text: I have recently heard about savings secured loans, which use your savings account as collateral.  It is one of the best deals around, because at the end of the loan period, you still have savings.  It works like this:  you pay a particular amount to the bank (usually a credit union), say 5% for the loan; in the meantime, you earn interest on your savings account, say 2.5%.  When you pay off the bank, your savings is freed up, and you have really only paid 2.5% interest for the loan.  The only drawback I can foresee is if you don't have any savings to begin with.