Anyone wishing to apply for personal credit may find that their choices are becoming increasingly limited, not to mention more expensive as the average APR rises.

Due to the recent ‘credit crunch’, consumers are finding that not only is it more difficult to get credit, but that the credit they do get is costing them more in interest repayments. This goes for most kinds of credit; mortgages, loans and credit cards.

Financial firms which offer these services are rethinking their application criteria and turning away more and more people who apply with them. Those who are granted credit are often finding the APR they are offered is significantly higher than it may have been just a year ago.

This increase in interest rates is hitting households especially hard as the cost of living continues to rise. The average fuel bill is now said to be around £1000 per year and the food bill for the average household can be over £3000.

People are finding that their wages just aren’t covering the cost of loan and mortgage repayments, which leads to more relying on their credit cards to meet payments, and then being charged higher rates of interest on those. It’s a vicious circle which appears to have no way out.

But despite the personal finance sector being fraught with problems, there are still options available. Provided your credit rating isn’t too bad, you may be able to get a consolidation loan. This will enable you to pay off all your owings in one fell swoop and have a single repayment instead, which, if taken out over a longer term, will be cheaper than paying lots of different balances.

You’ll end up paying more in interest but your monthly bills will be less. Look for a loan with no early settlement penalties if you think you may be able to pay it off before the term is up.

Loans aren’t the answer for everyone, but it may be the first step towards financial solvency for many. With a secured loan your home could be taken if you don’t keep up repayments. Unsecured loans (sometimes called personal loans) can be taken out without putting your home at risk