate loan with the minimum of fuss.

If you are looking to borrow, a low interest loan seems the obvious choice to manage your debt and keep monthly repayments down to a minimum. So whether you want to take out a personal loan for a holiday or need to borrow a bigger sum through a secured loan, we can guide you through the process quickly and with the minimum of fuss.

Whether you are looking for a personal or secured loan, finding the cheapest loans in the UK is easy with MoneyExpert.com. Our loans comparison service carries out a free and impartial search of the personal loans market to find the UK's cheapest loans. We update our loans information every day, so you know you are finding the very latest cheapest loans.