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.
Rent Vs Buy Comparator
Compare the financial outcome of buying a property versus continuing to rent over the same period. Models equity build, stamp duty, maintenance costs, investment growth on the deposit, and the monthly cash flow difference. Includes a breakeven timeline, sensitivity panel for house price growth assumptions, and a full cost breakdown.
Personal Loans for Weddings: Budgeting Before You Borrow
A wedding is one of the most significant financial commitments many couples will make, and borrowing to fund it is common. This guide covers how to build a realistic budget before deciding how much to borrow, how the total cost of a wedding loan compares to the amount borrowed, and
Regional Insights: Secured Loans Across the UK
Secured loans are a popular financial solution for borrowers across the UK, offering access to substantial funds with competitive interest rates. However, borrowing conditions, property values, and lender availability can vary by region, impacting your options.
This guide provides tailored advice for borrowers in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and other regions
How to Repay a Personal Loan Early: Charges and Savings
You have the right to repay a personal loan early at any time under the Consumer Credit Act. The lender can charge a fee, but it is capped by law at 1% of the amount repaid early (or 0.5% if 12 months or fewer remain). Many lenders charge less or
Wait vs Borrow Now Calculator
Compare the true cost of borrowing now against saving up first for a home improvement project. Set your target amount, loan APR and term, and a monthly savings amount with a savings rate, to see the total interest cost of each path, how long saving takes, and the total financial
Secured Loans for Education: Borrowing for Your Studies
Government student finance does not cover every course, every learner, or every cost. For homeowners who need to fund postgraduate study, professional qualifications, or specialist training beyond what standard student loans provide, a secured loan offers access to larger amounts at rates that reflect the property security, but with the
Bridging loan document checklist
Bridging loans are often used when timing matters: auction purchases, chain breaks, refurb projects, or short-term refinancing where a deadline is looming. But while bridging can be faster than many mainstream routes, it rarely becomes “fast” by accident. The quickest cases are usually the ones where the lender (or broker)
Planning your exit after refurb: sale vs refinance
If you’re refurbishing a property with bridging finance in the background, your exit strategy is not a footnote. It’s the core story. Most refurb deals only make sense because the property’s value, mortgageability or marketability changes after the works. That value uplift is what repays the loan, protects your profit,
Financing Large Renovations: Home Improvement Loans vs Construction Loans
For most large renovations on an existing habitable property, a secured home improvement loan or second charge mortgage is the right product. Construction finance in the UK, including self-build mortgages and bridging loans, applies to a specific and narrower set of circumstances: ground-up builds, properties that will be uninhabitable during
Secured Loan Borrowing Power Calculator
Estimate how much you could borrow as a secured loan based on your equity and affordability. Shows the binding constraint, LTV tier staircase, rate sensitivity, and a diagnostic for reaching a higher target.
Bad Credit Car Finance: HP, PCP & Loan Options
Bad credit car financing covers several distinct product types that work differently and carry different risks. This guide covers hire purchase, personal contract purchase, and personal bad credit loans for car purchase, the dealer versus direct lender distinction, why a deposit materially affects the rate, how to assess the full
Bad Credit Loans for Single Parents: Financial Support Options
Single parents managing household costs on one income face a more demanding affordability assessment than the equivalent two-income household, and their entitlement to government support is often more substantial than they realise. This guide covers the government benefits and charitable support worth exhausting before any borrowing, when a bad credit
Self Employed Income Classifier
If you are self-employed and want to borrow against your home, this classifier works out how lenders are likely to assess your income – based on your trading structure, your accounts, and how different lenders treat each income type. All figures are illustrative.
Fast Home Improvement Loans: Quick Funding for Your Renovation Needs
When tackling urgent home improvement projects, such as fixing a leaky roof or addressing critical repairs, fast access to funding can be essential. Fast home improvement loans are designed to provide quick approval and disbursement, helping you get started on renovations without delays.
This guide explains how fast home improvement
Land Planning Status Classifier
Land values and bridging availability are inseparable from planning status. A lender assessing a land case is not simply assessing the land, they are assessing the planning position, the exit route that planning status supports, and the risk that position changes or stalls during the loan term. This tool is
Probate and Inheritance Bridging Loans
Probate bridging loans are used in two situations: paying an inheritance tax bill before probate is granted, and releasing value from an inherited property before the estate fully settles. This guide explains how both work, who can apply and when, what lenders assess, and what documentation probate cases require.
Personal Loans from Your Bank vs the Open Market
Your bank knows you. It holds your income data, your spending history, and your identity records. That familiarity can mean a faster application and, in some cases, a preferential rate. But familiarity does not always mean the best price. This guide compares the advantages of borrowing from your existing bank
UK Home Improvement Cost Calculator
Most home improvement budgets start with a single contractor quote. That quote may be accurate, or it may be the most optimistic version of the project cost before scope changes, ground conditions, or material choices push the final figure higher. This calculator is designed to give you a realistic cost
Light vs heavy refurbishment: bridging vs development finance
If you’re buying a property to refurb, the finance decision often comes down to one question: is this a “light refurb” that can be funded with a standard bridging loan, or is it a heavier project that needs a different product (often called refurbishment finance or development finance)?
It’s an
How to Avoid Debt Consolidation Scams: A Guide for UK Borrowers
Debt consolidation can be a helpful solution for managing multiple debts, but it also attracts scammers looking to exploit vulnerable borrowers. Falling victim to a scam can worsen financial troubles, so recognising red flags and understanding how to find trustworthy providers is crucial.
This guide will help you identify common
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
Many young people struggle to borrow not because of bad financial behaviour, but because they have no credit history yet. This guide explains the difference between a thin file and actual bad credit, what lenders look for when assessing young borrowers, and which options tend to make most sense depending
Can You Pay Off a Secured Loan Early? Pros and Cons
Most secured loans allow early repayment, but many carry early repayment charges that can reduce or eliminate the interest saving. This guide covers what those charges look like, how to calculate whether settling early makes financial sense, and the practical steps to take before requesting a settlement figure.
Alternatives to Debt Consolidation Loans: Exploring Other Debt Solutions
A debt consolidation loan is not the only route available to someone managing multiple debts. For those who cannot access a consolidation loan at a rate that makes financial sense, or who would prefer not to take on new borrowing, several practical alternatives exist. This guide explains how debt management