Spiralling debts from credit cards, pay day lenders and heavy interest bank loans can easily derail your financial status and the consequences of missed repayments can be intimidating and stressful for thousands of vulnerable borrowers across the UK. Figures published at the start of 2019 have revealed that UK household debts have risen by two-fifths in just six months. The report from Aviva’s Family Finances has shown that the average debt is now £13,520 – an increase of £4,000 from £9,520 in summer 2018.

The figure – which doesn’t include mortgage debt – revealed the average amount owed is 24 per cent higher than in winter 2011 when the data was first recorded.

Whilst taking out a loan is extremely common, the burden of mounting debts can not only affect your spending ability by taking a substantial wedge out of your monthly budget, it can also affect your credit score with a low credit score indicating you’re a riskier borrower than someone with a better credit score. Future creditors and lenders could make you pay for this risk by a charging you a higher interest on future loans.

With debt affecting so many families across the UK, years of austerity and wage stagnation, the ability to manage debt properly has become increasingly important. A whole raft of debt management techniques have emerged helping millions lumbered with small and larger debts, short term and long term.

What is debt consolidation and how does it work?

Consolidating debt is a method used by many who have more than one loan to manage. If you have a car loan hanging over you, store card debts and other personal loans to handle, this method lets you bring all your debts into one single debt meaning there is only one monthly repayment to make. Many …