Back in Britain, I took out a loan to consolidate some of my debts. It was easier to have one debtor to pay, than three or four separate ones. As the interest rate I got was no higher than the individual debts’, it didn’t cost more money either. Before we came to Kazakhstan, with the help of my wife and both our parents, we managed to pay off all our debts, so we didn’t need to worry about them whilst abroad.

I had to spend quite a long time phoning up different companies, trying to find the best deal, but these days, it can be a lot easier to find your ideal loan. You can read about news in the loans sector, to find out if any recent developments affect the type of loan you are looking for. For example, if interest rates have recently gone down, and you wish to take out a secured loan, you need to make sure you are getting the best terms possible.

Similarly, if the Chancellor (soon to be Prime Minister) Gordon Brown has announced new tax rules regarding remortgages, you’ll want to check just how it affects people in your situation.

Finally, if you have been watching a lot of interior design programmes on television, you may have been inspired to spruce up your living area. In this case, unless you have a lot of cash just sitting in your bank account, a home improvement loan may be just the ticket to achieving that unique look in your living room.