Last updated: 4 November 2026. General information for the UK, not regulated debt advice.
Maybe you’ve tried to pay off debt before and it didn’t stick. A surprise bill came along, the card went back up, and it felt like you were back at square one. Or maybe you’ve never made a plan at all, because looking at the total feels like too much.
Either way, here’s the honest truth: getting out of debt is less about willpower and more about having a simple plan that survives real life. This guide walks you through one, step by step, in plain UK terms. It works whether you owe a few hundred pounds or several thousand, and whether or not you have savings.
It’s part of my debt and credit UK guide.
If you can’t cover your rent, mortgage, council tax or energy bills, please talk to a free debt adviser first: National Debtline (0808 808 4000) or StepChange (0800 138 1111). The plan below is for when your essentials are covered and you want to clear the rest.
Step 1: Write down every debt
You can’t make a plan for numbers you can’t see. Set aside 30 minutes, make a cup of tea and list everything you owe:
| Who I owe | Type | Balance | APR | Minimum payment | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Include credit cards, store cards, overdrafts, loans, car finance, Buy Now, Pay Later, catalogue accounts, and money owed to family. Also note any bills you’re behind on, like council tax or energy.
Where to find the numbers: – Your latest statements or banking apps – Your free credit report, which can show accounts you’ve forgotten. Here’s how to check it for free.
It’s normal to feel a wobble when you add it up. The real number is almost always easier to deal with than the vague worry.
Step 2: Protect your priority bills
Before you put a single extra pound towards a credit card, make sure your priority debts are covered: rent or mortgage, council tax, gas and electricity, court fines, TV Licence and child maintenance. These carry the most serious consequences if you fall behind.
If you’re behind on any of them, sort those first. My guide to priority vs non-priority debts explains the order and what to say to each creditor.
Step 3: Build a mini emergency fund (even a small one)
This is the step most debt plans skip, and it’s often why they fail. If you have no savings, the next broken washing machine or car repair goes straight on a card and undoes months of progress.
So before you attack your debts, aim for a small starter buffer, for example £500 to £1,000, while paying the minimums on everything. If that feels impossible, start with £100. Any buffer is better than none.
My guide to building a £1,000 emergency fund has practical ways to get there, and the emergency fund calculator shows how far your savings would stretch.
If you have no savings at all: keep it simple. Pay every minimum, put a small fixed amount (say £20 a week) into an easy-access savings account until you reach your starter buffer, then switch that money to your debts.
Step 4: Find your “debt payment” number
Next, work out how much you can realistically put towards debt each month on top of the minimums.
- Start with your monthly take-home pay.
- Subtract essentials: housing, council tax, energy, water, food, transport, childcare, insurance, phone.
- Subtract all your minimum debt payments.
- Leave a little for life: birthdays, school trips, the odd takeaway. A budget with zero fun usually breaks.
- What’s left is your extra debt payment.
If you’ve never budgeted, the 50/30/20 rule is a good starting point, and my 50/30/20 calculator does the maths.
Ways to make that number bigger
- Cancel subscriptions you don’t use
- Cut your grocery bill
- Haggle or switch your broadband and phone at the end of your contract
- Check if your energy Direct Debit is too high
- Sell things you no longer use
- Try a side hustle for a few months
- Check you’re not missing benefits or discounts
Step 5: Choose your payoff method
Pay the minimum on every debt, then put your extra payment towards one debt at a time. The two popular ways to choose which one:
- Debt snowball: smallest balance first. Quick wins keep you motivated.
- Debt avalanche: highest interest rate first. Usually saves the most money.
Both work. If you’ve given up before, the snowball’s early wins can make the difference. If you’re motivated by numbers, go avalanche. I’ve compared them with a worked example in debt snowball vs avalanche.
When one debt is paid off, don’t spend that money. Add it to the payment on the next debt. That’s what makes the plan speed up over time.
Step 6: Make it automatic
Plans fail when they rely on remembering. Set things up once:
- Direct Debits for every minimum payment, so you never miss one by accident.
- A standing order for your extra payment on payday, to whichever debt is your current target.
- A calendar reminder each month to update your tracker.
If you can, move your payment dates to just after payday so the money goes out before it can be spent.
Step 7: Look at reducing your interest
Lower interest means more of each payment clears the actual debt. Options to consider:
- Ask your card provider if they can lower your rate, especially if you’re struggling. Lenders are expected to support customers in financial difficulty.
- A 0% balance transfer card, if you can be accepted and can clear the balance before the 0% period ends. Check the transfer fee is less than the interest you’d save.
- Stop using the cards you’re paying off. Remove them from your phone wallet and online shops.
Be very cautious with consolidation loans. They can help if the rate is lower and you close the old accounts, but they can make things worse if you end up with a loan and new card balances. Get free advice if you’re unsure.
Step 8: Track your progress
Seeing balances fall is one of the best ways to keep going. Each month, update your list with the new balances and colour in your progress.
My Debt Payoff Progress Tracker is a printable set with a debt list, payoff order page and a chart you colour in as you go. (It’s my own planner.) A notebook or simple spreadsheet works too: what matters is that you look at it.
Celebrate milestones in small, cheap ways: each debt cleared, every £500 paid, halfway point.
Step 9: Plan for setbacks
Something will go wrong at some point. A car repair, a reduced overtime month, Christmas. That’s normal, not failure.
- Use your buffer, then pause extra payments until it’s rebuilt.
- Keep paying the minimums. That protects your credit file.
- Adjust the plan, don’t abandon it.
- Plan for annual costs like Christmas, birthdays and car MOTs with small monthly savings pots so they don’t land on a card.
When to get free help instead
A DIY plan works when your income covers your essentials and minimum payments. If it doesn’t, or if you’re using credit to pay for food and bills, it’s time to speak to a free debt adviser. They can:
- Negotiate with lenders for you
- Set up a free debt management plan
- Apply for Breathing Space (up to 60 days’ protection in England and Wales)
- Explain formal options like a Debt Relief Order, IVA or bankruptcy
You never need to pay for debt advice. National Debtline, StepChange and Citizens Advice are all free and confidential.
Get out of debt: people also ask
How can I get out of debt fast in the UK?
Cover your priority bills, build a small emergency buffer, then put every spare pound towards one debt at a time while paying the minimums on the rest. Increase your payments by cutting costs and earning extra where you can, and look at lowering your interest. There’s no instant fix, but a focused plan can make a big difference within months.
How do I get out of debt with no savings?
Start by paying all the minimums and building a small buffer of £100 to £500, even slowly. That stops the next surprise bill going on a card. Then put extra money towards your debts using the snowball or avalanche method. If you can’t cover your minimums, speak to a free debt adviser.
Should I use a debt consolidation loan?
It can help if the new rate is lower, the fees are reasonable and you stop using the old cards. It can backfire if you end up with a loan and new card debt. A loan application is also a hard search. Get free advice before you apply.
How long does it take to get out of debt?
It depends on how much you owe, your interest rates and how much extra you can pay. Write your debts down and work it out: a tracker or calculator can show you a rough debt-free date. Even small extra payments shorten it noticeably.
What is the best way to pay off multiple debts?
Pay the minimum on all of them, then focus extra money on one at a time: either the smallest balance (snowball) or the highest interest rate (avalanche). When one is cleared, roll its payment into the next.
Does paying off debt improve my credit score?
Usually, over time. Lower balances compared with your credit limits and a record of on-time payments both help. Closing accounts straight after paying them off can sometimes have a short-term effect, so think before closing your oldest card.
Summary
- List every debt.
- Protect your priority bills.
- Build a small buffer.
- Find your extra debt payment.
- Choose snowball or avalanche.
- Automate it.
- Reduce your interest where you can.
- Track your progress.
- Plan for setbacks, and get free help if the numbers don’t work.
Next step: compare the two payoff methods in debt snowball vs avalanche, or go back to the debt and credit UK guide.
General information only. I’m not a debt adviser. If you’re struggling, please contact a free, confidential debt advice service.
Sources (checked 4 November 2026): MoneyHelper: dealing with debt · GOV.UK: free debt advice · GOV.UK: Breathing Space guidance
Read next: debt snowball calculator.