How to take control of your debt

Tackling your debt can help you feel more confident in your finances and more at ease in life. Even if debts aren’t putting you under financial strain, organising them effectively can simplify and streamline the process of repayment. Here are some of the best ways to take control of your credit.

Understand your financial situation

To exercise control over your debts, you first need to understand them fully. This is particularly true if you have more than one. Different balances, lenders and repayment dates can make things much more complicated for you.

List all your outstanding debts, including credit cards, loans and overdrafts, noting all the essential details. Having a clear overview of interest rates, remaining balances, terms and repayment amounts can help you prioritise the most important. You’ll also be able to plan comprehensively for all your debts.

Tackle high-interest debts first

The key to taking control of your debt is to start paying it off at a rate that works for you, starting with those with the highest interest rates. This is crucial because these are effectively costing you the most. The longer these go unpaid, the more they’ll cost you.

Prioritise repaying these debts first to ensure you’re repaying the least amount possible.

Create a budget that works for you

Budgeting allows you to align the rest of your finances with the process of paying off your debts. Once your regular outgoings and expenses have been accounted for, your disposable income can be allocated to pay off priority debts.

List your monthly income and take away all your essential bills and spending. What’s left over, your disposable income, should be used primarily to take control of your credit. If what’s left over isn’t enough for your repayments or goals, look for ways to cut your spending.

Find ways to reduce your monthly repayments

If your monthly repayments are too much to comfortably afford, you may want to find ways to ease this strain on your finances. Options like debt consolidation loans can help you simplify the process of repaying multiple debts and allow you to spread your repayments over a longer period – meaning you could owe less overall each month. However, it’s crucial to understand that you’ll probably owe more in the long term by doing this.

You could also try speaking to the people or organisations you owe. They may allow you to negotiate new repayment terms or lower interest rates. If you’re struggling to manage debts of any size, it’s always worth seeking support and getting free debt advice.