Weddings, funerals and cosmetic surgery: the uses for Britis
Personal loans have filtered into new areas of domestic life in Britain, from weddings, to funerals to cosmetic surgery.
Abbey's January figures show a 32 per cent rise in the number of loans requested by consumers planning a wedding; set against a healthy five per cent fall in the number looking to borrow to fund a divorce.
However, the emotional upset of bereavement is clearly being compounded by financial expense, with a ten per cent increase in the number of applications to cover the costs.
The most striking new trend emerges with the rising frequency of cosmetic surgery, with a 50 per cent rise in the number of people considering it important enough to take out a loan.
'Only two or three years ago the number of people borrowing for cosmetic surgery would have been very few and far between, but now it's become a more regular occurrence,' said Paula Ickinger, head of personal loans marketing for Abbey.
Choosing the right financial arrangements can lead to a serious heightening of stress, at some of the most sensitive moments in life.
By looking online, consumers can make use of the fastest and most efficient method for identifying the best buys in the loan market. | 
