Laura Whateley

If you have a fair or average credit score, you can still access a range of loans and credit options. However, you may find you face higher interest rates than someone with an excellent credit history.

A credit builder loan helps those with poor credit scores or limited credit history to demonstrate creditworthiness. Borrowers agree to fixed monthly payments, which helps build up their score as long as they repay the loan in full.

Your credit score is important for lots of reasons, not least because it can help lenders decide whether to approve your loan application. There is no minimum credit score that will guarantee you get a loan in the UK, but a better score can improve your chances of approval.

Debt is created when you borrow money from a business or person. You’ll usually have to repay the money you owe plus interest to the lender. Having debt isn’t always bad as long as it’s managed well. Read on to find out exactly what debt is and how it affects your finances.

Bankruptcy is a legal tool to resolve overwhelming debt. When you declare bankruptcy, the court will use your assets to help clear the debt you owe on your behalf, ending your relationships with your creditors.

Understanding the main types of debt can help you find the best way to borrow and make repayments. Read on to find out how each type of debt works and whether it could be right for you.

Power of attorney gives legal permission for another person to make decisions about your finances or health if one day you can’t. Learn how it works, and how to produce and register the paperwork.

A beneficiary is someone, or several people, who you want to leave your financial and physical assets to when you die. Learn more about beneficiaries and how they are different from executors and trustees.

Estate planning helps you to arrange how to leave your money, property and possessions to your loved ones when you die. From writing a will to minimising inheritance tax, here are the building blocks of an efficient estate plan.

A student maintenance loan can help you pay your living expenses while you study.

There are two main types of loan, and you repay yours only when you stop studying and only when you earn above a certain salary threshold.