Guides & Resources
The latest tools, guides and resources from the Squared Money team.
Loan Guide & Resource Categories
If you’re interested in learning more about loans and how they could benefit your financial situation, we invite you to explore our comprehensive resources. Our guides cover everything from the basics of what loans are to more detailed aspects like how they can impact your credit score and the specific requirements for securing a loan against property.
Secured Loan LTV & Equity Calculator
Find out how much you may be able to borrow against your home. Enter your property value and outstanding mortgage to see your equity position, the typical maximum borrowing at different LTV thresholds, and what monthly repayments might look like. All figures are illustrative – your actual offer will depend
Bad Credit Loans for Renters: Can You Qualify Without Collateral?
For renters with poor credit, obtaining a loan without the benefit of property collateral can seem challenging. However, there are solutions designed to help tenants secure funding while navigating the constraints of their financial situation. This guide explores the options available, how to qualify, and tips for managing these loans
Using a Vehicle as Collateral for Secured Loans
For UK borrowers who don’t own property or prefer not to use their home as collateral, vehicles can serve as an alternative for secured loans. A car, motorbike, or other valuable vehicle can act as security, allowing access to funds while leveraging an asset you already own.
This guide explains
Debt Consolidation for Students and Recent Graduates: Managing Education-Related Debts
For students and recent graduates in the UK, managing multiple debts can be a daunting challenge. From tuition fee loans to credit cards and overdrafts, balancing repayments while navigating early career or academic life requires careful financial planning.
Debt consolidation offers a way to simplify repayments and potentially lower costs
Home Improvement Loans for Roof Repairs: Essential Funding for Critical Upgrades
Roof repairs are among the most critical home improvements a homeowner may face. A well-maintained roof not only protects your property from the elements but also maintains structural integrity and ensures long-term safety. However, roofing projects can be costly, with expenses ranging from a few thousand pounds for minor repairs
How to Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying for a Bad Credit Loan
Your credit score is a critical factor that influences the type of loans you can secure, the interest rates you receive, and even your overall financial stability. Improving your credit score before applying for a loan can not only widen your borrowing options but also help you secure more affordable
Secured Loans for IVA Customers: Borrowing After an IVA
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement leaves a mark on your credit file for six years, but it does not permanently close the door on secured borrowing. This guide explains how lenders assess post-IVA applications, what eligibility looks like in practice, what rates and terms to expect, and the practical steps that
Best Secured Loans in the UK: A Comprehensive Guide
In this guide, we’ll focus on finding the best secured loans by using a whole-of-market advisor. This approach ensures you access tailored options based on your circumstances, rather than limiting yourself to a handful of providers. We’ll also highlight our top five secured loan lenders in 2024, giving you an
How Bad Credit Loans Affect Your Credit Score
Bad credit loans can play a dual role when it comes to credit scores—they can either improve or further damage your credit, depending on how you manage the loan. Understanding how these loans impact your credit score can help you make informed financial decisions and build a stronger financial profile
Using Bad Credit Loans to Consolidate Debt: Is It Worth It?
Consolidating debt with a bad credit loan can be an effective way to simplify repayments and reduce financial stress. However, it’s essential to weigh the benefits and risks before deciding if this approach suits your circumstances.
This guide explores how bad credit loans can be used for debt consolidation, the
What Happens If You Can’t Repay a Secured Loan?
Missing payments on a secured loan triggers a sequence of steps that most borrowers are not familiar with until they are already in it. This guide explains what happens at each stage, from a first missed payment to the formal arrears process, what the court-based repossession route looks like, and
Debt Prioritisation Tool
Enter your debts to see which ones are worth consolidating and which to leave alone. The tool ranks each debt by its consolidation priority using a scoring model based on remaining interest, APR, and balance, then lets you select a combination and see the live cost comparison at a consolidation
Secured Loan Credit Profile Classifier
Answer questions about your payment history, credit events, current utilisation, and application activity to see how lenders are likely to classify your credit profile for secured borrowing. The tool returns an illustrative tier (clean, near-prime, adverse, or serious adverse), a lender access summary, and specific actions that could improve your
Bad Credit Loans for Students and Graduates
For many students and recent graduates, building a solid credit history can be a real challenge. With limited credit records and often little income, traditional lenders might not be keen to offer financing. Bad credit loans for students and graduates offer an alternative route—providing essential funds while giving you an
Using a Mortgage for Debt Consolidation: Risks and Benefits
For homeowners, leveraging your mortgage for debt consolidation can be an effective way to simplify repayments and lower interest costs. Options like mortgage refinancing or home equity release allow you to consolidate high-interest debts into one manageable payment secured against your property.
However, while this approach offers advantages, it also
Bad Credit Loans for Young Borrowers: Starting Your Financial Journey
For many young people stepping into the world of finance, building a solid credit history can feel like an uphill battle. With limited credit experience and often no established credit score, traditional lending options might seem out of reach. Bad credit loans for young borrowers offer one potential route to
How auction legal packs affect bridging
Auction buying is all about deadlines. You exchange contracts as soon as you win the bid, and completion is fixed. That makes bridging a common funding route: it can often move faster than a mainstream mortgage and cope with more unusual properties. But there’s a catch that surprises many first-time
Secured Loans for Home Buyers: Beyond Mortgages
For many UK homebuyers, mortgages are the primary method of financing property purchases. However, secured loans can also play a role in supporting home purchases, particularly as supplementary funding. Whether you’re looking to bridge a financial gap, cover additional expenses like renovations, or buy a property outright, secured loans offer
What is a Second Charge Mortgage
A second charge mortgage and a secured loan are the same product. “Second charge” is the legal and regulatory term; “secured loan” is the consumer-facing name. This guide explains what the second charge designation means in law, why it matters for borrowers, how the product has been regulated since 2016,
What Are Secured Loans?
A secured loan is a way of borrowing a significant sum against a property you own. The property provides security for the lender, which typically means lower rates and larger amounts than unsecured borrowing, but it also means the property is at risk if repayments are not maintained. This guide
Payday Loans vs Bad Credit Loans: What’s the Difference?
For many people facing financial challenges—especially those with poor credit scores—securing funding can feel like an uphill battle. Payday loans and bad credit loans are two common options that might appear to solve immediate cash-flow concerns. However, these lending products differ significantly in terms of interest rates, repayment structures, and
How to Spot the Best Debt Consolidation Offers
With so many debt consolidation providers in the UK, finding the best deal can feel overwhelming. Reliable lenders, competitive rates, and manageable terms are key to making an informed decision. However, recognising these elements often requires more than just a cursory glance at interest rates.
In this guide, we’ll walk
Funding Medical Expenses with Bad Credit Loans
When unexpected medical bills arise, they can quickly put your finances under strain—especially if you have a less-than-perfect credit history. Bad credit loans offer one way to cover urgent healthcare costs, from emergency treatments to ongoing medical care. In this guide, we explore how these loans work for medical expenses,
Secured Loan Fixed vs Variable Rate Comparator
Compare the cost of a fixed rate secured loan against a variable rate option using your own figures. Model what happens if the variable rate rises during the term – and find the exact point at which the variable loan stops being the cheaper choice. All figures are illustrative.