A personal loan is what it says: a loan for you to spend as you wish.
It could be for a car, home improvements, or even to pay off credit card bills in one go, allowing you to spread the repayments over a longer time at a lower interest rate.
Here are the key issues to consider when choosing which loan to take out.
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Borrowing limits
You can generally get up to £15,000 - but some lenders offer up to £25,000. You can often get approval in principle over the phone with the money available in just a few days.
Loan terms
Some lenders will give you a loan for as short a period as six months, although a year is more common. The maximum length is usually seven years, although some firms will lend over ten.
Personal loans make the most sense for people who want to repay something over a few years. If you only need the money over six months using your credit card probably makes more sense.
Providers
Banks, building societies and, increasingly, supermarket chains offer personal loans at competitive rates.
Avoid loans from small firms that you have never heard of - this is a lightly regulated area and some of these loans can carry high interest rates coupled with heavy redemption penalties should you decide to move your loan to a cheaper firm.
Reputable firms generally charge penalties of no more than two months' interest if you pay off the loan early. Shop around - your mortgage lender may offer you a preferential rate, for example, but you might still be better going elsewhere.
LIST THE CHEAPEST LOAN RATESInterest
Rates are generally fixed for the duration of the loan, which means you know exactly how much you will repay each month.
The disadvantage is that you could be paying more than borrowers who take out a similar loan in six months' time - on the other hand you could pay less.
Either way, you do not have to worry about your repayments soaring. Many lenders will insist that you take out a direct debit for the repayments.
Generally, the interest rate falls if you take out a larger loan. The crucial rate to look for is the APR - annual percentage rate - which includes the effect of any arrangement fees you have to pay, although few lenders actually charge these today.
Credit checks
Lenders want to make sure that you are a good risk and do not have a history of bad debts and unpaid loans behind you. To do this they will check your entry on credit registers.
A poor credit record won't necessarily prevent you from getting a loan, but you will probably have to pay a higher interest rate. You may find it harder to get a loan if you are self-employed or are on a short-term contract.
Unsecured loans
Unlike a mortgage, this type of loan is not secured on your home. If you fail to repay the loan, the lender cannot repossess your home. That is why the interest rate is higher than for a mortgage.