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Debt & money troubles

UK bill prioritiser

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When money is tight, paying the wrong bill first can cost you your home or essential services. This tool applies the same priority-debt framework UK charities use — rent and council tax before credit cards.

Tick the bills you have, then mark any you are behind on. We order them by UK priority-debt rules — the same framework StepChange and National Debtline use — so you know what to tackle first.

Select the bills that apply to you to build a priority plan.

How it works

  1. Select every bill type that applies to your household.
  2. Mark any you are currently behind on.
  3. We sort arrears by priority (1 = deal with today) and link to Money Guide explainers plus free debt charities.

Common questions

Should I pay credit cards before rent?
Almost never. Rent, mortgage and council tax arrears can have immediate legal consequences. Minimum credit card payments come after priority bills are stabilised.
Is this the same as MoneyHelper's bill prioritiser?
It follows the same UK priority-debt principles. We add internal guides and links to StepChange and National Debtline.
What if I cannot afford any payments?
Contact a free adviser immediately. Formal solutions such as a DRO, IVA or bankruptcy may be appropriate after a full review.

Related guides

Background reading