Debt Help After Christmas – What To Do Next (UK Guide)

The “Do This Today” Plan (30–60 Minutes)

When you’re overwhelmed, the aim isn’t to fix everything in one go — it’s to stop the situation getting worse. Use this checklist today to reduce panic and create one clear next step.

1) Stabilise the month (stop the bleeding)

1. Stop new borrowing. Pause BNPL, catalogue spends, payday loans and credit card “top-ups”.
2. Protect essentials. Ring-fence what must be paid to keep housing, council tax and energy stable.
3. List every debt in one place. Include cards, BNPL, overdrafts, loans, catalogues and any collections.
4. Pull out urgent letters. Anything saying “Notice of Enforcement”, “court”, “CCJ”, “default notice”, “liability order”.
5. Choose one next step: either request breathing space/reduced payments, or roll debts into one plan.

2) Quick “Gap Checker” tool (interactive)

What the result means (plain English)

• If you have a surplus: you may be able to stabilise with a simple budget and targeted repayment.
• If you have a shortfall: you likely need reduced payments, breathing space, or a single affordable plan to stop missed payments and escalation.

Helpful next steps (internal): Debt Calculator, Affordable Repayment Plans, Breathing Space.

Priority Bills First: What to Pay Before Anything Else

In UK debt advice, the most important idea is simple: priority bills first. These are the ones where the consequences can be severe — and sorting them early reduces stress fast.

Why this matters in January

After Christmas, it’s common to try to “keep everyone happy” by paying a little bit everywhere. But if you do that while falling behind on priorities, the situation can get more expensive and harder to control. The aim is to keep the roof over your head, keep the lights on, and stop enforcement triggers.

Fast “priority first” rule you can follow

Credit Cards & BNPL in January: How to Stop the Snowball

January is when the numbers hit: statements land, minimum payments rise, and BNPL instalments stack up. The goal here is to avoid late fees, avoid panic borrowing, and choose the simplest route to stability.

1) If you can’t afford the minimum payments

• Priority bills first, then pay what you can afford across non-priority debts (even if smaller).
• Tell creditors you’re in financial difficulty and request reduced payments and a hold on interest/charges.
• If you have multiple accounts, consider one plan rather than 10 separate negotiations.

2) BNPL & catalogue repayments all due at once

Klarna/Clearpay/Very/catalogues can feel manageable until several payments land together. Your best move is to list them by due date (the smallest action that reduces stress fast).

• Step A: Write each provider, balance, and next 2–3 due dates.
• Step B: If you can’t meet dates, contact the provider early (before a missed payment).
• Step C: If you have several BNPL plans plus cards/loans, it’s often easier to roll them into one affordable monthly payment.

Common high-intent searches this section answers

• “I can’t pay my credit card minimum payment”
• “Klarna payment due and no money”
• “Buy now pay later payments all at once”
• “January debt hangover what to do”
• “One monthly payment for all debts”

Related internal pages: Klarna Debt, Credit Card Debt, Overdraft Debt, Catalogue Debt.

What to Do With Scary Letters: NOE, CCJ, Default Notices

After Christmas, lots of people avoid the post — but the fastest way to reduce fear is to sort letters into: urgent (deadlines) vs important (plan it). This section is written to match what people actually search for in January.

Urgent (act fast)

• Notice of Enforcement (bailiff enforcement stage)
• Court claim forms / deadlines
• Eviction / repossession warnings
• Energy disconnection / forced meter processes

Important (but you can plan it)

• Default notices and arrears notices
• Payment reminders for cards/BNPL
• Debt collector letters (many can be handled through one plan)

How to reduce stress in 10 minutes

1. Stack letters by type: enforcement/court, priority bills, then everything else.
2. Circle any dates and write “deadline” on the envelope.
3. Take one photo of the most urgent item so you can act without re-reading everything.

If you’ve received anything about enforcement, start here: Notice of Enforcement 7-day deadline and Bailiff Fees.

Common search intent: “What is a Notice of Enforcement?”, “How long do I have?”, “Will bailiffs come?”, “Can I stop extra fees?”

Bailiffs After Christmas: How to Avoid New Fees Fast

If your debt is already at enforcement stage, January can be when fees increase. The goal is to act before more stages/visits happen and avoid decisions made in panic.

Fast actions that protect you

• If you’ve had a Notice of Enforcement, check the deadline and don’t ignore it.
• Keep doors locked and don’t let anyone pressure you into signing or agreeing to unaffordable terms on the spot.
• Focus on affordable arrangements and get advice on formal options if the debt is unmanageable.

Know your rights (most searched)

• Force entry: rules depend on the debt type — learn the exceptions and safe steps.
• Vehicles: cars can be at risk depending on ownership, finance, and necessity for work/care.
• Vulnerability: if you’re vulnerable, cases should be handled differently (tell them, in writing).

Useful guides: Council Tax Bailiffs, Can bailiffs force entry?, Controlled Goods Agreement.

Your UK Options: Breathing Space, DMP, IVA, DRO

If post-Christmas debt is bigger than a one-off wobble, the fastest relief often comes from choosing the right structure. This section is built around what people search for in January: “pause it”, “reduce it”, or “make it one payment”.

Breathing Space

Breathing Space is designed to give you time to get advice and build a plan. It can help reduce pressure while you organise a longer-term solution. Learn more: Breathing Space.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A DMP is a flexible way to pay a reduced amount across non-priority debts. It’s often a good fit if you can repay in a reasonable time but need everything made affordable.

IVA

An IVA is a formal agreement (often 5–6 years) where you pay what you can afford monthly. Any remaining included debt is written off at the end. If you’re a homeowner, make sure you read: IVA Protocol 2025.

DRO

A DRO can be a strong option for low income, low assets and debts under the legal limit, typically clearing eligible debts after 12 months if you qualify.

Cluster queries this page targets (easy + medium)

• Debt help after Christmas UK
• January debt help UK
• Christmas debt hangover what to do
• Can’t afford minimum payments January
• BNPL repayments January and February
• One monthly payment for debts
• Breathing Space after Christmas
• DMP vs IVA after Christmas

A Simple 7-Day “Money Reset” (Without Shame)

You don’t need perfection — just a reset you can keep. This week plan is designed for post-Christmas reality: due dates, messages, and the pressure to “fix it all” immediately.

7 days to get control back

1. Day 1: List income for the month and ring-fence essentials.
2. Day 2: Write every debt and due date (especially BNPL).
3. Day 3: Cancel/pause non-essentials (subscriptions you don’t use).
4. Day 4: Sort letters into urgent vs important.
5. Day 5: Contact priority creditors first (housing/council/energy).
6. Day 6: Contact non-priority creditors OR decide to move to one plan.
7. Day 7: Lock in your next step (Breathing Space / DMP / IVA / DRO) so you stop re-living the same month.

Near-future searches to win (Jan/Feb 2026)

If you want a simple way to gather everything, start here: Debt Calculator.