How to Pay Off Debt UK 2026: Get Your Exact Debt-Free Date
Most people starting 2026 with debt will still have it in 2027. Not because they didn't try — because they never knew when they'd actually be free.
"I'm paying off my debt" isn't a plan. "I'll be debt-free by September 2027" is.
This guide shows you how to get that exact date — and the strategy to hit it.
Why You Need a Debt-Free Date (Not a Wish)
Here's what usually happens:
January: "This is the year I clear my debt." March: Still making payments, but no idea if you're on track. June: Something comes up. You fall behind. December: Same debt. Same stress. Same resolution next year.
The difference between people who clear debt and people who don't isn't discipline. It's clarity.
When you know your debt-free date — the actual month and year — everything changes:
You can count down to it
You know if you're ahead or behind
You can see the finish line
But how do you calculate an actual date when you have multiple debts at different interest rates?
That's what DebtRiot does.
The UK Debt Calculator That Shows Your Exact Debt-Free Date
DebtRiot is a debt payoff calculator built specifically for UK users.
Enter your debts. See exactly when you'll be debt-free.
What makes it different:
1. Compares 5 Payoff Strategies Side-by-Side
Most calculators show one method. Maybe two. DebtRiot compares all five:
Snowball — smallest balance first (fastest wins)
Avalanche — highest interest first (saves most money)
Hybrid Snowball → Avalanche — quick wins then optimise
Hybrid Avalanche → Snowball — clear expensive debt then momentum
Cash Flow Index — free up monthly breathing room fastest
You see each strategy's debt-free date, total interest cost, and payment order — then choose what fits your life.
2. Handles UK Interest Rates Correctly
This is technical but important.
UK overdrafts use EAR (Equivalent Annual Rate). Credit cards use APR (Annual Percentage Rate). They calculate differently — a 39.9% EAR overdraft actually costs less per month than a 39.9% APR credit card.
Most debt calculators (especially American ones) treat them identically. This gives you the wrong payment order.
DebtRiot asks which rate type each debt uses. Your strategy is based on correct UK maths.
3. No Signup. No Account. No Data Stored.
You don't create a login. You don't hand over your email. You don't wonder what happens to your financial data.
Enter your numbers, get your results. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing is stored on any server.
Use it, get your plan, close the tab. Your data goes with you.
4. Free to Compare — £9.99 for the Full Plan
What's free:
Compare all 5 strategies
See your debt-free date for each approach
Preview your first 3 months with exact payment amounts
Find out which debt to pay first
That's enough to pick your strategy and start.
What's £9.99 (one-time, not subscription):
Complete month-by-month payment schedule
Exactly how much to pay to which debt, every month, until you're debt-free
Unlimited access — recalculate anytime your situation changes
Downloadable plan you can print or save
The free version tells you what to do. The paid version tells you how to do it, every single month.
Free
- Compare all 5 strategies
- Debt-free date for each
- First 3 months preview
- Which debt to pay first
Enough to choose your strategy
£9.99 (one-time)
- Full month-by-month plan
- Exact payments until debt-free
- Unlimited recalculations
- Downloadable & printable
Your complete roadmap
How to Get Your Debt-Free Date (Takes 3 Minutes)
Step 1: Enter Your Income and Essentials
Go to debtriot.co.uk
You enter:
Your monthly income (after tax)
Your essential expenses (rent, bills, food, etc.)
Emergency fund contribution (optional — if you want to build savings alongside debt payoff)
DebtRiot calculates what's left for debt repayment automatically. That's your payment power — the amount that clears your debt each month.
Step 2: Enter Your Debts
For each debt, enter:
Name (so you can identify it)
Balance — what you owe today
Interest rate — and whether it's APR or EAR (check your statement)
Minimum payment — the least you must pay monthly
Include:
Credit cards
Overdrafts
Store cards (Very, Argos, Littlewoods, etc.)
Personal loans
Car finance
Buy Now Pay Later with interest
Don't include:
Student loans (income-based, different system)
Mortgage (needs separate strategy)
Important: If your minimum payments add up to more than your available money for debt, DebtRiot will flag this. You can't create a payoff plan if you can't cover the minimums — that's a sign you need debt advice first (see below).
Step 3: See Your Results
DebtRiot shows you all five strategies compared side-by-side.
For each strategy, you see:
Your exact debt-free date
Total interest you'll pay
Which debt to attack first, second, third
How quickly you'll clear your first debt
Now you can actually choose — with your real numbers, not guesses.
Step 4: Pick Your Strategy and Start
Choose Snowball if: You need quick wins to stay motivated. You've tried before and quit.
Choose Avalanche if: You're disciplined and want to save the most money. You don't need early wins.
Choose Hybrid if: You want a quick win or two, then to optimise. (This is what most people pick.)
Choose Cash Flow Index if: Your budget is very tight and you need breathing room.
No strategy is "wrong." The best one is the one you'll actually complete.
Once you've chosen, you can unlock your full payment plan for £9.99 (one-time).
What you get in the PDF:
Your exact debt-free date
Month-by-month payment schedule — exactly how much to pay to which debt, every single month
Running balance for each debt so you can track progress
Total interest you'll pay
Key milestones (when each debt clears)
Printable calendars
Situation changed? Income went up, added a new debt, paid something off early? Come back and regenerate your plan anytime. One payment = unlimited access. Your plan stays accurate as your life changes.
What the Difference Actually Looks Like
Say you have £5,600 across three debts — a credit card, an overdraft, and a store card. You can pay £300/month total.
The difference between strategies might be:
1-2 months in when you're debt-free
£100-150 in total interest
2 months vs 5 months until your first debt is cleared
That first-win timing matters. If you need motivation, clearing something in month 3 instead of month 5 can be the difference between sticking with it and giving up.
You won't know which trade-off is right for you until you see your actual numbers.
What If You're Struggling to Make Minimum Payments?
DebtRiot is for people who can pay more than minimums and want to clear debt strategically.
If you're struggling to make minimums — or missing payments — you need free debt advice first:
StepChange
National Debtline
Citizens Advice
They can help with Debt Management Plans, breathing space, and other options.
Come back to DebtRiot when you're ready to attack debt strategically.
Your 2026 Action Plan
Today (3 minutes):
Gather your debt balances and rates
Enter them into DebtRiot
See your debt-free date
This week:
Choose your strategy
Set up autopay for all minimums
Direct your extra payment to your first target debt
Each month:
Pay according to your plan
Watch the balance drop
When a debt clears, move everything to the next one
Your debt-free date:
Arrives exactly when the calculator said
Because you had a plan, not a wish
Get Your Debt-Free Date Now
Stop wondering when you'll be out of debt.
Enter your numbers. See your date. Pick your strategy.
Free to compare strategies. No signup. Takes 3 minutes.
DebtRiot is an information tool, not financial advice. For debt problems or difficulty making payments, contact StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice — all free and confidential.
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It's based on the numbers you enter — if your balances, rates, and payments are accurate, your date will be accurate. Real life may vary by a month or two if rates change or payments vary, but you'll be in the right range.
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They calculate interest differently. A 39.9% EAR overdraft has a lower effective monthly rate than a 39.9% APR credit card. Getting this wrong means prioritising the wrong debt. DebtRiot is one of the only UK calculators that handles this correctly.
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No. Everything runs in your browser. I don't store your debt information, I don't have your email, I don't know who you are. Close the tab and your data is gone.
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Free shows you all 5 strategies compared, your debt-free dates, and a 3-month preview with real numbers. Enough to pick a strategy and start.
£9.99 gives you the complete month-by-month plan — exactly what to pay to which debt, every month until you're done. One payment, keep forever, recalculate unlimited times.
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If you need motivation: Snowball. If you want to save money: Avalanche. If you want both: Hybrid. If budget is very tight: Cash Flow Index.
There's no universally "best" answer. The right strategy is the one you'll actually stick with.
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No. DebtRiot is a calculator that shows projections based on your inputs. For personal financial advice, consult a qualified adviser. For debt problems, contact StepChange or Citizens Advice (both free).
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Re-run the calculator with your new numbers. If you have the full plan, you can regenerate it anytime — unlimited access means unlimited updates.
