Credit Cards
Credit cards can be very useful for immediate cash. There are many offers available from many companies. Some of these cards are offered directly through banks and many can be offered through "affinity" companies such as football clubs and store cards. Store card can be the worst offenders when it comes to high interest rates. It is all to easy to shop at your favorite store with their own card but this can be very costly. Many cards will also offer you free balance transfers with 0% for the first, so many months. The danger is when the offer runs out you can slip into high interest rates.
Other Useful sites
www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/choose.htm - US credit card information
www.visa.com/ - Visa credit cards
www.mastercard.com/ Mastercard credit cards
Secured Personal Loans - Debt Consolidation UK