A loan again, naturally

Thinking of taking out a loan? In this extract from his new book, John Lowe ranks the ten most common ways to borrow money, from the cheapest to the most expensive

1. Loans from family, friends and employers

Often, family members, friends and employers will make interest-free or low-interest loans. My advice is always to regularise such loans with a written agreement, so that there is no room for misunderstanding or bad feeling at a later date. Also, such loans may give rise to tax liability.

2. Mortgages and secured loans

Since the demise of tracker mortgages, interest rates have increased, but are still ...