Approvals for secured loans increased over the course of May.

According to new figures by the Bank of England, some 114,000 mortgage approvals for house purchase were granted last month - a rise from the 109,000 recorded during April. Overall, 17 billion pounds in home loans was approved in May, in comparison to 16.3 billion pounds lent out from the previous month.

More Britons are looking to save money, according to new figures.

The MoneyMood Survey from Legal and General indicated that 62 per cent of adults were in the mood to save after paying bills and servicing debts accrued on Personal loans, credit cards and other avenues of borrowing as of the end of May.

During the same month in 2005 only some 57 per cent of respondents surveyed were reported to be in the mood to save money.

According to new figures, Britons could be incurring debt problems by attending weddings.

Research carried out by CreditExpert has indicated that the average consumer spends 386 Pounds for someone else's big day on areas such as gifts, clothes and accommodation - a figure which could impact upon their ability to make repayments on Personal Loans, credit cards and other forms of borrowing.

An increasing number of consumers are failing to make loan repayments, new figures have revealed.

According to research carried out by MoneyExpert, more than 230,000 payments are missed every month - an average of 7,700 every day.

Since the beginning of this year, a total of 1,389,000 repayments on personal loans were reported to have been missed.

A government-backed housing body has warned that the next generation of homebuyers face average house prices that can be as much as ten times their salary. This warning comes as the number of homes being built decreases and the dream of becoming a homeowner becomes near to impossible for millions of young people.

The government-backed housing body, the new National Housing and Planning Advice Unit, found that more than a third of non-homeowners think that they will never be able to buy and a fifth believe that it will take them at least five years before they are able to afford a home.

The mortgage market is beginning to dampen, according to new figures.

Statistics released by the Building Societies Association (BSA) indicated that home loan approvals accounted for some 4,739 million pounds (Sterling) over the course of May.

However, during the same month in 2006 this figure stood at 5,454 million pounds - recording a year-on-year fall of 13 per cent.

Homebuyers need to be conscious of the implications of valuation fees when looking to move property, an industry expert has reported. According to Julia Harris, mortgage analyst for Moneyfacts, consumers - which may include those who have taken out a home and Secured loan - should be wary of all the applicable charges behind the house buying process.

Van owners could be well advised to ensure that they are using money from their motor loan to take out adequate insurance for their vehicle, it has been suggested.

According to research by AA Insurance, about a quarter (24 per cent) of commercial van drivers surveyed claim that if their means of transportation was unavailable then they could lose up to an average of 362 pounds every day.

A rising number of young people are forgoing higher education in a bid to get on to the property ladder, according to a new set of figures. The Next Generation of Homeowners Report by Lloyds TSB indicates that one in ten of those aged 18 to 24 are sacrificing going to university in a bid to save up money for their first home. Findings from the financial services company also revealed that one in five 22 to 24-year-olds are actively redirecting contributions that were intended a pension scheme towards making the first down payment for a home.

Earlier this week, the Treasury announced that the implementation of hundreds of non-fee charging automated teller machines (ATM) throughout Britain is set to benefit more than one million people - in particular those on low incomes. The scheme, which will see some 600 fee-free ATMs installed, could well help some of the most financially vulnerable people across the country to manage their finances and handle their debts better.

The majority of consumers believe interest rates are set to increase, the results of a new survey have indicated. According to Lloyds TSB's Consumer Barometer, some 80% of Britons surveyed think that the base rate will rise over the next 12 months - which would consequently see the interest payable on secured loans increase for borrowers.

Meanwhile, some 12% of respondents claimed interest rates will stay consistent over the coming year, with five per cent predicting the base rate will fall.