Feeling ashamed of debt should I go strict or spread it out?

[2026budgetmum]

I am in 900 pounds of debt due to irresponsible decisions in 2025, including bad planning and not taking budgeting seriously. I am ashamed of it but trying to turn things around and only spend on what I really need. I have more savings than I am in debt for, but I didn’t know I had them otherwise it would have been spent too. I don’t know if I could build them up again so don’t want to use them, especially when the debt interest is low but I am wary of it getting out of hand.

My options seem to be:

1. Pay it all off this month with no spare cash
2. Pay it off over time with some spare cash, though I am not sure I would need it

I would really appreciate advice from anyone in a similar situation. This is not a begging thread.

Pay it off from savings or pay off over 2 or 3 months. The reason I say this is this have tried to pay all my debt back in one month. I then struggled and ended up putting something else on credit before the month was over. The cycle continued.... im 2k in debt and need to clear it. If I used all my spare money it would be gone in 2 months but in spreading it out over 4

As it's a relatively small amount I would tighten the bootstraps and pay it all off this month.

I'd just pay it off then restore the savings.

how did you not know you had savings?

how much do you have in savings? How many months bills would it pay?

I would definitely continue to cut back to essentials only then pay anything left in my current account off the debt on the next payday.

it's important to have available funds (savings) for emergencies & if the cost of the debt is low, this shouldn't be paid off with savings (readily available cash)

It's a fairly small amount, on low interest.
Id pay off 300 over next 3 months, but at the same time set up a standing order for 300 into a savings account. That still leaves you with 300 more than you think you can manage on.
Once the debt has been paid back, keep the 300 to savings going, and enjoy having the 300 that was going to debt

Definitely number 1 - get rid of it this month.

If it’s not going to leave you short and you have savings to fall back on then get it gone.

It sounds like a good time to get a bit more savvy on what’s going on with your finances.