Advice for coping while paying debt

I have around £20k debt (loans, credit cards and arrears with utility companies) with an absolutely tanked credit score. Debt consolidation loan is not an option for me. I also rent in the uk so any kind of insolvency or debt plan will probably prevent me from finding somewhere else to live if I needed to. I also have disposable income so I wouldn’t get accepted for anything like that anyway. I got into this situation through a mix of ADHD (diagnosed a couple months ago and now on medication), being very irresponsible and not being taught how to be financially-savvy by anyone.

After all my outgoings, including minimum debt repayments and food, without spending a penny more, leaves me with around £300. I have 2 jobs; one 9-5 and a self-employed side hustle which varies in earnings. Sometimes I have more than £300 left over. The interest on all my debts is really high. My longest loans final payment will be in 24 months.

How the hell do I survive, cope and manage? I already know that my only real option is to just not buy anything at all until the debts are paid. Cut back on anything non-essential. Plough every spare penny into my debts. I was kind of on track with it, but it just seems that unexpected costs are flying at me left, right and centre, so any disposable income ends up going on car repairs or vet bills, etc.

Has anyone else been in a situation where they pretty much had no disposable income and just had to live like a pauper for a few years? How did you do it without being chronically depressed? Any tips to make it less soul-crushing?

Posted Jul 5, 2026, 12:29 PM UTC

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