Pay off credit card debt faster with a plan

Use this guide if you have one or more credit card balances you are managing but want to clear for good. Have your latest statements or app access for every card and a rough idea of your monthly budget. If you are already missing payments or priority bills such as rent, council tax or energy, start with free debt advice instead.

Step by step

1. Build one table of every card

   For each card, write down the provider, current balance, interest rate (APR or the purchase and cash rates separately), minimum payment, payment date and when any 0% promotional rate ends. Statements also show how long it will take to clear the balance paying only the minimum and how much interest that would cost; copy those figures too. Add up the total balance and total minimum payments. Seeing this in one place is often the moment the plan becomes real.