Not sure what to do about debt.

[madcatladyforever]

I have 6k of divorce debt on credit cards mostly and I really don't know the best way to pay it off, I was thinking of booking an appointment at the bank to discuss it. Divorce is just so expensive even though I've downsized my house to something manageable.
I've got 9 years left to pay it off so I need to think about paying it off now before I retire. I need to save for retirement too so I can't spend all of my money paying off this debt.
I've got a good solid NHS job as a medical professional and can cover all of my mortgage and bills fine and still have a life outside work, holiday once a year if I want.
I'm only paying the minimum on these cards but the rates have gone right up and I'm paying almost £200 a month for both cards which is ridiculous for such a small debt.. I have no savings as I had to use all of them to pay off my ex husband in the divorce but the house is mine and I have a 30 year NHS pension which thankfully he didn't want.
There is a solid clean break order so he can't come back for my pension later on.
I want to get out a loan to pay off this debt over the next 5 years and there will be no more credit cards. But just so much choice out there, I'd like a zero percent loan but I don't think I'd qualify for one. I really don't know how to choose or how to pay this debt off so that it's more affordable than it is now.
Anyone got any advice. I've not really been in debt before other than a few hundred but my ex was profligate with money and the downsizing was to pay off the mess he left me in. i still have a nice three bedroom house but this amount of debt so close to retirement really worries me.

Can you transfer it to a zero per cent credit card and pay it off before the rate runs out?

First look for a zero/low rate balance transfer and if that's not an option, try for a loan with a low interest rate, these can be as little as 3 or 4% pa.

Your bank is unlikely to be the best value unless it's one of the banks offering cheap loans, eg Santander. Also be aware of illogical interest rate 'steps' where it actually costs less to borrow £5200 than it does £4900 because the interest rate charged is much lower.

Have a look at MSE to see what's available, but don't be disheartened if their elligibility calculator says you won't be accepted because I've found it to be quite inaccurate on occasion.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/borrowing/

I had 10k of divorce debt this time last year and have got 3k left. It’s on a no interest credit card now and I divided the amount by how many months I had of that card and set up a standing order to pay that amount. I’ve been able to raise that amount due to not commuting , or doing basically anything, since March, so now I’m just about on track to clear it by Christmas, it’s getting tough though now as I’m paying such a lot back. I think the key is a set standing order though.

I think it is a 20 month card and I started paying £200 a month. My commuting is £200 a month so that’s added to it since March then I’ve just squeezed the budget to increase the amount to get it paid this year.

Can you add it to your mortgage and then overpay on that each month?

Freeze the monthly payments on all cards at £5 more than you paid month - pay by standing order not direct debit

the balances will be cleared within three years
(look up the old spreadsheets thread on this board to see how / why)

DO NOT borrow more money.

Thanks for the good advice. I'll look into all of this.