If you think your credit is beyond help, think again. Secured loans may very well be the answer to your credit problems. Consider how secured loans work and what it could mean for you as you reestablish your credit.

There are two basic kinds of loans - secured loans and unsecured loans. Most large loans are secured. Banks and lending institutions want to be sure their financial investment is protected. The best way to be sure that you'll repay the amount of the loan is to have the assurance that you're going to lose something if you don't - your house or car, for instance.

Unless you have awesome credit, you're probably going to have trouble getting an unsecured loan. But taking some steps toward a secured loan may very well entice lenders to grant you a loan, even if your credit history is less than perfect.

If your purpose is to reestablish credit, talk to your bank or lender about ways you can secure a small loan. You may be able to take out a small or moderate loan while leaving enough cash on deposit to cover the loan. Seem like a waste of time? It will give the bank the security they need to justify offering you the loan while giving you a chance to show your commitment to making payments on time. If you choose this route, remember that your role is to make payments on time, every time. If you keep your part of the deal, you'll have less trouble getting your next loan without going to those extremes to secure it.

Credit cards are nothing more than small loans that are paid off in monthly installments. Usually, credit card companies offer up credit cards and the card holder flashes the card to get instant credit. Secured credit cards are a good way to start getting your credit back on track.

This nothing more than a secured loan, only the security is cash. You deposit some amount of money with the card company. Then you can use that credit card, but only to that amount. You still make monthly payments and once you establish that you'll make payments on time, you have the option of renegotiating the terms.

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Secured Loan Resources a website providing information on Secured Loans