Step 1 — Stop the bleed
Before you can pay debt down, stop adding to it. Move every card out of your wallet, freeze them in Apple Pay / Google Pay, and switch to a debit-card-only budget for the next 30 days. If a card is auto-paying subscriptions, swap those onto your debit card.
Step 2 — Build a small buffer (£500–£1,000)
Without a buffer, the next MOT, vet bill or boiler problem goes straight back on a card and undoes your progress. £500 is enough to start; £1,000 is better. Pay minimums on every card while you build it.
Step 3 — Pick a method: snowball or avalanche
- Snowball: smallest balance first. Fastest visible wins, best if you need motivation.
- Avalanche: highest APR first. Lowest total interest, best if you're disciplined.
Read the full breakdown: Snowball vs Avalanche (UK).
Step 4 — Use a 0% balance transfer if you can
UK 0% balance-transfer cards (Barclaycard, Virgin Money, MBNA, Tesco Bank, Santander) routinely offer 18–30 months at 0%. The catch is a transfer fee — usually 2–4% of the balance.
Rules of thumb:
- Worth it if the fee is lower than the interest you'd pay over the promo period at your current APR. On a 39.9% Vanquis balance, almost always yes.
- Pay the balance off during the promo period — set a standing order so it clears with one or two payments to spare.
- Don't spend on the new card. Most 0% transfer promos do not extend to purchases.
Step 5 — Negotiate or ask for a freeze if you're behind
UK lenders are required by the FCA to treat customers in difficulty fairly. If you're missing payments or close to it, ring the lender and ask for:
- A 30-day breathing space
- A reduced payment plan (often interest frozen)
- The "default" date to be delayed while you set up a plan
If it's bigger than that, talk to StepChange, Citizens Advice or National Debtline. All free, all impartial.
Step 6 — Protect your credit file
- Pay every minimum on time. One missed minimum can void a 0% promo and stay on your file for 6 years.
- Don't close paid-off cards immediately — keeping them open lowers your overall utilisation ratio, which helps your score.
- Check your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion files for free; dispute anything wrong.
Worked example
Take a typical UK starter pack: £450 at 48.9% APR, £770 at 39.9% APR, £170 at 34.9% APR. With £150/month spare on top of minimums, avalanche clears it in around 10 months and saves over £200 in interest versus paying the minimums only.
Doing this in CrashFlow
CrashFlow lays out your cards, runs both strategies, plans payments around payday, and warns you when next month's bills won't fit. From £2.99/month or £29 one-off lifetime.