Don't ignore your debt: how to manage your money

It’s all too easy to ignore debt until things reach a crisis point. If you owe money, you need to face it head on or you’ll find yourself in more difficulty.

So, how can you manage debt carefully and responsibly in order to get it under control and keep it from becoming a much bigger issue? Below, we outline some tips:

Know what you owe

You can’t manage your debts properly until you know how much you owe and how much you can afford to spend on clearing it.

A surprising number of people with debts don’t actually know how much they owe, so sit down with a pen and work out exactly how much debt you have. Also find out what the APR (annual percentage rate) is that you're being charged for each debt. Work out how much you need to meet your debt obligations each month.

Draw up a spending plan

Once you know how much you owe each month, you can work out what you can afford. Draw up a spending plan showing you how much you have coming in and going out each month. Don’t forget to include essentials like; mortgage or rent, commuting costs, gas and electricity bills, and food.

If you're not sure where to start, our Smart Spending System can help - it's all about dividing your money into 3 You’s - Essential You, Future you and Fun you. This should give you a clearer idea of how much money you have to clear your debt each month and allow you to set a realistic time frame for getting rid of your debts.

If the numbers show that you simply can’t afford your repayments at their current level then see the tip below – get some help.
Prioritise your repayments

At the very least, you need to be making the minimum repayment on all debts to avoid getting into further difficulty. Once you've got your budget giving you a clearer idea of how much extra money you can put towards paying off debt, put it towards the debts with the most serious consequences and highest cost first.

Make more than the minimum payment

If you owe money on credit or store cards then do not fall into the trap of making minimum payments each month.
Paying off the minimum amount means the debt lasts much, much longer and that means you’ll pay hundreds or maybe even thousands extra in interest over the lifetime of the debt.

Paying even just a small amount on top of the minimum payment could save you a fortune in the long run and help you get free of debt sooner. In some cases, consolidating your debt with a salary-linked loan or transferring to a 0% credit card may help. 

Get some help

If you’re genuinely struggling to stay on top of your repayments and you’re starting to worry that your debt levels are out of control, stay calm.

You can negotiate with your lenders, it’s in their interests to keep your repayments affordable rather than risk you paying nothing. If you want someone to help you negotiate or simply need some free debt advice from experienced advisers then you can get in touch with PayPlan or StepChange

One important thing to remember is that managing debt well can boost your credit rating.

Even if you’ve been struggling with missed payments or overdue bills, taking charge of your debt and working towards clearing it will help your credit score recover.

It shows that you can be responsible with debt and can manage it successfully, and this can mean you find it easier to qualify for a mortgage or other important financial product in the future.